After sweeping around the surrounding area, it was already late at night.
Paige cleaned her knife and put it back into her space.
Then she headed toward the city.
Whether it was night or day didn't matter to her.
Halfway there, she paused.
She specifically checked the condition of the five people.
Based on their condition earlier in the evening, they definitely wouldn't be able to travel.
Sure enough, Paige saw that the five of them were curled up in a room.
The adults and children were sleeping soundly. The children's breathing had become steady. It looked like they had just eaten well.
There was a brazier burning in the room. They had quilts underneath them and quilts covering them.
There was no one left in the town.
Unlike food, the PN Soldiers didn't care about quilts, so almost every household had extra clothes and bedding.
The family didn't dare to split up, thinking it would feel safer to stay together.
Seeing them all sleeping so soundly, Paige felt relieved.
As long as they made it to the city the next day to seek help from relatives, they shouldn't face any major problems.
On the way, she also checked the condition of other people. Many, just like those five, had simply picked a house and moved in.
Paige also spotted a few thieves.
They had noticed the town was empty and were sneaking around picking locks and climbing walls to steal.
She dealt with them quickly.
These kinds of social scum were just a waste of resources.
Taking care of them took just a second, and Paige continued on her way to the city as if nothing had happened.
Even though it was deep into the night, her own home was still the most comfortable.
The space not only recognized its master but also recognized people.
If they weren't the master or people she allowed, they couldn't enter the space, which meant that if she wanted to sleep outside, she had to find somewhere random to stay.
After starting life over, Paige no longer wanted to settle for random things.
She decided to live by the motto: "Eat well, drink well, have fun."
She would strive for this kind of good life.
Everyone had already gone to bed, but when they heard Paige return, Winn and Uziel got up to check on her.
"Why are you back so late?" Winn asked with concern.
"Did you eat? Want me to make you something?"
"Yes, now that you mention it, I am hungry," Paige nodded.
She had only eaten once at noon, and she'd been busy until now, completely forgetting to eat dinner.
Since it was already so late, Uziel didn't make anything complicated.
He brought out some braised meat and cooked a big pot of braised meat noodles.
The braised meat had been part of dinner earlier. Since Paige didn't come home to eat, they had left it outside to freeze.
When she wasn't home at night, even having a late-night snack didn't feel satisfying.
Now that both brothers were awake, they joined Paige for another meal.
"I went around nearby today and took care of some unstable elements," Paige said.
"You need to be careful," Winn reminded her.
He knew that Paige had great abilities, and it was impossible for her to just stay at home.
They could only work harder, hoping that one day they could stand behind Paige and help her.
With someone keeping her company, the food tasted much better.
The three of them finished a whole bowl of braised meat and a pot of noodles.
Eating so much late at night made them a bit too full, so it was just right to move around a bit to help digestion.
The next day, Paige, feeling refreshed, caught a ride with Winn to the military base.
Now she also had a military rank and was officially earning a salary. It was her first day at work, so she wanted to be enthusiastic.
Mainly because she had something to talk about with Commander Ye today.
"Sis, why are you going to the base so early too? Are you going to train with us?" Ely asked with a yawn.
"No, I'm going to the base to train others," Paige replied.
"Really? Who are you training?" Ely asked, uncertain if his sister was being serious or just bragging.
"You better hope you don't end up under my training," Paige didn't answer his question directly.
Daring to doubt her words, he could expect some trouble later.
The four of them separated when they arrived at the base.
Winn and Uziel's learning paths started to go in slightly different directions, and Ely's progress had always been a bit slower than the other two.
As for Paige, she headed straight to Commander Ye.
"What? You cleared out everything?" Commander Ye stood up in shock.
He knew Paige was capable, but he didn't expect her to be this efficient.
"So, those refugees who kept showing up yesterday really came from the nearby towns?" Commander Ye asked Paige.
"There were so many refugees, it's normal if a few fake ones got mixed in.
You all better investigate thoroughly. But most of the refugees are real," Paige said.
"There's one family with a child. Take special care of them.
After everything that's happened outside the city, they're the only ones left. It's really pitiful.
When they arrive, give them a full check-up to make sure there are no hidden health issues.
Who knows how long they were starving in that cellar. It's a miracle they even survived."
Paige felt that if she said just one more sentence, that family might have one more chance to live.
This kind of help was something she could offer easily.
"Alright, I'll have someone look after them," Commander Ye agreed.
"Also, arrange an empty warehouse. I'll donate some supplies to help these people get through the winter.
As for other items, just send some people to search the nearby towns, you'll find plenty."
With so many people flooding into the city, the military was definitely under pressure, especially with limited supplies coming from above.
Paige just wanted to help solve a small problem. Once spring arrived, things would improve.
Every household had some land, and if not, the wild vegetables and fruits in the mountains could at least fill their stomachs.
"By the way, each town had a room I locked up. Inside were the bodies of some women.
Have someone bring them back, then let people come and see if they can identify them.
If no one claims them, help make sure they get a proper burial." As she spoke about this, the mood grew heavier.
"I'll have the military work with the police department to handle this," Commander Ye sighed.