Teaming Up with My Enemy to Rule the Apocalypse

Jayce nodded with a grave expression. ”I thought of that too. Don’t worry, things are quiet on Captain Grant’s end for now. I’ll go over and check on things every day.”

Hearing Jayce say this, Nathan Thorne finally nodded. ”That’s good—”

Before he could finish, Nathan’s gaze fixed on something ahead.

Seeing his reaction, Sierra Sullivan and Jayce followed his line of sight.

The door to the house where Dominic Crawford lived was open, and people were moving about inside.

Dominic Crawford himself was squatting to one side of the doorway, a cigarette in hand, wreathed in smoke.

He must have felt their stares, because he looked up at them.

Their gazes met in mid-air, but no one spoke first.

After a moment, Dominic Crawford slowly stood up and walked toward them.

”I was just thinking that since you weren’t home, I’d have to find another chance later to tell you I’m moving out,” Dominic Crawford said, a smile appearing on his face. ”But it’s good that you’re back now. I can just tell you directly.”

Although she had already guessed, Sierra Sullivan still asked, ”Why are you suddenly moving? Where will you live?”

Before answering, Dominic Crawford broke into a wide grin. ”I’m working for the Hughes Family now. They’re very generous—the pay is good, and they provide food and housing. I figured I should save where I can, so I gave up this place. It’s more convenient to live over there anyway.”

When he spoke of the Hughes Family, Dominic Crawford seemed completely at ease, without a hint of embarrassment.

It was as if he had no connection to them beyond a simple employment contract.

They were all adults, and this was Dominic Crawford’s own choice.

No matter what Sierra Sullivan thought, she ultimately just nodded.

She didn’t understand, but she could respect it.

Sierra Sullivan didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent.

Dominic Crawford’s expression also grew a little awkward. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.

Just then, a man walked out of Dominic Crawford’s room.

”Mr. Crawford, all your things are packed up. We can go.”

Dominic Crawford visibly relaxed upon hearing this.

”Well, I’ll be going then.”

Dominic Crawford said, nodding at the group.

”Let’s get together again when we have time.”

Although he said that, they were all adults and understood it was just a polite formality.

If you decide you don’t have time, you’ll never have time.

They probably wouldn’t be getting together again.

Watching Dominic Crawford’s retreating back, Nathan Thorne let out a long sigh.

”What is wrong with him!”

”Is that woman really all that?”

”She’s completely bewitched him!”

”Women are nothing but trouble! You should just stay far away from them!”

Sierra Sullivan had also been watching Dominic’s back. When she heard that, she turned to look at Nathan Thorne.

A shiver ran down Nathan’s spine. He instantly snapped his gaze back to Sierra, his face plastered with a grin.

”Uh... Sierra... I was just talking nonsense! Don’t take it to heart! You’re not like other women! What I said doesn’t include you!”

Before Sierra could speak, Candice Tate stood on her tiptoes. ”What about me?”

Nathan, ”???”

’I haven’t even placated one of them!’

’Why is another one making trouble!’

But meeting Candice Tate’s big, bright eyes, Nathan surrendered instantly.

”Of course it doesn’t include Candice, either. Our Candice is so cute—”

”What about Aunt Shelby?” Candice asked, tilting her head.

Candice’s question made Nathan freeze up.

Seeing the speechless Nathan, Candice continued asking in her sweet, childish voice.

”What about your mom? And your—”

”I was wrong!”

Nathan instantly crouched down to meet Candice’s gaze, his face a picture of sincerity. ”Candice, I was wrong! I’ve come to a profound realization of my mistake! I shouldn’t attack all women because of one person. That’s my fault! I’ll never do it again! Please, just let me off the hook!”

A thoughtful expression appeared on Candice’s face, her big eyes darting back and forth.

Under Nathan’s pleading gaze, Candice reluctantly nodded. ”Okay! We’ll let it go, then! But only this once, okay!”

”Don’t worry!” Nathan said with a determined look. ”There absolutely won’t be a next time!”

’He could barely handle it this one time. He’d definitely learned his lesson; how could there possibly be a next time!’

When Nathan stood up, he saw Sierra and Jayce watching him with smiles on their faces.

The kind of unabashed, unconcealed mockery.

”You two are still laughing!” Nathan looked at them resentfully. ”You just stood there and watched Candice give me a hard time!”

”If you hadn’t said the wrong thing, Candice wouldn’t have been able to give you a hard time even if she wanted to!” Sierra said with a laugh. ”When it comes down to it, it’s still your fault. You shouldn’t make sweeping generalizations about anyone.”

This was the apocalypse, after all. There was no internet.

If this were before the apocalypse and someone had recorded what Nathan just said and posted it online, he definitely would have been mobbed by netizens.

Nathan had apparently thought of this too, and his expression became even more awkward. ”I was just speaking my mind, it just slipped out. I don’t actually think that way... Forget it, let’s not talk about it. Let’s just let it go!”

Having known him for so long, Sierra understood Nathan and knew he didn’t really mean it, so she didn’t press the issue.

Sidetracked by this, they didn’t bring up Dominic Crawford again.

After chatting for a little while longer, the group split up and went back to their own places.

「The next morning.」

Sierra Sullivan and Jayce were woken by their alarm.

It had been a long time since either of them had set an alarm. As long as nothing was going on, they usually just slept until they woke up naturally.

But Yvonne Shelby’s shop opened early. They had told her yesterday that they would come over before opening, so they had specifically set an alarm.

Although they were up a little earlier than usual, they didn’t feel tired because they had also gone to bed earlier.

After getting ready and having a simple breakfast, Sierra and Jayce took Candice Tate to The Little Green Shop.

Sierra thought they had arrived plenty early, since it was even before the time they’d agreed on with Yvonne Shelby.

But when they got there, Yvonne was already inside, tidying up.

In truth, the shop had been cleaned before closing the previous night, and there was no trash.

But Yvonne Shelby was excited. She had finally found something for herself to do again, and she just wanted to wander around the shop. Even just touching the shelves made her feel more at ease.

”You’re here!” Yvonne Shelby greeted them with a smile. ”Have you eaten?”

”We’ve eaten!” Sierra replied. ”Aunt Shelby, have you?”

Yvonne Shelby nodded. Just as she was about to speak, several people showed up at the door one after another, all looking anxious. ”Ma’am, are you open?”