Chapter 28: 2,000 Dollars for a Pack of Instant Noodles!

In the shadow of Solstice City's crippling blizzard, Aunt Lin and her grandson, Miller, found themselves victims of Alexander's merciless wrath. The supplies she had gathered, through deceit and desperation, were plundered. Miller, her grandson, bore the brunt of a vicious attack, kicked in the stomach by one of Alexander 's henchmen—a blow no child could endure.

Aunt Lin's pleas echoed through the owner's chat group, a digital cry for mercy amidst the cold reality. "My grandson is innocent," she wailed, her desperation unable to pierce the hardened hearts of her neighbors, who remained unmoved by the plight of the boy, tainted by her prior deceit.

Amidst the cold indifference, a message from Lydia, a doctor, offered a glimmer of hope, albeit shrouded in cautious realism. "Let me give the child a look," she typed, her words like a beacon in the dark. Lydia, known for her medical prowess and reserved demeanor, was one of the few who had earned the respect of the community.

Grateful, Aunt Lin sent Miller to Lydia, who, after examination, urgently requested medical supplies from the group. The community's response? Silence. Mockery from Alexander. Derision veiled as laughter. The dire need for hemostatic drugs, anti-shock drugs, and antibiotics hung in the air, unanswered.

Phoenix, the observer, held a stockpile of the needed medicine but chose to withhold aid, prioritizing his survival over the child's. The brutal winter, he reasoned, would claim the boy eventually; why waste precious resources?

Despite Aunt Lin's fervent appeals, the group offered no aid. Eventually, Dr. Lydia updated the chat. She had managed to stabilize Miller, but surgery was imperative for his survival. Her announcement was met with praise, a stark contrast to the scorn once directed at her.

As the days passed, Phoenix watched, detached. Mira, a woman of false pretenses, had yet to seek his help, but he anticipated her eventual capitulation. The world outside continued to deteriorate; the blizzard's onslaught rendered any hope of rescue futile.

The community was evolving, survival instincts kicking in. Hannah 's desperate plea for food marked the beginning of a new era—a time where food equated to life itself, and prices soared to previously inconceivable heights. A pack of instant noodles was now worth a small fortune.

Benjamin, the rich second-generation once silent, now saw opportunity, bidding double for the sustenance that had become more valuable than gold. Phoenix, witnessing this shift, sensed the dawn of chaos. A world where the currency of survival was no longer paper, but provisions—a world where humanity's true nature would unfold.