The Trading Market Ambush!

Jenny, clutching Chris's arm fearfully, and Sam, the three of them climbed the stairs. Reaching the 21st floor, the red fog finally disappeared. The three breathed a sigh of relief. With their vision cleared, it felt like a huge weight was lifted from their chests.

In the hallway, about a dozen people were already standing around. Every one looked underfed, their expressions listless, and they all seemed hungry. Some also had deep dark circles under their eyes, clearly hadn't slept well recently. They watched others, wary and expectant, clutching their backpacks tightly, holding a paper sign.

"One piece of chocolate for 2 pieces of bread." "6 bottles of cola for meat, ham sausage or luncheon meat are fine." "3 bottles of Fine Whiskey, come talk if interested. Only want food." "Pure gold bracelet for a box of instant noodles."

...

The most unique was an old traditional medicine doctor named Dr. Quincy. He was gray-haired, sitting on a step of the stairs, with a large bag of foul-smelling wild vegetables placed in front of him. Written on the paper sign: "Wild Shepherd's Purse, edible, 10 斤 (approx. 5 kg / 11 lbs) for 1 bottle of alcohol."

Everyone kept their distance. No one dared eat such large Shepherd's Purse; the leaves were bigger than cabbage leaves. Who knows if it's mutated or poisonous?

Chris walked over, picked up the wild Shepherd's Purse, and smelled it.

Ough~ A smell of feces rushed at him.

"Holy crap!" Chris threw it aside disdainfully: "Why does it smell like shit? Can this stuff be eaten?"

His glowing muscles made everyone feel envious, and they all looked at him fawningly.

Dr. Quincy nodded and said solemnly: "It can be eaten. I've eaten it."

Chris looked at Dr. Quincy in shock. How the hell can he eat that.

Dr. Quincy gave a bitter smile: "Almost starving to death, why care about taste? Changes are getting bigger and bigger now. We'll have to start eating the plants outside sooner or later."

Jenny smelled it too, immediately threw it aside, wiped her hands repeatedly with a tissue, and said in disgust: "I won't eat shit even if I starve to death!"

Dr. Quincy smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.

After another dozen minutes, more and more people were in the hallway. Over 40 people had gathered. With more people, everyone's courage also grew. While selling things, they chatted, exchanging information:

"Life is impossible now." "My family is out of food. Why isn't the nation sending aid yet?" "Who knows. Maybe the officials are all protected." "Damn it, the world is unfair!" "Right, did that kid Room and board included show up yet? I want to trade my wife's diamond ring with him for some food." "Diamond ring? Who the hell wants that now." "He probably won't come. He's not lacking food, and he grabbed two women. He must be afraid of being robbed by others." "Damn! Olivia actually went to that kid!" "Heh heh, he shouldn't get too happy too soon. When Director Olivia's father comes back with people, that kid is gonna be in trouble." "Can Director Olivia's father still come back?" "Definitely! Modern society, developed technology. The nation can't be defeated by the evolution of plants and animals. After rescuing the powerful, it should be our turn, the ordinary people!"

...

Chris had Jenny find a spot to sell protein powder. He and Sam looked around and couldn't help but have grim expressions. The situation was much worse than he imagined. Now, almost none of what people were trading was proper food. Mostly non-filling things like cola and hard liquor. He previously wanted to get rid of Sam and survive alone with a few women. Now, that idea changed. Food was so scarce, and he couldn't get much food through trading either. Then he had to rob! Robbing requires men. What's the damn use of getting so many women!

Sam said in a low voice: "Coach, the situation isn't good."

Chris nodded with a grim expression: "Damn it! We have to get some food this time!"

Sam said anxiously: "That kid Room and board included didn't come. He doesn't live in this building, does he?"

Chris said in a low voice: "He should live in our building. He's with Olivia and the beautiful convenience store owner's fiancée now. Those two women live in our building, meaning Room and board included most likely lives in our building too. Also, I saw in his photos that the room had no red fog, meaning it's on the 21st floor or higher!"

Sam heard this and flattered: "Coach, you're so smart!"

"Humph! If you're not smart now, you'll die!" Chris said smugly: "We have to find a way to get some food from him..."

The two discussed in low voices for a while and made up their minds.

Just then, three people were crowding in front of the short, chubby nerd selling chocolates, buying them up quickly. Chocolate is better for long-term storage than bread. At critical moments, it's life-saving supplies. The nerd selling chocolate wasn't stupid either and immediately raised the price. Finally, the deal was quickly made for 3 pieces of bread plus a packet of cookies.

