Chapter 100: Severely Injured

After Nina Jacobs’s sudden departure, Vera Coleman had signed up to volunteer at the shelter to keep her mind from racing.

She had originally wanted to help in the kitchen, but Daniel Hale, worried she would overexert herself, found her a job doing inventory and logging supplies.

She was filling out a form just then and didn’t notice Nina Jacobs walk up beside her at all.

"Mom, I’m back,"

Nina Jacobs said.

Vera Coleman’s pen froze.

She looked up in disbelief, her expression finally breaking into delighted surprise when she saw her daughter.

"Nina, you..."

She had so many questions for Nina Jacobs but didn’t know which to ask first.

"I was just staying at the old house for a few days, really,

same as when we were living there before."

Seeing that Vera Coleman was on the verge of tears, Nina Jacobs quickly explained.

"Then what about that Sherry, that girl from before?

Why did she say she saw you at that pyramid scheme—oh, no, that... that Alliance thing?

What were you doing there?"

Vera Coleman asked.

She was worried her daughter had been tricked into joining.

"I... I took Wayne Warner to a buffet."

Nina Jacobs had no choice but to explain.

"A buffet?"

Leo Hale, who was standing nearby, widened his eyes.

"Let’s not ask any more questions for now. Nina must be tired after coming back. Go get some rest,"

Daniel Hale said.

Vera Coleman’s workstation was in the shelter’s administration department. There were quite a few people in the office, so it wasn’t a suitable place to talk.

"Weren’t you supposed to be with Captain Pearson, dealing with that matter?"

Vera Coleman asked.

Daniel Hale glanced at Nina Jacobs and replied,

"It’s a long story. We can talk about the details when we get back."

He wasn’t actually surprised that Nina Jacobs could defeat Liam Grant.

But he hadn’t expected Liam Grant to be so fragile.

’Of course, it’s more likely that Nina Jacobs has just gotten stronger again.’

"Nina Jacobs, you stop right there!"

The group had just left the administration department when they ran into Renee Strong.

This area was right next to the shelter’s infirmary, so Nina Jacobs wasn’t surprised.

She just hadn’t expected Simon Abbott to be there too.

She shot him a look as if he were a stranger, then turned her gaze back to Renee Strong.

"Do you need something?"

"You severely injured Liam!"

Renee Strong had been certain that Liam Grant would win this round easily.

But she never expected Nina Jacobs to come out of nowhere and turn the tables.

"It was just a normal sparring match. He was simply not as skilled as me."

Nina Jacobs’s nonchalant attitude infuriated Renee Strong even more.

Liam Grant wasn’t just severely injured; even *that place* was...

And yet Nina Jacobs showed no remorse at all.

"If you have a problem, take it out on me!

Why did you have to do that to him?"

"What, you want to spar with me too?

How about we find a place and have a go?"

Nina Jacobs retorted.

Using Superpowers or brawling was forbidden inside the shelter; otherwise, she really wouldn’t have minded giving her a beating.

"Don’t you go too far!

Once I’ve healed Liam, you just wait!"

Renee Strong pointed a finger at Nina Jacobs, and the next second, her feet suddenly left the ground.

She looked in terror at the tall, powerfully built man who had lifted her with one hand.

"Who are you? What do you think you’re doing?

If you try anything else, I’ll scream for help."

Renee Strong could feel the man’s power. ’He must be a high-level Strength Element user!’

"Wayne Warner, let her go."

As soon as Nina Jacobs spoke, Wayne Warner immediately released his grip.

Renee Strong was practically thrown to the ground.

Wincing in pain, she was helped up by Simon Abbott, while the culprit had already silently moved to stand behind Nina Jacobs again.

"If you can’t win a fight, you should shut your trap.

You talk as if you’re so capable."

Leo Hale shook his head. ’Anyone who didn’t know better would’ve thought that woman was charging up some ultimate move.’

Seeing Nina Jacobs walk away without a backward glance, Leo Hale quickly followed.

"What in the world is going on?

