The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 483

Chapter 483

Zeph and Nicole spent hours studying construction videos, learning as they built the wall one section at a time.

They mixed cement and sand by hand, using hoes to stir the mixture.

Zeph’s perfectionist streak surfaced almost immediately. The first few sections weren’t straight enough for his liking, so he tore them down and rebuilt them over and over until they met his standards.

Nicole clicked her tongue as she watched from the sidelines. Good thing he only held himself to impossible standards. If he expected that from everyone else, too, living with him would’ve been exhausting.

Just as the wall reached waist height, a large truck pulled up outside the villa. More than a dozen men climbed out, each carrying tools.

The instant Nicole saw them, her hand instinctively dropped to the knife at her waist.

“Well, I’ll be damned. You guys are renovating a little differently from everyone else.”

The man speaking sauntered over with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, looking every bit the neighborhood tough guy.

Nicole looked up.

Huh?

The cigarette fell right out of the man’s mouth the moment he recognized her.

“Holy… Nicole?”

Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Sven immediately recovered, flashing a warm, composed smile.

“What are you two doing here?”

He switched personas so smoothly it was almost impressive. One moment he was a street thug, the next a respectable businessman. No wonder middlemen had to be masters of disguise.

Nicole was just as surprised.

“Sven? What’s with all these guys?”

She looked them over. Every last one of them had the unmistakable look of someone who had spent time on the wrong side of the law.

| Sven laughed.

“Know who bought the villa next door?”

The question practically answered itself.

“You did?” Nicole guessed.

“That’s right.” Sven tucked another cigarette between his lips. “I came by before the selection to scout the place and fell in love with the lot you’re standing on. Nice quiet corner, great location. Then I found out somebody had already claimed it. I kept wondering who had such good taste, so I came by today to find out. Didn’t expect it to be you.”

Nicole grinned. “Sorry. Looks like I stole your dream house.”

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+15 8gnus

“It’s all good. We’re neighbors now.”

He would much rather live next to the two of them than a bunch of wealthy snobs.

After years of dealing with rich people, Sven knew exactly how deeply their sense of superiority ran. It didn’t matter how tnany supplies passed through his hands. To them, he would always be nothing more than a flashy upstart who had struck it rich.

If the villa district hadn’t offered better security and a better place to raise his son, he wouldn’t have bothered moving here. 1

Instead, things had worked out perfectly. His new neighbors turned out to be people he actually liked.

His gaze drifted to the thick stone wall. “Building a fortress?”

Since they knew each other well enough, Nicole didn’t bother hiding anything..

“Didn’t you hear the government’s announcement? They said the climate could get even worse. Polar day’s already here. Polar night can’t be far behind. If hurricanes hit, or we get acid rain, people could end up starving to death. I’m just careful by nature. I’d rather make my home as secure as possible.”

Security wasn’t the only reason. Privacy mattered just as much.

Sometimes wealthy neighbors were even more troublesome than desperate refugees.

Sven had brought his crew to renovate his own villa, but after watching Nicole and Zeph inch along at what he considered a snail’s pace, he made up his mind.

“What are you all standing around for?” He waved his hand. “Starting today, you’re helping Zeph and Nicole. Let’s get this place finished.”

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