After I Fully Prepared for the Apocalypse, the Ungrateful Cried with Regret-Chapter 162: Seeking Refuge

At first, everyone in the vehicle thought Nina Jacobs was just asleep.

But they gradually realized something was wrong.

Pascal Paige had to slam on the brakes several times, plowing through one small group of zombies after another.

The ride was incredibly bumpy.

Yet Nina Jacobs didn’t react at all.

If Wayne Warner hadn’t been shielding her, she probably would have been thrown from her seat.

"Something’s wrong with her. Can someone check what’s going on?"

Holden Shaw was the first to notice.

Holden Shaw realized that no matter how many times he called her name, Nina Jacobs wouldn’t respond.

This sent a wave of panic through the group.

After driving a little further, Pascal Paige quickly found a secluded spot to park the vehicle.

Only then did she leave her seat to rush over and check on Nina Jacobs.

But even when she used her healing technique, Nina showed no signs of waking up.

"Maybe it’s because she’s been so tired lately,"

Wendy Marshall said worriedly.

"She has been sleepy the past few days,

but why won’t she wake up?"

Holden Shaw even checked if Nina Jacobs was breathing.

He found her breathing was steady, as if she really were just asleep.

"What do we do? I’m not a doctor."

"Shouldn’t we find a doctor to take a look at her?"

Pascal Paige was so frantic she was on the verge of tears.

’Maybe Nina Jacobs really is exhausted because of us.’

Pascal Paige was about to try pinching the pressure point under Nina’s nose.

But Wayne Warner stopped her.

Chase Gallagher, who had been silent off to the side,

watched Nina Jacobs, who was sleeping peacefully, completely unresponsive to her surroundings. He spoke up, his voice tinged with speculation.

"Her condition..."

"Could it be a Superpower advancement?"

A Superpower advancement?

The others all turned to look at him in unison.

Chase Gallagher was from City A, and his job had been intelligence gathering.

Therefore, the information he had was often what first emerged in Drakonia.

"Superpowers... can advance?"

Jessica Vance voiced the question on everyone’s mind.

It was the first time any of them had heard of such a thing.

"I’m not sure either."

"I just heard someone mention it before."

"That Superpowers can advance, but the process involves a period of unconsciousness."

Chase Gallagher was only guessing.

He had only overheard someone say it while he was waiting outside a door once.

He had no idea if it was true or not.

"A period of time?"

"How long is that period?"

Holden Shaw asked.

Chase Gallagher shook his head.

He had only overheard that one sentence. As for the specifics, it was probably something only high-ranking officials in City A and a few key people within the major factions knew.

"Regardless, we have to protect Nina Jacobs."

"Let’s figure out our next move,"

Pascal Paige said as she stood up.

Continuing on the road didn’t seem wise.

It wasn’t that they lacked confidence in themselves, but that they were worried something might happen to Nina Jacobs.

"Should we go back?"

Wendy Marshall said hesitantly.

"No. The zombies in the hospital could come out at any moment,"

"and backtracking is often the most dangerous path."

Chase Gallagher objected.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Holden Shaw asked, a bit impatiently.

Even though Chase Gallagher had only joined them yesterday, he seemed to be the most experienced.

"I have a suggestion,"

Chase Gallagher said.

"Let’s hear it."

Chase Gallagher thought for a moment before speaking.

"Have you guys ever heard of the ’Lockwood Squad’ in City J?"

"The Lockwood... Squad?"

They all shook their heads.

They had never heard of it.

"It’s similar to your old Tiger-Lion Squad—a survival organization started and run by Superpower Users."

Chase Gallagher said, scanning their surroundings for any danger.

"But unlike Jonathan Thatcher of the Tiger-Lion Squad,"

"the ’Lockwood Squad’ was founded by three people."

"They gather supplies but don’t go around picking fights."

"If they come across survivors in trouble, they’ll even lend a hand or take them in."

"If we were to go there..."

Chase Gallagher didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood.

He was suggesting they seek temporary refuge with this ’Lockwood Squad.’

"Are they really as good as you say?"

Yvonne Willow, after everything she’d been through, was skeptical.

After all, that was how she had been tricked before.

Wendy Marshall patted her arm and continued asking,

"It sounds like you know where they are?"

During dinner the previous night, Chase had explained his background to them.

And Nina Jacobs hadn’t expressed any doubts.

Chase Gallagher wasn’t the only survivor they had encountered these past few days.

But Nina Jacobs had only chosen to rescue him.

’Someone Nina was willing to save... might be trustworthy.’

Chase Gallagher nodded.

"I do."

"They’re not far from here, and their location is quite secure."

This was precisely why Chase Gallagher was making the suggestion.

The Lockwood Squad was very close to their current position.

"No, I’m still not comfortable with it."

"You take me there first to check it out. If it’s really okay,"

"then we’ll bring Nina Jacobs over."

Both Holden Shaw and Chase Gallagher were Speed Element Superpower Users, so a round trip wouldn’t take them much time.

"Alright."

After a moment’s thought, Chase Gallagher nodded.

Pascal Paige was still a little worried, but Chase Gallagher and Holden Shaw were back in less than half an hour.

They were even followed by another vehicle.

"Whose car is that?"

Wendy Marshall asked.

The car stayed next to their bus, as if leading the way.

"They’re here to escort us."

"It seems like a pretty safe place."

Holden Shaw recounted what had happened when he and Chase went to make contact.

It turned out Chase Gallagher already knew one of the captains of the Lockwood Squad.

That’s why the other party had been so polite to them.

"Apparently, Chase helped them out in the past,"

Holden Shaw explained to the others in a low voice.

"While I was gathering intel, I discovered that a place they were heading to was dangerous,"

"so I just found a way to warn them."

Chase Gallagher’s simple explanation instantly put the group at ease for the time being.

"You’re a surprisingly good guy."

Pascal Paige followed the other vehicle.

If it weren’t for Chase Gallagher, they really wouldn’t have known what to do.

It was only after Pascal Paige and the others arrived that they found out...

the Lockwood Squad’s camp was actually underground.

"This used to be the biggest underground nightclub in City J."

"Zombies rarely find their way down here."

"Since you’re friends of Mr. Gallagher, you can rest and recover here without worry."

The woman leading them into the camp was named Molly Ulrich.

She was an incredibly warm person.

Seeing Nina Jacobs being carried in Wayne Warner’s arms, princess-style, she assumed they were a couple.

After all, they were a very good-looking pair.

"Oh, so you’re not a couple!"

"Sorry about that. I’ll get you two separate rooms, then."

Molly Ulrich was suddenly a bit embarrassed.

"Thank you for taking us in."

"It’s fine for Nina Jacobs to share a room with me."

"We can all take care of her."

Pascal Paige and the others didn’t mind; the place really did seem to be just as Holden Shaw had described—no hidden traps or schemes.

Although the rooms were just VIP lounges temporarily converted into single rooms, they were very safe.

"When you’re out and about,"

"getting sick is a common thing."

"Your friend has a healthy color to her face, so it’s probably nothing serious."

"Just let her rest here for now."

Molly Ulrich thought Nina Jacobs was just sick.

"Captain Stone and the others should be back soon."

"They’ll be thrilled to know you brought your teammates."

Molly Ulrich knew Chase Gallagher had a team.

So she automatically assumed Pascal Paige and the rest were his teammates.