Chapter 97


    Gripes aside, life must go on.


    Jasperid out various attack strategies, simultaneously providing impable countermeasures.


    Ste sighed again, realizing that survival in this post-apocalyptic world was no easy feat.


    In the evening, Katie hollered from downstairs, announcing that the relief food, originally scheduled


    for the day after tomorrow, would be distributed tomorrow.


    Ang and the others were puzzled. What''s with sudden change of ns?


    Ste instinctively nced at Jasper, just as he looked her way.


    Their eyes met briefly, then quickly looked away.


    "Ang, I''m nning to fetch the relief food in the morning, then take Cooper out for a walk in the


    afternoon," Ste said.


    Without giving it much thought, Ang agreed, "Sure, we''ll go after you guys get back."


    That night, sleep was elusive.


    Ste was contemtive, thinking that with Arcadia, she could live a better life. But even this kind of


    ''better'' came with a price.


    She hoped for a sessful day tomorrow.


    The relief food was to be distributed at nine in the morning. Ste and Jasper agreed to leave at


    seven over the walkie-talkie.


    They set out early, only to find Ang cycling in the hallway.


    Rosie was nowhere in sight, and she casually asked, "Isn''t Rosieing?"


    Jasper nodded, "Rosie''s still asleep."


    It was still early for the relief food distribution, and they had left without Rosie. Ang smirked,


    realizing their denial was just a fa?ade.


    Of course, Ang wouldn''t call them out on it. She''d just wait and see.


    After leaving Sunrise Sanctuary, the two of them didn''t queue for food but headed towards Unity


    Vige.


    Upon reaching the intersection, Jasper suddenly paused.


    Confused, Ste asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Jasper swiftly put his arm around her waist.


    Ste felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. If she didn''t know him better, she might have drawn her


    weapon.


    "There''s surveince. Don''t look around." Jasper whispered as he held her close, navigating


    through the icy chill.


    "We''re being watched?"


    "Unity Vige is."


    Surprised shed in Ste''s eyes. Could it be that the police had taken her letter seriously?


    She hated it when people only spoke halfway, but if Unity Vige was indeed under surveince,


    there might be lip-readers around.


    To avoid suspicion, Ste decisively kept her mouth shut. She even overcame her difort and


    moved closer to Jasper, making them look more like a close couple.


    Jasper held her close as they circled around Unity Vige before finally ducking into a side street to


    escape.


    "I''m sorry," he said, letting go of her.


    "Is Unity Vige being watched?"


    C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "I''m not sure, but my gut tells me it is. All four exits are being monitored."


    As a former special forces operative, Jasper''s instincts were sharper than most.


    Ste had also been alert, and although she wasn''t as sharp as Jasper, she could faintly sense


    something was off.


    She had a sudden thought, "Could the early distribution of the relief food have something to do with


    Unity Vige?"


    "Possibly."


    Jasper had observed that Unity Vige was not only a gathering ce for The Chaos gang but also


    home to many survivors.


    For example, many hade out to collect the relief food.


    These survivors were either voluntarily seeking refuge or forced to stay.


    The early distribution of relief food was likely to draw these survivors out of Unity Vige, preventing


    them from bing hostages of the gang.


    Regardless, Ste felt a sense of relief. As long as they could wipe out the gang, this area should


    remain peaceful for quite some time.


    They returned to themunity center where a long line of survivors had already formed.


    Ste asked in a hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang''s minions


    come to collect their ''protection fee''?"


    Jasper nodded, "Yes."


    This would significantly reduce the firepower at Unity Vige.


    It seemed that their strategy was a masterstroke.


    After waiting for two hours, it was finally their turn.


    Having collected their relief food, they headed back to Sunrise Sanctuary.


    Halfway there, Jasper instantly became alert.


    He grabbed Ste''s arm and quickly steered her in another direction.


    "It''s them! I''d recognize them anywhere!" a woman''s shrill voice echoed from a distance.


    It sounded familiar, like she''d heard it somewhere before.


    "Bang, bang, bang."


    Bullets whizzed past.


    Jasper pulled Ste along as they sprinted towards an office building, a dozen men in pursuit, guns


    zing.


    Bullets grazed them as they dashed into the building.


    Without hesitation, they ran up the stairs.


    Ste, who hade fully prepared, pulled out a gun from Arcadia by pretending to get something


    from her pocket.


    They kept running up, looking for a ce to take cover.


    "They''re upstairs," someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to bring him their heads as a gift."


    Using the stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets from above, scoring fatal headshots.


    Despite their superior firepower, they couldn''t match Jasper''s precision.


    After a round of gunfire, Jasper had killed five men and Ste had injured two.


    As they retreated, Ste ran into a sturdy-looking office.


    It was the CEO''s office.


    They locked the main door and ran into the CEO''s private room, locking that door too.


    Ste wiped the sweat off her forehead. It was her first gunfight and, during the heat of the moment,


    she had forgotten to be scared.


    She wondered how Ang and the others were doing. If the 18th floor was under attack, Cooper


    and Rosie were likely in danger too.


    She felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead.


    As she wiped her sweat, she noticed Jasper''s pained expression. "Are you hurt?" she asked.


    "I''m fine. I''m wearing a bulletproof vest."


    Bullets were scarce; every shot had to count.


    Although the bullet didn''t hit a vital spot, the force of the high-speed bullet hitting the steel te had


    caused a shock injury. It would take some time for him to recover.


    "Where are you hurt?"


    It''s his shoulder, the same arm he used to shoot.


    Ste''s mind went nk. He had pushed her earlier. Could that be when he got hurt?


    Before she could think further, they heard loud banging on the door.


    Ignoring the noise, Jasper smashed the ss window of the CEO''s private room, pulled out an


    escape rope, and tied it to a fixture. "Ste, climb down this and head straight back to Sunrise


    Sanctuary."


    "What about you?"


    "I''m d in a bulletproof vest, plus I''ve got ammo. Should be enough for them."


    No, his ammo was not enough.


    "Go!"


    At the crucial moment, Jasper hardened his expression, "I''ll hold them off. You go back to the 18th


    floor to save Rosie and the others."


    "How can you handle so many of them alone?"


    "They came prepared. If we both stay, we''re certain to die."


    Just as he was speaking, the people outside had already stormed in, firing at the door of the lounge.


    "You go first. I can escape easier on my own."


    Ah, so he thought she was a burden, huh!


    Ste felt uneasy, but it''s true that he was more physically adept than she was.


    She didn''t fuss, handing over a few bullets, "Jasper, you better make it back alive. I''m not going to


    be looking after Rosie for you.


    You have to take care of her yourself. Don''t ever count on anyone else."