Rocky grinned. "So, which floor do you want? I can help move your stuff once you pick." "Third floor, please." Higher up meant better views, easier to watch people, and no noisy neighbors constantly passing by. Rocky nodded and handed her the key. "The third floor is all yours. But heads up—it gets pretty hot up top." "No problem." She had air conditioning anyway. "Want me to help with your luggage?" he asked again. Natalie shook her head politely. "I'll manage it myself, thanks. Go do your thing. Appreciate all your help today." She pulled out some liquor chocolates and handed them to him. Rocky was straightforward, but he knew how to read people and talk when needed. He might come in handy later. He beamed. "You're too kind! If you ever need anything, come find me." He knew things were different now. Wealthy folks didn't want anyone knowing what they had. They'd rather handle their supplies themselves than let anyone else touch them. He happily tucked the chocolates away like they were treasure. These days, sweets like that were worth their weight in gold—sweet, packed with calories, and enough to revive someone who hadn't eaten all day. This girl is generous! Rocky made a mental note to stick close to her and ride her luck. He'd check the registration form later to remember her name.Meanwhile, at the base entrance. Cassian parked a car a little away from Natalie's so he wouldn't draw attention. His turn had come. He'd noticed the special treatment she got. When the registration form was handed to him, he peeked at the entry above his. Natalie had written her info in bold, messy letters. He couldn't help but smile. Name: Bonnie Ashford Gender: Female Age: 22 Occupation: Hog Butcher Specialty: Slaughtering hogs It was pretty accurate, to be honest. He'd seen her calm and deadly before, swinging a blade and taking people down with ease.Cassian smirked and filled in his info. Name: Kash Holland Gender: Male Age: 28 Occupation: Livestock Farmer Specialty: Slaughtering chickens ... Natalie checked the entire third floor for hidden cameras or bugs. The villa had been flooded and abandoned for a long time. It was dirty, cluttered, and filled with broken furniture. Good thing she didn't plan to stay long. She just cleaned the bedroom and the bed. Once it was tidy, she hauled her luggage upstairs. Even though the place seemed empty, it was still someone else's turf. She had to be careful and only use her storage space when she was certain no one was watching or listening. If anyone noticed she hadn't carried much but still had food and supplies, it could be a problem. So, she moved everything slowly, trip by trip. After hanging up the curtains, she finally exhaled. With the heat, it was a good thing she had her climate suit. Otherwise, she might've passed out. After a short break, Natalie fed Lucky. Then, pulled out a smoothie bowl and iced juice from the storage space for herself. She ate comfortably, installed the air conditioner, and made the bed. When everything was ready, she put Lucky's collar on, locked the door, and headed downstairs.Pet owners got special privileges, so she decided to use walking Lucky as an excuse to explore. Her villa was technically in the inner circle but still near the edge. From what she'd seen today, where she lived basically reflected her status in the base. The closer to the center meant a higher rank. The innermost spot must be the leaders' houses. Natalie wandered deeper into the compound with Lucky. Hardly anyone was around. When she was wondering if she could reach the innermost villa or maybe even run into Kelvin, she spotted a metal gate ahead. The fence was over six feet tall and topped with electric wires. Two burly men were standing guard there.As soon as they saw someone coming, they shouted, "Hey! What are you doing here?!" Lucky had been trotting happily, enjoying the walk. The moment the guards yelled, she bared her teeth and growled, ready to lunge. Seeing Natalie's fierce dog, the guards immediately softened. "Ah, nice to meet you! We haven't seen you before. Are you new? Sorry, but you can't go past here." That was when Natalie noticed both had pistols on their belts. Cassiland Base was no joke. She'd only seen one gun on Owen before. Now, on her first day, she'd already spotted two. Backed by the Holland Group, they truly had power. She quickly pulled Lucky closer. "Lucky! Stay calm!"