Chapter 25: Targeted

People who could afford to live in high-end residential areas were usually of decent social standing. The upper-middle-class circles in City A were not that large—sooner or later, they would cross paths, and future collaborations were always a possibility.

During the initial days after the water supply was cut off, most residents still cared about their reputations and maintained their public images. What they did behind closed doors was unknown, but at least outwardly, everyone behaved appropriately—there were no incidents of people recklessly throwing trash from high-rise buildings.

With the existence of her spatial ability, Shu Xin and her group had no such worries. Any waste thrown into the second level of the space would automatically decompose, completely eliminating the issue.

As the torrential rain continued, the flood levels in the residential area rose steadily. More and more homes were submerged, forcing some residents to move into the higher-floor corridors temporarily. Others gained entry into different homes by offering money, making deals, or resorting to threats.

Those who dared to let strangers into their homes at this time—whether due to greed, lack of intelligence, or cowardice—would not meet a good end.

The heavy rain had persisted for an entire month with no signs of stopping. With disasters affecting the entire nation and even the world, letting unfamiliar people into one’s home was no different from inviting wolves in.

In the brutal survival laws of the apocalypse, such individuals would not last long.

The most recent government aid distribution was vastly different from the first. Moreover, it was explicitly stated that future supplies would require equal-value cash or gold in exchange.

Ever since rumors spread about people being robbed of their supplies on their way home, everyone’s first instinct upon receiving aid was to clutch it tightly, warily scanning their surroundings as they hurried home, terrified of becoming the next victim.

After the first distribution, Shu Xin and her group stopped going to collect supplies. The heavy rain made going out inconvenient—they would get soaked and chilled, and since they weren’t lacking in provisions, there was no need to suffer through it.

More importantly, they had already gathered enough intelligence on the outside world. There was no longer any value in venturing out. Instead of wasting time fetching supplies, it was far more productive to spend a few more hours training at home.

Another half a month passed, and the official aid distributions ceased entirely. Society descended into chaos, and even their residential complex was no longer safe. Four or five groups had already come knocking at the stairwell door of the 24th floor.

The visitors’ attitudes shifted from polite requests to coercion and threats, and finally to outright intimidation.

Their goal was simple: they wanted to move into the 24th and 25th floors and seize their stockpile of supplies.

The floodwaters had already risen past the middle of the ninth floor. At the current rate, it wouldn’t be long before it reached even higher levels. Zai Xinyuan’s group, who lived on the 16th floor, clearly felt the looming threat. Their floor was no longer a guaranteed safe zone, so they set their sights on moving higher—specifically, the 24th and 25th floors.

They had observed that the residents of these two floors had only gone out to collect supplies once. Given how long they had stayed indoors, they must have substantial reserves. If Zai Xinyuan’s group could break in, they were sure to gain significant benefits.

Furthermore, they had seen them using an inflatable rubber boat. In a flood crisis, the importance of such a vessel was self-evident—it was practically a lifeline.

Zai Xinyuan’s group consisted of five college dormmates. Before the rainstorm, they had gathered for one of their birthdays, looking for a place to celebrate and stay up all night. Zai Xinyuan, knowing about this vacant apartment that was regularly cleaned by a housekeeper, brought his friends here.

They were all young and physically strong, far more adaptable to the chaotic new world than older generations. Their acceptance of lawlessness came much faster.

The 24th floor was not their first target. Their initial victim was a single woman living on the 13th floor. With their decent looks and a few sweet words, they easily tricked her into opening the door.

That effortless success gave the eighteen-year-old boys an intoxicating rush. Encouraged by their initial victory, they became increasingly reckless.

One successful raid after another inflated their confidence, making them feel like protagonists in a TV drama. To them, society’s collapse was an opportunity for them to rise—a stage set for their dominance.

When they set their sights on the 24th floor, they didn’t even bother with careful planning. They assumed it would be as easy as their previous targets. Casually, they decided to break in at around 1 AM, completely underestimating their opponents.

Just past 1 AM, Zai Xinyuan’s group quietly crept up from the 16th floor. They had previously examined the reinforced security door at the stairwell of the 24th floor—it was solid, nearly impossible to breach with regular methods.

However, during a previous raid, they had acquired a cutting machine and a battery pack, which they now planned to put to use.

The noise from the cutter wasn’t exactly subtle. Mu Qimai, who was napping on the sofa in the living room, immediately picked up on the sound from outside the door.

He silently got up, pulled up the surveillance feed for the stairwell, and knocked on the bedroom doors of Yan Mo and Bu Xiangwen, waking them up.

Ever since chaos broke out in the complex, Yan Mo had implemented night watch rotations, ensuring that one person always slept in the living room. The apartment’s soundproofing was too effective—without someone on watch, they might not even hear the door being broken down.

Yan Mo and Bu Xiangwen got up swiftly. They confirmed the number of intruders and their weapons through the surveillance footage. Each of them grabbed a long knife, with a firearm tucked at their waist, before stepping out.

The stairwell door suddenly swung open, momentarily stunning Zai Xinyuan’s group. When they saw the residents appear, they quickly recovered, their expressions turning vicious.

“Well, well, looks like you guys are pretty vigilant. If you know what’s good for you, open the door right now and save us the trouble. Otherwise, once we get inside, you’ll regret it!” Zai Xinyuan sneered arrogantly, completely unfazed.

Snort—

Hearing such a ridiculous threat from a nearly twenty-year-old made Yan Mo chuckle. Clearly, this guy had watched way too many brainless TV dramas.

His derisive laugh infuriated Zai Xinyuan, making him feel like a complete fool. Enraged, he roared, “Since you refuse to cooperate, don’t blame us for being rude! Hurry up and cut open that damn door—I want to see what else they have to be so smug about!”

The person operating the cutting machine increased its power to the maximum, no longer bothering to be discreet.