'You can solve all the world's problems if you have money. And if money doesn't solve your problem, then you clearly did not have enough.'
This was a saying that still held true during the apocalypse, except instead of money, resources became the currency.
In the apocalypse, these resources took many different forms. From power and abilities to even items, make them place blind faith in you. But the most important one was humans.
As scummy as it felt to say, the only way to ensure someone's loyalty in the apocalypse was to make them have blind faith in you.
So how did Rin decide to do it? By spending money.
First, he compiled a list of minor characters from the original novel. There were a few mentions here and there of capable people the MC had wanted to recruit but had failed.
It was hard to recall specific individuals, but a company was a different matter. And Rin currently had his eyes on one such company.
And not just any company, but the one where the original MC had joined days before the apocalypse.
The original regression of the MC happened a few days before he was about to join. In his original timeline, the apocalypse had happened once the MC had already joined his new company, and those people had exploited him.
So during his second chance, the MC had decided to let them all die. No, it would be more appropriate to say that he had made sure they didn't survive.
From what Rin recalled, those office workers had been incredibly resourceful during the first timeline. And they had also been extreme believers in divine intervention. That was why the MC, who had not been a huge believer, had been mistreated by them.
Rin felt bad for the MC, but not enough to not take advantage of this opportunity. Now, he just needed to set his plan in motion.
__________
ENC Tech was a giant in the business world. It was made up of just 100 people but somehow managed to rank among the top companies.
When asked how this was possible, the founder and its employees only had one answer—we have the blessing of the almighty.
Many people believed ENC Tech to be a cult, or at the very least connected to one. But their records and actions were clean. The only unclear thing about the only unusual thing about them in divine power.
On a busy afternoon, their internal inbox got spam mail that caught their attention.
That inbox was only used to exchange emails within the company, so no outsider had access to it. So the sudden mail surprised them all.
"Hey, did you send this mail?"
"No. Maybe the boss sent it?"
"Do you think it's a curse?"
"No way. Why would someone curse us through email? Maybe it's an error message. Anyway, check it out."
They all gathered around and opened the email.
[You are the lucky ones who received this mail in time. This is a special message from the proxy of God.
This world will meet its doom within the next 3 years. Once that happens, I will send my aid to humanity in a form you'll recognize. If you want to survive, go to XXX place when you see the world turning red.
By meeting my messenger there, you all will be able to survive. However, if you tell this news to anyone else, then your fate will be cursed.
To save yourself and whether you spread the word… is up to you, my faithful followers.]
"Huh—! What is this? Some kind of prank? Let me see where this came from—"
The hacking expert of the team tried to trace the message back, but there was no path to follow. No matter how much he tried, he could not find the source.
"D-Do you think it's a divine message—?"
"No way. God might be omnipresent, but he's not going to use an email to contact us. I'm sure someone's playing a prank on us. Whoever is doing this, come out and say it. I promise I won't scold you."
No one stepped forward to confess the crime.
"We should…forget about it and go back to work. We have a lot to get done."
The youngest in the office proposed before she booted up her apps. The email was deleted but not forgotten.
And one month later, another email came with the same message. And then another came the next month.
Twice would be a coincidence, but the emails kept coming once a month.
"This is…not a prank, right? I cannot find a trace of who's sending this. Ugh, what do these people want from us?"
The oldest asked, only for the youngest to interrupt.
"You don't think it's real divine will, right? Is God…telling us what to do?"
"Don't be ridiculous. God does not care about such things."
"But what if the sky does turn red?"
"It won't. We have a lot of stuff to do. I also need to interview the people we are going to meet today."
The eldest picked up the papers and looked at the first name on top of the list.
'Albus Creed—21 years old. Looks like a decent candidate but has no experience. He will be easy to handle.'
__________
Two years and nine months passed quickly, and soon the time for the apocalypse approached. Each day felt heavier than the last and made Rin wonder if today would be the last time the blue sky shone above his head.
But days passed, and Rin dragged himself through school with much effort.
Reina had graduated a year ago and had joined a medical program (with his money). Shelly had offered to transfer to his school, but Rin had successfully managed to persuade her not to come.
He needed her to be at her current school to give her the perfect start to the apocalypse.
But the anticipation was killing him.
"Ugh, I would take the apocalypse over this anxiety—"
The world turned red within seconds, and everything changed. Rin heard static and watched as the air in front of him split apart.
[Welcome to the apocalypse.]
[Darn user, did you ask the apocalypse to start already? Your wish has been granted. For someone as special as you, we have decided to hasten the start of the apocalypse and bring it forward a week earlier.]
[I hope you will enjoy our special service and rate us 5-star for our service.]
"Well, fuck. This isn't what I wanted."