Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower-Chapter 590: Ryan

’I need something of my own here.’

She had seen it early... the value of this place.

Even if the apocalypse ended... even if the disasters stopped... this base would remain.

A safe haven. A symbol. A place people would return to out of fear of instability.

And beyond safety, it offered something even more valuable... comfort.

The base had clean water, a steady electricity supply, and structured living conditions. Even during the harshest winter, when icy winds howled outside and frost crept along every surface, electricity remained constant.

The solar generators, charged in advance, continued supplying uninterrupted power.

And now... Even thunder ability users had learned how to charge generators manually.

That system... had been Martha’s idea. Not stopping there, she established a Superpower Academy.

Inside it, people were trained to properly control and utilize their abilities. Through this academy, she trained countless individuals... and earned a significant fortune.

But Martha didn’t waste it. Every coin she earned was reinvested. Real estate became her primary focus.

She bought one building. Then another. Then a third.

Now, just from rent alone, she could easily quit her job and live comfortably.

Yet... she didn’t.

Because even the combined rent of all three buildings couldn’t match the monthly salary she received as Ivy’s assistant.

’Why stop... when I can grow even more?’

Thanks to Ivy’s generosity and trust, Martha continued expanding her assets. She invested in more properties, and beyond that, she accumulated gold, silver, and diamonds.

There was hardly anything she hadn’t purchased. Even Bitcoin... a currency once considered the future, now reduced to something almost worthless in the apocalypse.

Yet, she had still advised Ivy to invest in it. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

’The cheapest things now... might become the most valuable later,’ she had thought.

Ivy had trusted her and invested a considerable amount as well.

However, while Martha was steadily building her empire... There was one constant annoyance in her life.

Kael. He followed her everywhere. Like a shadow that refused to disappear.

No matter where she went, he was there... hovering, lingering, apologizing.

"Martha... I’m sorry... I really am," he would say repeatedly, his voice filled with regret.

Sometimes, his persistence was so overwhelming that Martha felt her patience snap.

Her fingers would twitch slightly. ’I swear... one more word and I’ll slap him...’

He clung to her like glue, constantly trying to make up for his past mistake...the substitute.

Even though Martha knew that he might not have actually done anything with that woman, the mere thought of it disgusted her.

So she ignored him. Coldly. Relentlessly. Until... one day, she encountered someone unexpected.

Her uncle. Ryan. A distant... yet once-close relative. Her mother’s brother. Memories stirred within her.

Back when her mother was alive, Ryan had been kind. Polite. Caring, even.

But after her mother’s death... everything changed. He distanced himself. Ignored her struggles.

Even when she needed help with college, he made sure to remain unavailable.

’I survived on scholarships... on my own,’ she recalled quietly.

The college had supported her when no one else did, providing funds whenever she ran short. She had once dreamed of repaying them someday.

But then... the apocalypse came. And everything changed. Now, suddenly... Ryan had reappeared.

He began visiting her office frequently. At first, it was under harmless pretenses.

"I just came to drop off a request," he would say casually.

Other times... "I was worried about you. You seemed so lonely."

But his presence became more frequent. More intrusive. Until finally... Martha had enough.

She looked at him coldly one day, her voice sharp and direct. "What do you want?"

The moment those words left her mouth... Ryan’s expression changed. The polite mask... dropped.

A faint, calculating smile replaced it.

"Well," he began, leaning back comfortably as if he had been waiting for this exact moment, "you’ve done well for yourself."

He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly.

"But don’t forget... you’re still a woman."

Martha’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes grew colder.

Ryan continued, his tone carrying quiet arrogance. "Managing something this big isn’t easy. You won’t be able to handle everything alone."

He leaned forward slightly. "If I were you... I’d hand this position over to someone more capable."

A faint silence followed. Martha’s voice cut through it, calm but sharp. "And who exactly... is more capable than me?"

Ryan chuckled, as if amused by her question. He adjusted his posture, sitting upright with confidence. "Oh, that’s simple."

He smiled. "My son."

A brief pause...

"Leo. After all, he is a graduate of a prestigious university!"

Martha’s lips curled slightly, a faint scoff escaping her as she crossed her arms. "And I suppose you’re talking about that Oxford degree?"

Her tone carried a sharp edge. "An arts degree, right? And you expect me to hand over a position like this... for that?"

Uncle Ryan’s expression darkened, his face flushing with anger as he pointed a trembling finger at her.

"You ungrateful girl!" His voice rose, echoing faintly against the office walls. "You should be thankful! Without me, you wouldn’t even be where you are today!"

Martha let out a quiet chuckle, though her eyes remained cold. "Ungrateful?" She tilted her head slightly. "I don’t recall owing you anything."

Her gaze sharpened as she continued, each word deliberate.

"You never helped me. Not once. And now you suddenly show up, asking for favors and expecting me to just hand everything over?"

Ryan’s brows furrowed deeply, his jaw tightening. "I’m not asking for help," he snapped. "I’m telling you what’s best for you. You should step down willingly."

Martha laughed again, this time louder, though there was no humor in it. "Even if I step down," she said, her voice steady, "do you really think your son would get my position?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "Enough of this nonsense. Get out."

Without waiting, she turned slightly and called out, "Security."

At that moment, Ryan’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "So you won’t step down?" he said slowly. "You don’t want to live peacefully anymore?"

Martha turned back, a faint smile appearing on her lips, calm, confident, and almost chilling.