Fire Is the Answer

After handing out rations for the day, Ethan Cross noted that supplies had been stretching a bit farther than usual—mostly because more than a dozen people had died over the past two days.

Many familiar faces were now gone.Claire… Natalie…He hadn't seen either of them in days. Most likely frozen or starved to death.

Ethan returned home, where Dr. Chloe greeted him in an apron, smiling sweetly."Welcome home, Master."

Just the sight of her—gentle, elegant, obedient—lifted Ethan's mood.

Time had turned Chloe into the perfect housemaid. She was smart enough to know that in a frozen world like this, clinging to a strong man was the best path to survival. So she never refused Ethan's commands.

In fact, she even completed things he hadn't explicitly asked for.

"What're you cooking?" Ethan asked casually as he peeled off his thermal suit.

Chloe knelt down to take his boots, swapped them for warm slippers, then tucked the heavy boots neatly on the shoe rack.

"Beef stew with potatoes. It's your favorite, right? I'm still trying to get the seasoning right… I hope it tastes okay."

Ethan chuckled, sinking into the couch. He'd been out battling wind and snow all day—even with full winter gear, a chill still clung to his bones.

Only now, dipping his feet into the basin of hot water Chloe had prepared, did he finally begin to feel warm again.

This—this was what a home was supposed to feel like.

His mood today? Pretty damn good.

After all, he'd just confirmed the precise location of the military base. Next time, he could go alone and dig straight down to the armory.

Compared to the city police station, the army's weapons cache would be ten times as large—possibly more.

Maybe he'd find grenades.Maybe RPGs.Hell, what if there were tanks? APCs?

...Nah, those would be too heavy. Digging them out of ten-meter-deep snow would just sink them again. Not worth the trouble.

"But ammo? There should be tons of it."

Once he had that, nobody in this cursed neighborhood would dare touch him again.

That thought made him grin… then fade into something colder as he remembered Wildfang's ambush.

If it hadn't been for his layered armor, his gun, and the bullets to match—he'd be dead in a ditch.

"Those Wildfang bastards… they'll pay for that," Ethan muttered."But they're playing it smart now. Ever since they found out I've got serious firepower, they've been hiding in their building like rats. No way I can just storm in. That'd be suicide."

He closed his eyes and started thinking.

"Attacking an apartment tower head-on is a losing game. They've got endless places to fall back to. And we've got nothing but open snow behind us—no cover, nowhere to retreat."

"The stairwells are narrow, and going uphill against a dug-in enemy? That's a bloodbath."

"But… what if I flipped the script? What if I used fire?"

That word sparked something in him.

He remembered old news reports—apartment fires trapping people in high-rises. The smoke alone could kill long before the flames.

And smoke always rose.Even if those bastards climbed to the top, they'd still choke.

Better yet, in a world this cold, every window was sealed tight to keep in the warmth. Which meant even thicker, deadlier smoke.

"And if they try to escape through the windows…" Ethan smiled."I'll be right there waiting. Let them jump—I'll shoot every last one midair."

He clapped his hands, thrilled.Yes. Fire was perfect. The ideal solution for cowards who refused to come out.

But there was a problem.

He needed a big enough fire.

Most of the usable wood in the neighborhood had already been ripped out—people had been burning doors and furniture just to survive.

Still, Ethan already had a plan.

"There are plenty of trees outside the city. I'll go chop some down in the next few days."

"And because they're wet, they'll burn dirtier—more smoke. Just soak 'em in gas and light the whole damn place up. Perfect."

With his mind made up, Ethan relaxed.

Chloe returned with dinner, placing the steaming stew in front of him. He took a bite, then smiled.

"You're getting better at this."

Her face lit up with joy."Really? If you like it, I'll make it for you every day!"

Ethan nodded, smiling back.

They sat at the table together, Chloe across from him, basking in domestic warmth.

But Ethan's mind was elsewhere. He was still working through the problem of the other towers—the nosy neighbors, the backstabbers waiting for a chance to pounce.

His plan was forming.

Don't start the fight now. Wait.Wait until the firewood is stacked, until the guns are dug up and loaded.

Then hit them hard. Wipe them out in one clean sweep.

Just then, Chloe spoke again.

"People in our tower… there've been a lot of deaths lately."

Her voice pulled Ethan from his thoughts.

He glanced at her."Oh? So what?"

"I think… some of them are holding a grudge against you. You should be careful."

Her eyes were full of genuine concern.

Women were sensitive like that. Chloe had clearly picked up on something in the way the others looked at Ethan today.

Ethan smiled gently, reaching across to stroke her cheek.

"If I needed you to remind me of that, Chloe, I'd already be dead a dozen times over."

Chloe pouted."I'm just saying, the death toll's getting high. I'm worried they might team up with people from the other buildings."

Ethan shrugged."Let them."

"I never trusted them to begin with. In fact…"

He leaned back, sipping his soup."I've been planning to kill them all eventually."

Chloe's eyes widened.She gasped, then let out a sigh.

"I was worried about you, but it turns out you're ten times colder than they are."

Still, deep down, she felt safer. It was this darkness in Ethan that made him invincible.

But then… a question gnawed at her.

Ethan had just said he didn't trust anyone.Not a single soul in this whole rotten world.

…Did that include her?

Chloe looked at him, eyes hopeful.

"Ethan… do you trust me?"

He met her gaze without hesitation.

"Chloe, you're the only person in this world I trust."

Her eyes sparkled, cheeks flushing with color.

"You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"

"Of course not," Ethan said firmly. "You're special. One of a kind. I mean it."

Chloe's heart fluttered. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

Ethan smiled again and placed a chunk of beef into her bowl."Come on, eat up."

She looked at him like he was the whole world.

And Ethan, watching her devotion deepen, thought to himself:

Women really are easy to handle. Just lie with confidence, and they'll eat it up.

Did he like Chloe?Sure.

Did he love her?

Only one person earned Ethan Cross's love—and that was Ethan Cross himself.

But he needed Chloe to believe he loved her. Only then would she stay loyal, keep the home warm, keep him safe.

Emotional manipulation was just business.Just like how corporate bosses call their employees "family" right before they fire them without severance.

Chloe had to believe she was special.That she was chosen.

That made her the perfect backup plan.

After dinner, Ethan stretched and announced,"Think I'll take a shower."

Chloe stood up quickly, face flushed."Want me to… wash your back?"

Ethan glanced at her. The look in her eyes had changed—more than just obedience now. Maybe even… affection?

He nodded.

"Sure. I could use a hand."