The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 48

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Chapter 48

It wasn’t until Nicole started moving the cases of liquor that it clicked.

Where did the antiques and display shelves go?

Nicole searched the whole place again just to be sure.

They were gone.

The liquor, the diving suit, the watch, and even the safe were all still there. Only the antiques and paintings had disappeared.

She frowned, sinking onto the couch.

Could it be that those old items had some kind of special energy? Was that what made the storage space expand?

It made sense. The pendant she wore was made of high-grade crystal, too. Still, the display shelf wasn’t anything special. So why had that vanished, too?

Nicole was still turning it over in her head when someone knocked.

It was Jeremy.

The hunger from the typhoon days had clearly stuck with him. He had become hyper-aware of food. With three people sharing supplies, things ran out faster than expected.

When he woke up that morning and saw the water had risen again, it only confirmed it for him.

This really was the apocalypse.

“Yesterday, we only cleared my office building,” he said. “There are two more nearby. We should hit them while we can. Better we take them than someone else.”

Nicole had originally planned to just fill up her apartment and storage space, then lie low. Now that her space had grown by another 5,000 cubic feet, her interest came right back.

Food wasn’t the problem anymore, but food alone wouldn’t keep you alive in a world like this. Having too much could even get you killed.

The sword and the golf club she found yesterday, however, could keep her alive when things turned ugly.

If she fell into the water, that diving gear might save her life.

And if collecting more “special” items could expand her storage space again…

Nicole didn’t hesitate. “I’m in.”

Jeremy went to knock on Zeph’s door.

Zeph had no objections. They got ready and set out right away.

Even though they tried to stay low-key, people still noticed. The looks they got were…complicated.

Nicole understood. No matter how careful they had been last night, someone had spotted them.

So what? They had earned what they had.

The water in the city was calmer, so to save fuel and stay quiet, they paddled instead of using the motor.

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Chapter 48

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But it didn’t matter. They were still being watched.

To get out, they had to pass between Building 8 and Building 9.

Suddenly, a thick rope shot up from the water, pulled tight across their path.

Zeph reacted instantly, blocking it with the oar. Otherwise, they would’ve been knocked straight over.

If the motor had been running, the whole boat would’ve flipped.

Before they could recover, several men jumped out from both buildings, weapons in hand, swimming straight toward them.

No doubt about it.

They were going for everything.

Nicole stood up, her face cold, and drew the sword. She swung hard at the first man who got close.

A scream tore through the air.

His arm was severed clean off, blood spilling into the water.

One kill wouldn’t scare them off.

Nicole didn’t hesitate. She brought the blade down again, aiming for his head.

If not for this, she wouldn’t have realized just how many people were watching her group.

It wasn’t just these two buildings. How many others were waiting and watching was anyone’s guess.

They had already been marked as prey. The moment they showed weakness, people would swarm up to the top floor and strip them of everything.

Even Beatrice and Poppy wouldn’t make it.

So, there was no backing down. Hesitation meant death.

Hughie and Jeremy were shaken, but something clicked for them, too.

This wasn’t the same world anymore. There were no rules, only survival.

Weapons weren’t for show, they killed. And they couldn’t just sit there and take it.

Both of them grabbed their paddles and swung at anyone who got close.

“Come on, then!”

Nicole kept swinging. The water around the boat turned red.

The man with the severed arm screamed as he thrashed, then got swept away by the current. After five or six went down, the rest broke. They turned and fled.

Nicole’s eyes burned. Memories of her past life surged up.

“Go after them.”

No one would get away.

Hughie and Jeremy dug in, paddling hard.

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Chapter 48

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Zeph pulled out a nail gun.

He didn’t miss. Even with the men struggling in the water, he picked them off one by one.

Not a single one made it.

Hughie and Jeremy were breathing hard. “Do we go back now?”

“No.” Nicole wiped the blade clean. “If we go back now, it would look like we’re scared, and they’d think Beatrice couldn’t hold things down. Next time we leave, they’ll rush to the 18th floor.”

Hughie’s chest tightened. He knew Beatrice could fight, but how many could she take on barehanded?

“She’s right,” Jeremy said. “We go. Fast in, fast out.”

Uneasy, but with no choice, Hughie kept paddling.

Once they cleared the city, they started the motor. The assault boat roared as it sped toward the outskirts.

Halfway there, they spotted another assault boat coming their way.

Nicole raised her binoculars.

Edward stood at the front. Mary was there, too, along with the guys who had been stuck with him on the eighth floor. Behind their boat, a raft dragged along, piled high with supplies.

They were wearing smug grins.

As the boats passed each other, Edward shot Nicole a mocking look.

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