Chapter 18


    However, the man''s raft seemed to be packed with supplies. In these times, he who had more


    supplies was in danger.


    Taking advantage of the blurred visibility, she reached behind to grab two backpacks from Arcadia,


    and then paddled forward.


    This man’s stature and his height looked familiar. It had to be the man from 1801, Jasper. Even with


    a raincoat and mask on, she recognized him instantly. No wonder Rosie was so healthy. She was


    being fed by him, who scavenged everyday.


    Birds of a feather had nothing to be embarrassed about.


    Jasper also recognized the woman in the mask as Ste. He nodded a quick greeting in the pouring


    rain. After securing his kayak, he reached out to help. Ste was not one to put on airs and passed


    over the two waterproof backpacks, allowing him to assist her onto the dock before she carefully


    stowed the rubber boat.


    Neither spoke a word as they carried the supplies up the stairs. Jasper had a lot of supplies. He


    would probably need to take several trips. Ste helped him carry a couple of bags.


    Back on the 18th floor, they shared a quick nce before turning to unlock their respective doors.


    Once inside, Ste drank a bowl of hot ginger tea sweetened with brown sugar, changed out of her


    wet clothes, and hurriedly showered and dried her hair. Outside, dawn was breaking and Jasper


    had already moved all his supplies. She wiped the water stains in the hallway and then knocked on


    Ang''s door.


    The couple, thinking they were being robbed, came out brandishing a knife.


    Ste handed Ang $2000, speaking in a low voice, “The storm has passed. You should leave


    quietly as soon as possible. Try not to let anyone notice. The supermarket on University Hill has


    four floors. It sits on high ground, so it probably isn''tpletely flooded. I remember that the


    owner''s family lives in the supermarket. They might open for business. Don’t worry about the prices.


    Just buy food that will keep you full andst a while.”


    On her way back, she had purposely detoured to check the supermarket. Its lights were on, and


    several kayaks were parked outside.


    The disaster had caught everyone off guard. Both the supermarkets and wholesale markets were


    flooded, and it was quite possible that even the national grain reserves in the city had been flooded.


    Almost all the food was underwater. Even if the military wanted to provide aid, they would be


    helpless. That’s why there was no aid.


    Outside, chaos ensued as people fought for food to survive.


    Ste remembered clearly from her previous life. The supermarket had been nationalized by the


    government and had opened its doors early for limited purchases. The citizens could buy items on a


    firste-first-serve basis, cash only. In an era of electronic payments, who still used cash? And


    how many people had thought to withdraw cash before the storm?


    So, those who didn''t have cash but wanted to live, had no choice but to resort to violence.


    Policemen had guns, but who would dare to shoot at starving civilians? And with few bullets, who


    would they shoot?


    They were all human, after all, and no one wanted tomit a crime. People’s money was just


    numbers, either in the bank or in their PayPal ounts. They couldn''t take it out!


    One afternoon, Ste swam to the supermarket with a stic bucket. Everything had been looted,


    and there were horrifying bloodstains all over the floor and walls.


    Ang was startled. "Will the supermarket really open?"


    "I can''t be sure, but it''s better than waiting around." Ste urged, "You should go early. Once the


    others wake up ande to their senses, there won''t be anything left for you."


    As if she had just woken from a dream, Ang rushed back into her room with Lukas to change.


    "Ste, let''s go together."


    "I still have a bag of rice at home. I’ll pass this time." Ste made an excuse. "Besides, if we all


    leave, what will happen if someone breaks in? You can spend all the money. If you manage to buy a


    lot, you can share some with me."


    "Sure, we will hurry back."


    Ang was still confused. Ste had given them the money, so how could she ask Ang to go


    out? "Consider it a loan. If I manage to buy something, we can split it."


    "Bring something for self-defense, and be careful."


    As soon as it was light, Ste hurried them downstairs. She had given them a heads-up. How much


    they could grab would depend on their luck.


    After locking the door, Ste didn''t have time to rest. She started organizing Arcadia. She left the


    sr energy storage box in Arcadia, and the other equipment was moved to arger room of the


    house. She took out a pile of supplies from the supermarket, removed the excessive packaging that


    took up space, then sorted them intorge stic bags or sealed them in cardboard boxes. The


    important supplies were kept in Arcadia, while snacks and other non-essential items were kept in


    the house, clearing up several cubic meters of space.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Ste transformed into a packing genius, meticulously organizing over a hundred cubic meters of


    precious supplies. She wasn''t sure how long she would live, but these supplies wouldst until her


    natural death. But who knew what the future held?


    If conditions allowed, who wouldn’t want to live a better life, with more abundance and pleasure? It


    was always good to be prepared.


    Her crazed packing even extended to the camper van, which she filled with essential supplies.


    Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was past nine. She could feel an unusualmotion


    downstairs. The storm had passed, but the rain was heavier. It was less threatening, and the young


    and brave took to the flooded streets, some with buckets or basins, others with lifebuoys or wooden


    nks.


    Griffith was and of abundance in the south, and although industrial development had elerated


    in recent decades, there were still many fishponds in the suburbs. Many locals had wooden boats.


    Some rowed their boats into the residential area to look for long-lost family members or rtives,


    while some vigers even brought out bigger boats to form teams to look for people or supplies.


    There were rubber boats and kayaks, but they were extremely rare. Unless people lived in a city on


    the water, who would keep such things at home??


    Ste watched the neighborhood from the balcony, asionally looking for Ang and Lukas.


    About half an hourter, she spotted the familiar color of Ang''s rubber boat,den with supplies.


    She was about to go downstairs when suddenly several men swam out from building 3, heading


    straight for the rubber boat.


    They moved quickly, but Ang and Lukas reacted swiftly, too. Lukas paddled furiously, while


    Ang swung her paddle towards their heads.


    Ste rushed out with a knife, only to see Jasper’s door opening at the same time. Jasper, dressed


    casually, was as aloof as ever. "I''ll go with you."


    They both understood the principle of mutual dependence. Ste didn''t refuse, and the two of them


    quickly went downstairs.


    The water had flooded up to the fourth floor, and the stairwell was crowded with people looking to


    find a way out.


    People saw Ang''s rubber boat nearing the shore with the supplies on board, which could only


    mean survival. Their eyes were filled with resentment, anger, and even hatred. They watched with


    schadenfreude as the couple was robbed.