Apocalyptic World: Surviving with my husband and my cute little babies-Chapter 203: Relief distribution (2)

When they stepped onto the Paradise shop floor, Elena and the others instantly became the center of attention.

The sight of a dog shocked the customers, as pets had become nearly nonexistent since the disaster began.

Resources were too scarce, and people barely had enough to survive, let alone care for animals.

So seeing Poochi and Wolfie—healthy, strong, and walking proudly like kings—was like seeing creatures from a different world.

Even though Ethan had disguised their fur with a dull brown color to make them less noticeable, their solid, muscular builds and elegant movements still made them stand out.

"Is that really a dog?" someone whispered, eyes locked on them.

"Haist... that dog lives better than I do," another muttered under their breath, bitterness creeping into their tone.

At first, Poochi paid no mind to the attention, strutting beside his mistress with vigilance.

But the shift in the crowd’s mood didn’t escape him.

When he picked up the scent of greed and hunger—eyes lingering too long, hands twitching as if tempted—his body stiffened.

Instantly, he stepped forward, stood tall, and growled menacingly.

"Grrrrrr"

"So fierce," a resident muttered with a sly grin, eyeing Poochi’s slightly chubby but firm body.

’A lot of meat.’

However, the grin didn’t last long.

The moment others recognized Elena, their expressions shifted, and many quickly backed away.

They knew who she was—and more importantly, what she and her group were capable of.

They could kill without hesitation, and they never flinched.

"I suggest you stop staring at them," one resident whispered to the curious onlooker, his tone friendly but edged with warning.

"They’re not people you want to mess with."

The upper-floor residents were rarely seen, but when they did appear, they left an impression.

The fact that they still lived in comfort, owned dogs, and walked them around openly sent a loud message: they were powerful and unafraid.

Ethan shot a cold, piercing glance at the curious customer, his expression calm but threatening.

With his hand holding Elena’s, they calmly made their way downstairs, completely unfazed.

The customer froze under Ethan’s gaze, a chill running down their spine.

It felt like they’d been silently warned.

Turning to the nearby residents, the customer asked hushedly, "Who are they?"

After learning about Elena and her group’s reputation, they quickly decided that it was better not to offend them.

As they descended the stairs, Elena playfully teased Poochi about what had happened a while ago.

"Poochi, you look so handsome today that everyone wants to take you home!"

Hearing his name, Poochi barked cheerfully, "Aw~aw~aw"

’Of course, Mistress! The old master always brushes my fur.’

And then wagged his tail proudly.

Ethan, however, only sighed in frustration.

"I told you to keep a low profile. Just look at you, showing off like that. You’ll have to double your daily exercise later as punishment."

Poochi let out a pitiful whine and glared at Ethan, full of silent protest.

’It’s not my fault I’m this handsome!’

Xander chuckled at Poochi’s antics while Daniel watched with interest, impressed by the dog’s intelligence.

Occasionally, he would secretly give Poochi small treats—his way of showing gratitude.

His younger sister, Lucy, had become unusually quiet and withdrawn after the tsunami that nearly claimed her life.

The cheerful girl he once knew had faded into silence, weighed down by the trauma.

However, things started to change when Little Mia and Poochi began visiting her during her recovery.

Their playful behavior, silly tricks, and warmth slowly dissipated Lucy’s sadness.

Bit by bit, laughter returned to her eyes, and the lightness in her voice began to reappear.

For that, Daniel held a deep sense of gratitude toward Poochi.

After a few moments, they finally reached the ground and began looking for a quiet, secluded spot.

Ethan quickly retrieved a small dog sled designed with a seat and a platform for someone to stand at the back.

He suggested letting Poochi pull them, but Elena immediately refused.

"How can my dear Poochi manage to pull both of us? We’re too heavy!"

Ethan gently explained that over the past few months, Poochi’s strength had grown unusually strong—almost unnatural.

He suspected the well water had enhanced the dog’s abilities, just like it did for them.

Reluctantly, Elena agreed, though she gave Poochi an apologetic look and silently blamed her husband for putting him in this situation.

To her surprise, Poochi barked with joy. He was excited to get out of the unit finally.

While Ethan had trained him daily on the rooftop to build his resistance to the cold, nothing compared to the freedom of running in the open.

This was a moment Poochi had been waiting for.

With Poochi pulling the sled, Ethan stood at the back while Elena sat comfortably.

Daniel and Xander followed beside them, with Wolfie dragging another sled.

"But Wolfie is still a cub. Are you sure he can handle this?" Elena asked, frowning as she looked at the wolf.

"Don’t underestimate him. Just like Poochi, Wolfie is strong, too," Ethan replied confidently.

"Animals grow faster and tougher inside Paradise. And he’s not a cub anymore."

Left with no choice, Elena nodded and settled in.

As the sled began to move, a rush of cold air swept past her face. It was cold, but the moment was refreshing.

With her spiritual energy keeping her warm, she embraced the chill and smiled—enjoying the thrill of gliding freely through the snow-covered streets on their way to Building B.

Soon after, they arrived at a quiet spot near Building B.

Ethan stored the dog sled, then gently took his wife’s hand, helping her walk carefully across the slippery ice.

Every step was steady, his attention fully on her safety.

Seeing the couple like this, Xander couldn’t help but smile. A warm feeling rose in his chest—he was truly happy for his chief.

Daniel noticed and couldn’t resist teasing.

"Brother, you’re getting older. Maybe it’s time you found someone, too."

Xander shot him a smirk.

"Daniel, you’ve gotten quite chatty these past few months, haven’t you?"

"Oh, I’m just saying," Daniel replied with a playful shrug and grin.

Ethan chuckled at their friendly banter, secretly wishing that his friend and subordinate, Xander, would find a partner of his own one day.

As they reached the distribution site, they saw a long line already formed.

Many residents had arrived early.

Some had even traveled from far-flung areas beyond Camel Tower, drawn by the news of a new evacuation center handing out free supplies.

Elena then scanned the scene thoughtfully.

The crowd was diverse—some people simply came to collect their food rations, while others were eager to join government programs.

It was clear the recruitment drive was gaining momentum.

While they waited for their turn, Elena quietly observed the process.

The residents just needed to show their IDs, then the officers would ask if individuals wanted to sign up for work and enter the evacuation center or if they only wished to receive supplies.

If they chose to join the program, they were directed to a separate area where they were given forms to fill out, along with various packs of supplies, more generous than what was offered to others.

But if they were only there to collect rations, they were simply handed a small bag of flour, light and barely enough to last.

This unfair treatment didn’t sit well with many.

"What? Just flour?" one resident scoffed loudly.

"Where are the dried goods? No noodles? Tsk. I’ve paid taxes, and this is what I get?"

A calm official replied, "Ma’am, much of the government’s food reserve was lost in the flood. This is all that remains."

The woman pointed angrily toward the other line.

"Then what’s that area over there? Why do they have better supplies? Care to explain that?"

Before the official could answer, an armed officer stepped forward. His voice was cold and sharp.

"Be thankful the government is still giving you anything."

The woman fell silent, filled with resentment.