Chapter 331


    Several volunteers had tried the new drug, and aside from those with severe illnesses who


    sumbed, the virus was eradicated from the bodies of the other patients. However, the extent of


    the side effects varied.


    The research institute was in a quandary. After much deliberation, they decided to draft an honest


    report and send it up the chain ofmand.


    The drug was in short supply, and officials from cities across the nation had been sent out to search


    for more, all returning empty-handed.


    The decision between preserving quality or quantity was not one the institute could make. If given a


    choice, no one would want to give up.


    Dr. Garcia had spent a sleepless night after submitting the report, and by the next day, his hair had


    turned significantly grayer.


    Ste sat in her dorm, her expression aplex mix of emotions.


    Jasper, guessing at her thoughts, sat down beside her and said, "Our illness is cured. What do you


    n to do with the remaining herbal remedies?"


    Indeed, when Ste had anonymously donated the medicine, she had been cautious and held back


    a portion. It wasn''t that she didn''t trust Evan or the institute, but rather she knew that without the


    final right answer, one often had to traverse countless detours. And these detours could very well


    deplete the precious herbs. Once depleted, death would be the only certainty.


    In her past life, repeated drug trials had led to desperation, and Dr. Garcia''s team had been forced


    to venture out in search of new medicines.


    Perhaps by fate, they had eventually found the right one. But Ste was still haunted by the tragic


    events of her past life, including Jasper''s untimely death. So, she was torn.


    She looked at Jasper and asked, "Do I bring them out, or do I not?"


    Jasper didn''t answer directly but pondered for a moment before saying, "The herbs are from your


    Arcadia gardens. It''s up to you whether to share them or not."


    He paused briefly before adding, "But what if one day the disaster is over, and the world finds peace


    again? If we have children, who''s going to teach them to read? When they fall ill, who will heal


    them? Maybe you could teach them about literature, medicine, and survival. But as the disaster


    esctes, with humanity dwindling and civilization copsing, those who survive will be raising


    offspring who know nothing but a savage fight for survival. How will our descendants fit into that


    world?"


    Ste extracted the key point, “Are you thinking about having kids?”


    "I''m just saying, if there''s a chance to survive, it''s up to you if you want to have them. It doesn''t


    matter if you don''t. We''ll grow old and die, and Rosie is much younger. When the disaster''s over,


    wouldn''t you want to find a vibrant civilization, travel the world, and find the perfect ce for us to


    settle down?"


    Ste was silent for a long time before nodding, "Let''s go back to Griffith."


    The extra medicine would be of no use sitting in Arcadia, especially since more was continuously


    growing. They set out for Griffith under the cover of night.


    The smog had worsened over the past month, with visibility now less than ten meters.


    After ensuring it was safe, Ste, her face masked, unloaded the herbs near the police station and


    honked the car horn. By the time the officers rushed out, the Hummer had vanished into the fog.


    Seeing the pile of herbs, they were first shocked, then hurried to the office, "Evan, more medicine


    has arrived. It looks like it''s from the same people asst time. Should we send it immediately to the


    Swan Hill Institute for Herbal Medicine?"


    Evan, relying on an oxygen tank to breathe, gasped, "Wait, let me ask the higher-ups."


    Every city knew that medicine was scarce. To ensure the survival of more citizens, even the most


    cooperative officials would resort to desperate measures to procure drugs when faced with life and


    death.


    Resources were limited and it was a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease; officials had


    their priorities.


    Covering his oxygen mask, Evan headed to the city hall.


    Two hourster, the military was instructed to deliver the herbs to the Swan Hill Institute for


    Traditional Medicine. Apanying the transport was Deputy Secretary Mark, responsible for


    ensuring the return of the virus-eradicating medicine.


    The medicine had been donated out of love by the people of Griffith, and Griffith had to get more


    meds because of that. After all, what''s a bit of pridepared to securing the life-saving drugs?


    However, the world has no secrets that time does not reveal. The convoy from Griffith hadn''t even


    reached Swan Hill when the Kindle Society from Lincoln and the official base from Goldbridge were


    already racing to intercept it.


    Everyone wanted a piece of the action—all were eager to take their share.


    Ste was no different; she too was ready to im hers.


    The ancient art of medicine making wasplex, filled with nuances not easily mastered with a


    single nce. The slightest deviation in the process could greatly diminish the potency of the drugs.


    When Ste found out that Dr. Garcia had fallen ill and that the institute was temporarily under


    Collin''s leadership, she made a point to visit him and get straight to the point, "Dr. Collin, I need


    enough for fifty people. I won''t sell it for profit. It''s for family and friends, and this is a one-time


    request."


    Collin didn''t respond immediately but instead furrowed his brow in thought.


    Sensing his hesitation, Ste felt she had overstepped, "If it''s too much trouble, please forgive my


    intrusion."


    To a doctor, there was little difference between treating a dignitary or an ordinary citizen. Yet, Collin


    knew well enough that the officials might not distribute the medicine to the needy right away. They


    had their own set of priorities to weigh.


    He had a family too and wanted them to have ess to medicine when needed.


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    Torn between his sense of duty, Jasper''s life-saving grace, and the contributions both he and Ste


    had made, including the donated supplies, Collin eventually nodded, "Just this once."


    Ste wasn''t the only one who had approached him. Neighboring cities had caught wind of the


    situation, bringing donations and medical staff, some even carrying official mandates. Everyone


    wanted to negotiate, to find a backdoor.


    Collin, a researcher at heart, wasn''t fond ofplex social interactions, though that didn''t mean he


    was clueless. He refused to meet anyone, letting the Swan Hill officials deal with the headache.


    They could decide who got the medicine; after all, it was meant to save lives, no matter who


    received it.


    Ste didn''t sit idly by. She continued to help out and took time to visit Hugh, who was recovering


    after taking the medicine.


    She had intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with her mentor, but Lindsay and her kid were there.


    Without saying a word, Ste saw the unhidden affection in Hugh''s eyes. Sighing at the


    complications of the heart, she exchanged pleasantries and left.


    A few dayster, Collin handed Ste two bottles of the medicine.


    Swan Hill''s officials might have their own ways of managing things, but at least they''re not


    barricading the main gates anymore. Ever since the Kindle Society and medical staff from the main


    base settled into the research institute, the production rates have seen a significant boost.


    It''s been confirmed that the virus hasn''t mutated, and those who''ve recovered are not rpsing.


    With more hands on deck, Ste''s expertise was called upon less frequently, limiting her


    opportunities to learn. After exchanging a quick "hello" with Collin, she scooped up Cooper and left.


    Jasper was at the wheel, driving through a dense fog so thick that even with the headlights on,


    visibility was dreadfully low—a perfect setup for an ident.


    Ste strapped on thetest night-vision goggles. They couldn''t cut through the fog, but their


    thermal imaging feature was a game-changer, drastically reducing the risk of danger.


    Smart and resourceful, she thought. With the goggles on, they could speed up considerably.


    After more than a month, they returned to the vi area again. It was eerily quiet. Everywhere was


    misty, with no lights on in any of the vis, just withered and dying nts at the front and back of the


    houses.


    Volcanic ash was weakly acidic and could damage the soil to a certain extent, so crops grown under


    artificial light during the eternal night had gradually died off.


    Just as they stopped in front of Vi 50, suddenly something rushed over, spewed a mouthful of


    blood at Ste, and then copsed with a thud.