Cars were changing hands easily. Seeing someone succeed, more and more people started scrambling for cars. After all, sitting in a car while waiting in line was way cooler and less miserable than standing out in the heat. Most cars had gas and supplies stashed inside, so grabbing one was like hitting the jackpot. Things were getting messier by the minute. Even if drivers locked their doors, some people just smashed windows and went for it. There weren't many staff around, but the survivors were packed everywhere. It was chaos. The staff's megaphones got drowned out by the crowd's roar. Even the Hummer caught people's attention. Its doors were locked, though. Natalie cracked a window just a little, and Cassian stuck his shotgun out. Nothing scared people off like a loaded gun. The would-be carjackers backed off immediately, moving on to easier targets. Cassian held his gun cautiously. "You were right. The new base's management is still a mess." Natalie looked out. "The world has changed. Old rules don't work anymore. Newer systems take time." He frowned. "Should we just go home for now?" She nodded. "Yeah. Let's leave and come back when it's calmer." Whoever could run a place like that had to be sharp. It wouldn't stay that chaotic forever. Just as they turned to leave, a gunshot rang in their ears.It wasn't Cassian. Two squads of armed guards jogged out from inside the base. A few more shots, and the troublemakers up front went down. The guards didn't say a single word. A few shots were enough to shut everyone up. The rowdy ones slunk back over to the right side of the line, quietly taking their spots. Natalie smirked. That was more like it. Old-fashioned peaceful ways didn't cut it now. Force was what worked. People who used to wait politely in line now didn't even have enough to eat. Survival came first, manners later. Order returned. Natalie kept their car in line, not planning to leave anymore. Then, a family member of one of the dead started screaming. "The soldiers killed someone! They don't care about life! "My husband just tried to grab a car. That's robbery, not a death sentence! "Who gave you the right to kill like this? Who's in charge here? I want to file a complaint!" The lead guard didn't hesitate and fired again. Bang! The woman collapsed, her eyes wide open and never blinking again. Silence fell over the place. No one dared speak again. Everyone snapped back to reality. It was the apocalypse. The armed guards weren't here to protect—they were here to keep order.With the guards in control, things got organized fast. The left lane moved faster, and soon it was Natalie's turn. The staff registered them and collected food. To get into the base, each person had to hand over five pounds of food. Natalie already knew that from her previous life. Since they'd come to check out the housing, their car was packed with food. They handed over a small bag of grains, got registered, and received an ID card each. The staff explained, "This card lets you in and out through the gates. Remember, there's a curfew. After sunset, the gates close. No one gets in or out." Natalie nodded in understanding. It was called a base, but it felt more like a small town. It was big enough for a lot of people, but still manageable. The curfew kept raiders from causing trouble at night. Still, no matter how careful they were, a sudden fog could roll in and mess things up. Natalie glanced at the gate. Low visibility would make defending it tough. And when chaos hit, it wasn't just outsiders causing trouble. Things inside could also go completely haywire. Fires could break out anywhere, and the place could turn into chaos. The staff kept reminding them, "Hold onto your ID card. Later, the base will have shops and a points system. You'll need it for shopping and trading points." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "So it's like an all-in-one card?" "Exactly," the staff said. "Once you're inside, go check in at the office. Enjoy your stay!"Natalie looked at the card in her hand. She had wanted one so badly in her previous life, but she never got it. Now, she had it just like that. It meant she could come and go from the official base anytime she wanted. She slipped the card into her pocket, started the car, and drove inside. Inside, the crowd finally started to thin out. The cars ahead were gone, and a few survivors were slowly walking deeper into the base with their luggage.