The reinforced steel door, lined with sharp metal spikes, slowly swung open.Heavy footsteps followed as the people inside began to emerge.For some reason, the entire crowd fell silent.An unspoken tension settled over the seventeenth-floor hallway. Several people instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, while others took half a step backward.They had all heard the stories about the eighteenth floor. Some had even witnessed the violence firsthand. These people weren’t ordinary survivors who would surrender at the first sign of trouble. They had killed before, and they wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.Ethan stepped out first.His expression was calm, and a long, sharp blade rested in his hand. He wore protective clothing, and his posture suggested that he had come prepared for whatever happened next.The crowd stared at him.This was the man who had stabbed Marcus Vane without blinking. He was also the one who had refused to share supplies with anyone, no matter how des

Marcus kept shouting for everyone to charge, but he remained firmly rooted where he stood.The situation had become rather awkward.Just moments earlier, the crowd had been eager to smash through the reinforced door. Now that it was actually open, with Ethan standing behind it holding a gun, nobody seemed willing to take the first step.Oliver’s face burned with embarrassment.He cursed the cowards under his breath. They had been so enthusiastic when they were safely standing behind him, but now that things had become dangerous, not one of them was willing to move.With no other choice, he forced himself to speak.“Even if that’s a real gun, how many bullets do you have? Seven? Do you honestly think seven bullets are enough to stop all of us?”His words seemed to wake the crowd from its fear.“That’s right! He only has seven bullets. What are we afraid of?”“Exactly! It’s just a gun. There are dozens of us!”Several people began raising their weapons again, trying to convince themselv

When Ethan had been stocking up before the disaster, he had deliberately purchased several imitation firearms. He figured they might come in handy if he ever needed to frighten someone away without actually using lethal force.He hadn’t expected Caleb to possess a real gun.Although the world had descended into chaos, the government hadn’t completely collapsed. It was still functioning, even if its operations had slowed considerably under the devastating flood.Firearms remained strictly controlled.If Ethan openly used a real gun in front of dozens of residents, it could attract unwanted attention. Even if the authorities were too overwhelmed to investigate immediately, there would eventually be questions about where he had obtained it.That was one problem.The other was explaining himself.Unless the situation became completely uncontrollable, he preferred not to expose the fact that he possessed a real firearm.Of course, if his life genuinely depended on it, he wouldn’t hesitate

There had been dozens of people crowded together during the confrontation. Heavy rain and poor visibility had made it difficult to see clearly, and Ethan had deliberately shifted his position to avoid drawing attention.Yet none of that had fooled Caleb.He had still managed to notice the difference.Ethan smiled, pretending not to understand what Caleb meant.Caleb didn’t press him. Instead, he began explaining how to handle the firearm properly.“Pull your shoulder back slightly. Lean forward when you raise the gun. Keep your elbows bent…”He demonstrated each movement, correcting Ethan’s posture and explaining how to manage the recoil.Ethan listened carefully, memorizing every instruction.When he returned to his apartment, he took out the imitation firearm and practised the movements on his own.Neither of them asked the other any questions.Some things didn’t need to be discussed.⸻After the shooting, the entire building became noticeably quieter.Nobody dared approach the eigh

Ethan knew Gabrielle was the one who had asked Victor to come and warn them. The warning itself hadn’t changed much, but he appreciated the gesture.In return, he waived three of Gabrielle’s treatment fees and gave her half a bottle of herbal liniment. It was only about two ounces, but considering the circumstances, it was already a generous gift.There was also a practical reason behind his generosity.Everyone in the building had their eyes on the eighteenth floor. He couldn’t afford to assume people would remain kind when things got worse. If the Goodmans were willing to pass along useful information, maintaining a good relationship with them could save him a lot of trouble.“Gabrielle, it’s getting colder every day. Your back won’t do well in damp or chilly conditions,” Ethan advised. “Massage the affected area with this liniment before bed, then wrap yourself in a warm blanket. It should help you recover faster.”In his previous life, Gabrielle had frozen to death. Victor was the