As the crowd around him buzzed with excitement and disbelief, Renault’s brother, Owen, stood frozen in place, his face darkening with fury.

"Renault, you're trying to steal from me? Do you think you can outbid me?" Owen muttered under his breath, his teeth clenched. Then he raised his voice, making sure everyone could hear, "I'll bid 2 billion! This yacht is mine."

Owen was determined. His funds were stretched thin, but he was certain Renault couldn’t afford to keep bidding. In his mind, Renault had no more money to back up his wild claims.

But Renault had no intention of backing down. He calmly raised his hand and called out, "2.5 billion. This yacht is mine."

The crowd erupted in shock. Owen stared at Renault, disbelief etched on his face. "You can’t afford this!" Owen shouted angrily, "You're bluffing, Renault! You don’t have that kind of money."

Renault smirked. "I’ll pay the first billion upfront, and I’ll have the remaining 1.5 billion ready before the final payment is due. Does that work for the auction house?"

The auctioneer, visibly surprised by Renault’s boldness, nodded quickly. "That works for us. As long as the terms are met."

The crowd murmured in disbelief at Renault’s audacity. Even Owen was stunned, his anger boiling over as his brother outbid him.

Owen couldn’t believe Renault had such deep pockets, but there was no denying that Renault had secured the yacht. Still, Owen was too prideful to admit defeat in front of the crowd.

"Let him have it," one of Owen's companions whispered urgently, "It’s not worth going broke over this. You can always get something custom-made later."

Owen nodded reluctantly, forcing a smile as he addressed the crowd. "Fine, Renault. You win this one," he said through gritted teeth, his eyes never leaving his brother. "I’ll find something better. Perhaps a yacht that’s even more impressive."

Despite Owen’s attempt to save face, Renault had already won the day. The yacht was his. The transaction was completed, and Renault could feel the tension in the air as many in the crowd watched him with newfound respect.

Renault’s win wasn't just about money. He had demonstrated that he wasn’t just playing around. He had outmaneuvered Owen, and everyone knew it.

After the auction, Renault made sure to finalize the paperwork and scheduled the delivery of his new off-road RV and yacht. He was building his collection of post-apocalypse vehicles, piece by piece.

Once everything was settled, Renault left the auction, the thrill of victory still fresh in his veins. He had outplayed Owen today, and that was just the beginning.

---

Back at his mansion, Renault checked his latest orders online. He had placed an order for a dozen "Nomad Pods." These portable, capsule-like shelters were about 3 meters long, designed for off-grid living. Each pod was equipped with sleeping quarters, similar to small dormitories, and was connected by a modular design, allowing multiple pods to be linked together.

The best part? These pods were designed to withstand severe weather conditions, including high winds and storms. They were perfect for his apocalypse shelter plan.

Renault had plans to use these pods as part of his survival base. He had ordered a batch to be delivered to his warehouse and planned to store them there until everything was ready.

Once his transactions were confirmed, Renault received a notification that his payment for the yacht was complete. He was officially the owner of one of the most luxurious apocalypse-ready yachts on the market.

Satisfied with the day’s events, Renault sat back and reviewed his plans for the future. He was still loaded with cash, but he knew he needed to be careful. There was always more to buy and prepare.

He soon received a call from Zhou Fei, a business associate, inviting Renault to a high-stakes evening game, but Renault declined. He wasn’t interested in any gambling or "games" for the night. He had enough to focus on without getting involved in their usual antics.

Instead, Renault decided to head back to his estate, where the renovations had just been completed. He had hired the best contractors to modify his mansion into a fortress—one that could withstand anything the world might throw at him.

The swimming pool had been converted into a massive water reservoir, with filtration systems installed to purify the water. A fully insulated greenhouse had been built, complete with solar panels and wind turbines to generate power. Diesel generators and backup batteries ensured that the estate would never run out of energy, even in the harshest conditions.

The villa itself had been reinforced with thick insulation to keep out the cold and fitted with solar panels across the roof. The windows had been replaced with bulletproof, insulated glass, ensuring both warmth and security.

Renault walked through the estate, inspecting the upgrades. The underground basement now held a massive coal-fired boiler, ensuring that even in the coldest winters, the house would remain warm.

The entire perimeter of the estate had been fortified with a reinforced steel fence, standing over three meters tall and topped with razor wire. Renault smiled to himself as he looked around. Nothing was getting in here without his permission.

Renault was particularly proud of the bunker he had installed beneath the villa. It was fully stocked with months of food, weapons, and medical supplies. This was his ultimate shelter—a place where he could ride out any disaster in comfort.

After finishing his inspection, Renault returned inside, feeling a sense of calm. The world might be falling apart, but he was ready. He would live in luxury, even as everything else collapsed.

Later that evening, Renault decided to take out his sister, Grace, for dinner. They went to the popular seaside restaurant, a favorite of theirs. He had already reserved a private room for the evening and arranged for their favorite dishes to be prepared.

Halfway through their meal, Grace leaned over the table and handed Renault an envelope. "Here," she said, "You’ve been spending a lot lately, and I wanted to give you something to help cover the costs."

Renault opened the envelope to find a check for 2 million yuan. Grace had managed to save up this money by working nights, and she was offering it to help Renault with his recent expenses.

Renault was stunned. "Grace, you didn’t have to do this," he said, "You’ve already done so much."

But Grace was determined. "No, Renault," she said firmly, "I want to help. Please, take it. I know how important all of this is to you."

Renault reluctantly accepted the money, feeling a deep gratitude for his sister’s support. He promised himself that he would repay her kindness a thousand times over when the time came.

As the night drew to a close, Renault slipped a survival kit, including warm clothing, sleeping bags, and a survival knife, into Grace’s car without her noticing. He wanted her to be safe, no matter what happened in the future.

When Grace eventually discovered the gift, she was both confused and amused. "Renault," she said with a laugh, "It’s summer. Why are you giving me winter clothes?"

Renault just smiled, knowing that when the time came, she would understand.