The next day arrived swiftly.

By seven o’clock in the morning, both Aria and Lila were already awake.

Not only had they gotten out of bed by themselves, but they had also brushed their teeth, taken their baths, changed into clean clothes, and eaten breakfast that Butler Melody had prepared.

It was obvious the girls wanted to return to the villa and continue playing with Pearl.

That was the only explanation.

Seeing their excitement, Ivy decided not to torture them.

Without wasting much time, she instructed Darren to take the children back to the villa.

Naturally, the girls nearly exploded with excitement.

Little Hope ended up going along as well.

Within minutes, Darren had loaded everyone into the truck and driven away.

Eventually, Ivy settled beneath the shade of the large apple tree inside the compound.

A glass of orange juice rested comfortably in her hand while a packet of biscuits sat on the table beside her.

The cool morning breeze brushed gently against her skin.

For several minutes, she simply sat there quietly.

Thinking.

After everything she had experienced in her previous life...

After witnessing that terrible death and then being given a second chance...

She understood the true nature of the apocalypse better than anyone around her.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips.

My base is thriving.

She stared toward the distant walls surrounding Hope Base.

The villa is thriving too.

Images of smiling survivors flashed through her mind.

Everyone is happy.

For a brief moment, a smile appeared on her face.

Then it faded.

But nobody can afford to become complacent in the apocalypse.

Her expression grew serious.

Anything can happen at any time.

One mistake.

One unexpected threat.

One powerful monster.

And everything could disappear overnight.

The thought alone made her stomach tighten.

She slowly rose from her seat and began pacing beneath the tree, her orange juice still in hand.

The peaceful atmosphere around her did little to ease her thoughts.

It’s better to eliminate threats early while they’re still manageable.

She took another sip.

And continue developing the base.

This is only the beginning of the apocalypse.

Her memories from her previous life remained vivid.

The horrors.

The suffering.

The endless struggle to survive.

The apocalypse lasted for years.

Far longer than most people imagined it would.

Her gaze drifted toward the horizon.

I want Hope Base to continue thriving even ten years from now.

Twenty years if necessary.

No one knows how long this apocalypse will last.

Maybe it will end someday.

Maybe it won’t.

Another sigh escaped her.

Rather than waiting for salvation...

Rather than hoping the nightmare magically disappears...

It’s better to build a life within it.

Adapt.

Grow stronger.

Live comfortably despite the chaos.

Her grip tightened slightly around the glass.

And make sure the people under my protection survive.

Just then....

"I’m back!"

Darren’s voice suddenly echoed through the compound.

She turned toward the entrance.

Moments later, Darren stepped out of the vehicle and began walking toward her.

The moment he got closer, he noticed the thoughtful expression on her face.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you okay?"

There was genuine concern in his voice.

Ivy blinked.

Then she smiled.

"Oh, I’m fine."

She walked over to the nearby table and placed her glass down.

"Just thinking."

Darren studied her for a moment before nodding.

"Fair enough."

Ivy folded her arms.

"How are the children?"

A smile immediately returned to Darren’s face.

"They’re doing great."

"And everyone at the villa?"

"They’re doing great too."

Darren leaned casually against the table.

"Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, and practically every survivor there asked me to send their regards."

Ivy couldn’t help smiling.

"That’s nice of them."

Darren laughed.

"Nice?"

He shook his head.

"Captain, they practically wouldn’t stop talking about you."

A mischievous grin appeared on Darren’s face.

"They kept praising you."

"Please stop."

"They called you a blessing."

"Darren."

"They called you their hope."

"Darren."

"They said...."

"Okay, that’s enough."

Both of them laughed.

Eventually, Darren’s expression softened.

The amusement disappeared from his face.

"You know..."

His voice became quieter.

"They’re right."

Ivy blinked.

"Hm?"

"In a world where countless people have died..."

Darren’s gaze drifted toward the distant walls.

"In a world where so many have lost hope..."

He looked back at her.

"You’ve given people something to believe in again."

The sincerity in his eyes made Ivy freeze.

"You’ve saved lives."

"You’ve built a home."

"You’ve given people a future."

A smile appeared on Darren’s face.

"You’re the very definition of hope."

For several seconds, Ivy simply stared at him.

Then....

Her cheeks began turning red.

"Oh my goodness..."

She looked away immediately.

"Darren."

"Yes?"

"You’re making this extremely awkward."

Darren burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, Ivy’s blush only deepened.

"I mean it," he said.

"Thank you," Ivy replied softly.

"There isn’t anything to thank me for."

Darren shrugged.

"I’m only telling the truth."

The two stood quietly for a moment.

Then Darren suddenly tilted his head.

"Anyway..."

His curiosity returned.

"What’s the plan for today?"

Immediately, a mysterious smile appeared on Ivy’s face.

Darren instantly became suspicious.

Whenever Ivy smiled like that, something interesting was usually about to happen.

"Oh, we definitely have somewhere to go."

Darren raised an eyebrow.

"Somewhere?"

Ivy nodded.

"Somewhere very important."

Her smile widened slightly.