Rhodes Island does not exist.

The doctor, who had this idea in mind, thought that the medical department would fall into a lifeless state, but the reality was not as he wished.

Just as I said at the beginning, this place remains unchanged.

It was as if the Originium dust storm from the outside world had absolutely no effect on this place.

With this slightly jarring feeling about the current state of the medical department, the doctor pushed open the door to Amiya's private ward.

"It's me, Doctor."

He stood at the front door and spoke to Carter, who was lying on the hospital bed.

"……Um?"

Amiya, who was dozing off against the pillows, immediately opened her eyes upon hearing the familiar voice, and hurriedly avoided eye contact, shouting, "I didn't mean to hide this from you, Doctor! I was just feeling unwell, and I planned to come back as soon as I felt a little better!"

"...Hehe, hahahaha."

For some reason, the Doctor suddenly laughed as he watched Amiya trying so hard to explain herself.

The comforting words he had prepared in his mind suddenly vanished along with the strange atmosphere, making him realize that everything he had thought about along the way was indeed meaningless.

"Doctor, why are you suddenly laughing? Have you forgiven me?" Amiya asked, puzzled by the doctor's sudden laughter.

However, more than feeling strange, she felt relieved.

After all, what she feared was not that the doctor would blame her, but that the doctor would lose his true self one day due to the accumulation of various unavoidable events.

Chapter 197, Chapter 196: The Hidden Recipe

Rhodes Island, third floor, medical department, Amiya's private ward.

"So, why were you suddenly hospitalized? Dr. Kal'tsit said you fell ill." The Doctor sat down beside Amiya's bed and gently held her left hand with his right.

Both of their hands were equally cold, and even holding them tightly wouldn't bring each other warmth.

Even so, the two still held hands like that.

"If I tell you the truth, you won't be angry, will you?" Amiya asked tentatively, her eyes slightly raised.

"As long as you tell the truth, it won't happen, and..." Should the Doctor be angry or laughing at this point? "When have I ever lost my temper with you?"

"Then I'll tell you..."

Amiya spoke cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.

"Actually... I haven't eaten for two days."

Her voice grew softer with each word she uttered, until by the end of the sentence, it was barely audible, almost indistinguishable from a mosquito's buzz.

"Why.

The Doctor sighed.

"Doctor...?" Amiya felt a little uneasy, unsure whether the Doctor's reaction was anger, sorrow, or indifference.

“I think I guessed that was the reason.” The doctor’s eyes, hidden beneath his hood, held a hint of unbearable helplessness. “After all, we lack almost everything these days, and a kind child like you certainly wouldn’t prioritize satisfying yourself.”

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to save money wherever I could. After all, there are definitely people who need it more than I do..."

"Don't think like that." The doctor shook his head and tightened his grip on Amiya's hand. "In a situation where food can determine life or death, the most important thing is always yourself. Only by benefiting yourself first can you be qualified to benefit others."

"Pfft... Hahahaha—"

Hearing the doctor's words, Amiya suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Amiya?"

“No, Doctor,” Amiya shook her head with a smile, “it’s just that such words are especially unconvincing coming from you.”

"this."

The doctor was speechless for a moment.

He is aware of his own limitations.

So, thinking about it that way, he probably doesn't have any grounds to blame Amiya.

“It’s alright, Doctor.” Amiya returned the Doctor’s hand with the same smile as before, looking into his eyes. “I know what I’m doing, and my body is fine now, I’ve basically recovered.”

"Are you sure?" The doctor frowned slightly, and a few green lights appeared in his eyes.

“Even with your Originium Arts, you won’t find anything wrong,” Amiya said with a smile. “Dr. Warfarin has already given me something to eat. After all, I fainted from hunger, so as long as I can eat something, I’ll definitely feel better.”

"Yeah."

Hearing this, the doctor felt somewhat relieved.

But at the same time, he always felt that something was not quite right.

As Amiya's words reached his ears, he clearly felt a sense of unease rising within him.

So he thought for a moment and asked Amiya another question.

"—By the way, what did Dr. Warfarin give you to eat?"

“Roasted meat chops, mushroom soup, and some meatballs,” she said after thinking for a moment. “These are all good things that can quickly provide energy.”

It’s really good stuff.

It was so good that even a child like Amiya wouldn't doubt it.

