The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 717

Maybe Simon noticed Nicole's surprise, because he explained, "You two are clearly capable, and you qualify for the special entrance. There's no reason to waste time in the regular line."

If the military was offering them an easier way in, there was no reason to refuse.

Zeph drove behind the military SUV, passed through the main gate, and circled around to Gate Two.

Simon got out, spoke quietly with the staff inside, then came back.

"It's taken care of. Just follow the normal process from here."

Zeph thanked him.

The military SUV didn't stay long and soon disappeared into the darkness.

Nicole got out with Poppy and Cola, and they lined up at the window.

The staff member took Zeph's ID, searched the system, then looked up at him.

"Former special forces?"

Zeph nodded.

"Why'd you leave?"

"Injury."

"Where were you hurt?"

The questions were extremely detailed, almost as if the staff member already knew the answers and was checking whether Zeph's story matched.

It felt more like an interrogation than a background check. After more than ten minutes, they finally moved on to Poppy.

Zeph had prepared everything they might need, including her birth certificate and ID, so her turn went much faster.

When it was Nicole's turn, she wasn't sure if she imagined it, but they seemed to dig especially deep into her past.

They asked when she entered the orphanage, where she went to elementary and middle school, what her hobbies were, what skills she had, even her old exam scores.

It felt like they were going through every detail of her life.

The questioning lasted nearly half an hour, and by the end, Nicole's palms were sweating.

Luckily, anything involving killing or violence happened after the disasters began. Otherwise, she might've worried they would arrest her on the spot.

When it was Cola's turn, the staff member looked him over a few times and waved him through.

But Cola apparently wasn't happy with that. He planted his paws on the counter and refused to move.

"Thank you, but no."

The handler clearly didn't want to give up on such a promising dog. He tried again.

"We also have female military dogs here. Excellent bloodlines."

Nicole paused.

Cola probably didn't need that kind of incentive. And with the tectonic collision looming at some unknown time, she had no intention of letting Cola start a family now.

"Thank you, but no."

Just then, Poppy came out of the testing hall with a bright smile. "Nicole, I passed!"

Nicole handed Cola over to her and went inside.

Her assessment had two parts: hand-to-hand combat and shooting.

After years of sparring with Zeph, Nicole had no problem holding her own. But she deliberately held back.

She could've taken the female examiner down pretty quickly, but she deliberately held back and let the match drag on before ending it in a close draw.