Even though Ethan already knew how capable Cola could be, he still wanted the dog to become stronger.Hunger changed people. When survival was at stake, even those who had once loved animals could find themselves considering a dog’s meat. As the disaster dragged on and food became increasingly scarce, Ethan had no doubt that more people would turn desperate.Cola had already survived too much to become someone else’s meal.If he was going to stay with Ethan, he needed to become strong enough to protect himself.Caleb’s condition had been simple.“I’ll train your dog. You teach Poppy how to read.”Ethan blinked, momentarily caught off guard.“That’s it?”He had expected Caleb to ask for something more substantial in return.“Poppy is smart and well-behaved. You could teach her yourself.”Caleb’s expression shifted slightly.“I’m not good with that sort of thing. Training a dog is easier.”Ethan looked at him for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or take him seriously. Considering how l

Ethan gave the man a brief glance before turning away to find Ryan and the others.“Try these on,” he said, handing them the mink coats. “There are only ten in the store. The sizes might not fit perfectly, but honestly, I don’t know what else to spend all that money on.”Lucas slipped one on and grinned. “Why does this feel like I’m being kept by some rich woman?”Ethan gave him a flat look. “Sorry. You’re not my type.”They were still trading jokes when the man selling rice approached them again.“If you’re serious, we can work something out,” he said, lowering his voice.All four of them were standing together, yet he still had the nerve to approach. He didn’t look particularly suspicious, but Ethan had survived long enough to know that appearances meant very little. He wasn’t about to let his guard down just because the man seemed friendly.Ethan briefly explained the offer to Ryan and Lucas, and both men immediately perked up.Ryan even picked up a few grains of rice and popped th

Ethan might have looked young, but nobody who knew him would mistake his appearance for weakness. He could be ruthless when necessary, and the residents of the eighth and twelfth floors had already learned that lesson the hard way. Some of them had even been his classmates, but that hadn’t stopped him from breaking one girl’s ribs and hacking off her hair. Another man had suffered an even worse fate. After being bitten by Cola, Marcus had been stabbed in the thigh and rushed to the hospital that very morning.Ethan wasn’t someone anyone should take lightly.Oliver’s group returned around the same time, covered in grime and carrying nothing but a bundle of firewood. Every place worth searching had already been stripped bare. Even moldy bread had disappeared, leaving them with practically nothing to show for their efforts.When they saw the enormous haul the people from the eighteenth floor had brought back, all they could do was sigh in envy. They lived in the same building, yet their

Ryan’s living room was spacious enough for everyone to gather comfortably. They shut all the doors and windows tightly, keeping the cold air outside as the rich aroma of the stew gradually filled the apartment.As the stew came to a boil, everyone’s attention turned toward the pot. Smiles spread across their faces, and the delicious smell alone was enough to make their mouths water.Ethan added the ribs and sliced pork to the stew, allowing the meat to simmer in the flavorful broth until it became tender.“This is heaven!” Lucas exclaimed after burning his tongue on a piece of pork. “It’s so tender and packed with flavor!”His enthusiastic reaction was all the encouragement the others needed. Nobody held back after that, and everyone eagerly dug into their food.Caleb scooped up some ingredients and placed them on Poppy’s plate, making sure his little sister had enough to eat.Maya watched the girl for a moment before teasing her. “So, Poppy, is Ethan a better cook than your brother?”

When Ethan woke up that morning, he discovered that the rabbits had finally learned to use the bathroom properly. Even the ten baby rabbits were behaving themselves.Cola had figured out how to keep them in line, too.Whenever one of them decided to relieve itself wherever it pleased, he would immediately go after Ash or Snowy, baring his teeth and making his displeasure obvious. His message was clear: if the parents couldn’t keep their babies under control, he would start eating them.Cola kept the rabbits in check, and the rabbits, in turn, kept their babies under control. It turned out that they could learn after all.Ethan couldn’t help laughing. His dog had gone from a stray to the boss of the household overnight. Now, he had twelve little followers under his command.Caleb and the others didn’t return until around noon. By then, Ethan and Maya had already cleaned and prepared all the organ meat.They sliced the intestines and liver, added some lean pork, and seasoned everything