The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Chapter 133

+15 Bonus

In Nicole’s last life, there really had been people collecting protection rations, three pounds of food per person each week. If you couldn’t pay, the consequences were severe.

Young men and women were taken out for others to have their fun, while the middle-aged and elderly were forced to go out and scavenge.

Of course, if you didn’t like it, you could leave. The result was either freezing to death or starving to death.

This kind of brutality was everywhere. It wasn’t just happening in Crownview Residences; it was happening all over. The government sent police to crack down on it, but those groups were well- informed, playing cat and mouse. They either hid in survivors’ homes or slipped back in as soon as the police left.

It couldn’t be wiped out. Cut it down, and it just grew back. The ones who suffered most were the

survivors.

“Two apartments on the 17th floor didn’t make it. We’re thinking of moving up to 1701. Another family wants to move into 1702, so I came to ask.”

Nicole understood. The Goodmans wanted to stay closer for safety, to look out for each other.

The apartments weren’t hers, so whether they moved or not had nothing to do with her, but she still needed to say her piece.

“You can live wherever you want, but think it through before you move. It’s not just people in this building. People from the other buildings are watching us, too. If they rush in, the 17th floor will take the hit first. Times like this, everyone’s struggling. I can only look out for myself. I can’t take care of anyone else,” Nicole said.

The Goodmans really were hoping for some protection, thinking that being close to the 18th floor might make them safer. The world outside was chaos, after all.

Seeing as Nicole didn’t sugarcoat things. Gabrielle gave an awkward smile. “We can’t really control whether we live or die. I wouldn’t dare expect you all to protect us. Moving to the 17th floor is just for peace of mind. We won’t trouble you.”

After that, Gabrielle got up to leave.

Nicole walked her to the door and saw an envelope on the steps. It was addressed to her.

Huh. Finally.

Nicole kept her expression neutral, picking it up and slipping it into her pocket.

Without even looking at it, she went straight to meet up with Hughie’s group and told them what Gabrielle had been worried about.

Hearing about Oliver’s actions, Beatrice snapped. “That animal, I’ll kill him myself!”

1/4

Chapter 13.1

+15 Bonus

Beatrice didn’t waste words, and she meant every one of them.

But this was a world that devoured people. Even if they killed Oliver, 100 more would take his place. There was no end to it.

Besides, he hadn’t forced the young men and women. It was ugly, but it was a trade both sides agreed to.

What mattered now was this: what if those outside gangs really broke in?

Unlike the disorganized crowd downstairs, those people had guns. Even if you took some of them down,

more would come.

Hughie and Jeremy both went pale. They hadn’t realized things outside were this bad. “Should we move?”

Nicole asked, “Move where?”

Jeremy thought for a moment. “The hillside villas?”

Leaving aside the fact that the highest villa there was already flooded up to the second floor, did those places have reinforced glass and multiple steel doors? Even if they did, would that stop people from breaking in?

Beatrice’s voice turned cold. “We’re not moving. Anyone who comes, we fight to the death.”

If they moved, they would just die faster.

Nicole agreed. She wasn’t leaving either.

She didn’t rush to say it, her gaze shifting to Zeph.

Zeph stayed calm. “Living on the 17th floor isn’t necessarily safer. But if they insist, let them. We can

install more doors along the stairwell. If outsiders try to rush up, it won’t be that easy.”

Jeremy’s eyes lit up.

Right. This was like fortress warfare. To reach the 18th floor, they would have to break through the 17th floor first. More layers meant more chances to fight back.

They decided not to move. They would fight it out.

Nicole nodded. “Being scared won’t help. If they dare come, we’ll make sure they regret it.”

There was killing intent in her voice.

It startled Jeremy and Hughie. Was this really the Nicole they knew? She felt cold, like someone who had crawled out of a pile of corpses. Just looking at her sent a chill down their spines.

“Woof!” Cola stood beside Nicole, baring his teeth, looking like he could take on the world.

No backing down. Just fight!

With that, everyone reached an understanding and went off to prepare.

2/4

Chapter 133

+15 Bonus

Nicole shut the door behind her before finally pulling out the envelope.

[I know your secret. If you want to keep it hidden, meet me at Nova Square at 3 p.m. Come alone. If you bring anyone, your secret goes public!]

The handwriting was sloppy, obviously disguised.

This person didn’t dare leave a name, but had the nerve to threaten her?

Nicole didn’t even need to think to know who it was.

Nova Square was less than a mile from Crownview Residences, a shopping center with food and entertainment. Now, most of it was buried in ice.

It was noon. She had plenty of time to make it.

Going out in this cold meant she needed energy to fight the deep freeze, so she ate two bowls of rice with ribs and stir-fried pork.

Cola refused to touch his dog food. He stared at the ribs and drooled, looking pitiful and wronged, as if he was protesting the unfair treatment.

Nicole gave in immediately. She fixed him his own portion, swapping the stir-fried pork for crispy fried fish. The dog devoured it happily.

The floodwaters had frozen over, and the cold outside was brutal, but more people were heading out to search for supplies. Not just food; they also needed firewood to stay warm.

As more survivors ventured out, the crimes grew worse. Some people were robbed before they even made it out of the complex. Others managed to find supplies, only to never make it back home.

Nicole didn’t want Cola taking the risk, but he clamped onto her pant leg and refused to let go.

As if he wouldn’t let her leave if she didn’t agree to bring him along.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify