Chapter 336


    The haze was a killer, iming lives with its suffocating grip. Ste fretted over the potential difficulty


    in selling her house amidst this chaos. She decided to pay a visit to the local real estate center for


    advice.


    Upon arrival, she handed the receptionist—a cheery youngdy—half a packet of cinnamon gum,


    which seemed to make the woman''s day. Suddenly, everything was on the table for discussion.


    "Your ce is in a prime spot," the receptionist beamed, popping a piece of gum into her mouth. "I''d


    say you could list it for triple the current value. And if anyone''s looking to buy, I''ll be sure to put in a


    good word for you."


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    Triple the value? In the wake of a virus that had toppled so many, Ste had expected the opposite


    —a buyer''s market.


    Reading Ste''s puzzled expression, the receptionist smiled. "You must be out of the loop. Our little


    town of Griffith is blessed, you see. We''ve got survivors flocking here from all over, desperate for a


    safe haven. Houses here are selling like hotcakes."


    Ste was taken aback. She was no hermit; the radio was a constant in her daily routine.


    "Griffith was the first to send out disaster warnings, and we''ve donated more antiviral meds than


    anyone else. Plus, we''re sister cities with Swan Hill, but our real estate is way cheaper. If that''s not


    a stroke of divine favor, I don''t know what is."


    The receptionist''s pride in her hometown of Griffith was palpable. "Living here means a higher


    chance of survival. Many who left for official shelters have returned."


    Ste realized that the receptionist was doing her a solid, based on the goodwill of the half-pack of


    gum. Others weren''t so savvy, undercutting their own sales, oblivious to the value they were giving


    away.


    Sensing an opportunity, Ste handed over the rest of her gum. "You''re a lifesaver."


    "Don''t mention it," the receptionist grinned, her smile reaching her eyes. "Now, when the house


    sells, do you want credits or goods? Credits are flexible for spending, but if you need specific


    supplies, you can make a request now."


    Ste pondered, "What kind of goods are avable?"


    The receptionist handed her thetest list of avable items.


    Truth be told, Ste didn''t need any supplies, and credits didn''t appeal to her either. She checked


    the list several times before settling on seeds and books.


    Thanks to the relentless efforts of the local Agricultural Institute, a variety of heirloom seeds had


    been salvaged—rice, vegetables, even exotic herbs—all preciousmodities in these apocalyptic


    times.


    Ste chose varieties she didn''t already have.


    Books were a surprise on the list. It seemed the authorities were trading with survivors for their


    books, refurbishing them, and selling them to those in need. But who would trade their precious


    supplies for books when daily survival was uncertain?


    This worked in Ste''s favor. She selected books on physics, mathematics, chemistry, technology,


    and biology—academic research across the board, along with magazines, novels, and even


    collections of calligraphy.


    The prices were reasonable, and Ste, armed with a pen, eagerly marked her choices. Once her


    house sold, she could indulge her intellectual appetite.


    The receptionist was bbergasted. Was Ste nuts? Wanting seeds was one thing, but books?


    What use were they if not kindling? Owning a house sure made you entric.


    After finalizing the paperwork, Ste drove to the research institute. The fog was so thick she could


    barely see five meters ahead. She proceeded at a snail''s pace, thinking wistfully that a scooter


    would''ve been faster.


    Thankfully, Griffith and Swan Hill were close neighbors. Even at a snail''s pace, she''d get there.


    The institute was thankfully not as crowded as before. After a quick registration at the familiar gate,


    she was allowed in.


    Skipping pleasantries with Dr. Garcia and Collin, she went straight to check on Hugh. Pushing open


    the door, she nearly jumped at the sight of him. "Hugh, what in the world happened to you?"


    The once portly man was now gaunt, his life force seemingly drained by a subus, his face a


    patchwork of bruises. It was clear that love—or theck of it—had taken its toll.


    Seeing him barely stirring, Ste said, "If you''re still alive, give me a sign."


    Hugh took a deep breath and said. "Thanks. I am still breathing."


    She motioned for Jasper to wait outside as she pulled up a stool and sat across from Hugh. "You


    need a smoke or a drink?"


    "A smoke," he replied, bemused.


    Ste fished out an old pack of cigarettes from her bag and lit one for him, her toneced with


    sarcasm. "Thinking of romance when you can barely keep yourself fed?"


    Hugh chuckled ruefully. "Never thought I''d see the day when I''d fall for someone in the middle of the


    end of the world."


    "Forget her. Focus on surviving first," Ste advised bluntly. "If she had real feelings for you, she


    wouldn''t have settled for being your friend."


    Hugh lit another cigarette, nodding in agreement.


    "You can''t even feed yourself. How are you going to provide for her or a kid?" Ste prodded,


    unafraid of being blunt.


    Hugh winced. "I am your teacher after all, Ste. Can you stop rubbing salt in the wound?"


    Ste smirked. "What are friends for if not to stab you a few times for good measure?"


    Hugh, feeling the sting of her words, fell silent.


    "These bruises are Bentley''s work?" Ste asked.


    "Bentley?" Hugh was taken aback before realizing she meant his fight. "Yeah."


    "You''re a soft one. He''s been injured before, and you''re fully able, yet you lost?"


    "I didn''t lose," Hugh protested. "I''m the one who fixed his broken arm."


    Ste shook her head. "Suchpassion. Ever thought of finishing him off? Lindsay might''ve


    stayed by your side then."


    Hugh entertained the thought, but he knew Lindsay''s feelings for him were not of love.


    Leaving behind a bottle of moonshine for Hugh, Ste departed to see Collin and Dr. Garcia, who


    were wrapping up their work on the haze virus.


    It was only at the institute that Ste learned the medicinal crisis had been averted. Dr. Garcia,


    despite his age, had tirelessly refined the form, creating a new one that reduced the need for


    rare ingredients without sacrificing efficacy.


    This was the magic of herbal medicine—endlessbinations for the same ailment.


    With the new form, more lives could be saved. Ste regarded Dr. Garcia with newfound respect.


    He was a savior to many.


    Visiting the institute wasn''t easy, but with Collin''s introduction, Ste had the chance to delve


    deeper into the ancient arts of herbal medicine.


    Worried that Cooper might not be safe alone at home, Ste decided to drive back.


    As Ste approached the neighborhood in the dusky evening light, the scene that unfolded before


    her eyes at the gate of her house nearly made her faint.


    What in the world were these two mutts thinking? Did they see themselves as human, or did they


    simply have no respect for humans at all?


    They had torn the burr''s clothes to shreds and were frolicking with the tattered fabric as if they


    were cats ying with a mouse.


    There''s an old saying, "Don''t kick a man when he''s down," but these dogs were taking mockery to a


    whole new level. It was as if they were challenging the veryws of nature.