Seven days told them Kain was serious. Since the day they had chosen their sides, Kain had made his conditions known. The decision to choose may seem abrupt to others. But, to Kain, it was a matter of time.

He had given them information. All they needed to do was use it. It didn’t escape his notice that they were looking to him for more information than he was willing to give.

The initial plan was to wait until they arrived at Paradise Gates, the luxury community. But when he saw them all step back, leaving only him and the children, he decided it would be best if he partially cut ties.

Even doing this, he didn’t avoid anyone. There was no reason to. The things he had brought were transparent. Whether food or drink, it was inspected before he entered the mansion. These past few days, all they did was take inventory.

Kain had fewer items on the surface. The space would never be common knowledge. The food inside was numerous. Whether frozen, dried, canned, or cooked, they were all available. The storage in the space could preserve the things inside.

It wasn’t infinite, but it could store enough food for them to eat for a number of years.

Another good thing about the storage was that he could place living things inside. They could not leave the storage, but would be placed in stasis. When the space reached Tier Three, the animals could leave and start their pastoral life.

Kain did not collect them as food for himself. Rather, he got them as food for the evolved creatures that would enter in the future. He also realized Ashton enjoyed research. Rather than let him use people, he thought animals would be best.

Over the course of the week, the mission to get Avery to call him Dad had not been completed. The biggest change was that the three children spoke to him more often. Even using the telepathic link to send him information about what was happening with the Hartwell’s. Perhaps knowing he was special, like them, made them feel closer to him.

Approximately two nights after the divide, he banned the children from going near Nicola’s room. Whether he did it on purpose or not, they nearly walked into his and Danielle’s intimate moment.

They say rich families are filled with scandals. Mr Hartwell is infertile. None of his children is actually his. Danielle and Amelia share the same mother, but a different father, and Nicola, who he thought shared Mr Hartwell’s DNA, was an adopted son who simply looked like him.

Peace reigned in the mansion for seven days, until two things shook its foundation.

First, the Hartwell’s discovered that the water level was rising. In the seven days since the flooding, the water level had risen more than 50 meters.

As for the second, ’there are greedy people everywhere.’

It was just another day at the mansion. There was tension after confirming the water level was rising. The usual morning banter wasn’t present. Brows were creasing with worry. They had begun to contemplate whether to move to Paradise Gates.

They were not to the point of panic, only concern.

The two sides had a conversation. They decided that if the water came up another 100 meters, they would leave before the mansion could take on water.

A bodyguard had gone out to test the water level as usual, when the growl of a motor boats rang out. The sound could be heard from far away. There was nothing in the vicinity besides the mansion.

The roar of the engine came closer.

Kain stood on the balcony looking at the boats speeding towards the mansion. He sent a link to the three children asking them to get Jake, Amelia and Veronica up to the room. He chortled, thinking he was using the children as walkie talkies.

He even had them saying ’over’ when they finished talking.

He waited, watching. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The doors of the mansion opened. The Hartwell’s had no sense of danger. Then again, they had armed guards. Guns were always a fearsome weapon.

When the boats came ashore, he was sure the number on the boats outweighed the number in the mansion, his group included.

The door behind him opened and six people walked in. They came to the balcony. Kain pointed.

"What do you think’s gonna happen with them?" he asked no one in particular. "Dom don’t say anything."

In his conversations with the children he learned of Dominic’s ’knack’ for telling a person’s importance. They told him it was what helped them all these years.

"Boss, I don’t think they’re good people." Jake mumbled. His eyes were glued to one person in particular. Kain noticed but said nothing.

"Not all of them are bad. I like that one," Veronica pointed an index finger at a young man coming off the boat.

He had handsome features. He wasn’t as confident as some of the others. But the way his eyes moved around the mansion, surveying, not with greed, but calculation. Calculation, for Kain, isn’t always a bad thing.

Loyalty is the most important. He didn’t care if the guy was calculating, what he cared about was if he could be loyal.

Amelia made her judgement last. "I agree with Nicky, he’s good. But I also like the one in the hat."

Kain knew who she was referring to. He had seen the person the moment they stepped off the boat. In the sea of men, she was the only woman. She kept her hat covering her eyes. But it didn’t mean he didn’t see the tenacity in her bones.

"So it’s settled. These two are the new grunts. Let’s see if they have what it takes."

Now the choices have been made, Dominic couldn’t help saying his piece. "They’re 8’s."

"You shouldn’t define people by their numbers little man." Kain ruffled his hair. He looked up his chubby cheeks making Kain feel the need to pinch them. He restrained himself and placed a cocky grin on his face.

The team stayed on the balcony. Kain had called them up, not to choose new teammates. It’s because he expected something to happen.