In the space, as soon as Celine appeared, Red came rushing over.
He looked like a drowning man grabbing the only piece of driftwood, his hoarse voice urgent:
"Miss Celine! You're here!"
Seeing Red's condition, Celine's heart sank sharply.
Red was wearing a thick down jacket, but his exposed face, eyebrows, even the tips of his hair...
were all covered with tiny ice crystals, and his lips were purple from the cold.
"What happened to you?"
Red wiped his face hard, as if trying to drive away some cold and exhaustion. His movements were stiff, clearly very frozen.
He took a deep breath.
"This morning, I took a few brothers out, hoping to take advantage of the break in the snow to go to that abandoned department store in the west part of the city and trade some gold…"
"But as soon as we got inside, the weather suddenly changed!"
"The snow started falling like sand being poured, and the wind was like knives cutting! We got trapped inside!"
Red's voice showed fear and anxiety.
"The blizzard is getting worse, no sign of stopping!"
"We planned to be quick and didn't bring much food or any heating charcoal at all!"
"We can't go back to camp now! That broken building leaks wind everywhere, and my brothers are nearly frozen stiff!"
"If this keeps up, forget about surviving until dawn, we might not even make it through the night!"
He nearly gritted his teeth to say the last sentence; each word was heavy with despair.
Blizzard, freezing cold, lack of food, no warmth, trapped...
Celine immediately understood the desperate situation Red faced.
In such harsh weather, without enough ways to keep warm, death was just a matter of time.
Life was at stake.
"You need things to keep warm, right?" Celine's voice was unusually calm.
Red nodded heavily, eyes full of strong hope.
"Yes! It's so cold! Charcoal, thick clothes, anything! As long as it helps us survive this night!"
"Understood. Don't worry, wait here for me!"
"I'll get everything ready right away!"
Before she finished speaking, Celine's figure vanished into the space.
Outside the space in the living room, Mateo sat with a blank look in his eyes.
"Worried about Celine?"
Shenan comforted Mateo by gently patting his shoulder.
"Don't worry, only she can enter the trading space. It's very safe."
Mateo's gloom wasn't because of this.
Deep inside, he was full of regret and fear.
He had always thought Celine's ability was just a simple exchange tool, but he didn't expect she could personally enter that place full of unknown power.
And that power was far stronger than they imagined.
If outsiders found out, what terrible consequences would they face?
Thinking about this, he shivered.
"I was too naive," he said bitterly and quietly.
Shenan was stunned for a moment, then understood what Mateo meant. He sighed.
"You shouldn't say that now."
"Celine has been through many things in her dreams, much worse than what she tells us. She values our safety more than her own life..."
Before Shenan could finish, Celine suddenly appeared beside the seat.
She looked urgent, quickly standing up.
"It's too late," she spoke fast, "Fourth brother, come with me. I need to go out and buy some things right now!"
Although he didn't know what had happened, seeing his sister so nervous, Mateo immediately jumped up from his chair.
Then, quickly putting on his coat and shoes, he followed her out the door.
"Celine, what's going on?"
Mateo was driving, but his eyes kept glancing at Celine in the passenger seat.
"You said earlier that it was too late. Too late for what? And why did you rush out to buy something?"
Celine turned her head, looking straight at Mateo.
She first explained the basic situation about the pawnshop space. Then she told him about the deal she had with Red and Hogan.
"Red is trapped in a blizzard right now."
"I urgently need to help him get a batch of warm supplies, and preferably a vehicle too."
Mateo suddenly remembered what his older brother Shenan had told him a few days ago, to use his connections to get some retired military trucks with high performance.
So that's it.
"So," Mateo tried to ask carefully, "The batch of military trucks that Shenan asked me to get are they also for Red?"
"Yes."
Celine nodded.
"The environment in the post-apocalypse is harsh. Ordinary trucks won't last long."
"Military trucks have much better quality and off-road performance than normal vehicles. Red needs them to transport supplies, and even as moving fortresses."
Saying this, Celine looked at Mateo with a bit of hope in her eyes.
"Fourth brother, can you get them?"
Hearing her certain question, Mateo felt relieved.
The slight distance and regret caused by the use of the crystal cores was replaced now by heavier reality and responsibility.
He showed a confident and reliable smile.
"Don't worry. It's all arranged. Four trucks in total, the best-performing models. I already talked to the person in charge. The paperwork will be done tomorrow, and we can pick them up."
"Really?" Celine's eyes lit up immediately. "That's great. Thank you, Fourth Brother."
That thank you made Mateo feel even more guilty inside.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and said seriously, "I'm sorry, Celine."
He turned his face toward her, meeting her slightly puzzled gaze. "I didn't think things through before and said things that made it hard for you. I…"
"I understand, Fourth Brother."
Celine gently shook her head, stopping his self-blame, her eyes clear and sincere.
"I know how deep your feelings are for the army and the country. That sense of responsibility is engraved in your bones."
Her understanding warmed Mateo's heart, but also added to his shame.
Celine continued in a calm but firm tone.
"I also hope that one day, the power I have can help more people, that I can contribute to this country. But not now."
"Right now, what I have to do first is protect myself and all of you. I want all of you to survive."
Survive.
Simple three words, but weighing like a thousand pounds.
Mateo understood Celine's thoughts well.
Because of that understanding, he regretted his earlier impulsiveness even more.
Giving away the crystal core, something that could shake the world, so easily, before the family had enough ability to protect themselves. That was not patriotism. That was pushing the whole family into an endless abyss.
To make up for his recklessness and to protect this heavy responsibility of family safety, Mateo made a silent promise.
He must and will do everything he can to climb higher.
Only by standing in a high enough position, with enough power and resources, can he create a safe haven for his family in the coming apocalypse storm.
And only then, when the crisis passes someday, can he truly realize his dream.
In the safest, most effective way, to benefit the country and people he loves deeply.