Without hesitation, Levi rapped on the door of the post-apocalyptic neighbor. When he explained their quest for medicine, Harrison paused, his brow furrowing in contemplation, before giving his reluctant consent. As always, Jasmine remained behind, her duty to oversee the base and care for the children keeping her rooted in place. Though Caleb had posited a theory of the world’s end, Jasmine grappled with her doubts. Deep down, she struggled to fully embrace his grim vision. After a moment of hesitation, she finally voiced her thoughts. "You’re primarily heading out for survival supplies and medicine. As for additional items… consider your own needs." Though her words were understated, their meaning was clear. Nadia, ever perceptive, quickly grasped the implication. "Should you find medicine and essential supplies, they will be distributed equally. Any extra personal requisites won’t be factored in, but please be mindful of conserving group resources."Clarifying these terms was prudent, and no objections were raised. A speedboat and three inflatable rafts stood ready to carry their provisions. Their chief concern was the possibility of another party reaching their destination first. The journey to Caleb’s company spanned 20 kilometers. The four outlined in the speedboat, defying the relentless rain. As they ventured deeper into the suburbs, the waterways grew increasingly convoluted. A fierce wind whipped through the air, presenting formidable challenges even for the most seasoned navigator. Harrison’s adept skills ensured they maneuvered through the intricate waterways with relative ease. Amidst the somber, rain-laden landscape, several imposing office buildings emerged, their silhouettes rising from the floodwaters like dark sentinels. Caleb directed their attention to one such structure. They approached it, peering through the fifth-floor windows to find the offices still submerged but surprisingly intact."The offices appear relatively orderly," Caleb observed. "They likely haven’t been plundered yet." With determined resolve, Caleb used a hammer to shatter the glass, allowing the floodwaters to cascade inside. As the waters settled, they entered the building and secured the speedboat. Fortune favored them; the sprawling office building remained unscathed by looters. They ascended directly to the 12th floor, where Caleb’s pharmaceutical company was situated, their focus unwavering as they pursued their objective. Using bolt cutters to remove the lock, Caleb eagerly reached his workstation and sighed in relief upon seeing several large boxes stacked in the back. "These were meant to be delivered to the pharmacy that day, but with the storm hitting, they extended the delivery date. I brought the goods back to the company." The supplies were varied, including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medications, rheumatism treatments, cold remedies, and dozens of other types. The pharmaceutical company was small, with only a dozen people in the sales department. The exhibition room was filled with an assortment of medications: those for high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. The quantities were small, but the variety was impressive. They packed several large boxes full. Nadia suggested, "Since space is limited, let’s unpack and only take the medicines. This will save about three-quarters of the space." "That’s a good idea. I know the uses of these medicines. I’ll organize them when we get back." They began to dismantle the packaging while Nadia searched the workstation for other useful items: coffee, biscuits, various snacks, tea for men, floral tea for women, and self-heating pots. The quantity was modest, but they left nothing to chance.The pantry was stocked with drinks and milk tea packets, bottled water, and even the front desk’s packages were not spared. Anything useful was taken. Unused items were discreetly stashed away. The medicines filled two large travel backpacks, each a meter high. The haul was impressive. After hiding the remaining supplies, they proceeded to the 15th floor. The office building housed three pharmaceutical companies, and they prioritized collecting from all three. The second company also had a considerable amount of medicine. Caleb looked longingly at the large refrigerator in the exhibition room. "This company mainly handles vaccines. These are valuable, but unfortunately, we can’t take them." Through the glass, Nadia saw several types of vaccines: for smallpox, tetanus, rabies, meningitis, HPV, and flu. The refrigerator had its power supply, able to run for a month without electricity, but once removed, the vaccines would not last at room temperature. Nadia glanced at them but said nothing, continuing to gather other supplies. After collecting from all three pharmaceutical companies, one inflatable raft was packed to capacity. By early afternoon, their hunger and fatigue necessitated a respite. They took a break to indulge in a sumptuous array of self-heating meals, aromatic coffee, creamy