After I Fully Prepared for the Apocalypse, the Ungrateful Cried with Regret

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: An Offhand Remark

The layout of the City D Base in this life was no different from her past one.

Even though this was Nina Jacobs’s first time entering it, she navigated it with a practiced ease.

Before the apocalypse, this area was being developed into a new type of town, so many of the buildings were ready for use.

Over thirty row houses had already been constructed within the base, each about ten stories tall.

Nina Jacobs recalled that this was the most concentrated dormitory area.

In her previous life, she and her team had lived there for a while. She only remembered that the conditions inside were relatively clean.

Most of the row houses were concentrated on the right side of the base.

Aside from a few main avenues and some functional buildings in the center, the far left side of the base was filled with detached single-family houses that stretched to the other end, covering a considerable area.

These detached houses were mostly rented out to Superpower User teams, and the rent wasn’t cheap.

Following the number on her key, Nina Jacobs arrived at a large gate.

The gate and the surrounding courtyard walls were built extremely high, making it impossible to see the full interior without opening it.

Just as Nina Jacobs was about to use the key to open the gate, a voice from behind suddenly stopped her.

”We saw this place first,

and we’re planning to rent it.”

A young woman who looked to be in her early twenties walked over.

Following behind her were several others, all of them unfamiliar faces.

”This house?”

Nina Jacobs thought she must have misheard.

But as she looked around, it was clear this house had the best location among the row of detached houses.

A decorative, openwork partition wall stood behind it, demarcating the area.

It also provided a good degree of privacy.

”That’s right, this is the one.

We plan to rent all the houses here.”

The woman tilted her chin up slightly.

”We’re with the Crawford Army. We don’t have to participate in the lottery.”

As if worried Nina Jacobs wouldn’t understand, another person added.

They expected Nina Jacobs to take the hint and leave, but she showed no reaction.

”The Crawford Army?

Never heard of them.”

Nina Jacobs mused.

’I’ve only been out of the shelter for less than a month, yet so many new factions have already emerged.’

”You don’t even know about the Crawford Army?

I suggest you get out of the way. As soon as we pay the rent, we’ll get the key.”

A man behind her waved his hand dismissively, shooing her away.

”You mean this?”

Nina Jacobs took out the key in her hand, turned, inserted it into the lock, and opened the gate.

”Are you the manager here? How else would you have a key?”

the woman asked with a frown.

”Take a guess.”

Nina Jacobs smiled, then turned, entered the courtyard, and closed the gate behind her.

She left the group outside looking thoroughly embarrassed.

Inside the courtyard, Nina Jacobs was looking around.

Unlike pre-apocalyptic courtyards, most post-apocalyptic ones lacked things like flowerbeds and lawns.

Although the flat, concrete-paved yard looked a bit stark, it was also cleaner and more spacious.

Nina Jacobs thought a corner of the yard would be perfect for raising Treasure.

The building they would live in was a three-story house.

Or four, to be precise, as there was a basement below the living room that served as a storage area.

It was somewhat similar to the layout of Daniel Hale’s villa before the apocalypse.

The living room had north-south ventilation and connected to the small yard on both sides.

Nina Jacobs looked around and was very satisfied.

There was also a balcony on the top floor. Standing on it, she could see the two houses in front and to the right.

Those two houses had also been given to her by Myra Lawson.

Positioned in front and to the right, they could effectively protect the house in the middle.

Nina Jacobs decided she would take these three houses and make no further changes.

She just didn’t expect that as she was about to leave the base, she would run into the same group of people again.

”She got the key?”

A middle-aged man now stood beside the woman.

There appeared to be a twenty-something-year age gap between them, yet they were holding hands.

Their relationship was self-evident.

”Yes, I looked all around, and that’s the house I set my heart on.

Didn’t you say I could pick any one I wanted?”

The woman swayed, a wronged expression on her face.

After hearing this, the middle-aged man stepped forward and blocked Nina Jacobs’s path.

”I hear you got the key to House 71?”

