Water wasn't in short supply either. What they needed were fuel and medicine, so they decided to check the pharmacy for any bargains they could grab.Accompanying Regus was Lu Wei , who had heard about Ralph and Ike's encounter at home and had rushed to join them. Though he initially believed that Ike had abandoned them and fled, upon learning that Regus family had seen Ralph, he felt reassured and hurried over."Come on, let's head to the pharmacy," Ike said. "Although the supermarket situation was intense, Lu Wei is even more afraid of not having medicine in this environment. In life-and-death situations, he rarely compromises. Plus, it's safer to be with people like Regus than trying to manage things ourselves." "Let's go," Ike continued.Leaving Ike, Lu Wei, and Ralph behind, Regus and Tom followed Ike's instructions and set off for the nearest pharmacy.The streets were filled with pedestrians, and the scene seemed somewhat normal, thanks to the temporary return of power and the presence of public servants trying to maintain order. However, everyone knew that this fragile peace could shatter at any moment.Reaching the first major pharmacy, they found a considerable crowd outside. Many people seemed to have the same idea as Ike, seeking medicine in the wake of the disaster.Inside, several workers in uniform were hastily clearing the shelves of medicines, stuffing them into nylon bags. The pharmacy's floor was stained with blood.Ike and his group had arrived late. The pharmacy had already been taken over by the workers, and even the envious onlookers dared not challenge them.People who had arrived early witnessed the whole process of the pharmacy being looted. These workers had acted swiftly, as if they had planned their raid in advance.The pharmacy's owner had been injured, leaving bloodstains behind. Seeing that he couldn't stop them, he had left hurriedly with his family. Thankfully, there had been no major conflicts, and these workers treated the pharmacy as an easy target.Ike stood outside the crowd, observing the situation. Even if they filled their nylon bags, they couldn't take all the pharmacy's supplies in one trip.Ike instructed Regus and Tom to stay and wait, hoping to find some items left behind by the looters once they had left. Then, he handed them his backpack.Regus didn't hesitate; he trusted Ike's judgment. He believed that Ike had good reasons for his actions. Meanwhile, Tom appeared uncertain about Ike's plan but followed Regus's lead.After ensuring that Regus and Tom were set, Ikeleft with Lu Wei and Ralph to search for another nearby pharmacy.Ike had left Regus behind out of concern for potential conflicts. He was reluctant to leave Lu Wei and Ralph alone but worried about their safety. Besides, he couldn't be sure they would successfully gather supplies.As they reached the second pharmacy, Ike's unease grew. The glass door had been shattered, and only a few medicines remained on the shelves. A few people were rummaging through the remaining items.Lu Wei, unaware of the backstory, sighed in frustration at the sight of the pharmacy being nearly empty. Unbeknownst to him, Ike couldn't afford to waste time, especially given the competitive situation outside.Ike entered the pharmacy, where a young man was searching the inner room. As he saw Ike, he instinctively reached for a self-defense weapon, then followed Ike's gaze to notice two bodies on the floor.Panicking, he quickly explained, "It wasn't me! I had nothing to do with it. They were already here when I arrived."The blood on the ground had turned dark, suggesting that some time had passed since the incident occurred. Ike glanced at the inner room, and the young man backed away against the wall nervously. In the corner of the inner room, an elderly man and a young girl lay huddled together. The grandfather held his granddaughter tightly, and the small area they occupied was barely the size of a floor tile. Both bodies were covered in blood, and it was evident they were dead.Footprints on the windowsill hinted at an attempted escape. It was unclear whether someone had chased them away or if they had confronted someone before their tragic end.Ike sighed, feeling the impermanence of life as he looked at the two corpses. He stepped out of the inner room and found Lu Wei and Ralph waiting outside, resembling two penguins.Ike knocked on a medicine cabinet in frustration before instructing, "Gather all the medicines we can use. Don't waste any time."Lu Wei , somewhat shocked by the situation, quickly complied.

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Feeling a sense of relief after packing his backpack, Ike stood in the middle of the pharmacy. He understood that he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. Life and death were uncertain, especially in such trying circumstances. Fate didn't discriminate.Leaving the pharmacy with their backpacks full, Ike noticed that Regus and Tom were nowhere in sight. They must have returned home, he thought.Determined to get back as quickly as possible, Ike retraced his steps. However, at a crossroads, he spotted several men in gray factory uniforms.These men seemed to be part of a gang that had committed crimes together. Considering the small factories around the city, it was easy for such gangs to form, especially when workers from different factories came together during a power outage.The workers wore gray factory uniforms, and the material appeared to repel water, suggesting they might work at a chemical factory. Ike recognized the name of the chemical factory embroidered in red silk on their uniforms.These workers had sustained a gunshot wound, evident from the bloody hole in one man's neck that resembled a crimson flower.At first glance, it seemed like a bullet wound. Perhaps when they attempted to rob the pharmacy, they encountered resistance from the shopkeeper, leading to a tragic outcome.Ike wasn't sure whether the female shopkeeper had survived, but seeing the condition of her grandfather and granddaughter, it was evident she hadn't had time to tend to their bodies.Ike covered the two lifeless bodies with white coats from the inner room's closet, then noticed a worker dressed in a gray uniform, also from the same chemical factory, lying lifeless nearby, with a similar bloody wound on his neck.Leaving the inner room, Ike sighed, realizing that witnessing two living bodies earlier in the morning had made him acutely aware of the impermanence of life.After Ike left the pharmacy, he found Lu Wei and Ralph waiting outside, resembling two penguins. Ike instructed, "Gather all the medicines we can use, and let's not waste any time."Lu Wei reacted quickly, but his shock was evident.Ike fitted his backpack securely and stood in the middle of the pharmacy. He couldn't let emotions cloud his judgment. Life and death were uncertain, especially in these trying times, where fate showed no favoritism.Once their bags were filled, Ike decided it was time to leave. They had no more reason to linger.As they headed back, Ike observed his surroundings, watching for potential threats. His keen instincts were always on high alert.On their return journey, Ike noticed a fork in the road and saw several workers from the chemical factory gang. These workers were likely part of a larger group, and he was determined to find out more about their base."Don't go; it's dangerous!" Lu Wei exclaimed.In an era without telephones or mobile networks, Ike knew that communication was crucial. He shared his plans and assumptions with his companions, ensuring their safety and preventing them from wandering aimlessly.Knowing that Ike intended to go alone, Lu Wei tried to dissuade him. "Don't worry; I've planned it out carefully," Ike assured him."But you have enough supplies, don't you? You don't need to take unnecessary risks," Lu Wei countered. However, Ike had other considerations. No matter how many supplies they had, there would always be something missing. They needed to secure these resources now, as they might not be available later.Ike had extended his expectations for the power outage to six months or even longer, so he didn't want to miss any potential resources. He was determined to gather supplies for the future.In response to Lu Wei's concerns, Ike explained, "There might be a lot of supplies, but there's always something we can't find. And we can't just go out and buy it if we run short. I need to find these missing resources now."Lu Wei and Ralph, who had experienced the events with Ike, couldn't help but voice their concerns. Lu Wei emphasized, "Don't go; it's dangerous!"Ike assured them, "Don't worry; I've measured the risks."As a father, Lu Wei was naturally worried about Ike's safety. If anything happened to Ike and Ralph simultaneously, Lu Wei knew what he would do. Ralph would essentially have two layers of protection without any effort on his part, while Ike had to make decisions and act as the vanguard without any guarantees.