Chapter 148

Chapter 148 Winter’s Warning
How could anyone not fall head over heels for Blazing Sun Camp?
In this world, where else could they find a second heaven on earth?
Anywhere else would be a colossal loss. If they weren’t living and working their tails off here until the day they dropped, they were seriously missing out.
So, naturally, everyone in this new wave of arrivals maxed out their loyalty on day one.
And just then, another big reward dropped from the system.
Ding! Congratulations! Population milestone reached-domain size doubled!
Theresa’s personal domain-her portable pocket dimension-had just expanded to twice its size.
What was once the volume of a ten-story building was now two ten-story buildings. Twice the storage. Twice the freedom. Twice the hoarding!
“Oh, the joy of stockpiling…”
Just as she was savoring the moment, a familiar voice called out. Read full story at fiMs. Hall,” said Hugo, stepping forward.
Behind him, the newly registered residents had just finalized their documentation at the massive touchscreen terminal in the camp’s community store.
Blazing Sun Camp had gained new citizens.
“What’s the matter, Professor Wagner?” Theresa asked.
“We’re ready to start working immediately,” Hugo said, eyes clear and full of purpose. “But we’re short on equipment.”
Theresa nodded, already reading between the lines.
Just then, David hustled over, a little out of breath. “Theresa, winter’s coming fast. I’ve got a bad feeling this one’s going to be brutal. Our crops won’t make it unless we get greenhouse covers. But we’re out of materials.”
“Ms. Hall!” Hugo perked up like a lightbulb. “Our institute had just developed a brand-new polymer material before the world fell apart. It’s perfect for high-efficiency greenhouse insulation!”
Bingo.
Theresa suddenly remembered what Lucas had told her-there was a cold snap expected at the end of the
month.
She had a vague memory from the early apocalypse years: vicious snowstorms, relentless cold fronts. Her,
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old camp used to grow crops too, but everything froze to death come winter. People starved. Every year.
Years two through four were the worst-three solid years of deadly blizzards and droughts. No crops. Zero harvests. Everyone relied on scavenging just to survive.
It was hell on earth.
But not this time.
Not at her Blazing Sun Camp.
This time, Theresa would prepare. She would build. She would protect her people.
First step? That polymer greenhouse was a must.
“Where’s your research facility?” she asked Hugo. “I’ll bring back everything myself.”
One hour later, Theresa returned from the residential area, belly full from dinner.
Hugo and his team had eaten like they hadn’t seen food in years. Every household had chipped in, laying out a neighborhood-wide feast like a buffet line at a block party. Tables spilled into the streets, and everyone brought their best dishes.
Hugo’s crew didn’t waste a single thing. Not one crumb. They cleared every plate, even after being reassured the leftovers would go to the pigs.
That just made them eat harder.
Theresa asked David and Leo to help get the newcomers settled-find them housing, assign them to their workstations.
Because at Blazing Sun Camp, production was everything.
Besides Hugo and the researchers, everyone else would eventually pay their way-ten points a day in taxes. They’d get a one-month grace period, but after that, everyone needed to contribute.
No freeloaders.
Hugo and his researchers were offered a salary-400 points a month. But they still had to pay the daily ten-point tax, so their take-home ended up being just 100 points.
Why not just give them a clean 100 and call it a day?
Because Theresa understood people. If she gave something away for free, people stopped trying. But if they earned it—even through a system of give-and-take-they stayed driven.
Giving them more and then taxing most of it kept the pressure on. They had to work hard. If they slacked off, they wouldn’t last a week here.
Of course, everyone had the option to farm or raise livestock on the side for extra income.
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grow.
Work hard, and they’d be rewarded.
And that vitality? It was contagious.
Theresa finished settling this batch of recruits, then headed back to her bunker with Kyle at her side.
She checked the coordinates Hugo had given her.
Tomorrow, they’d head out.
They needed to retrieve the research gear and get those polymer greenhouses up before the cold set in.
There was only one hitch-Hugo’s old lab was in Ansford.
“Kyle,” she said, “rest up tonight. Tomorrow, we head to Ansford.”
“Got it!” Kyle gave a crisp nod.
Back in the bunker, he went about his chores-harvesting their little garden, feeding their dogs- everything in order.