Yeah... why didn't I think of this at first?

The sense of unease in the doctor's heart was gradually being revealed, and even the strangeness he had noticed when he first came to the medical department was being answered.

Regarding the source of food for Rhodes Island, he always focused on existing resources such as inventory allocation and warehousing, without considering how to produce them.

While Rhodes Island does have places where food can be produced, the output is low.

After all, it's a flower greenhouse.

—These are herbs that were originally cultivated by perfumers or myrrhists for aromatherapy and for use by medical staff; they belong to the herb garden.

But no one stipulates that medicinal herb gardens cannot grow vegetables or produce fungi.

but.

but.

Vegetables can be produced, fungi can be cultivated, but what about meat?

Where does meat come from?

Animal husbandry and crop farming are two completely different fields.

The crop farming industry only requires soil, seeds, and recycled water resources, but the livestock farming industry requires things that are basically in conflict with people's daily needs and desires.

After all, humans are animals, and what allows humans to live can also allow animals to live, and vice versa.

So if that's the case, why not skip the breeding step?

It's important to understand that this isn't about pursuing a happy life and comprehensive nutrition; it's simply about surviving.

Therefore, the simpler the steps, the better.

“...I’ll go ask Warfarin.”

The doctor released Amiya's hand and stood up.

"Doctor? Doctor, what are you going to do?" Amiya still didn't understand what the doctor was thinking and only felt that the doctor's behavior was abrupt.

“What you just said has given me some insight, so now there are some things I need to verify,” the doctor replied.

He didn't lie.

They simply concealed some information that should have been revealed.

Then, he pushed open the door, turned on the communicator in his ear, and walked out of the room under Amiya's watchful gaze.

"Beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep—"

The communicator's beeping tone stopped.

On the other end is Warfarin.

"beep."

But the call couldn't be connected.

"I'm looking for Dr. Warfarin. Is she in the medical department right now?" the doctor asked, stopping a passing medical officer.

Although he didn't think he would get any useful information from the operator.

After all, it seems that all the agents in the medical department are probably only protecting Warfarin.

Even if the other party is a PhD, it is no exception.

After all, the current situation is not normal.

"Ah, I haven't seen Dr. Warfarin's message since yesterday morning," the operator said, looking at the doctor with sincere eyes, not at all like she was lying.

But the doctor knew she was definitely lying.

Because Amiya had just eaten today, he had seen food residue in her body when he analyzed her earlier.

So there's no doubt they're protecting Warfarin.

But it doesn't matter.

This is perfectly reasonable and perfectly normal.

After all, Warfarin is their savior in the apocalypse, the key to their survival.

And most importantly, they themselves were accomplices.

Handing over warfarin is tantamount to handing over oneself as well.

"Is that so? In that case, I'll go find Dr. Kal'tsit." The Doctor smiled at the operator. "It'll just be a little more walking."

After saying that, he waved goodbye to the agent and headed for the elevator.

Of course, he had no intention of going to the fourth floor.

His destination was the cafeteria.

-

Thank you segment.

Thank you, senior! This is Infection's monthly pass. Thank you.

Chapter 198, Chapter 197: Let Life Be as It Is, A Life of Misty Rain and Clouds

The elevator was swaying as it rose.

Ultimately, the doctor couldn't tell whether it was the elevator shaking or he himself that was shaking.

Now, everything reflected in his eyes is like an underwater shadow, indistinct and unclear; even the most skilled hunter would probably find nothing to catch.

Hope seems a distant dream, while despair is ever-present.

There was enough food in the room to feed one person for a month, or thirty people for a day.

Although this was completely unlike his usual style, this time, the doctor decided to hide the existence of the supplies from everyone.

Because this was not merely his personal property, but something that embodied the will of Provence.

He couldn't make all of this by himself.

Although from the very beginning, he had made the decision and shouldered many burdens all by himself.

So, what will he get?

Nothing is gained.

Even so, he continued to do what he was supposed to do and what he believed in.

As the saying goes, repetitive efforts without results are most likely to wear down one's spirit, and those who can persevere are mostly saints.

"Ding."

We've arrived at the thirteenth floor.

The cool-toned walls came into the doctor's view.

At the same time, what caught the doctor's eye was a red-haired Sakta wearing a white windbreaker.

"what."