Nina Jacobs was planning to go meet up with Leo Hale and the others.

So, she asked impatiently, ”Who are you?”

”This is our leader, Hugo Crawford,” someone at his side answered. ”You should show him some respect.”

’So this is Hugo Crawford?’

’The man who abandoned Daniel Hale?’

”I did hear about a Hugo Crawford who was kicked out of the rescue team.

That couldn’t be you, could it?”

Nina Jacobs said, her expression turning to one of pity.

Hugo Crawford’s face instantly darkened.

”What nonsense are you spouting?

Crawford struck out on his own! It’s not like what you said at all.”

The woman immediately stepped forward to defend him.

”Why do you have the key?”

Hugo Crawford had rarely met someone so bold.

Besides, he felt that the young woman before him looked vaguely familiar.

’At this point, no one should have been able to get a key to any residence yet.’

’Unless she was no ordinary person.’

”Who exactly are you?”

Hugo Crawford didn’t get an answer from Nina Jacobs. Instead, a group of people came running over from a distance.

”Hey, what are you all doing?

Ganging up on a young woman?”

From a distance, Timothy Renner and Eve Lewis had seen Nina Jacobs being stopped.

The longer they watched, the more something seemed off. It was clear Nina Jacobs was in trouble.

So they dropped what they were doing and rushed over.

”Are you okay?”

Timothy Renner asked as he ran up.

”I’m fine, Renner. I can handle this.”

Nina Jacobs glanced behind her and was surprised to see Adrian Shaw also walking slowly toward them.

”Oh, so it’s just a bunch of stinking construction workers.”

The woman sneered.

Everyone present heard her, and there were even some snickers from the surrounding crowd.

”Hugo Crawford, control your people.

If you don’t want to be kicked out of the base next time.”

At these words, the expressions of everyone in the crowd changed.

Adrian Shaw seemed completely unfazed by Hugo Crawford’s livid face and continued,

”They are the founding builders of the City D Base. That makes them far nobler than some people who let themselves be kept by others.”

Not to be outdone, Timothy Renner retorted, ”That’s right. Stop being such a snob.”

”You...”

The woman was so angry she was speechless.

”Adrian Shaw, we didn’t do anything.

It’s wrong of you to falsely accuse us like this.”

Hugo Crawford hadn’t expected to draw Adrian Shaw’s attention. This man answered only to Justin Lawson and would tear into anyone he caught, regardless of who they were.

”I didn’t say anything either.

Who did I falsely accuse?”

Adrian Shaw retorted.

”No one. Obviously no one.”

Timothy Renner chimed in.

”We’re leaving.”

Knowing he was no match for Adrian Shaw, Hugo Crawford had no choice but to take his people and leave.

”Shaw, thanks for that.”

Timothy Renner hadn’t expected Adrian Shaw to be so decent.

”Nothing to thank me for. I just said what was on my mind.”

Only then did Adrian Shaw turn to look at Nina Jacobs, who was talking with Eve Lewis.

”Nina Jacobs, this is Adrian Shaw, our supervisor.”

Eve Lewis quickly made the introduction.

”Hello, Supervisor Shaw.”

Nina Jacobs nodded.

”So you’re Nina Jacobs?”

Adrian Shaw had expected Nina Jacobs to play along and continue the conversation, but she just gave another slight nod.

”Renner, I still have things to do,

so I’ll come visit you guys another day.”

Nina Jacobs said apologetically.

”Go on, get busy. Be careful on your way out.

And try not to run into that pack of bastards again.”

Timothy Renner wanted to ask why Wayne Warner hadn’t come with her, but Nina Jacobs had already walked out of the base’s main gate.

”Aren’t you guys from City J?

How do you know her?”

Adrian Shaw had a nagging feeling that Nina Jacobs was deliberately keeping her distance from him, which made him ask out of curiosity.

He hadn’t just intervened randomly a moment ago.

Timothy Renner and his group were all Superpower Users, and quite strong ones at that. He had intentions of recruiting them.