Lián Xīng only had two months before the apocalypse would begin.

  She needed lots of currency, and lots of it.

  It was funny in a way, the standard currency would become almost useless after the apocalypse.

  Supplies would be of the highest demand. According to the information she’d been given by the Caretakers, hunters, farmers, and scavengers would be the careers of the future most needed. Barter systems would become the most common forms of dealings and transactions.

  The technological era would end, bringing them back to the simpler days.

  It was too early, too soon after her friend’s death, for her to sell her properties. It felt wrong, even if she had gotten her permission.

  It was too soon to let the kids know what was coming. She knew she’d need to tell them eventually, but not now. Perhaps, though, she could somehow clue her grandfather in on what was going to happen.

  “Grandfather?”

  “Yes, XingXing.” He looked up from his desk. A collector of old antiquities, he also helped others acquire historical artifacts thought to have been lost to time.

  She pursed her lips, not sure how to go about this. “I need currency, lots of it.”

  He folded his hands before him, all his attention on her, “Are you in trouble?”

  “Not me specifically.” She took a breath of courage. “Everyone is going to be in trouble in two months.”

  “Is this why you came to this planet?”

  “What?” Her eyes widened and watched as her Grandfather only raised an eyebrow.

  “I met a Starlight Agent when I was young. Set to tasks for an alien species that traveled through time and space.”

  Lián Xīng couldn’t help but gape for a bit before she shook her head, “I’m a failure. I’m not one of their agents. I didn’t have one of the abilities that made the perfect agent.” Seeing her grandfather waiting patiently for her to continue, “I couldn’t shape shift. I… was left here but given information about the future.”

  “You told Zhang Limei, I expect.”

  Lián Xīng nodded, “She could tell immediately I was different no matter how I tried to hide it, and when we fell from a tree climbing and my broken arm reset itself and healed unlike hers… well, it was pretty much history then. She begged me to tell her everything. I was young and desperate for a friend, thankfully, she was the perfect one for me. I don’t think she ever told anyone my secrets. Only the twins got a sense when I visited after learning to heal a few scrapes here and there from my travels.”

  “What’s coming, Lián Xīng?”

  “The world will call it an apocalypse, as an infection spreads the world. Turning some into super-powered individuals while completely infecting others.”

  “Well then, it is best we make some currency, then.” Grandfather wasn’t poor by any means, but his money was in property, artifacts, and stocks. It would take time to sell all those things. He stood from his desk and asked her to follow him. He pulled a book from his bookshelf, opening it to an eye scanner. He scanned his hand and eyes before a pocket door opened. “One guest accompanying me.” He said to the automated security at the door. Turning on some lights at the entrance of the alcove, before walking down several flights of stairs, he paused, allowing Lián Xīng to pass him, and she gasped.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Grandfather gestured to the expansive space before them. “Welcome to my antiquities warehouse.”

  It looked like a treasure tomb from the old stories, filled to the brim with history. Gold statues, treasure chests full of gold, what looked like a galleon in the far back.

  “What in the world? Who are you, Grandpa?”

  He let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Oh, I was just a bit of an adventurer when I was younger. Museums stopped taking the physical artifacts, only wanting to scan them into the exhibits. I ended up having a lot of surplus. The countries they originated from had bigger things to take care of then and often wouldn’t let the items come into them or me bringing them. So, through the years, I made a business out of it. Many of my clients’ artifacts came from this trove.”

  “Are these adventures how you met a Starlight Agent?”

  He nodded, leaning against the wall. “She was beautiful and feisty. We had quite the romance, but it was not meant to be. She had to leave me.” He glanced at her. “She had this quality about her; she almost sparkled. You are like that too.”

  When he looked at her, in recognition now made sense.

  “I think we should have a series of auctions, two a week. We can have a gala here, the clients will get to see the trove. The first bids at the gala will go to a noble cause for one night, the rich do love a good charity. Then we’ll inform them the rest of the trove will be sold at private auctions every weekend for the next two months. They’ll be swarming.” Her grandfather grinned.

  “You would do this for me, on my word?”

  “I would give my only granddaughter the world.”

  She threw herself into a hug around this lovable old man.

  “Thank you, Grandpa.”

  They decided to make the gala in honor of Zhang Limei, with all the money going to her three favorite organizations: Animal Preservation, Orphanages, and Women’s Shelters. They involved the twins in the planning, they picked the colors for the theme (their mother’s favorite) gold and teal. They were included in each step of the designs, their opinions of great import to both Lián family members.

  Soon, the day before the weekend arrived, and the villa was dressed in turquoise and gold. The caterers had made simple but high-end appetizers, and a string quartet played in the corner of the grand hall, and the music filtered out into the gardens in the courtyard.

  The rich filtered in, admiring the villa’s old and well-maintained estate. Excitement in their voices as they got to at last see the famed treasures of the Collector as he was known in their circles.

  The kids came into the courtyard dressed in the traditional robes in their mother’s favorite colors. They looked around at the people around them in wonder in curiosity.

  “I’m surprised you had an event like this so soon after their mother’s death.” A cold undertone spoke behind her.

  Lián Xīng turned, and there stood Chen Jiehong; she bowed her head in greeting. “I told them it was in honor of their mother, and they wanted to be included. All of the food you’ll notice is a variation of Zhang Limei’s favorites. I think it’s good for them to be out and about. I’ve also set a time limit for them to be around so many people just in case they get overwhelmed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll check on my charges.”

  Nearing the twins, she looked over their faces, looking for a hint of being uncomfortable.

  “You’ll let me know immediately if you want to leave early, won’t you?”

  Huáng Mùchén shook his head, “It’s very grand, but its not stuffy. Mom would have liked it.” He got a sad little look in his eye.

  Lián Xīng gave him a side hug before feeling her robe tugged by Huáng Měi Lán. “Yes, Měi Lán?”

  “I don’t like how he stares at you.”

  Lián Xīng had resolved to ignore Chen Jiehong’s stare, but it seemed even the children noticed.

  “He’s just worried about how you two feel about the gala. He thinks it’s too soon to be having a party.”

  “But Mom loved parties!” Měi Lán exclaimed.

  Lián Xīng smiled. “I know.”

  Other than the uncomfortable stares from the solicitor, the rest of the gala went wonderfully. A rich baron from another country purchased the galleon, which ended up being the biggest sale that night (not just in size but in currency).