milk tea, and an assortment of trendy snacks. As they listened to the rhythmic patter of rain against the windows, the rich, spicy aroma of their meal permeated the office building, creating an unexpected oasis of comfort amidst the chaos. "This building has provided us with ample medicine, but our food supply remains scant," Caleb mused. "There are a few influencer-led live-stream companies here. Let’s try our luck with those." Without delay, they ventured forth to explore the next businesses. Their first destination was a cosmetics and skincare company. While Caleb and Levi showed little interest, Nadia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The store was a treasure trove of opulent skincare products, luxurious lipsticks, face masks, and exquisite creams. Nadia eagerly filled her bag with these high-end items, her enthusiasm palpable. Levi took a moment to select a few items for Jasmine, while the men focused on securing survival supplies. "Nadia, hurry up. We’re waiting for you upstairs," Levi called out. Once they had departed, Nadia meticulously ensured that she had gathered every precious item into her concealed storage. Her efforts were not without merit, though their fortunes waxed and waned. Their luck diminished at the second establishment, a women’s fashion emporium. The store brimmed with an opulent assortment of dresses, skirts, shoes, and handbags. Levi, with thoughtful consideration, chose several elegant pieces for Jasmine, while Nadia indulged in selecting a few luxurious items for herself. However, their fortunes turned favorable at the third venue. This establishment, a haven for gourmet delicacies, boasted an impressive variety of snacks: savory beef jerky, tender lamb jerky, an assortment of nuts, an array of artisanal bread and pastries, and an assortment of trendy beverages. Though the ice cream had regrettably melted into a puddle of disappointment, the remainder filled several hefty black plastic bags. Nadia, ever the resourceful one, did not overlook the janitor’s closet. She collected the trash bags, recognizing their potential value in their dire circumstances. Time sped by, and their current method of scouring proved increasingly inefficient. Nadia, ever strategic, proposed a more methodical approach to optimize their efforts. With the building housing fifteen floors, a systematic search was imperative. Nadia assumed responsibility for three floors, while the three men each took on four. She commenced her work on the topmost floor, descending floor by floor, revisiting the pharmaceutical company to extract all the vaccines from the refrigerator. Her storage space could preserve these invaluable supplies indefinitely. In the constrained time available, Nadia prioritized large companies. One that particularly captured her interest was a renowned home appliance company’s local branch. The showroom was a vast expanse, replete with state-of-the-art air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, smart rice cookers, and an array of other high-tech gadgets. Foreseeing future needs as the country established bases, Nadia decided to select several choice items, preparing for any eventuality. She chose a prestigious six-figure double-door refrigerator, several five-figure air conditioners, washing machines, multi-functional air coolers, automatic cooking pots, ice makers, rice cookers, bread makers, soybean milk machines, cordless vacuum cleaners, and dryers. Despite her love for cooking, Nadia harbored an aversion to washing dishes, so she included a few dishwashers in her haul. These items, though occupying considerable space, were carefully packed to ensure no room was wasted. The company’s break room proved to be a trove of valuable provisions. It was stocked with an assortment of milk, snacks, beverages, grains, red dates, lotus seeds, and even luxurious shark fins and bird’s nests—presumably for high-profile clients. Unfortunately, the fruits had spoiled, leaving only forlorn, withered lemons. Adjacent to the break room, is a bakery catering to the staff with a bounty of milk, flour, cake mix, eggs, condensed milk, and dried fruits. The refrigerator held red wine and steak, but the steak had succumbed to spoilage. Nadia, practical and discerning, packed only the useful items, mindful not to deplete the survival resources meant for Levi and Caleb. She didn’t neglect the workstations, gathering essential items like electrical wires, outlets, tools, and various books. In the course of unpacking deliveries, Nadia stumbled upon two pairs of ice skates. Considering the possibility of extreme cold, she decided they might prove useful and chose to keep them. Beneath one of the workstations, she unearthed two large boxes. The shipping labels were nondescript, offering no hint of the contents. With a knife, she sliced them open, only to be met with an unexpected sight—three thousand condoms, neatly packed inside. Nadia glanced at the workstation sign: "Master of Endurance." A testament to preparedness, it seemed.