A profound silence enveloped the city of Tianhai. Blanketed in endless white, the snowflakes obscured everything below. From a high vantage point, only the shadows of towering buildings were discernible amidst the sea of pure white.
Riding a snowmobile, Zhang Yi swiftly traversed the snowy terrain. After nearly a month of self-isolation at home, this was his first foray into the outside world to engage in high-speed riding.
The wind whistled past his ears, and the exhilaration was beyond words. Unable to contain himself, Zhang Yi let out a few exuberant howls.
The distinctive sound of the snowmobile drew attention as Zhang Yi approached. Passing by some high-rise buildings, he glimpsed fleeting figures behind the glass.
Even in the apocalypse, a resilient force within humanity would persist, much like locusts. The frigid environment acted like a pesticide, yet those who survived would gradually adapt after the calamity.
Zhang Yi patted the gun in his pocket, instantly feeling a sense of security. In this city, surviving individuals could potentially pose a latent threat. In the apocalypse, one should not blindly trust human nature.
His first destination wasn't the nearby supermarket, but rather, he steered towards the Tianhai City Police Station. Because, undoubtedly, that's where weapons would be stored.
Zhang Yi recalled the saying, "All fear stems from inadequate firepower." Therefore, weapons, especially firearms, were undeniably beneficial.
After over half an hour of riding, Zhang Yi arrived at the location of the Tianhai City Police Station. By now, most of the area was submerged in snow. Six-story buildings were barely visible up to the third floor. Fortunately, the police station stood as an independent structure, slightly taller than residential buildings. Otherwise, if Zhang Yi had delayed his arrival by a dozen days, there might be nothing left.
Parking the snowmobile in front of the fourth-floor window, Zhang Yi dismounted, removed the key, and grabbed a pry bar from his pocket. "Clang!" Toughened glass shattered on the ground.
Zhang Yi pulled out his gun from his pocket and entered the building. Though pitch-black inside, it posed no problem for Zhang Yi. He retrieved a miner's lamp from a spatial pocket—a small but intensely bright light used by underground miners. Upon activation, it resembled a miniature sun, illuminating the surroundings exceptionally.
Unfamiliar with the internal layout of the police station, Zhang Yi had to search room by room. Upon reaching the snow-covered second floor, forcibly opening a locked room revealed a scene that slightly moved him.
In the corner of the room, seven or eight officers huddled together. Wrapped in thin blankets, their bodies were whiter than the snow. Zhang Yi took a deep breath, feeling a tinge of sadness. These officers, who had served the city during the night shift, lacked even warm clothing in the face of an approaching snowstorm. Their appearance indicated death by freezing.
Zhang Yi contemplated burying them but ultimately decided against it. Considering the icy wasteland outside, being buried in the place they had dedicated years of effort might be a fitting closure. He bowed respectfully in silent tribute to those who had protected the city.
Continuing the search, the police station's clutter slowed down the process. When fatigued, Zhang Yi took out a block of pure cocoa chocolate from his spatial pocket, consumed it voraciously to replenish energy, and resumed the search.
After almost two hours, Zhang Yi finally found the armory, but it was securely locked. Frustrated with his failed attempts to force it open, he smacked his forehead and decided to retrieve the key.
Fortunately, knowing it would be in the duty room made the search easy. After obtaining the key, he effortlessly unlocked the door.
Inside the armory, Zhang Yi's eyes widened in astonishment. Various firearms, including handguns and rifles, were neatly arranged, totaling dozens. He even discovered a sniper rifle!
Although unfamiliar with the names, Zhang Yi collected them all for future exploration. Especially the sniper rifle—an exquisite piece of equipment. He envisioned using it for stealthy maneuvers in the future, even if his marksmanship wasn't perfect, intimidation could still be achieved.
"I am a shooting prodigy!" Zhang Yi declared proudly, a hint of self-deprecation in his tone.
Subsequently, he found over a thousand rounds of ammunition, some antique firearms, and various bulletproof vests along with a complete set of riot gear such as helmets, shields, and batons.
"All these items will be sufficient to assemble a formidable team!" Zhang Yi exclaimed joyously.
Amidst his findings, Zhang Yi affirmed one thing—there was still a substantial supply of resources outside. The massive snowfall on December 12th caught people off guard. When they woke up the next day, the snow at their doorsteps was over a meter deep, and temperatures had plummeted below freezing. Many were oblivious to the impending apocalypse and hadn't begun frantic hoarding. Only later did they realize the severity, but by then, it was too late to venture outside.
Having acquired what he sought, Zhang Yi left the police station. The snowmobile outside was now covered in a thick layer of snow. Realizing he had been out for most of the day, he muttered, "It's time to feed those bastards."
Thinking of his despicable neighbors, Zhang Yi found an accessible supermarket that hadn't been completely buried and broke in through a broken window.
However, upon entering, he discovered the supermarket was practically empty, with shelves appearing as if freshly stocked. Only some frozen vegetable leaves lay on the floor.
Rubbing his chin, Zhang Yi commented, "This was a convenience store close to the residential area, so it's not surprising everything got snatched up."
"However, the large malls in the city and those on the outskirts are likely untouched."
Having worked in warehousing himself, Zhang Yi was well aware that major shopping malls tended to avoid proximity to residential areas due to high land costs. He straddled the snowmobile, heading towards the Economic Development Zone.
Two years prior, a Wanda Plaza had just been built there. As the nearest residential building was three kilometers away, the chances of it being looted were relatively low.