Chapter 165
The apartment market was chaotic, so Ste suggested to Jasper, "What about trying our luck in the
vi district?"
Indeed, not only did the lower ss survivors flock here, but also the wealthy with a keen eye for
opportunity.
The vi district was a couple of miles from the beach, nestled on a hill and located near the port.
As they drove along the coastal road, they could glimpse the vis hidden among the trees.
They reached the vis quickly. At the foot of the hill, there was a security booth with a dozen or so
armed guards patrolling.
As they saw a car approaching, they became alert and gestured for them to stop from afar. They
were all dressed in security uniforms.
Ste rolled down the window and asked, "Are there any houses for rent?"
The guards, overwhelmed by the smell of sweat, almost dismissed them right away. One of them,
seeing Ste and Jasper''s ragged clothes and old car, impatiently said, "No, you should leave. You
can''t afford to live here."
Ste wasn''t offended. She was used to this kind of arrogance from her days ofworking for
business. She took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and handed it over, "Can you help us
out, mister?"
The guard''s eyes widened at the sight of the cigarettes. He hadn''t smelt tobo in two years. He
used to smoke a pack a day, but now he couldn''t even afford a decent meal, let alone a cigarette.
He quickly pocketed the cigarettes, fearing someone else would snatch them if he was too slow.
The guard''s attitude changedpletely. He said with a smile, "Sure, there are houses for rent, but
the rent is a bit high."
He looked Ste and Jasper over again. Despite their ragged clothing and tired faces, their
physique suggested they were more than they seemed.
Ste asked about the rent, "How much is it?"
“All vis here are rented out as a whole, and most of them have been rented by the wealthy. The
only ones left are near the top of the hill.”
The guard, whose name was Rob, introduced the district. There were hundreds of houses, which
had been renovated after the severe cold and rented out to the wealthy who migrated to the
seaside.
Renting was simple, as long as you met the requirements.
“The requirements are a bit high, but it’s all for the safety of the tenants.” Rob exined: “We have
24-hour patrols here, and we have good connections. Ordinary refugees dare not break in. You
don’t have to worry about safety if you live here.”
Ste nodded in understanding, then asked, "What about the rent?"
"300 pounds of food per month, we don''t ept seafood or salt."
300 pounds of food? Ste was taken aback. On the way here, they had met vigers who only
asked for 8 pounds of food for a month''s rent. But this was the vi district, and it was bound to be
more expensive.
Ste looked at Jasper, seeking his opinion with her eyes.
Safety was their priority as they had brought Cooper and Rosie with them. Jasper had no
objections. Although the rent was high, Ste''s Arcadia could grow crops, so it wasn''t a problem.
Ste asked in detail, "What type of food?"
"Cereal, oil, grains. Tea, cigarettes, and alcohol are counted separately. Legumes like soybeans are
also epted. If it''s potatoes or sweet potatoes, the quantity should be increased."
"How much more for potatoes?"
"Double for frost-resistant potatoes, and fifty percent more for ordinary potatoes."
Ste had no objections, "Can you show us the houses first?"
Rob had no objections. He returned to the security booth, hopped on his patrol scooter and slowly
drove towards the vis on the hill.
Ste opened the car window, observing her surroundings. Judging from the security personnel and
the scooter, the security measures in the vi district seemed pretty solid. The trees on the hill had
survived the freezing conditions, the moist air had revived them and they were now sprouting fresh
green leaves.
The vis were built along the winding hill road, with a building every few dozen meters. Each was a
two-and-a-half-story cottage. Many of them had sr generators installed on the roof, and the
balconies and windows were all enclosed with stainless steels.
The wind was strong near the sea, so there was plenty of water vapor due to therge temperature
difference between day and night. The drought situation was much relievedpared to Griffith,
with lush green trees all around.
The car drove slowly, so Ste could even hear the sound of the diesel engine.
Some of the vis even had ss greenhouses, parasols, and beach chairs. There were beautiful
women wearing sunsses, sipping iced drinks, and sunbathing.
If you didn''t know better, you''d think this was a vacation paradise. It was as if the end of the world
was a mere fantasy.
Halfway up the hill, Ste looked down to see children ying ser on a rooftop.
Ste couldn''t help but sigh, realizing that even in the face of the end of the world, people''s lives
could still be worlds apart.
The vis halfway up the hill were surrounded by lush trees, so it wasn''t as hot. All of them had
already been rented out, only three near the top of the hill were still vacant.
Rob stopped the car and opened the vi gate, "You can drive your car in."
Seeing Rosie step out of the dpidated car didn''t surprise Rob. But when he saw the majestic dog,
he was taken aback.
There were a couple of households in the vi district that kept pets, including cats and dogs, but
they were all small pets that didn''t eat much. This dog, however, was a different story. It was big and
robust, indicating that its owners must be well-off.
Rob couldn''t help but take a second look, only to find the dog staring at him with murderous eyes. It
looked ready to attack at any moment, and Rob felt a shiver run down his spine. He quickly averted
his gaze.
Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Ste beckoned the dog, which immediately transformed from a fierce beast to a docile puppy,
obediently circling around her.
The vi was spacious, with a sculpture and a fountain in the front yard. The nts and flowers had
withered due to the high heat and drought.
The exterior was exquisite and grand. Each floor had four rooms. Most of the decent furniture was
gone, but the air conditioners were still on the walls. It was obvious that the ce had been
refurbished and renovated, with new pipes and all.
As she stood on the balcony, the blue sea stretched out beneath her.
So the high price tag was justified.
Ste was quite satisfied. They went to see the other two houses as well. They were simr in
design. The vis on the top of the hill were hotter due to theck of tall trees, but the view and
scenery were better.
Rob asked, "Do you n to rent?"
Ste didn''t rush to answer, "Rob, to be honest, we came here to do business. We want to sell sea
salt and dry goods. Can we do that?"
"As long as you have the connections, why not?"
Unable to resist his nicotine addiction, Rob lit a cigarette. His eyes were filled with delight and
confusion for a moment, but then he began to talk, "This damned weather forces people to find a
way to survive, and everyone is rushing to the seaside. There are too many people, and not
everyone can survive. You need a boat to go out to sea and fish, but the boats are either owned by
the state or in the hands of the rich.
“Some industrious folks, they''d harvest seawater to make salt, selling it to local stores or bartering it
for seafood. But when the weather got too hot, even salt making became a challenge, and many
people ended up with a fewyers of skin sunburnt right off.
“Then there were those looking for a free ride, the ones who resorted to robbing others. Some were
from the same town or the same region, banding together to cause trouble far and wide.
“A lot of people rented homes in the fishing viges, only to have their doors forced open in the
dead of night. Some thieves even specialized in kidnapping children."
While sharing these stories, he didn''t forget to warn the couple to keep a close eye on their kid
when out and about. As for the dog, it was best not to take him out, lest he disappear and the
owners themselves get targeted.