[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un":3,"chapter-after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-chapter-196":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","After I Fully Prepared for the Apocalypse, the Ungrateful Cried with Regret",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},146360,236,"Chapter 196: An Offhand Remark","after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-chapter-196",196,"\u003Cp>The layout of the City D Base in this life was no different from her past one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though this was Nina Jacobs’s first time entering it, she navigated it with a practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the apocalypse, this area was being developed into a new type of town, so many of the buildings were ready for use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over thirty row houses had already been constructed within the base, each about ten stories tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs recalled that this was the most concentrated dormitory area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her previous life, she and her team had lived there for a while. She only remembered that the conditions inside were relatively clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the row houses were concentrated on the right side of the base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These detached houses were mostly rented out to Superpower User teams, and the rent wasn’t cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the number on her key, Nina Jacobs arrived at a large gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate and the surrounding courtyard walls were built extremely high, making it impossible to see the full interior without opening it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Nina Jacobs was about to use the key to open the gate, a voice from behind suddenly stopped her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We saw this place first,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and we’re planning to rent it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young woman who looked to be in her early twenties walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following behind her were several others, all of them unfamiliar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This house?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs thought she must have misheard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she looked around, it was clear this house had the best location among the row of detached houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A decorative, openwork partition wall stood behind it, demarcating the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also provided a good degree of privacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right, this is the one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We plan to rent all the houses here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman tilted her chin up slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re with the Crawford Army. We don’t have to participate in the lottery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if worried Nina Jacobs wouldn’t understand, another person added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They expected Nina Jacobs to take the hint and leave, but she showed no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Crawford Army?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never heard of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I’ve only been out of the shelter for less than a month, yet so many new factions have already emerged.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t even know about the Crawford Army?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suggest you get out of the way. As soon as we pay the rent, we’ll get the key.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man behind her waved his hand dismissively, shooing her away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs took out the key in her hand, turned, inserted it into the lock, and opened the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you the manager here? How else would you have a key?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the woman asked with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a guess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs smiled, then turned, entered the courtyard, and closed the gate behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She left the group outside looking thoroughly embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the courtyard, Nina Jacobs was looking around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike pre-apocalyptic courtyards, most post-apocalyptic ones lacked things like flowerbeds and lawns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the flat, concrete-paved yard looked a bit stark, it was also cleaner and more spacious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs thought a corner of the yard would be perfect for raising Treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building they would live in was a three-story house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or four, to be precise, as there was a basement below the living room that served as a storage area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was somewhat similar to the layout of Daniel Hale’s villa before the apocalypse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The living room had north-south ventilation and connected to the small yard on both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs looked around and was very satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also a balcony on the top floor. Standing on it, she could see the two houses in front and to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those two houses had also been given to her by Myra Lawson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Positioned in front and to the right, they could effectively protect the house in the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs decided she would take these three houses and make no further changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just didn’t expect that as she was about to leave the base, she would run into the same group of people again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She got the key?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man now stood beside the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There appeared to be a twenty-something-year age gap between them, yet they were holding hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their relationship was self-evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I looked all around, and that’s the house I set my heart on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t you say I could pick any one I wanted?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman swayed, a wronged expression on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, the middle-aged man stepped forward and blocked Nina Jacobs’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hear you got the key to House 71?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs was planning to go meet up with Leo Hale and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she asked impatiently, \"Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is our leader, Hugo Crawford,\" someone at his side answered. \"You should show him some respect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So this is Hugo Crawford?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The man who abandoned Daniel Hale?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did hear about a Hugo Crawford who was kicked out of the rescue team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That couldn’t be you, could it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs said, her expression turning to one of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hugo Crawford’s face instantly darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What nonsense are you spouting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crawford struck out on his own! It’s not like what you said at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman immediately stepped forward to defend him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you have the key?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hugo Crawford had rarely met someone so bold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he felt that the young woman before him looked vaguely familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’At this point, no one should have been able to get a key to any residence yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Unless she was no ordinary person.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who exactly are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hugo Crawford didn’t get an answer from Nina Jacobs. Instead, a group of people came running over from a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, what are you all doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ganging up on a young woman?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distance, Timothy Renner and Eve Lewis had seen Nina Jacobs being stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer they watched, the more something seemed off. It was clear Nina Jacobs was in trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they dropped what they were doing and rushed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timothy Renner asked as he ran up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine, Renner. I can handle this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs glanced behind her and was surprised to see Adrian Shaw also walking slowly toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, so it’s just a bunch of stinking construction workers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present heard her, and there were even some snickers from the surrounding crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hugo Crawford, control your people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t want to be kicked out of the base next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the expressions of everyone in the crowd changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian Shaw seemed completely unfazed by Hugo Crawford’s livid face and continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to be outdone, Timothy Renner retorted, \"That’s right. Stop being such a snob.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was so angry she was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adrian Shaw, we didn’t do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s wrong of you to falsely accuse us like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t say anything either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who did I falsely accuse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian Shaw retorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one. Obviously no one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timothy Renner chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re leaving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing he was no match for Adrian Shaw, Hugo Crawford had no choice but to take his people and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shaw, thanks for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timothy Renner hadn’t expected Adrian Shaw to be so decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing to thank me for. I just said what was on my mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Adrian Shaw turn to look at Nina Jacobs, who was talking with Eve Lewis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nina Jacobs, this is Adrian Shaw, our supervisor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve Lewis quickly made the introduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Supervisor Shaw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you’re Nina Jacobs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian Shaw had expected Nina Jacobs to play along and continue the conversation, but she just gave another slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Renner, I still have things to do,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>so I’ll come visit you guys another day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nina Jacobs said apologetically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on, get busy. Be careful on your way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And try not to run into that pack of bastards again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t you guys from City J?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How do you know her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian Shaw had a nagging feeling that Nina Jacobs was deliberately keeping her distance from him, which made him ask out of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t just intervened randomly a moment ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timothy Renner and his group were all Superpower Users, and quite strong ones at that. He had intentions of recruiting them.\u003C\u002Fp>",1488,"2026-05-29T03:44:18.636Z","2026-06-01T04:29:06.436Z",1,"novelbin.me","9d4644275c31a0a2dd903d97ca3b748770df7d993b84946bdff332c72b411de2","after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-chapter-197","after-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-chapter-195",312,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-i-fully-prepared-for-the-apocalypse-the-un-cover.jpg"]