"Newcomers, line up over here!"

"Everyone, stay in line and behave! If you dare cause trouble, you’ll be disqualified!"

Not far off, a long line had already formed. At the very front, staff checked IDs before handing out supplies to each person.

Nearby, a stern-faced, middle-aged man with a megaphone was shouting, directing newcomers on where to queue up.

Armed personnel stood on both sides of the line, maintaining order.

Food was of the utmost importance now, and the authorities worried that some people, driven by extreme hunger, would resort to desperate measures—like looting supplies!

That was why they were well-prepared for this distribution of relief supplies.

Mirefall was a huge city, so this wasn’t the only distribution point. Each one had been set up in a densely populated area.

The residents of Stella Sterling’s community were relatively fortunate, as they lived fairly close to this distribution point.

She dutifully went to the back of the line. On her way, she spotted a few acquaintances from her building. They were greeting each other and clustering together, figuring they could watch each other’s backs if something happened.

Upon seeing Stella Sterling, a large bald man from the 26th floor wanted to call her over to join them.

Plenty of people were doing the same thing, grouping up with others they knew.

"Don’t call her over. She’s not easy to get along with. Have you forgotten what she did to those first-floor tenants?"

A short man held the bald man back, shaking his head. The man’s name was Tripp Pence, and he loved being a busybody and a gossip.

He was the one who’d brought back most of the news from outside, and he never missed a chance to get involved in the building’s drama. He had seen Stella Sterling bury those people last time, and the fact that she had threatened them with a small knife left him both wary and resentful.

The bald man stopped in his tracks. He’d heard about that incident, as well as the commotion in the middle of the night involving someone getting slashed with a knife. He knew the other person at the center of it all was this same young woman from the top floor.

’But in both of those incidents, she wasn’t the one who started it...’

’And out here, there’s safety in numbers.’

While they were all caught up in their own thoughts, Stella Sterling couldn’t be bothered. Her gaze flickered over them for a moment before she looked away, oblivious to their petty scheming.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings. Many people had already collected their supplies and left, while many more were still hurrying toward the distribution point.

She also saw, in the distance, a woman in her forties or fifties who had just received her supplies get robbed only moments later...

But the people distributing the supplies were too busy to deal with any of that.

Clearly, their manpower was limited; they could only focus on ensuring the food distribution itself went smoothly.

The looters weren’t stupid, though. They specifically targeted women who were alone and knew to wait until they were a safe distance away before making their move.

The woman’s cries reached her ears. She was so far away that the scene was just a blur to the naked eye.

And yet, Stella Sterling saw and heard everything with perfect clarity.

She closed her eyes. It was still the dawn of the apocalypse, but the murder and plunder so common in her past life were already starting to emerge.

She gave a slight smile. ’Some people in this world are just born evil. The apocalypse has nothing to do with it.’

"You, you, and you—out! And you," Ethan Young pointed. "I remember you. You’ve already collected once. Anyone else who dares to take more than their share will be arrested for causing trouble!"

The man with the megaphone, Ethan Young, pointed out several people in a row and had them pulled from the crowd.

"I have a large family, and they’re all children without IDs. I’m the only one who can collect, and this isn’t nearly enough! Please, I’m begging you, just pretend you didn’t see me. Let me get one more share, just one, and then I’ll go!"

A middle-aged man suddenly dropped to his knees, his voice choked with despair as tears streamed down his face.

If he hadn’t been forced into a corner, a grown man like him would never have stooped to shamelessly begging like this.

Among the others who had been pulled out, some wept silently, their bodies radiating an aura of utter despair.

One or two others, however, were clearly just trying to take advantage of the situation. Seeing the scene, they also started begging Ethan Young for mercy.

Watching them, the rest of the crowd felt a knot of discomfort in their stomachs.

But no one said a word, especially those farther back in the line. They were already worried there wouldn’t be anything left by the time their turn came. If people at the front took extra, what would happen if the supplies ran out?

Ethan Young’s expression softened. He sighed. "We understand everyone’s situation, and our superiors are trying to figure out a better way. But today, the rule is one share per ID. If some people take more, others won’t get anything."

Hearing that, the crowd erupted. All sympathy for the desperate few vanished. "They already got theirs and they’re back for more? Shameless!" someone yelled.

"Who isn’t struggling right now? If everyone acted like you, how would the rest of us survive?"

The person behind Stella Sterling was cursing agitatedly, gesticulating so wildly they almost bumped into her.

Stella Sterling frowned and took two steps forward to get out of the way.

"What are you dodging for? I didn’t even touch you! You young girls have no manners, all you know is..."

It was as if the middle-aged woman behind her was addicted to yelling. Having found a new target, she immediately turned her tirade on Stella Sterling.

But the next moment, Stella Sterling turned to look at her. The instant the woman saw Stella’s face, her voice cut off abruptly, as if a switch had been flipped.

She continued in a much quieter voice, "Oh, it’s you, Stella. I didn’t see who it was—"

The rest of her sentence died in her throat under Stella Sterling’s knowing, humorless gaze. This was the same woman who had tried to pry into her personal life in the elevator the other day, only to be scared off.

She stared at Stella Sterling for a moment before saying nothing and quickly lowering her head.

Meanwhile, the man in charge, Ethan Young, had politely but firmly sent the line-cutters away.

He knew everyone was struggling, but who wasn’t? If he made one exception, he’d have to make another. Once a precedent was set, others would follow suit, and he’d lose control of the situation completely.

’Then the people at the back who didn’t get their rightful share would surely start a riot.’

With that group cleared out, the line in front of Stella Sterling shortened considerably. It would be her turn soon.

"Miss, I have a family emergency. Could I possibly trade places with you?" Just then, a man in his thirties with a frantic expression approached Stella Sterling.

"Not a chance," Stella Sterling refused flatly. Who would want to spend an extra second out in this freezing weather?

She glanced ahead; the people in front of her were all grown men. ’No wonder he picked me,’ she thought.

"I told you it’s an emergency! How can you be so heartless? Are you sure you won’t switch?"

As he spoke, the man glared at her, his eyes turning vicious in an attempt to scare her. He then took two intimidating steps forward.