Natalie gripped the tablet and scrolled through the offline files she had downloaded earlier. After a long search, she finally found the answer. The scorched seedlings were the result of over-fertilization. She went back to the fertilizing methods for echinacea and double-checked the dosage, wanting to be sure she hadn't miscalculated. Her brow tightened as she stared down, deep in thought. She retraced everything in her mind until the truth struck her. The last time she planted the seedlings, she used very little fertilizer and the echinacea had still thrived. That meant the soil inside the mansion wasn't the same as the soil outside. It was already packed with nutrients. Since the ground was fertile enough, it didn't need heavy supplements.So when she had followed the standard dosage this time, the seedlings were scorched by the excess. The realization hit hard, and she slapped her forehead in frustration. She stared at the dead sprouts scattered across the dirt with regret. There was no choice but to begin again. She cleared out the ruined plants and worked the damaged soil. She covered it with clean dirt and poured water over it to dilute the fertilizer. Still uneasy, Natalie chose to prepare a new plot instead. The old patch would remain empty, left to recover until it was ready for the next round of herbs. Natalie blinked into the storage space and worked without pause inside the mansion. She kept at it until dawn, when the ground was turned and new seeds were planted.When she opened her eyes again, daylight was streaming through the window. She pressed her fingers to her temples, feeling drained. A single night filled with killing, workouts, and farming had taken everything out of her. She felt completely exhausted. She rose, drew the curtains closed, and called to her dog. "It's morning. Time to sleep." Lucky stared at the tightly drawn curtains, puzzled. Why did her owner go out at night and sleep through the day now? That was the thought that went through her head. It had even forced her to change her own rhythm. She had stayed inside with her, unaware of how brutal the temperature outside had grown. She didn't know that people had already adjusted their daily lives to cope with the heat.All she knew was that staying with her owner was what mattered. If Natalie slept during the day and she at night, then they would never have time together. So Lucky curled up against her side and drifted into sleep. They both slept for ten straight hours before waking up. After a long rest, Natalie felt restored and sharp. She washed up quickly, and when she saw the sky outside had already darkened again, she ate a simple "breakfast" and rushed out the door. She had originally planned to stay home and rest after killing Braxton. She already has nearly everything she needed. And she knew from memory that the temperature was about to surge to 140 degrees in the coming days. Even with climate suit, her head would still be exposed, so she had to avoid stepping out in that kind of heat. But what Braxton had told her yesterday about Evernight made her think twice. Braxton had survived the apocalypse for years, lived through more than one catastrophe, and seen horrors no one else could imagine. Yet his voice had trembled when he spoke of it. That meant Evernight was a true threat. Still, all that meant was she needed more firepower. It didn't matter if it was mutant beasts or violent gangs. If it was carbon-based, then firearms could handle it. She already had a submachine gun stored in her space, which was enough for most fights.But if she could collect more weapons, she would be unstoppable. Since the heat had not reached 140 °F yet, she chose to make one more run for guns. This time, Natalie drove the Ford Transit. The Knight XV drew too much attention, and if anyone saw it, she would be remembered. The Ford Transit, though, blended into the streets. It was one of thousands. Even if it caught someone's eye, they would never link it to her. After an hour and a half on the road, Natalie pulled up to the Northlorn Police Department. The headquarters covered a large area. There were no apartments nearby, and the only structure around was an abandoned factory. Seeing no one in sight, she pulled on a hat and mask and slipped into the compound under cover of night.The building had six floors, and Natalie had no idea about its layout. She switched on a flashlight and checked room after room. Many doors were locked tight, making them impossible to break into. The place had clear signs of previous raiders, yet the locked rooms remained sealed. Others had come here with the same plan, but they had underestimated the department's security. Back in 2037, every unit had upgraded their systems. Even with the power grid gone and the networks offline, no crowbar or hammer could smash through a classified storage door. But Natalie had an edge. The walking through walls skill finally had its use. She only had to enter the storage space just outside a locked door, then guide her exit within three feet, and she would step right into the sealed room.