Chapter 171


    A five or six kilometer distance from the coastline, you''d find what they called the Odeberg Mansion,


    but it was more aptly described as an estate.


    Nestled against the mountains, with guards patrolling every three steps and posts every five, the air


    was thick with the scent of money.


    The estate was massive, security everywhere. Once you parked, you had to pass through a security


    checkpoint. Any weapons carried would be detected and confiscated.


    Ste, holding a portable mini-fridge, entered the mansion.


    In the living room, a middle-aged man in casual attire anxiously awaited their arrival. As soon as the


    medical staff saw them, they rushed over, "Did you bring the vine?"


    Inside the fridge, a single vine was stored. After inspecting it and finding no issues, the medical


    staff nodded at the middle-aged man.


    Warren contemted for a moment before instructing his secretary. After a while, the secretary


    returned with a box of exquisite jewelry. Inside was a dazzling gem ne — the Azure Heart.


    "This ne is part of my collection. I bought it at an auction for 120 million. You can hold it as


    coteral," Warren offered.


    Before the apocalypse, this ne would''ve caused quite a stir. But now, it paled inparison


    to a yacht.


    It was a gem of the highest quality, definitely a piece Arcadia would love, and it was a fair deal.


    The medical staff injected the old man with the vine and observed him for half an hour for any


    adverse reactions before allowing Ste and her team to leave.


    Upon leaving the Odeberg Mansion, Austin reassured them, "Don''t worry. The Warrens are wealthy


    and influential. They won''t turn on us over a tetanus vine."


    Ste wasn''t worried. Even without the yacht, this trip was still profitable.


    On their drive back to the vi, they noticed people lurking on the roadside. They ignored them,


    choosing to continue on their way home and prepare food for storage.


    Rosie wanted bread, so Ste brought out the dough mixer and began preparing various fillings.


    At dawn, Jasper drove the water truck while Ste drove the seven-seater to trade. They traded 500


    pounds of dry goods, filling the car to the brim before driving back.


    It was just around five in the morning, with the barest hint of dawn on the horizon. At a bend in the


    coastal road, Jasper slowed the car to a halt.


    The road was strewn withrge stones. Without their night vision goggles, they would''ve crashed


    into them.


    The car came to a steady stop, and they sat quietly without getting out. After about ten minutes, the


    others couldn''t help but show themselves.


    One, two...


    Over thirty people appeared, of all ages, some wielding sticks, others brandishing knives. Their


    faces were numb and cold, their eyes glinting with greed.


    Ste got out of the car, with a crossbow ready in her hand, and coldly ordered, "Move. I don''t want


    to kill anyone today."


    But no one moved. "We don''t want to kill you either. Just leave the car and goods."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Ste looked at them, "There''s no way around this?"


    A young man among them retorted, "You have money. What''s a car full of goods to you? If you don''t


    want to die, scram!"


    Ste was calm, "So we have money, and that makes us an easy target?"


    The young man got impatient, brandishing his sharp knife, "Enough with the nonsense. Leave the


    car behind or don''t me us for getting rough."


    Once it was clear that they wouldn''t back down, Ste didn''t hesitate. She fired an arrow, hitting one


    man right in the heart.


    The young man didn''t fall, instead, a middle-aged man next to him did. He had been silent the


    whole time, but Ste noticed the way others looked to him. He was definitely the leader.


    "Mayor!" Someone cried out, "The Mayor is dead!"


    Chaos erupted among them. People began to shout and brandish their weapons, ready to attack.


    Ste didn''t flinch. She threw her crossbow back into the car and pulled out a submachine gun from


    Arcadia, her finger on the trigger, "If you''re so eager to die, I''ll send you to join him."


    They were shocked, not expecting someone driving a beat-up car to have a submachine gun. They


    immediately halted their advance and started to retreat.


    Ste sneered, "I don''t have many bullets, but I have enough to send you all to hell!"


    They retreated now in a speed faster than sh. Under the overwhelming disy of firepower, no


    one dared to make a sound.


    She was a madwoman, who was chatting amiably one moment and killing the next. They just


    wanted to rob for food. They didn''t want to kill, or to be killed.


    "Stop!" Seeing them trying to escape, Ste warned.


    They immediately raised their hands, "Please, don''t kill us."


    Some were shaking, and some even wet themselves, all the bravado gone.


    Ste ordered, "Clear the stones. Throw the body into the sea."


    They were too afraid to disobey, scrambling to clear the stones and dispose of the body as ordered.


    Then, filled with resentment, anger, and a sense of injustice, they scattered and fled. They were


    afraid they''d be the next one to be gunned down by the madwoman.


    Ste returned to the car and put away her weapons. She felt no sympathy for these cowards.


    They were clearly novices resorting to robbery out of desperation. Today, they failed because they


    encountered her. But what if they hade across someone else?


    Once they tasted sess, their courage would grow. Before they knew it, they would evolve into


    true monsters.


    Apart from trading, the three of them and Cooper stayed in the vi, enjoying the air conditioning


    during the scorching heat, sleeping when tired and stockpiling food when idle.


    Three days went by in the blink of an eye. Austin came over in high spirits, "Dexter is okay now, and


    you can pick up your yacht tomorrow."


    Also, as a token of appreciation for their help in finding the medicine, Warren gifted them 3000


    pounds of dry goods. Ste was surprised. She hadn''t expected them to be so honest.


    "Austin, you made the trip in person. There must be something else you need?"


    Austin paused, thenughed, "Nothing gets past you."


    With another requesting from Warren, Austin exined, "With the apocalypse ongoing, the


    pharmaceutical factories can''t resume production, and medicine is bing increasingly scarce.


    You managed to find a tetanus vine at a crucial time, which shows your capabilities and


    connections. Warren appreciates that.


    “Dexter is getting old and has several underlying conditions. Medicine is bing increasingly hard


    to find, and Warren wants to stock up in advance."


    He handed over a list of medications. Ste looked at it and was taken aback. The list was filled


    with medications for diseases like gout, hypertension, and high blood sugar levels. These were


    common medications before the apocalypse but were bing rarer now.


    Unfortunately, Ste didn''t have any of these stocked up, but she did find some while scavenging


    for supplies.


    When Cody and Lukas left, they gave her these soon-to-expire or rarely used medications to


    exchange for supplies. Among them were these medicines, and along with the ones she and Jasper


    had received, the quantity was not insignificant.


    Ste was ecstatic on the inside, but kept her exterior as cool as a cucumber, "Austin, these meds


    are life-saving, every bit counts. What on earth could Warren possibly have to trade in exchange?"