After I Fully Prepared for the Apocalypse, the Ungrateful Cried with Regret-Chapter 70: Extra Reward

"Don’t worry, it probably takes Ian some time to collect the supplies..." Chelsea Walsh trailed off as she saw movement from the billboard high above—all that was left of it was an iron frame.

Immediately after, four figures rushed out.

After Nina Jacobs burst out, she quickly locked the glass door behind them.

A moment later, dull thuds echoed from behind the door.

"We almost died in there."

Chester Pearson helped them onto the same roof eaves as before, and then they all jumped down together.

Inside the mall, just as they were clearing out the third floor, a horde of zombies had suddenly burst out of a store.

The sounds of them fighting had stirred up the zombies on the first floor.

Many of the zombies had managed to find a way to climb up to the second floor.

Luckily, they were fast runners.

"You’re finally out! That door won’t hold for much longer."

The moment they were all in, Russell Abbott started the engine.

They had to get away from the front of the mall immediately.

"This trip was worth it, though."

Despite the extreme danger, the thought of all the supplies Ian had stored in his space made Chester Pearson feel the trip hadn’t been a waste.

"What? You cleared out the entire mall in just over an hour?" Leo Hale asked in astonishment after hearing about Ian’s achievement.

"Mhm, we have those people to thank for it, actually."

Nina Jacobs wondered what their faces would look like when they discovered the mall was empty.

"Could it be other survivors from nearby? That’s so messed up!"

It was only then that Chelsea Walsh realized Nina and the others had nearly fallen into a trap.

"This is about more than just being messed up,"

"We’re not dealing with a single person. It’s probably an organization," Nina Jacobs speculated.

’One person couldn’t have locked all the mall’s zombies on the first floor. Let alone set up those traps and rig the billboard.’

"Keep this matter confidential for now,"

"I plan to report it through internal channels."

Considering the events of the past few days, Chester Pearson had every reason to suspect there was a problem within the shelter. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

After all, their rescue plans and supply locations were all planned in advance.

"Don’t worry, our lips are sealed."

Leo Hale fastened his cuffs and collar, then polished his cleaver until it gleamed.

This was the same prep he used to do before fighting zombies back at the old house.

According to Russell Abbott, the next part of the mission involved going door-to-door to search for survivors.

They would inevitably encounter zombies.

Until they found Forrest Walsh, they planned to fight zombies alongside the rescue team.

Even Ian Chandler was readying himself.

"Normally, a Space Superpower User wouldn’t need to join the rescue operation."

Chester Pearson meant that Ian would be safer in the car.

Myra Lawson was coming back soon, and he didn’t want anything to happen to Ian.

But Ian’s expression turned cold.

"I won’t hold you back."

Ian said. Besides, he had to help Nina Jacobs collect Crystal Cores.

"Let him go," Nina Jacobs said. "I’ll keep an eye on him."

The last time, before they ran into George Crawford, Ian had been left alone in the car for several days.

"Since my master has spoken, what more can I say?"

Chester Pearson used his walkie-talkie to direct several vehicles to form a barricade across the side of the road.

This would block any approaching zombies and allow them to get in the vehicles from the other side for a quick escape.

Even though the rescue team had dispatched a combat helicopter to clear the zombies on this street just the day before, the street was once again swarming with them.

Once the rescue team had gunned down the nearest zombies, everyone from the vehicles disembarked.

ROAR!

Another zombie rushed out of a nearby house, charging at the team member at the end of the line.

Joel Hayes tried to aim at the sudden threat, but there wasn’t enough time.

BOOM!

A Fireball struck the zombie’s shoulder.

It only knocked the zombie to the ground, but it bought Joel Hayes precious seconds.

He whipped a knife from his ankle sheath and plunged it into the zombie’s head.

Staring at the instantly dispatched zombie, Joel Hayes gasped for breath, his heart still pounding.

"Are you okay?"

Chester Pearson asked as he walked over.

"I’m fine. Thanks, Captain Pearson. I was too slow to react."

It was Joel Hayes’ first time out on a mission with Chester Pearson.

He’d heard that Justin Lawson had pulled some strings to get Chester onto the rescue team, so he didn’t know him well.

He never expected the man to save his life.

"Your reaction wasn’t slow. I remember you’re a Superpower User, right?"

Chester Pearson had reviewed all the team members’ files before they set out.

"Yes, I think I have a Wind Element Superpower, but it doesn’t seem very useful."

Joel Hayes scratched his head.

"Wind Element?"

Chester Pearson didn’t know much about the Wind Element Superpower, so he glanced instinctively at Nina Jacobs.

Nina Jacobs was at the roadside, focused on digging out Zombie Crystal Cores.

She paid him no mind.

"We’ll talk later. Let’s rescue the survivors first."

Chester Pearson pointed to a window above, which had a strip of cloth tied to it.

They had announced over the broadcast for survivors to tie brightly colored strips of cloth to their windows or display some other conspicuous sign.

This was the signal that there were survivors inside.

The rescue team would bypass any buildings without a signal.

"Nina, are we going up with them?" Chelsea Walsh asked.

"No need. Killing zombies down here

will also help them save time," Nina Jacobs said, pointing to the zombies converging on their position in the distance.

While Chester Pearson’s group rescued people, they could stay behind to deal with the zombies on the ground, preventing the rescue team from being surrounded.

"You’re right."

Chelsea Walsh was anxious to find Forrest Walsh, so she wanted the rescue team to finish their task as quickly as possible.

"Here they come!"

Dressed in a black technical jacket, Leo Hale used his Gold Element Superpower to send a dagger flying toward an approaching zombie.

The dagger plunged straight into a zombie’s eye socket.

"It worked!"

Leo Hale realized his Superpower was getting stronger.

’It looks like Superpowers really do get stronger with use.’

But he still couldn’t use his Superpower to pull the dagger back out.

"Try reversing the focus of your Control."

Nina Jacobs advised from the side. Leo Hale’s Gold Element Superpower had moved past the novice stage and was now entering a period of proficiency.

"Focus?"

Leo Hale stared at the dagger and tried.

The dagger trembled at first, then, with a wet POP, it was actually pulled free.

"Holy shit, it really worked!"

Leo Hale was ecstatic.

"Are there more zombies than before?"

Chelsea Walsh paralyzed three zombies in a row. This was different from when they were fighting in the alley.

The zombies on this street seemed endless.

Three Fireballs simultaneously slammed into the heads of three zombies, and they dropped a few seconds later.

"Yeah, the zombies are getting more sensitive."

But they could still handle it. Besides, this was her daily task.

[Host’s daily task has been completed. Experience reward has been distributed.]

[Host has completed daily tasks for 15 consecutive days. Title "The Persistent" has been triggered. Reward: 500 Experience Points, Flowing Light Dagger x2.]

’An extra reward?’

’500 Experience Points is the equivalent of killing 500 zombies.’

’These Flowing Light Daggers seem to be a pair. They must be good.’

Just then, Nina Jacobs noticed a few of the team members who had gone with Chester Pearson emerging, supporting two or three people.

"Leo... Leo Hale?"

One of them, a girl with disheveled hair, called out weakly.