Even Ivy froze in place. She had never expected Martha to say she already had a boyfriend.
At that mont, it felt as if her plans for her brother’s love life were collapsing in front of her.
She glanced at Kael with a troubled expression, her heart softening at the sight.
Her eyes almost conveyed the ssage, ’Brother, you are way too late!’
Kael had lowered his head, shoulders slightly stiff, as if he were bracing himself against an invisible blow.
He did not say a single word.
Martha, who had originally spoken only to escape the situation, now looked at Kael.
His expression no longer held its usual cold indifference.
Instead, there was a fragile tension, a quiet grief tucked in his eyes.
’Is this really the Kael I rember?’ she wondered. ’The aloof, distant boy who never cared to spare even a glance at ? Why does it look as if he is trying not to cry?’
For a brief second, Martha felt the strange urge to reach out and comfort him.
Yet she held herself back.
’No, I must be misunderstanding. I should not assu anything.’
Ivy, on the other hand, felt a sharp ache in her chest.
She suddenly turned to Martha, her tone strangely direct. "Who is your boyfriend?"
Martha felt her heart stop. She had not prepared for that question, nor did she even have a boyfriend to speak of.
She struggled for words.
"He is... soone I have been with for a long ti. I have not seen him in months. Maybe he is sowhere else in the country. The apocalypse separated us."
Kael lifted his gaze the mont she spoke. There was the faintest flicker of hope in his eyes.
If he is sowhere else... maybe... maybe she is not in love with him anymore. Maybe there is a chance.
He knew it was selfish. He wished, however quietly, that the boyfriend had moved on, that the relationship had dissolved, and that fate could give him another path to her.
Ivy, anwhile, was speechless. She stared at Martha before asking again.
"Are you planning to marry him? How serious are you about him?"
Martha froze. Kael’s breath caught. Felix blinked. Even the atmosphere felt still.
Ivy realized only then that she had gone too far.
Her chest tightened.
’I got carried away. In my past life, I owed my brother more than anyone. In this life, I want to give him a warm ending. I just want him to be happy. But that does not an I have the right to pry into her life.’
She opened her mouth to withdraw her question.
Before she could speak, Martha quietly answered. "I... am not sure."
Kael’s eyes brightened ever so slightly.
Ivy felt relief spark quietly in her chest as well.
It was true that interfering in soone’s relationship was wrong. Yet it was different if the relationship itself was already unsteady, already losing its foundation.
Ivy gave Kael a subtle glance. It was almost a sign to take action.
Kael stared back helplessly. He could not say a word. His nature had always been too restrained, too guarded.
Ivy sighed inwardly.
’My brother is so stubborn; he will end up alone in the mountains soday.’
Just then, Martha cleared her throat softly and shifted the atmosphere. She adjusted her glasses and adopted a professional tone.
"Ivy, I ca to report the situation in the base. If you are ready, I can begin."
Ivy paused, then nodded. She glanced toward the others.
"Everyone should rest. There are two bedrooms. Kael, Felix, and Silas can take one, and Nora can take the other."
Nora hesitated, guilt flickering across her face, but exhaustion weighed heavier.
She nodded quietly. Felix and the rest followed, and soon the group dispersed.
After they left, Ivy gestured for Martha to sit.
Once Martha had taken her seat, Ivy said, "You may begin."
Martha straightened her notes.
"There is severe overpopulation in the base. The population has already reached nearly four thousand. If expansion does not begin soon, it will beco impossible to admit more people."
Ivy nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. Continue. What else?"
"There is also widespread unemploynt. Many individuals are barely managing to pay a single month’s rent and cannot pay for another. So refuse to pay altogether but continue occupying their units."
Ivy tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest. "Go on."
"Frequent fights have begun to break out. There are also groups secretly smuggling food outside the base to sell in the black market at higher prices."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, yet did not interrupt.
"Another major concern is the heat. The temperatures have risen drastically in the past week. Many are suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration. A heat-related illness has begun to spread. Skin dries out rapidly and cracks, leading to inflammation. Those affected experience dizziness, muscle stiffness, and persistent fever. If untreated, the fever worsens and the patient begins to hallucinate. The final stage is organ failure."
Ivy’s expression darkened slightly as she listened. A low hum escaped her, thoughtful and controlled.
She knew that even though staying in the units of her base would keep them safe from extre heat, they still had to earn the rent and grocery money.
So it was common that so of the people who had left the base contracted the disease, and an outbreak happened.
"What is the current mortality rate?" she asked quietly.
Martha flipped to another section of her notes.
"So far, none. The dical team has been able to stabilize early cases with fluids and cooling treatnts. But supplies are limited. If the temperature continues to rise or if more people fall sick at once, the situation will beco critical."
Ivy leaned back in her chair, fingers interlacing as she rested her hands against her chin.
"What are the major dicines that are required?"
Martha referred back to her notebook, her brows slightly knitted.
"The dical team has requested large quantities of intravenous saline, electrolyte powders, cooling gel packs, and basic antipyretics."
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