Nadia stayed distant and reserved, and Marilyn didn't try too hard to cozy up, knowing it might be off-putting. "Alright, I'll fry your share first before the oil goes bad from frying too long." Marilyn really was a master at frying. The fish came out golden and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, with an aroma that was simply irresistible. Even Colby came over, wagging his tail in excitement. Nadia tossed him a few pieces and then invited Marilyn to eat her fill first. There was more than enough fish, and Marilyn had to eat about two whole fish before she finally felt satisfied. How long has it been since I've felt this full? This tastes so good. I could practically swallow my tongue! Seeing the skills of those on the 18th floor, Marilyn worked even harder, hoping they'd look after her family in the future. They fried up seven or eight batches of fish before hearing the sound of an inflatable boat approaching. Harrison and the others were back, bringing oil, salt, and some seasonings. Caleb's face lit up with excitement as he announced, "Nadia, we've got ourselves another deal." After trading with Sharp Moron, they realized that hoarding so many fish would eventually lead to spoilage, and they'd need other ways to handle the surplus. Caleb, skilled in drumming up business, suggested heading to the department store to try their luck. Maybe they could find new customers there. Once they arrived, they learned that the government had introduced a new policy. To help more people survive, an official market had been set up. Any citizens in need could set up a stall at the market and exchange whatever supplies they had.There were no entry fees, but causing trouble was strictly forbidden; anyone who broke the rules severely would be dealt with harshly. The market was crowded with people, but food trades were scarce. Most of the goods were things like clothes, shoes, bicycles, kitchen tools, and other items that weren't essential. And, unsurprisingly, everyone wanted to trade for food. Amid the throngs of people, they didn't dare bring out the fish right away, so they quietly scouted for a suitable target. Unfortunately, aside from Caleb's sharp eye, the others were clueless when it came to spotting potential customers. Austin and his father were too focused on technical work, and Harrison, a former SWAT officer, wasn't exactly skilled at finding clients. It would be tough for them to track down potential customers. Bringing back a bad deal would be the last thing they wanted. After all, while there were many people at the market exchanging goods, there was also no shortage of black-market gangs looking to score. The market was packed with people trading goods, but it was also crawling with gangs ready to pounce on vulnerable targets. So, the three of them waited in a corner while Caleb went to dig up potential buyers. Half an hour later, he returned with two people dressed in ragged clothing. Austin's father, George Hadid, gave them a closer look and was immediately dumbfounded. Aren't they my ex-colleagues? "Andy! You're still alive?" "George! You made it, too?" They teared up at the sight of each other. After all this time, it was like a family reunion gone wrong. However, even with George and Andy being familiar, Harrison and the others didn't let their guard down in these chaotic times. "We've got fish, and they've got dog food." Caleb hurried over to Nadia, eager to share the good news. "Colby won't go hungry now!" Andy's community consisted of government employees who had received apartments in the area. Though old and rundown, the place was close-knit, with mostly elderly residents and some younger family members. They often went out together to gather supplies. Early on, with a stroke of luck, they stumbled across a dog food factory and managed to haul back over ten thousand pounds of dog food. For the past few months, they'd been surviving on that dog food. While it was nutritious and kept hunger at bay, eating it day after day made them want to gag. The market was their chance to try for a change. Many in their group were savvy, carefully assessing all potential trade partners and not rushing into any deals. It was sheer luck that both sides hit it off and, even more so, that George ran into an old coworker, putting everyone's minds at ease. After a bit of negotiation, they settled on a fair trade—three pounds of fish for one pound of dog food. George muttered to himself, cursing his colleague for being such an old fox, saying with mock pain, "Andy, you weren't always like this. Have you no conscience left?" Andy looked troubled, his voice choking up, "Ah, blame it on this disaster. It's changed everything." Though trading three pounds of fresh fish for one pound of dog food might sound like a bad deal, it wasn't really. Dog food was filling and sealed tightly for long-term storage, while fish would spoil in just a couple of days if left untreated. Caleb pulled out a half-bag of dog food from his pack. "We've all tried it, and honestly, it's not that bad." Nadia wasn't interested, so she let Colby try it instead.Colby looked a bit reluctant, but given that his owner was feeding him by hand, he ate it eagerly. The dog food bag was incredibly well-sealed, likely packed with preservatives, giving it a shelf life of up to three years. Marilyn grew excited when she heard about the dog food. If they could really trade fish for dog food, it would feed the family for quite a while. Everyone wanted to get in on the deal, Nadia included, especially after hearing they had freeze-dried cans for cats and dogs. Her beloved dog deserved the best. So, everyone agreed to trade fresh fish for dog food. George and Andy haggled back and forth. Realizing they both had substantial supplies, they finally settled on exchanging 1,500 pounds of fresh fish for 500 pounds of dog food. That left them with not many fish remaining.But there was plenty more in the reservoir—enough for them to haul up anytime! With that, they packed up their things, stashing the gas stove and other equipment securely. They enjoyed their share of the crispy fried fish and then divided up the remaining portions. Nadia pulled Harrison and Caleb aside. "The Hadid Family put in a lot of effort. How should we split this batch?" The Hadids weren't officially part of the 18th-floor group. While George and Marilyn were just pure laborers, Austin had created the fishing gear. Without his work, they wouldn't have caught so much. Caleb, quick-witted as always, suggested, "How about we give him a fifth of the share? One for him, and half of that for his parents." Being too stingy wouldn't do, but giving too much wasn't ideal either. Nadia nodded. "That sounds fair. A fifth."They had no habit of exploiting others. It was best to be open about these things. When the Hadids heard they'd get one-fifth, the three of them lit up with joy; they'd expected far less. Trading 1,500 pounds wouldn't leave much behind, so they decided to bring it all along. In the darkness, the inflatable boat dragged the rubber raft through the flooded waters. Both sides had agreed to meet at a secluded waterfront spot on the outskirts of town. Though they trusted each other as old colleagues, one couldn't be too careful. Nadia reminded everyone to put on their life vests and hide their weapons. As they approached the meeting spot, Colby barked a low, warning sound. Nadia turned on her high-powered flashlight, and sure enough, they saw an inflatable boat and several rubber shafts in the distance. The deal had specific terms—Andy's group could bring no more than six people. One inflatable boat and three rubber shafts; if more showed up, it would be a breach of contract, and the deal would be canceled. Nadia counted. The numbers matched: two middle-aged men and four young guys, each holding iron rods, all looking tense and on guard. She swept the powerful flashlight beam over the water's surface, finding no signs of any hidden threats. The 1,500 pounds of fish were easy to spot, but the 500 pounds of dog food were much less noticeable. The dog food was heavy, so it didn't stand out. George and Austin paddled their rubber shaft over to check; once they confirmed it was all dog food, they signaled for Harrison and the others to come over. They weighed the goods and completed the exchange. They actually had a bit over 1,600 pounds of fish, but Andy had brought just 500 pounds of dog food. However, he'd also included 20 cans of freeze-dried pet food. "You can try these. If it's good, we can trade for cans next time, too." George preferred the dog food and cursed Andy for being downright crafty…