Chapter 87


    Ste had a worried expression, and Jasperforted her, "Don''t worry. Cooper is extremely


    intelligent and is man''s most loyalpanion. I trust he''ll be fine."


    Ste wasn''t convinced, after all, the harsh wintersted a year, and Cooper had only managed to


    save her from a deadly attack for three months of it. Back then, all he wanted to do was to protect


    her. He was so determined that he''d have rather died than let go of her.


    The scene was too gruesome for Ste to recall. All she could do was hold Cooper tightly. This time,


    it was her turn to protect Cooper.


    Sensing her tense emotions, Cooper nestled into her arms, thinking, “What''s wrong with you,


    human?”


    "Don''t worry, I''ll train him well."


    Train him? Cooper grumbled. Hadn''t he graduated already?


    Jasper petted him. "Training is a lifelong practice. As long as we''re alive, we need to keep learning."


    Cooper snorted, whatever!


    Back home, Ste measured Cooper''s height and weight and recorded all his data. Not just him, but


    Smoky and Snowy too. After checking them over a few times, she couldn''t shake off the feeling that


    they''d somehow changed and were bing braver.


    Over the next few days, Ste made over two thousand arrows, and her crossbow skills were


    improving. Unsatisfied with the distance in the corridor, they all went to the rooftop to push their


    limits. In the freezing -40 degrees weather, they bundled up like bears in hibernation.


    Everyone wanted to rest, but no one dared, fearing that they might never get the opportunity to


    stand up again. But it was really too cold, and their hands were shaking like they had Parkinson''s.


    Cody saw how steady Ste was and couldn''t believe it. "Ste, how do you do it?"


    She was less bundled up than him, but she seemed unaffected by the cold. This was beyond his


    understanding!


    Ste shot him a nce. "I''m not frail, nor weak, and I have a heart full of passion."


    Lukas, who was often sick, grimaced, thinking, “Really Ste, even in a post-apocalyptic world, you


    don''t forget to throw shade. What did I ever do to you?”


    He was frail? Even Ang said he was doing greattely!


    Once they''d gotten used to being outmatched, Lukas and Cody gave up resisting, especially since


    Ste had Jasper as her private trainer. Her skills were bing increasingly formidable.


    She seemed to be soaring. Not only were her skills constantly improving, but her physical fitness


    seemed to be rocketing too.


    What was the deal with this weather? The damp cold air seeped into their bones, making them feel


    as though their souls were being frozen.


    But look at Ste, and look at Jasper…


    Ugh, Jasper was also wearing far less than them. They envied the two’s superhuman endurance.


    Lukas and Cody couldn''tpete, and they couldn''t afford to be injured. They had to focus on


    improving their crossbow skills.


    After a few days of rest, Jasper challenged Ste to spar. Ste was puzzled. "Your arm isn''t fully


    healed yet."


    "That''s okay, I can manage with one hand. As long as you don''t target my weak points."


    “Weak points? Ah, he meant his shoulder, or did he mean his private parts?” Okay, Ste admitted


    she was being a bit naughty. She still retained some integrity and honestly didn’t attack his weak


    points, even deliberately avoiding them.


    And Jasper, he was truly skilled, because even with one arm, he never let Ste gain an advantage.


    At the same time, his independence was remarkable.


    When Rosie slipped while making pie, Ste thought he would seize the opportunity to ask her for


    help or give some tips to Rosie. It was her fault after all, and if Jasper had asked, Ste was


    prepared to help.


    However, Jasper said nothing. He resolved everything himself. This made Ste sigh with relief.


    Despite their harmonious living environment, she was still on her guard. If Jasper had asked, she


    would have helped, but she intended to keep her distance from that point onwards.


    If Jasper asked for a favor, he must’ve had an ulterior motive, and it was probably not just for


    ordinary supplies.


    Ste had already survived in a post-apocalyptic world for so many years. Now that she had to do it


    all over again, she wouldn''t help but be suspicious of everyone''s intentions. Moreover, she was


    privy to Arcadia''s secrets, and she couldn''t afford to gamble.


    C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    In short, Jasper’s actions made Ste see him in a new light.


    Katie knocked on her door again, and her mood a mix of joy and worry.


    Joey and Mikey were technicians. After the interview, they got jobs without a hitch, with a monthly


    sry of fifteen pounds of rice or flour.


    Amber was a teacher and couldn''t meet the technical requirements, but she sessfully applied for


    the lowest-tier job of corpse collector. It may have sounded like a grim job with low pay, but there


    were always applicants.


    The monthly pay was only five pounds of rice, but it included one meal a day. The meal wasn''t


    enough to fill them uppletely, but it was enough for a hard day''s work, and there were also


    other benefits.


    The elimination rate was high, and the chances of Amber getting hired were slim. Katie was a


    cunning old woman. She had her daughter-inw secretly give two pounds of wild kudzu flour to the


    interviewer, and just like that, Amber got the job.


    "Ste, if any of you want to apply for a job, I can ask Amber to take you there."


    She was worried that these young kids were too stubborn and wouldn''t ept the idea of using


    connections or giving gifts. But jobs were essential for survival, and they couldn''t afford to be proud


    or stubborn.


    However, the 18th floor residents only wanted toze around, but they still thanked Katie for her


    kindness.


    If Katie braved the cold toe over, it must’ve been for something more important. True enough,


    Katie looked worried. "Those who are collecting protection grain have already reached the 8th


    building, and they''ll be here soon. What are your ns?"


    Food was life, and who would want to give that up?


    Katie had lived long enough to not fear death, but if there was a chance to live, who would choose


    death? Even if Kate wasn''t thinking for herself, she had to think for her family, and besides, these


    people were greedy.


    They asked for three pounds of grain per person, but if that went smoothly, next they would raise it


    to five pounds.


    She had lived through the famine era and seen all sorts of evil forces. These inhumane beasts


    wouldn''t stop until they sucked the marrow out of their bones. Once they got a taste, it would


    certainly be hell.


    The Moore family was full of refined people who couldn''t lift a finger. They wouldn''t stand a chance


    against these thugs, let alone harm them. So, she had to swallow her pride and ask the 18th floor


    residents for help.


    Ste understood her intentions but didn''t rush to answer. "Ourmunity isrge. If we all band


    together and swarm them, wouldn''t we be able to handle them?"


    Katie sighed, "Those people have many tricks up their sleeves. They''ll first win over the building


    managers who can lead, give them some benefits, and then they''ll be their aplices."


    Ste was surprised. "There isn''t a single one who''s resisting?"


    "There are a few. The managers of the 15th and 16th buildings are upright and have led the


    survivors to resist. They even went to the police station to report it. But the next day, their bodies


    were thrown at the front door. The manager of the 16th building was a woman, and those


    bastards..."


    "The police didn''t do anything?"


    "It''s not that they did not bother intervening; it''s just that it''s simply too much to handle."