Chapter 314
When the Porras n weighed in, no one dared to object. They were the backbone of the
neighborhood watch, the unofficial sheriffs of the block. Plus, the proposal promised revenue and
reduced patrol shifts—a no-brainer. And if the new tenants stirred up trouble, wasn''t there a
guarantor to fall back on?
So, the decision was unanimous.
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Ste gave him a thumbs-up, and Bran''s heart swelled with a sweetness that rivaled the richest
honey.
Heeding Jasper''s advice, Ste took a detour and didn''t go directly to Cody and Lukas but sought
out Austin instead.
Austin was a sharp one; he caught on immediately. "Ha, your influence is something else, Ste."
heughed. "I tried talking to Bran before, but he shot me down without a second thought. Looks
like you''re the only one who can sway him."
Soon after, Lukas'' walkie-talkie crackled to life. "Ste, Cody and I are looking for a bigger ce.
Austin mentioned you might have something suitable. What''s the deal?" They were hoping for
something roomy, but Austin went above and beyond, offering them a vi.
"It''s a nice ce, though someone died there," Ste said with a smile. "If that doesn''t bother you,
feel free toe and take a look."
"We''ve quit our jobs; we''ll be there soon." The rent wouldn''t be cheap, but seeing the ce first was
sensible.
In half an hour, four of them arrived at the gatedmunity, and Ste showed them the vacant
vis.
The ce was a mess, left as-is after the body was removed and the crime scene cleared.
Bloodstains still darkened the floor. In the days before the cmity, no amount of money could
make someone stay in a house with such a dark past. But times had changed. Living threats were
far more concerning than the dead.
After touring all the avable houses, they didn''t pick thergest one. The rent was steep, and a
larger space was harder to defend.
They settled on Vi 42, which was simr inyout to Vi 50 but with a half-built wall that could be
finished once the evesting night ended.
When it came to discussing the rent, Ste stayed out of it, but Austin volunteered to negotiate.
Bran didn''t mince words. "A hundred pounds of rice or flour."
Austin pulled him aside and whispered, "Come on, Bran. They''re friends of Ste. You''ve got to
show some courtesy for her sake."
Bran rolled his eyes. "We used to feed a guard for twenty pounds of grain. Now we''re renting out a
vi, and a hundred pounds is already a favor to you."
"It''s eternal night now, and they can provide a patrol from each family. Don''t talk to me about the
rules before the eternal night."
After some thought, Bran relented. "Fifty pounds?"
Austin was quick-witted. "Ste rarely asks for a favor. You''re shing fifty pounds just like that?"
"What''s your offer?"
Austin considered for a moment. "How about twenty pounds of grain per month during the eternal
night, and if it works out, they can buy the ceter?"
"Deal. For the sake of Ste. Remember to have her treat me to dinner." He didn''t really care about
the grain; he just wanted to owe Ste a favor.
They drafted a makeshift contract on the spot and signed their names. Once the deal was sealed,
Bran teased, "Don''t forget about that dinner."
Ste was taken aback by the revtion, feeling the urge to knock some sense into Austin.
But Austin defended his actions boldly. “Ste, by asking, you owed Bran a favor. Why not maximize
the benefits? Your friends moving in means extra security for us. It’s a win-win.”
Ste found herself speechless. With food being so precious, she suggested using tea, tobo,
and liquor as rent payment. They settled on three pounds of tea leaves for a month’s rent.
The vi was ransacked, but furniture, kitchenware, and even the previous owner’s clothes
remained. All it needed was a clean up, and it would be move-in ready. Compared to cramped
quarters elsewhere, this vi was a slice of paradise even in the shroud of eternal night.
The four new tenants embraced and cheered; they finally had a ce to call their own.
Their belongings were few and easily moved in one trip. The sprawling garden, spacious rooms,
and cushy beds were more than they had dared hope for. They flopped onto the beds just to feel
the luxury.
After some discussion, Lukas and Ang took the ground floor, while Cody and Kitty imed the
upper level.
With vegetables, corn, and peanuts to nt, all they needed was a light source to grow their own
food or produce oil.
Having moved from a cramped apartment to this spacious vi, their stress and frustrations
dissipated.
Austin kept quiet, but they all knew the low rent was a favor for Ste and Jasper''s sake. In
gratitude, they decided to share their emergency rations with the pair.
Ste, realizing her ruse was obvious, offered apromise. "How about Jasper and I take one
share, and the extra can be your housewarming gift?"
She didn''t need the supplies; a symbolic gesture was enough to keep things square.
Six vis stood empty in themunity, tempting the wealthier residents with a knack for survival.
Facing cold and hunger, they were as cunning as foxes.
Outwardly polished, inwardly shrewd, they covertly imed unattended generators—diesel and
sr alike—for trading or personal use. By the time Bran caught on, they were long gone.
The Porras n were once notable figures and didn’t bother with such petty thefts. The matter was
quietly dropped.
So, for Lukas and his friends, solving the lighting issue became urgent. They couldn''t grow food or
navigate their new homes in the dark. Sr panels were useless in the eternal night, and diesel
generators cost a fortune. Even if they invested heavily, fuel was a problem.
The government had anticipated the endless night and released a series of countermeasures,
including simple generators.
The four friends were familiar with government tech from their office jobs and knew these
generators converted mechanical energy into electricity. It’s not high-tech by any means. They had
used a simr setup with bicycles for power when living on the 18th floor.
Now improved, the simple generators were easier to pedal and more efficient. They were costly,
yes, but that was the only downside.
They weighed their resources and grimly decided to invest in one. After years of drifting and
countless brushes with death, they were tired. They wanted to settle in the vi, n their future,
and live.
They were unaware of Ste''s ns.
Everyone had their own life. Ste could help with the big picture, but the details were theirs to
manage. In this world of disaster, resources were life itself.
Ste, following thetest game n, teamed up with Jasper to divvy up the supplies, making six
shares in total, including the cache of weapons they had seized from the cavern.
The two of them loaded up the truck and delivered supplies to the four members of their group. "I''ve
got some chicks and a few packets of seeds back at my ce. If you guys ever need anything, just
swing by for a trade. As for the rice allotted for you, I ran a hundred pounds through the mill—kept
the bran to feed the chickens."
Ang offered her gratitude as she hoisted two bags of milled rice out, along with the keys to the
rental space. "Ste, here''s the rent and the keys. If it weren''t for you and Jasper looking out for us,
who knows, we might have ended up homeless by now."
Ste didn''t haggle over the slightly generous rent. She took it without fuss. Life was a personal
journey, and friends could only offer a helping hand or a cherry on top. She didn''t want to meddle
too much in the affairs between the two households. Once the supplies were handed over, she
headed home to curl up under her nkets.
As the two families sorted through the supplies, Kitty suddenly remarked, "Ste''s really got your
backs."
Cody, busy organizing their new goods, agreed. "You''re telling me. Don''t let her cool exterior fool
you; she''s got a warm heart. Ever since we were kids, she''s looked out for me and Lukas.
Especially after the disaster hit—whether it was back in that high-rise or here and now—if it wasn''t
for her help, we might''ve been goners."
Kitty sighed, "You''re lucky to have a friend like her."
Cody knew Kitty’s history—she was betrayed byrades more than once, and a shadow hung
over her heart. That was probably why she opted to go lone wolf. But people were different, and
Ste was someone you could trust without a doubt.
It wasn’t that she’d never change, but Ste had this strength about her and a vibe that she’d never
let herself get cornered.
Cody was no stranger to the darker side of human nature, but he knew that unless pushed to the
absolute brink, Ste wouldn’t turn on her friends.