"Well, look who it is."
A calm voice came from behind.
The smug tone immediately pulled Dan, who had been slightly distracted by his thoughts, back to reality.
He turned around and saw a familiar man standing a short distance away with a shopping cart beside him.
Kyle Preston.
He was another one of Dan’s neighbors, although the two had barely interacted.
Kyle was the kind of man who made sure everyone knew he was doing well. He came from a wealthy family that had made a fortune after selling several parcels of property to developers, and unlike most people who had to work for a living, Kyle had never really needed a job.
He spent most of his time driving expensive cars, going out with friends, and spending his family’s money.
At the moment, he was dressed in an expensive designer jacket and jeans, with a gold watch visible beneath his sleeve. Beside him stood a black-haired woman in her late twenties, dressed in an expensive-looking coat and carrying a small designer handbag.
She glanced at Dan briefly before turning her attention back to Kyle.
Kyle looked at Dan’s cart and smirked.
"Didn’t expect to see you here."
Dan raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing the lack of friendliness in his tone.
Kyle looked over the mostly ordinary items in Dan’s cart and gave a quiet laugh.
"Still shopping on a budget, huh?"
The woman beside him glanced at Dan again, but Kyle continued before she could say anything.
"I keep telling you, man. If you’re trying to save money, there’s no shame in buying the cheap stuff. You don’t have to pretend you can afford things you can’t."
Dan stared at him for a moment.
He couldn’t remember ever doing anything to this guy. Kyle had always been like this—condescending, arrogant, and seemingly incapable of judging people by anything other than their wealth.
Dan’s gaze eventually shifted toward Kyle’s cart.
It was packed with expensive groceries, including several packages of imported steaks, bottles of wine, premium cheese, and other high-end products.
Kyle noticed where Dan was looking and immediately smiled.
"Those?"
He patted one of the packages of steak.
"Yeah, they’re not cheap."
His smile became even more smug.
"But I guess some things just aren’t meant for everyone."
The woman beside him gave him an awkward look.
"Kyle, seriously."
"What?"
"You’re being rude."
Kyle shrugged.
"I’m just talking."
Dan almost laughed.
This idiot really hadn’t changed.
In the past, Dan probably would have swallowed his anger. What could he have done? Kyle had money, connections, expensive cars, and a family capable of making problems disappear. Dan, meanwhile, had barely been able to keep himself afloat.
But things were different now.
He had the Ultimate Family System. He had an Inventory filled with enough supplies to survive the coming apocalypse, and soon, he would have abilities that ordinary people could only dream of.
Kyle’s money no longer impressed him. Neither did his expensive clothes or his imported steaks.
Dan simply looked at him for a few seconds before pushing his cart forward.
"Enjoy your groceries."
Kyle’s smile faded slightly.
He clearly hadn’t expected such a calm response.
"That’s it?"
Dan stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Did you want something else?"
Kyle’s jaw tightened. For some reason, Dan’s calmness seemed to irritate him more than an argument would have.
"No. Nothing."
Dan gave him one last look before continuing toward the front. He had no intention of wasting his time arguing with someone like Kyle when there were far more important things to worry about.
However, just as he began walking away, the system’s voice suddenly sounded inside his mind.
[Detected extreme hatred and killing intent directed toward Host.]
Dan’s steps slowed.
[Host should take note.]
[Hatred and killing intent directed toward Host should be regarded as hatred and killing intent directed toward Host’s Ultimate Family.]
Dan frowned. ’What?’
The system continued.
[System has classified Kyle Preston as a potential enemy of the Ultimate Family.]
Dan glanced back. Kyle was still standing beside his shopping cart, watching him leave.
[Does Host wish to eliminate the target?]
[System advises Host to eliminate the target before his hatred and killing intent develop to uncontrollable levels.]
Dan’s expression immediately became strange. ’Are you serious?’
He looked around the supermarket. Shoppers were everywhere, cameras covered the ceiling, and employees were moving between the aisles. Kyle was standing less than twenty meters away.
’What are you even saying?’ Dan thought under his breath. ’I’m in a fucking supermarket. A public place. I can’t just kill this guy here.’
He shook his head.
’Besides, I can understand hoarding supplies because an apocalypse is coming. But killing someone simply because they’re carrying some hatred toward me?’
Dan found the idea ridiculous. ’I can handle the guy.’
[System is being honest and genuinely wishes the Ultimate Family the best.]
Dan rolled his eyes.
[System understands Host’s current circumstances and acknowledges Host’s decision to temporarily refrain from eliminating Kyle due to the public environment.]
[The Apocalypse has yet to descend.]
[The current laws, social order, and moral restraints of human civilization remain active.]
[However, the fact that the Apocalypse has not yet descended does not mean Host should underestimate Kyle’s hatred.]
Dan’s amusement faded.
The system wasn’t telling him to murder everyone who disliked him. It was warning him that the Apocalypse could change people.
Once civilization collapsed, the restraints that prevented certain individuals from acting on their darker impulses might disappear.
[The System has concluded that, due to the Host’s slight negligence caused by his current circumstances and environment, enemies of the Ultimate Family may pose an unnecessary threat to the Host and his family in the future.]
[System is calculating the necessary resources and abilities required for Host to protect the Ultimate Family during emergencies.]