Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Measures
First, there were the waterproof sandbags. They had to make sure the rising water wouldn’t affect the nearby houses.
It would also be best to prepare some warming ginger tea to prevent a widespread flu outbreak after the downpour. Conditions were already poor; a flu epidemic would be a nightmare, with nowhere to get treatment.
There was too much to do. The three of them were running around in a daze, and to make matters worse, their request for supplies was being blocked, which only infuriated them more.
The trio took their complaint directly to Elder Shaw. In the end, Elder Shaw personally intervened, leading them to the warehouse with a Space Ability User in tow to move a heap of supplies out.
While Central Command was a hive of activity, Lily Hart was fast asleep, vaguely aware of the sound of rain drumming against the windows.
’Did I leave a window open?’ Lily Hart rolled over and went back to sleep.
「The next morning, the rain was still falling.」
Lily Hart had gotten drunk last night and gone to bed early without even eating dinner. She was now awake, starved, gnawing on a cold piece of bread as she watched the rain fall outside.
This was the second day of the storm.
Thanks to the shelter provided by the lottery shop and other storefronts, the survivors had made it through the night safely. However, water was gradually pooling on the ground, seeping past the sandbags.
But everyone was proactive, grabbing tools to bail water and trying their best to protect this last little patch of theirs.
Inside Central Command, Logan Holland and the other two were so exhausted they plopped right down on the ground, all appearances forgotten. At least they had the sense to find a spot sheltered from the rain.
Over the course of the night, they had used their limited supplies to lead The Guardian Corps out into the downpour, reinforcing the sections of the riverbank most likely to burst with sandbags.
But with that task done, a mountain of others was still waiting.
Logan Holland planned to procure a sack of ginger and several cases of mineral water from Lily Hart. That way, any survivors who had been caught in the rain could have a warm bowl of ginger tea to ward off the chill.
He put the plan into action immediately, sending a message to Lily Hart.
Her reply was quick. She had what he needed, but he’d have to pick it up himself. She wasn’t offering delivery service in a downpour like this.
Logan Holland said that was fine, sneezing as he typed his reply.
With that sorted, the three sat on the ground to rest a bit longer. Logan Holland pulled a bottle of mineral water from his space. "Bought this from Boss Hart a while back. Times are tough, so just a sip each to quench our thirst."
He then produced three loaves of bread, handing them to Yael Lowell and Peter Sharp with a warning, "You’ll have to pay me back for these. They aren’t freebies."
Yael Lowell took the bread and shot him a look. "I know, you cheapskate!"
Peter Sharp was merely a colleague to the other two, but after a night of struggling together, they had obviously grown much closer. He took the bread and said, "Thanks."
After a moment’s pause, he asked, "Minister Holland, are you and Boss Hart close?" It was a sincere question.
Logan Holland thought for a moment. "We’re on decent terms. I still pay full price for everything, I just get to freeload a meal every now and then." He was quick to downplay their connection, not wanting anyone to get the wrong idea about Boss Hart.
"Ohh," Peter Sharp said, indicating he understood.
After they finished their bread and water, Logan Holland suggested, "Why don’t we go get the ginger and water from Boss Hart’s place together?"
The other two agreed. The trio climbed into the base’s old clunker and headed for the lottery shop.
The heavy rain made for terrible road conditions. The windshield wipers were working so hard they looked like they might start smoking, but they were still barely effective. Relying on years of experience and his familiarity with the base, Logan Holland managed to force the car all the way to the lottery shop.
Lily Hart was at her table, eating a bowl of tomato and egg noodles. She ate in tiny bites, clearly lacking an appetite.
After last night’s drinking, the taste of alcohol still lingered in her throat.
Suddenly, a beat-up old car pulled up. Three men jumped out and came running toward her, shouting chaotically.
The rain was so heavy that it took Lily Hart a moment to recognize them: Logan Holland, Yael Lowell, and someone she didn’t know.
She quickly opened the vehicle’s door. Logan Holland led the other two as they ran up, but Lily Hart stopped them at the entryway. Holding her bowl of noodles in one hand, she stretched out her other arm to block their path.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on! You’re all soaking wet! Don’t come in. Maybe take off your shoes?"
Lily Hart couldn’t help but feel a little bad for them as she watched the water drip-drip-drip from their clothes.
She set down her noodles, then pulled out three disposable towels and tossed one to each man. "Dry yourselves off first, then take off your shoes. It’s not cold in here."
Her words made the three grown men a bit sheepish. They were grateful that, due to the constant rain, they had all worn sandals without any socks.
So, the three of them slipped off their sandals, tossed them outside to be rinsed by the downpour, and then used the towels to wipe themselves down from head to toe.
Thankfully, the three of them were reasonably clean, making sure to get a good scrub at the bathhouse whenever they had a spare moment.
They weren’t particularly grimy, so they didn’t leave the towels completely filthy.
After all that fuss, the three walked in barefoot and sighed in unison. The temperature, the air quality, the faint, pleasant scent... it was so comfortable!
Lily Hart had even laid a plastic sheet over the sofa to prevent them from getting it wet.
Only then did she welcome them in. "Alright, come on in." She then picked up her bowl of tomato and egg noodles and resumed eating.
The three men didn’t sit on the sofa. Instead, they took the wooden dining chairs, which wouldn’t be damaged by the dampness.
The three of them stared in unison at Lily Hart, who was busy slurping her noodles and eating the egg mixed in. After a moment, she noticed the silence.
She looked up at them again, and it dawned on her. "Oh, right. You’re here for the ginger?"
She then pulled a sack of ginger, which she’d bought and stored away, from her own space. The moment it appeared, the strong, pungent aroma of ginger filled the air.
"As for the water, you can just get it from the convenience store," Lily Hart said, pointing with her chin in its direction.
Logan Holland stored the sack in his space and nodded in understanding. Then he sat back down and continued watching her eat.
Lily Hart asked, hesitant and conflicted, "You guys want some too?"
’Roman Rowe just came by to cook this for me,’ she thought. ’The tomato flavor is so rich, and the whole bowl is tangy and spicy. It’s delicious.’
Logan Holland nodded without the slightest hesitation. ’After working all night,’ he thought, ’I’d kill for a bowl of hot soup!’
Lily Hart hesitated. "There’s a little left in the pot, but not much. You guys can split it."
Logan Holland immediately shot up and found his way to the kitchen. Yael Lowell and Peter Sharp were right behind him, each grabbing a bowl in anticipation.
She had been lying about there not being much left; there was still nearly half a pot. Roman Rowe had been planning to eat it after he finished his work.
Logan Holland lifted the lid, and an incredible aroma wafted out. He immediately filled all three of their bowls to the brim.
A moment later, each man emerged with a steaming bowl of noodles and sat back down in his original spot. A comfortable silence fell over the room as everyone focused on eating.
Roman Rowe rushed in, wearing a raincoat. He stopped in the entryway to take it off and hang it up, then grabbed a towel to quickly wipe himself down.
He knew Boss Hart hated it when her place got dirty.
He stepped in from the entryway, but after only two steps, he froze. He had spotted the bowls of noodles in their hands.
He immediately started wailing, "AAAH! MY NOODLES! Boss Hart, who are these guys? Why are they eating my noodles?!"
Lily Hart shot him a look, and his volume dropped instantly. "My noodles... my noodles..." he mumbled.
"Don’t worry, don’t worry. Just go cook another pot. Be good," Lily Hart coaxed the cook patiently.
Roman Rowe’s face lit up. Those last two words were like a tranquilizer; his mood brightened instantly.
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