The nerd was very happy, but was stopped by Chris when he wanted to go home: "Buddy, you're not just going to walk away like that, are you?"

The nerd looked at the muscular Chris and Sam with worry, clutching the food in his arms and said: "What, what, what do you want?"

Everyone looked over. Chris grinned: "I organized this trading market, so I'm in charge. It's so dangerous outside now, naturally I have to protect everyone's safety. You've enjoyed my protection, paying a little management fee isn't too much to ask, is it?"

Everyone's expressions instantly changed. Damn! Chris has bad intentions! Lily hiding in the crowd was very nervous. Now, her appearance was plain. She knew women were very dangerous in chaotic times, and beautiful women like her were even more dangerous. So she deliberately used makeup to make herself look ugly, added baggy clothes, turning herself into a shapeless hag with a sallow face full of wrinkles. Now she was very safe; no man paid any attention to her at all.

Chris wants to rob! Lily was very nervous: Why hasn't Room and board included shown up yet! She clutched her handbag. Inside was a black lychee. That was all her hope for survival.

Some smart people saw the situation was bad and started packing things and wanted to run away. Chris roared. The light on his muscles became brighter. He said with wide eyes: "Whoever dares to run, I'll kill them!"

Everyone instantly stopped, watching Chris in panic. Chris then looked at the nerd in front of him and said with a sinister smile: "Kid, your management fee. Two pieces of bread."

"Two?" The nerd was shocked and angry: "Why don't you just rob us!"

Bang! Chris punched the nerd in the stomach. Retch! The nerd bent over in pain, kneeling on the ground and retching. Chris grabbed the nerd by the collar with one hand, yanked hard, and lifted him up with difficulty. The onlookers instantly gasped. A man weighing one hundred sixty to seventy Jin (approx. 80-85 kg / 176-187 lbs), lifted with just one hand? This bastard is really powerful!

Chris gritted his teeth, using all his strength to maintain his posture. After two seconds, he couldn't hold on anymore. He suddenly threw the nerd about two or three meters (approx. 6.6-10 feet) away. The nerd cried out in pain from the fall. Chris forcefully snatched the nerd's backpack and said fiercely: "You resisted law enforcement, all your things are confiscated!"

"No! My things!" The nerd naturally couldn't accept it, struggling to stand up.

Chris hardened his heart and decided to go all the way. Today, he would make an example of the nerd to intimidate everyone! He stepped forward and kicked the nerd heavily in the chest.

Bang! Crack!

Everyone heard the sound of breaking bones. The nerd slid across the ground for a few meters (approx. several feet), hit the wall, and lost consciousness.

The scene was utterly silent. Everyone watched Chris in fear. Sam was also startled. Looking at the nerd's miserable state, he trembled with fear.

Chris looked at everyone and said loudly: "Everyone knows it's dangerous outside. If it goes on for a long time, the building won't be safe either. We have to organize a patrol team to save ourselves. The patrol team needs to patrol day and night, warn of danger, cut down plants growing into the building, and protect everyone's safety. This is all for everyone's good! Now, who wants to join the patrol team?"

Everyone watched Chris in silence. Now no one believed Chris's nonsense. Chris held up the backpack and said: "Here are 3 pieces of bread, 1 packet of cookies. Because he refused to comply, his things were confiscated by me. These things are not mine personally, they belong to the whole patrol team."

The patrol team has this kind of benefit? Some people's mindset began to change. A portion of those who originally sympathized with the nerd changed their minds. If I can get a share of the pie, who cares if the neighbor lives or dies?

However, everyone didn't have much food, so the so-called management fee couldn't collect much either. Will this so-called patrol team be held accountable by the government afterwards? Everyone was still waiting and seeing.

Chris narrowed his eyes and continued: "When the red fog descended, many apartment owners in our building hadn't returned. I will organize patrol members to pry open doors, collect supplies, and these supplies will also be prioritized for patrol members."

Pry open doors? At this, many people's eyes began to shine. Especially some young and strong men, or families with men, were secretly delighted. Maybe I should join the patrol team! The patrol team will definitely be primarily young men. They will naturally get benefits.

Some single women and elderly people were unhappy: "Supplies in empty apartments belong to everyone! Why should the patrol team take them?" "Who gave the patrol team this authority?" "You say prioritize just because? Why!"

...