How did Nina Jacobs get so strong?

And who is that man with her?"

Renee Strong stared at Nina Jacobs’s retreating back and said in disbelief.

"Yes, how did she get so strong?"

Simon Abbott was lost in thought.

’Nina Jacobs really didn’t seem to recognize him just now.

But he was there when she fought Liam Grant.

In his opinion, Nina Jacobs should already be at the late stage of the Basic Level Superpower.

The apocalypse started less than a month ago. How did she advance so quickly?’

"Perhaps Nina Jacobs has a secret we don’t know about,"

Simon Abbott said.

"A secret we don’t know about?"

Renee Strong didn’t quite understand why Simon Abbott would say that.

"It’s just a guess.

Let’s go check on Liam."

Simon Abbott abruptly changed the subject.

Nina Jacobs had heard every word of their conversation.

A smile played on her lips.

’The fish are starting to probe the bait, just as I thought...’

When Vera Coleman and the others returned to their quarters, they were stunned by the sight before them.

The living area was piled high with supplies in boxes of all sizes.

There were all sorts of food and nutritional supplements, instant meals and dairy products, as well as a large amount of vacuum-sealed meat and eggs.

There were even prenatal vitamins and calcium supplements.

"It’s all stuff I found on the road these past few days,"

Nina Jacobs said. She hadn’t dared to bring out too much; this amount of supplies was just enough to fill her car.

But Vera Coleman and Daniel Hale were already astonished.

"Supplies are getting more and more valuable these days.

To bring all this back, you must have attracted a lot of unwanted attention on the road, right?"

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. The thought of Nina Jacobs out there all alone in such a dangerous world, still thinking of them, made Daniel Hale feel a pang of guilt.

’Nina Jacobs has worried herself sick over us.’

"It was fine. I stuck to back roads that not many people know."

After a moment of thought, Nina Jacobs asked,

"Any recent news in the shelter?"

"There’s new information every day, just not much of it is good,"

Leo Hale replied.

"What do you mean, no good news?

Didn’t the higher-ups order the construction of a base to begin?"

Vera Coleman cut off Leo Hale’s pessimistic remark.

"Building a base... that is indeed good news."

Nina Jacobs nodded.

It was the matter she was most concerned about.

After all, once the base was built, she would no longer have to worry about Vera Coleman’s safety.

"It’s good, but because of it, a lot of people are fighting tooth and nail to prove their worth.

You know the former mayor’s wife, right? She’s recruited a whole bunch of people,

for HR, finance, logistics, warehouse management... you name it.

Lawson originally intended for Dad to be in charge of human resources, but now it’s up in the air,"

Leo Hale explained.

"Why?"

Nina Jacobs felt that Daniel Hale was perfectly capable of handling the job.

"It’s not that I don’t want to.

Some people in the shelter have started hyping up Superpower Users,

saying the future belongs to them and that those without Superpowers will be left behind.

Melody Barron’s people don’t have much experience, but every single one of them has a Superpower.

Lawson is reluctant, but he’s also worried he won’t be able to win public support,"

Daniel Hale said, his brows tightly furrowed.

He also wanted Nina Jacobs and Leo Hale to live with more security and confidence in the shelter, and eventually the base.

That way, they wouldn’t be easily bullied in the future.

That’s why he had tried to fight for the position.

But he had arrived late and didn’t belong to any faction.

Naturally, no one was willing to support him.

It just put Justin Lawson in a difficult position.

"Take Sheldon Holden from today, for example.

He’s one of Melody Barron’s people. Dawn Donovan recommended him for the HR supervisor position."

Leo Hale said, snatching a cookie from Wayne Warner’s hand as he spoke.

Wayne Warner slowly turned his head to look at him, his eyes wide with shock.

"...It’s just one cookie, big bro."

Looking at Wayne Warner’s unadulterated, food-focused gaze, Leo Hale suddenly felt like he’d just stolen candy from a baby.

"Is that Sheldon Holden a Superpower User too?"

Nina Jacobs asked.