Fury seethed within Jasmine’s chest as she considered Caleb's dire situation. "Give him a beating, then throw him out!" she demanded with burning intensity. Despite Caleb's folly, he had diligently procured the supplies Nadia required, ensuring their completeness and cost-effectiveness. As a friend, Nadia could not remain passive. Moreover, Caleb had once endured a beating on her behalf during their childhood skirmishes. With a unified determination, Jasmine kicked the door and called out, "Listen up, those inside! You have one minute to emerge, or face the consequences!" Yet her challenge was met with an eerie silence. Nadia handed Jasmine a crowbar. With a forceful thrust, Jasmine pried at the door, the crowbar clattering loudly with each movement. "Who are you?" a voice suddenly inquired from behind. A couple in their fifties, gripping the hand of a young girl of about eight or nine, climbed the stairs burdened with a heavy rubber boat bag. Nadia immediately recognized the bag—it was one she had purchased anonymously for Caleb, a high-quality item that spoke of its professional grade, far beyond what an ordinary person would select. This indicated that not only had they exploited Caleb, but they had also appropriated her carefully chosen supplies. Nadia advanced, seizing the girl by her collar and dragging her to the door. "If you refuse to open up, do not blame me for any harm that may befall your parents and your daughter." Brandishing a knife, she watched as the girl’s cries pierced the air, "Mommy, Mommy…" The couple surged forward, their voices rising in panic, "Murder! Murder!" "Shout all you like," Nadia retorted coldly. "Let every soul in the building hear that you’ve taken control and are driving others to their doom."One woman alone could not compel Caleb to leave; this family was clearly complicit. Despite her youth, the girl had already been conditioned by harsh realities to exhibit a chilling ruthlessness. In the harsh world of the apocalypse, even the innocent faces of children could hide a sinister edge. A child's smile could be as deceptive as it was unsettling, concealing a heart capable of dark deeds. The starkness of their innocence often belied the shadows that lurked within. Hunger and desperation could drive anyone to make grim choices, and while they might not have intended harm, necessity often overrode morality. Nadia knew this all too well from personal experience—she had felt the sting of a blade before. The door finally creaked open, revealing the pallid face of a middle-aged woman who snapped, "What do you want? We don’t know Caleb. If you keep causing a commotion, I’ll call the police!" Jasmine, with a scornful sneer, threw a punch, retorting, "To hell with you."The woman crumpled, her face a mask of blood and broken teeth. Amid the chaos, a boy from inside screamed and hurled a water glass at them. The interior was a chaotic mess, with cabinets overflowing with Caleb’s belongings. Enraged, the boy lunged at them, but Nadia met his aggression with a swift, hard slap, slamming him against the wall. Despite the adults’ actions, the children were well-fed, yet rather than showing any gratitude, they sought to drive away the very person who had provided for them. The boy’s glare was fierce and unrepentant—a clear indication of his complicity and utter lack of remorse. The woman’s shrieks continued to pierce the air, her theatrics a futile attempt to garner sympathy. The crowd remained indifferent, their hunger dulling any sense of compassion for the family’s plight. Jasmine, well-versed in the art of combat, struck with precision to inflict pain without causing fatal harm. She battered the woman until she could only whimper, resembling a beaten creature, before unceremoniously tossing her out the door. Jasmine fixed a steely gaze on the remaining couple and warned, "I don’t strike the elderly, but if anything happens to Caleb, your entire family will pay the price!" Inside, the house was in disarray. Nadia’s supply cache had dwindled to a few pounds of rice, two bags of salt, and a small amount of oil. Levi methodically packed everything up, including some of Caleb’s clothes, ensuring all essential items were gathered with care. The old woman, not fearing death, tried to snatch from Levi. Nadia kicked her down, "She doesn’t hit old people, but I do." After finding their keys, Levi locked the door and made sure to seize the rubber boat. Without the boat, there was no escape. The old man clung to it desperately until Nadia brandished a bloody butcher's knife. The family finally feared for their lives, their faces paling as they huddled in a corner, trembling with fear. Nadia fixed the middle-aged woman with a sharp look and said, "You’ve certainly played the part of a scheming manipulator."With that, she grabbed the woman by the collar and threw her out the window. "Ah!" Levi and Jasmine exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. The elderly couple clung desperately to their child, their wails of despair echoing in the chaotic aftermath. Yet Nadia remained resolute, her gaze unflinching as she descended to the lower floors. They set off in the rubber boat, and from a distance, Nadia observed the woman—now an emblem of her duplicity—struggling ineffectively in the turbulent water. It was a poignant irony that she could not swim. How to address the situation would be left to Caleb’s judgment. If he chose to remain obstinate, even the bonds of friendship might not be enough to warrant his rescue. In the unforgiving world of the apocalypse, the survival of one’s own life took precedence over all else. Levi and Jasmine decided to seek Caleb at the Phoenix City Hotel.Nadia felt conflicted, but remembering the bricks Caleb had taken for her, she agreed. They rowed to the Phoenix City Hotel, where the place was swarming with people. The staff were surrounded by desperate citizens seeking refuge. The municipal systems had collapsed. The water was filled with refuse, and the suffering, hungry people had no access to clean water or food. The stench was overpowering. Levi struggled to push through the crowd and emerged breathless after more than half an hour. "Accommodation is organized by district. Caleb should be on the 14th floor." They could not get any more specifics. The hotel was packed with thousands of people, and the network and power systems were down. Nadia’s ears buzzed from the noise. "Let’s find a way to locate him." The hotel was vast, with dozens of rooms on each floor. Without lighting, the corridors were particularly dark. Even in the dimness, there were many people in the hallways. One had to be careful not to bump into or step on anyone. Reaching the 14th floor, Nadia took out a flashlight. She had expected to find a room crammed with five or six people, but instead, there were over ten. The bedding was filthy, the stench nauseating. It was so dirty that Jasmine nearly vomited. "This place is in horrible condition." The conditions were grim, but there were numerous low-rise buildings and factories with thousands of people. The relevant departments had done their best. They had hoped to knock on each door, but with the air stale and people crowded, all the doors were open. Many people were even taking fresh air in the hallways. As they ascended, countless pairs of eyes followed their every movement with intense scrutiny. Though the darkness cloaked the surroundings, Nadia could palpably feel the hostility simmering in the air. Without the military’s presence and the protection of armed guards downstairs, coupled with the recent purges of troublemakers, the fear might have deterred them from entering. Yet, despite this, the tension remained palpable, and they could not afford to let their guard down. They methodically searched each room, encountering countless lifeless faces along the way. After examining more than twenty rooms, they finally came upon Caleb. He stood by the window, lost in a daze, his eyes fixed vacantly on the relentless rain. Once lean, Caleb now appeared even more emaciated, his clothes so grimy that their original color was lost to the muck. Having shared so much of their past and worn the same clothes, Levi recognized him immediately. "Caleb," he called out, his voice echoing with urgency. After several attempts, Caleb turned slowly to face them, his expression blank and distant. His attempt at a smile was a poignant blend of sorrow and strained cheer, his form marred by layers of grime and oil. The sight of him in such a pitiful state was heart-wrenching, a stark reminder of the harsh reality they faced.