13

Reverend Apocalysis: Reality Surpassed Fiction

Chapter 13 - Supply Shopping

Anton closed his eyes for a few minutes to rest his eyes and organize his thoughts. He knew the destination he was heading towards, and before that, he needed to be sure of what he was about to do.

As he had planned, besides purchasing resources, he wanted to locate part of what he couldn't store at home near a church that was no more than a kilometer away from his house. He could use that place to store many of the things he could buy.

But the most important thing now was to fill his house with the necessary supplies to stay safe. He needed that to be ready, considering that he had to heed his father's warnings.

"First, I need to hire staff..." Anton thought, slightly drowsy, while listening to the radio.

"The NASA team keeps an eye on the massive sunspots on the Sun's photosphere. Recently, the sunspots have been causing small explosions, reaching a critical level."

"The recent solar flare was very large, causing a malfunction in communication equipment."

"Earth's electromagnetic waves can travel into space from various electronic devices and expose particles, causing communication disruptions."

As these news reports were being broadcasted, two small trucks were heading to a special place to hire daytime workers.

"That news has been on television for days; I hope it doesn't really harm us, or I'll have to quit work," said the driver, a man around forty-five years old.

"I guess we brought this upon ourselves. Are you sure we can hire workers at the place we're going to?" Anton opened his eyes and looked at the driver.

"Of course, unemployed immigrants gather in that place. They usually hang around there, and as a contractor, you can choose whom to hire. Of course, you should know that they charge a certain amount of cash per day, and the work shouldn't expose them directly."

Unemployed immigrant workers were something present in all countries worldwide. Specifically in the United States, in recent years, they had arrived like an avalanche, and in a way, those who came to work were perfect for the country. However, it wasn't entirely true because some didn't come to work honestly.

For example, in recent years, Ecuadorian gangs had increased in the streets, and their influence was such that it began to be a real problem for the country. That was resolved with a large-scale deportation, regardless of how the situation was handled; everything improved in a way, but the reputation of illegal workers worsened.

But getting back to the main topic, as long as you had money, there was nothing better than looking for men willing to work and earn money. At this moment, as they headed to the place called the hot work spot, Anton analyzed his plan for work.

Firstly, he needed ten workers to take charge of buying and continuing to buy food for him. They wouldn't stop buying until the trucks were full of supplies, but the detail was that he would hire another ten workers to select the purchases and load them onto the trucks.

The last ten would be responsible for putting all the supplies into wooden boxes and labeling them as they were. Once the trucks were full, he would leave the place with the drivers, and they would leave the trucks at home for a day.

This way, the workers who stayed at home wouldn't know at all what Anton was bringing home, keeping everything in complete mystery. He hadn't thought of it this way because if somehow one of these workers survived, due to the lack of supplies, they could go to his house to cause problems.

Doing the job this way was the only way he could think of at the moment, and it truly was the best idea to do it quickly. It was safer to buy online, but the big problem was that he didn't know when the release of that powerful biological weapon that could easily engulf the entire country would happen.

"We've arrived, sir..." The driver stopped and looked at Anton, who seemed to be meditating.

"Well, wait here..." Anton smiled naturally and got out of the truck. His gaze immediately fell on a man aged between thirty to forty who had been here since early in the morning and was waiting for work.

Everyone had stood up upon seeing two cargo trucks arriving. Some got nervous, but others didn't, and instead, they approached as if they wanted to be chosen first.

Anton looked at them all and said, "I need fifteen people, forty dollars per hour, and all you have to do is fill cardboard boxes with supplies while others go shopping for the same supplies with me. When the trucks behind me are full, the day will be over. If you want to work with me tomorrow, these same workers will be considered."

When Anton said this, it sounded too good to be true, and many even doubted, but some brave ones stepped forward. However, they were not enough according to the requirements, so he said, "I'll pay half of the dollars in advance; I have a good memory, so I'll remember your faces. However, if you don't want to work, then I'll leave this place with those who want to go with me."

Without waiting for a response, Anton walked to the truck and opened the door. "This is the only way to take you; it will be open at all times, so don't be afraid. Also, you'll be in contact with the drivers."

Having said that, Anton got into the truck, and out of all the people there, only fifteen got on. At the end of the day, many prioritized their safety over necessity, and this was the only way they could do it.

If those who went to work come back tomorrow, it means the work is safe. However, if they don't, it means the job is a place full of unknown dangers.

When they arrived at a large supermarket, Anton, who had prepared a wad of bills, began to pay the workers and said, "Everyone will take a shopping cart, and the products you need to put in the carts are listed on this note. Fill the carts to the top, and we'll meet at the cash registers to pay. Once they're full, two people will be at the entrance, and they will take the carts to the trucks."

"How many will stay to put the food in the boxes?" asked a man in his forties.

"Five people; we'll rotate the work so that five rest while another five resume shopping. We'll finish when the trucks are full, by then, I'll pay overtime, and you'll even have tip bonuses," Anton said as his gaze settled on the drivers.

Once everything was ready, Anton said, "All you need to know is that this will be donated to a company for refugees. That's the only thing you need to know, so the faster we go, the much better pay you'll get. So, let's get to work."

When ten people went with carts, Anton headed towards the drivers and said, "Once they're full, we'll return to my house. Go buy food when necessary and report any problems that arise."

"Understood, sir."

Watching this, Anton walked with ten people, and the large-scale shopping began. Alternating between supermarkets to avoid attracting attention, but he hoped everything would be much better and faster.