Teaming Up with My Enemy to Rule the Apocalypse

"What did she bribe you with?" Sierra Sullivan scoffed. "It’s not like it’s hard to bribe you."

Nathan Thorne’s greatest love was food.

And Candice Tate had no shortage of things to eat.

For Candice Tate, bribing Nathan Thorne was a piece of cake.

Hearing Sierra Sullivan’s words, Nathan Thorne’s face flushed red. His eyes darted around, his guilt written all over his face.

After a brief internal struggle, Nathan Thorne gave up completely.

"Alright!"

"Candice Tate did secretly bribe me before."

"She told me that if a day like this ever came, I should put in a good word for her!"

"It’s all my fault. I couldn’t resist the temptation and accidentally strayed onto the wrong path..."

Seeing Nathan Thorne’s words getting more and more ridiculous, Sierra Sullivan cut him off.

"Alright, alright!" Sierra Sullivan said, exasperated. "Do you really think it’s okay to bring her along?"

Nathan Thorne dropped his goofy expression, his attitude becoming much more serious. "I was bribed, yes, but it wasn’t just because I’m a glutton. It’s also because I think Candice Tate is right. There’s danger everywhere, so she might as well be by your side. What do you think?"

Sierra Sullivan didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at Jayce. "What do you think?"

Jayce’s brow was also furrowed. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, "Actually, there is another way."

He didn’t say what that other way was.

But Sierra Sullivan knew exactly what he meant.

If they didn’t want Candice Tate to go on the mission, then Sierra Sullivan could just not go either. That would solve the problem at its root.

But doing that, while seemingly a solution, wasn’t one at all.

She could skip it this time, but what about the next?

And the time after that?

’Am I supposed to never leave the base, never go on missions again, until Candice Tate is all grown up?’

That was definitely impossible.

Sierra Sullivan lowered her gaze, thinking it over seriously. A moment later, she looked up, her expression becoming incredibly determined.

"I’ve decided. We’re going! Since Candice Tate wants to go, we’ll take her with us!"

Jayce wasn’t surprised at all to hear Sierra Sullivan’s decision.

The moment Sierra Sullivan had hesitated, Jayce had already foreseen her decision.

If Sierra Sullivan had truly been against it, she wouldn’t have hesitated at all; she would have refused Candice Tate outright.

But she had hesitated.

In that moment, she had already made her choice.

"Okay!" Jayce nodded. "I’ll protect you and Candice Tate."

"Me too!" Nathan Thorne raised his hand. "I’ll protect you guys too. I have a Healing Ability! With me around, any injuries you get will heal instantly. It’s impossible to die. Why was I bribed by Candice Tate? Why do I think it’s okay to bring her? It’s because I’ll protect her with everything I’ve got!"

Sierra Sullivan believed that Nathan Thorne’s words were completely sincere.

"But," Sierra Sullivan said, a little uncertain, "it’s no use if it’s just us agreeing. Will Captain Grant agree?"

Hector Grant was leading the team. The decision of whether to let Candice Tate go was ultimately up to him.

If Hector Grant didn’t agree, then it was all for nothing.

Nathan Thorne laughed. "If you’re worried about that, you’re worrying for nothing. Hector Grant would be thrilled. How could he possibly disagree? Candice Tate isn’t your average five-year-old."

If Candice Tate were just an ordinary five-year-old, Hector Grant would never agree, no matter what.

But Candice Tate clearly wasn’t!

Candice Tate was a very powerful Superpower User, and she was already at the Fourth Level.

There were very few people in the entire Subterra with the same Superpower Level as Candice Tate.

Having Candice Tate around meant having an endless supply of food.

Unless Hector Grant was an idiot, there was no way he’d disagree.

Although Jayce also had a similar Superpower, his primary focus was still his Water Ability. Adding Candice Tate to the mix could only be a good thing.

Although Sierra Sullivan also felt Nathan Thorne had a point, she couldn’t rest easy until everything was confirmed.

That afternoon, the group went to find Hector Grant together.

Hector Grant was clearly surprised to see them.

"I knew you’d come looking for me, but I didn’t expect you to be so early!"

Sierra Sullivan didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Captain Grant, I’ve come to see you about something."

Hector Grant’s expression also turned serious. "Go on!"

"I can go on this mission, but we have to bring Candice Tate with us. If you agree, we’ll all go. If you don’t, then forget it."

"Agreed!"

Hector Grant didn’t hesitate at all. His tone was even a little eager.

"I agree!"

He was so quick, it was as if he was afraid Sierra Sullivan would go back on her word.

Looking at Hector Grant acting like this, Sierra Sullivan laughed silently.

’Nathan Thorne was right after all.’

But that didn’t matter.

"Alright, then it’s settled," Sierra Sullivan said. "We leave in three days, right? Where do we meet?"

"Seven in the morning, three days from now. Just gather here."

Having confirmed the meeting time, Sierra Sullivan didn’t linger, and the group quickly left.

Since they were leaving the base for a mission, they definitely had to tell Yvonne Shelby and Kevin Everett.

That evening, they went to Yvonne Shelby and Kevin Everett’s place.

They sat in the living room, gathered together, and had a lively and sumptuous dinner.

It was only after dinner that Jayce brought up the matter.

Yvonne Shelby sighed. "I guessed it the moment you walked in. You came here because there was something you had to say, and I was right."

As she spoke, she looked at Candice Tate.

Sierra Sullivan and Jayce were already adults—capable adults with minds of their own.

She couldn’t control them; she could only remind them to be safe.

But Candice Tate was different.

Candice Tate was only five years old!

Wouldn’t it be better for such a young child to stay in the safety of the base?

"Candice Tate, would you like to stay here with me?" Yvonne Shelby asked, looking at Candice Tate expectantly.

"No."

Candice Tate’s voice was childishly high-pitched, but her refusal was firm and crisp.

"I want to be with Big Sis!"

Even though she had anticipated Candice Tate’s answer, Yvonne Shelby still felt a pang of disappointment when she heard it.

Seeing this, Jayce quickly comforted Yvonne Shelby. "Mom, don’t worry. We’ll come back safe!"

Yvonne Shelby nodded. "Yes! I believe you will. You’ll definitely come back safe!"

At this point, what else could she do but believe?

For the next three days, Sierra Sullivan spent all her time cooking.

They didn’t know when they’d be back from this trip, or what they would encounter on the road.

To be safe, Sierra Sullivan could only use these three days to cook as much food as possible and pack it into portions.

It was never wrong to be over-prepared.

Besides, Sierra Sullivan didn’t know what other preparations she could even make.

Three days passed in a flash.

On the morning of the third day, the group had an early breakfast and went to Hector Grant’s office together.

When they arrived, they saw that the office was already crowded with people.

Someone, seeing them arrive with Candice Tate, looked displeased.

"Why are they bringing a kid? You think this is a picnic?"