Indeed, in the wake of the previous day's turmoil, the military and administrative departments swiftly recalibrated their strategies, opting to deploy forces to restore order. Unlike the police, the military showed no hesitation in wielding their weaponry. Their mandate was to fortify the nation's stability. Nadia reminisced about her past life, recalling how the military had also been summoned in such crises. With a relentless and ironclad resolve, they swiftly dealt with several wrongdoers, quelling the chaos and reestablishing control. Through her binoculars, she observed the military patrols aboard their gunboats, their green uniforms conspicuously marked with live ammunition. The sporadic bursts of firecrackers punctuated the morning, casting a peculiar sense of calm over the world. The gas stove, once submerged in water, remained unlit. After considerable effort, Levi had managed to revive the portable stove, replacing several crucial parts. With a sense of accomplishment, he eagerly volunteered to prepare dinner for Nadia and Unit 1801. As a gesture of gratitude for helping them secure a refuge, they invited Nadia to share in their meal. The fare was simple yet comforting: preserved vegetables and spicy stir-fried potato strips. Nadia had brought potatoes that had sprouted; she diligently removed the sprouts and blanched them in hot water. Though the meal was modest, Jasmine and Levi were on the verge of tears. For the first time in twenty days, they savored fluffy rice and relished a soothing hot shower. The sensation of satiety was profoundly satisfying, and they felt rejuvenated. "If it weren’t for you, Nadia, we’d still be huddled in that cramped shelter," Jasmine said, lifting a glass of plain water. Her expression was earnest as she continued, "Today’s meal may be humble, but once things return to normal, I promise you a feast at a five-star hotel." "Certainly, if the opportunity arises," Nadia replied with a gentle smile.As they ate and chatted, Levi spoke up, "With the military presence, things outside are more stable. I heard the government is sending supplies to the department store. Citizens can buy them in limited quantities. Shall we go tomorrow?" "Definitely. We need to get there early," Nadia replied. "By the way, many people are diving into the water to salvage supplies," Levi continued. "The largest supermarket near us is packed with people. The water is too deep for ordinary people without proper equipment. I heard several have been swept away. Some experienced divers managed to recover a few items, but most of it is spoiled. Even so, they haven’t thrown it away." Jasmine sighed, "If you hadn’t reminded us, we’d be starving now." The department store opened at eight, so they set their alarm for six. After a brief preparation, they left at six-thirty. Unit 1801 stayed behind to watch the house, so the task naturally fell to them. It was still dim at six-thirty, but many people had already set out. It took an hour to reach the department store. Entering from the fourth floor, they found the area flooded with people. Looking up, the crowd was a sea of heads. The store was located on the sixth floor, but the line stretched down to the fourth. It was rumored that some had queued since the previous night just to secure a chance to enter. With soldiers patrolling with live ammunition, the crowd, though noisy, was restrained by the iron-fisted measures from the previous day. The three of them quickly joined the line. As time passed, the crowd grew larger. At eight sharp, the doors opened. Each batch of fifty people was allowed in for only five minutes, and the store was cleared punctually. The purchase limits were strict: each person could only buy two pounds of food, and it had to be paid for with cash and an ID. They waited in line for three hours and shopped for five minutes. In the vast, empty store, one had to be quick with their hands and strong with their legs. They had decided that rice and flour were the most filling. Instant noodles and snacks were to be avoided. In the south, rice was the staple. Flour was difficult to store in humid conditions. Nadia opted for rice, while Jasmine and Levi chose two pounds of every type available. A hundred dollars per pound! No matter how expensive it was, it was hard to come by. The rice quality was mediocre, but it was better than nothing. It would only get more expensive in the future. Eventually, paper money might become obsolete, and even using it as toilet paper would be rough. With the city’s large population, rice and flour would soon be depleted. The government would release more supplies, but they would all be salvaged from the water and dried. Not only was it bad for health due to spoilage, but it was also incredibly hard to get. Spending two thousand dollars was not excessive. Nadia decided to use it all. Jasmine was concerned that their inflatable boat might break and considered buying a spare. However, it was priced at ten thousand dollars. The prices for items like hot sauce and preserved vegetables had also skyrocketed. The cost and risk of coming out were too high. The three of them pooled their resources to spend the two thousand dollars, and their bags were only partially filled. The queue outside grew longer, while the store’s supply of rice and flour dwindled. As they descended the stairs, Nadia noticed Wayne and Maya in line. They were holding hands and appeared particularly close, while the girl from Unit 1202 stood behind them, looking gaunt and disheveled. Seeing her, Nadia was reminded of her past self. When Wayne saw Nadia, he instinctively released Maya’s hand and greeted her with a smile. Nadia turned away coldly, pretending she hadn’t seen him. After leaving the store, they took the inflatable boat to leave. With time still on their side, Levi suggested, "Caleb lives nearby. Shall we go see him?" They had lost contact the day after the typhoon, and there had been no news. Nadia considered it and agreed. Aside from being a poor judge of character when it came to women, Caleb had few faults as a friend. In her past life, Jasmine had helped her, and throughout her life, Levi and Caleb were her only friends. If conditions allowed, she wanted to help them.They spent an hour reaching Caleb’s apartment complex, finding the eighth floor based on memory. After knocking for a long time, a woman’s voice called out from inside, "Who’s there?" "We’re looking for Caleb." "There’s no one by that name here. You must have the wrong place." They had helped Caleb move when he had relocated, so it was unlikely they had made a mistake. The woman’s voice sounded middle-aged. She seemed reluctant to speak. "Mom, who is it?" a boy’s voice asked from inside. "Strangers. They’ve got the wrong door." Nadia frowned, sensing something was wrong. Despite their persistent knocking, the occupants inside ignored them and even disturbed the neighbors.Seeing an elderly woman open the door, Nadia hurried over to ask, "Excuse me, does Caleb live next door?" The elderly woman’s expression was complicated. She shook her head, unwilling to speak. Levi sensed trouble and took a small amount of rice from his bag. The elderly woman hesitated for a while before allowing them inside. "You’re looking for that polite young man who was quite humorous, right?" Levi nodded quickly. "He’s a nice young man, but he’s quite foolish. He let people into the house and was kicked out." The elderly woman shook her head as she spoke. "When the typhoon first hit, that woman came with her parents and two children. Caleb took the risk to get them. At first, I thought they were siblings, but after a few days, he was kicked out." Levi was stunned.Nadia was equally shocked. Jasmine clenched her fists. "He knocked on the door several times, but the woman refused to open it. In the end, he had no choice but to stay in the corridor. He was rescued on the day of the aid operation." The shelter was divided by area, and the people from the apartment complex had been moved to Phoenix City Hotel. Levi could hardly imagine how Caleb had survived these past days. How could such a heartless woman exist? "What do we do now?" he asked, his frustration evident.