The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 299

Chapter 299

Besides food, the thing people lacked most during the extreme heat was water.

Water happened to be the one thing Nicole never worried about, as her storage space came with running water and electricity.

Drilling rigs worked nonstop across the city, moving from district to district, trying to dig new wells.

At first, they managed to hit water. Sometimes, the crews hadn’t even packed up before the water source dried out again.

Surface water was disappearing fast enough to be seen with the naked eye.

The street where Crownview Residences stood had gotten lucky. Their turn for drilling came relatively early, and residents were initially allowed one bucket of water per day with ID verification.

As groundwater levels kept dropping, the ration fell to half a bucket.

Now, even that was gone.

At first, Nicole still carried empty buckets downstairs now and then for appearances’ sake. Lately, she couldn’t even bother pretending anymore.

The available water barely covered basic human survival. Nobody could afford to wash vegetables, clean dishes, or water sweet potatoes. Soon, even basic survival needs probably wouldn’t be guaranteed

anymore.

For Nicole, that also meant opportunity.

Zeph glanced at her thoughtfully. “You’re suggesting we sell water?”

“Potatoes, too.” Nicole still hadn’t unloaded the last batch of cold-resistant potatoes, and the black soil garden had produced plenty more.

One way or another, survivors would always need something she had.

Zeph didn’t object, though caution still mattered. Plenty of people survived by robbing others now.

Nicole figured she would test the waters first and decide later.

After sunset, she headed downstairs with Poppy and Cola, planning to leave them temporarily with the

Goodmans.

The moment she reached the hallway entrance, she saw Lydia carrying a full bucket of water.

Nicole blinked in surprise. “Are they giving out that much water again?”

Lydia let out a tired laugh.

“The street well dried up. We’re waiting for the drilling crews to dig deeper. This is seawater I bought.

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+15 Bonus

One pound of potatoes gets you a bucket. If you want some, hurry. They’re selling it right at the street corner, but it’ll probably run out fast.”

Seawater? What kind of genius started selling seawater?

Hearing voices outside, Gabrielle opened the door and welcomed Poppy and Cola inside. Then, she started sharing survival tips with Nicole.

“Don’t underestimate seawater,” the old woman said. “Yes, it’s salty and bitter, but there are ways to

make it drinkable.”

She picked up an empty Cola bottle and demonstrated while she talked.

“You cut the bottle open and poke tiny holes in the bottom. Then layer clean cloth, washed sand, and charcoal inside. The charcoal helps absorb harmful substances. Repeat the layers a few times, and you

can filter the seawater.”

Gabrielle even pulled out a finished homemade filter and showed Nicole how it worked.

“It still tastes bitter after filtering, but much better than before. Mix it with a proper amount of fresh water

and boil it before drinking.”

After two years of disasters, even households that carefully rationed salt had nearly run out. At least seawater could still provide more.

Honestly, if people had other options, nobody would willingly drink seawater. Unfortunately, survival didn’t leave much room for pride anymore.

Nicole nodded gratefully. “Thanks, Gabrielle. I’ll go get a bucket later.”

Only Cola looked deeply disturbed.

The dog stared at Gabrielle in pure horror, completely unable to understand why the nice grandmother suddenly wanted to cut him open.

He looked ready to flee for his life. 1

After leaving the Goodmans’ apartment, Nicole and Zeph headed toward Liberty Square through the fading evening light.

Sure enough, a landscaping water truck sat parked near the street corner selling water.

Nicole walked over curiously to watch. Surprisingly, business looked good. People lined up carrying buckets, trading all kinds of random supplies for seawater.

If seawater sold this well, fresh water would probably become even more valuable.

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