Chapter 315


    Kitty gazed at Cody with genuine admiration. “I envy you, you know? After all these years of natural


    disasters, your faith in friendship remains unshaken, and the pals you’ve got are rock solid.”


    Truth be told, Cody, who worked in sales, was no stranger to deceit. He had seen plenty of it among


    colleagues and clients, but his true friends had always been Lukas and Ste. Looking back on the


    past twenty years, apart from being taken for a ride in romantic rtionships more times than he


    cared to admit, he hadn’t made many mistakes.


    Kitty often teased that Cody was na?ve. He had once offered to help a stranger in need without even


    knowing if she was a friend or a foe. He never argued and just chuckled in response. Kitty had once


    been hurt badly, and as a result, she had locked her heart away.


    Over the years, many had wanted to join forces with Cody and Lukas, but without exception, they


    were turned down. The two had seen too much of the good and bad in human nature while growing


    up in the orphanage, which made them cautious. They wouldn''t team up with anyone unless they


    really understood their soul.


    But Kitty was different. She had grown up in a warm family and was capable in her own right. She


    had learned the hard way that sticking together for survival often led to betrayal.


    Cody, however, had grown up under different circumstances. He knew when to be strong and when


    to show vulnerability. If he didn''t have emotional weakness, he''d be craftier than a fox, though he


    knew how to hide his shrewdness.


    Everyone had their secrets. Lukas had his, Ang had hers, Jasper had his, and Ste certainly


    had hers. But they hadn''t harmed each other. In fact, they''d shown kindness, so why not embrace


    it?


    They carefully stashed away their supplies and took tea, cigarettes, liquor, and smoked ham to the


    official trading hall in exchange for a simple generator.


    Cody and Lukas stood watch, while Kitty and Ang worked the generator at home. With a patrol


    team outside, their neighborhood''s safety was somewhat assured. It was the soundest sleep they''d


    had since leaving the official base.


    During their watch, Ste bumped into Austin, who asked with a grin, "Ste, think Bran would cut


    me a deal if I rented a vi?"


    Steughed. "Austin, you nning to rent one for Dn and the crew?"


    Austin pondered, "I was thinking of getting one for Monkey and the guys, but I''m not sure if the


    community would wee them."


    No wonder he had been so eager to discuss the rent with Cody and Lukas. He was paving the way


    for Monkey and the others to move into the vis. The man had more tricks up his sleeve than a


    street vendor.


    But since Monkey and his crew had had run-ins with themunity security, Ste didn''t dare offer


    an opinion. "That''s for the homeowners'' association to decide."


    Austin, slick as ever, went straight to Bran. Somehow, he got Bran to rent out tworger vis at the


    same monthly rent of 20 pounds of grain.


    Ste was surprised and brought it up with Jasper over dinner. "With wives and kids to feed, they


    couldn''t afford that much grain even if they split the cost."


    Jasper wasn''t surprised. "Austin''s probably covering for them."


    Taking care of your crew was one thing, but blood was thicker than water, and rent woulde out


    of future earnings. It secured the safety of his men, earning their gratitude and loyalty. Plus, adding


    dozens of his own people to themunity meant the wealthy would think twice before crossing


    him.


    Jasper’s guess was spot on; that was exactly what Austin had done.


    The other wealthy folks internally disagreed but had no choice but to consent, given the


    circumstances.


    As the eternal night fell and looters started raiding, they truly felt the scourge of disaster. Life was


    tough. Hunger and cold were constant, and theck of sunlight deteriorated their health. Austin


    seized their desperation, striking a deal to rent two vis in exchange for male patrol duty.


    He paid with the grain in advance and was nning to deduct it from his men''s share after the


    darkness lifted.


    The police station''s vicinity was safe, but crammed living was unbearable. These vis might be


    pricier, but they offered space for livestock and grain cultivation.


    A shrewd dealer always knew a good deal, and who would refuse one? If times got tough, Austin


    wouldn''t stand by and watch his crew starve.


    With the dealers and the vi residents joining forces, themunity shifted to a three-shift patrol


    system, lessening the burden by four hours per shift and giving everyone a much-needed break.


    Bran hounded Ste. "Sis, when are you gonna treat me to a meal?"


    Considering his help, Ste readily agreed, "How about tonight, OK?"


    A proper meal invitation required proper hospitality. But Ste couldn''t stand Bran''s smugness, and


    with Jasper being a man of few words, she invited Austin and Dn along for ambiance.


    Neither father nor son were skilled in the kitchen, so they wouldn’t miss out on a feast.


    Austin brought two of thergest fish. "Let''s see your magic in the kitchen today."


    Ste confidently asked, "Do you want fish stew or fried fish?" Arcadia had stored plenty of spices


    and side ingredients, and Jasper''s fish filleting skills were top-notch.


    Trusting her cooking, Austin didn''t hesitate, "Either''s fine."


    Ste weighed the fish. “Raised from fry, right?”


    Fish grown in the darkness didn’t differ much from those before the disaster, except they were


    slimmer and a bit paler.


    “Exactly,” admitted Austin, a tad sheepishly. “We only got the fry shortly before the endless night.


    They’ve been a hassle to keep, and we are always tending to them with care. Raising a child was


    never this troublesome."


    Dn followed behind, politely greeting, "Hi, Ste."


    Austin corrected him, "Don''t be disrespectful, call her Auntie Ste."


    But Dn was more interested in finding Rosie. He took a thermos from his backpack. "Rosie, I just


    milked this, it''s still warm. Try it."


    "Dn, sheep''s milk is too precious. I can''t ept it."


    Dn stubbornly handed it to her. "It''s alright; I feed them every day so there''s always more."


    Like master, like pet. Bran showing up was one thing, but Buddy''s skin was even thicker. Buddy


    brought a gift, a bone with meat still on it as a tribute to Cooper.


    This was met with disdain from Cooper, who was used to feasting on meat and fish. Cooper


    promptly pushed the bone back, though he appreciated the gesture. After munching on a bone,


    Buddy became Cooper’s sparring partner, and the two mutts started roughhousing in the backyard.


    Bran swiped a bottle of Shane''s Scotch. "Ste, it''s an ''82, older than our own mother. Bet you''ve


    never seen anything like it, huh?"


    Ste smiled. "Indeed, I haven''t."


    It was a Five Star brand in its zed ceramic bottle, a relic from before the end times, and once


    worth a whopping $15,000 a bottle. Now, its price was sky-high. She had stashed away ten bottles


    in Arcadia, all pilfered from his cousin Bentley. She would take that secret to her grave.N?velDrama.Org owns this.