8 Chapter 8: The Impenetrable Door

"Robert, after all your hard work opening the door, you could only get a portion of food from me, right? How about this..." David walked to the door, placing the leftover food near it. The aroma easily wafted outside, making everyone's stomachs growl, as if they hadn't smelled such delicious food in centuries.

Sitting on the floor, he said, "William is right beside you, right? Smash his head with the hammer, and I'll give you a whole roasted goose!"

Enraged, William outside shouted, "Why don't you go die?!"

"How can you be so malicious? My life for a roasted goose?"

"Robert, don't listen to this kid," William urged, genuinely fearing Robert might kill him.

"What are you thinking?" Robert's eyes flickered; he was momentarily tempted. "We've been neighbors for years. How could I believe some kid over that?"

A whole roasted goose... With so many people in the hallway, even if he got first pick, he might not get a whole goose. Yet if he killed William, he might get it, but what about the others? They wouldn't stand for getting nothing. Even with a weapon, he couldn't fight them all.

In this apocalyptic world, morality and ethics meant nothing; it was all about self-interest. Killing William wouldn't benefit him much.

"This kid's scared now. What was he thinking?" someone mocked. "Besides, where would he get a whole roasted goose? Magic?"

"Ha, if he had a goose, wouldn't we have found it when we entered his house before?"

"Exactly, lobster, abalone, steak, lamb chops, fish soup... If he had those, could we miss them? He must be crazy."

"Hurry up, Robert!" William urged, fearing the situation might change.

People gave Robert space to swing the hammer, and then he struck!

Clang! The loud sound echoed, everyone covering their ears from the metallic collision.

"Ouch! There's something wrong with this door!" After one swing, Robert sensed something unusual. He had broken doors before, but this one felt different.

"See, I told you." David laughed. "Robert, my offer stands. Whenever you kill William with that hammer, come to me for the goose."

"As for whether I have it, your noses won't lie, will they?"

Despite their earlier denial, the aroma was indeed enticing. How could it be fake?

"You're so vicious, young man. I just wanted some food, and you want my life!" William fumed. "We were right to take your food; such selfishness is a waste in this world."

"Ha, just wanted some food?" David scoffed. "You mean taking all my food and stepping over me? Taking my furniture wasn't enough? A bunch of beasts, I'd rather throw leftovers out than give you a fishbone!"

He glanced at the device showing William's location, pondering if he could open the door instantly and shoot him. The door was connected to his brain, opening with a thought. However, it was only its first upgrade and not that smart yet. If opened, he might not withstand the hungry mob outside, especially since he had no experience with a handgun.

His last experience made him wary of opening the door recklessly.

Hearing more banging outside, David yawned, "Robert, keep it down. I've eaten and am off to sleep. You're disturbing my rest with all this noise. Why don't you rest too?"

"Until I wake up, then you can knock again?"

His words infuriated those outside.

"You're full and resting? We're still starving!"

"Don't be smug!" the foul-smelling man snapped. "Wait till we get in, you'll kneel before us!"

"Damn it, when have I ever suffered like this?"

"Mr. Jones, don't be upset over such a petty person," someone said, enduring Mr. Jones' scent.

Thinking to himself, 'Why wear perfume now? We all stink. Mixing it is even worse.' But, he was rich, after all, one of the wealthiest survivors.

Hoping the apocalypse would end soon, they said, "Robert, keep hammering! I don't believe his door is some alien technology!"

"I can't, I'm exhausted," Robert gasped. "Does anyone have food? I'll knock again after eating."

The crowd fell silent.

"Now... we're all struggling, who has food?" someone whispered.

Robert inwardly sneered, not believing they had nothing.

"Let me rest, then," Robert said. "You all can keep shouting. I'm the one exerting effort here."