Teaming Up with My Enemy to Rule the Apocalypse

Sierra smiled. "I don’t need the batteries, I have my own. Just the clock will be fine."

When the shopkeeper heard Sierra say she had her own batteries, he clearly faltered for a moment.

But he quickly started smiling again.

"You have some, but how many could you possibly have? We have to think long-term—"

"Plenty!" Sierra cut him off again. "Don’t tell me you won’t sell the clock if I don’t buy your batteries?"

"Of course not! How could that be possible!"

The shopkeeper denied it profusely.

"I was just looking out for you, but since you said you don’t need them, never mind. I’ll go get the clock for you right now."

Sierra nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, go get it. We’ll wait here."

The shopkeeper turned and went into the back room. He came out again moments later, holding a long, rectangular box.

"Do you want to open it and check it?"

Sierra nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course."

’Before the apocalypse, there was after-sales service.’

’But now, there’s no such thing.’

’This shopkeeper might have a store here, but who knows if he’ll still be around tomorrow?’

’If I can’t find him later and the clock has a problem, I’d be completely out of luck.’

The shopkeeper chuckled as he opened the box. "Want me to unwrap a couple of new batteries and install them so you can see it work?"

"No need. I have my own."

Sierra took two brand-new D batteries out of her spatial storage, still in their packaging.

Seeing that Sierra was a Space Ability User, the man’s attitude grew considerably more respectful.

Although his fawning expression was a bit unsightly, Sierra understood. This was reality, and she had to accept it.

She installed the batteries, set the time, and the clock’s second hand began to move.

It worked perfectly.

Sierra wasn’t one to haggle. Once she confirmed the clock worked, she paid the Contribution Points and stored it back in her spatial inventory for the time being.

Just as they were about to leave, she saw a group of people walking toward them.

A man and a woman led the group.

Sierra had never seen the man before, so she didn’t recognize him.

But the woman nestled against his side was all too familiar to her.

Joy Warren.

Subterra wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either.

The shops were all on the first sublevel, and since Joy Warren’s new man was so powerful and influential, it was inevitable she would come here to browse.

Sierra had known all along that they would run into each other sooner or later.

But she truly hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.

Joy Warren clearly hadn’t expected to see Sierra and Jayce, either. She froze.

She hesitated for a moment before continuing forward.

It was only for an instant, but the man beside her noticed.

Simon Hughes raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Run into an old friend?"

This time, Joy Warren didn’t hesitate, nodding straightforwardly. "Yes. We went on a mission together once."

’With Simon Hughes’s status and connections, it would be easy for him to look into it.’

’It was better to admit it openly than to deny it.’

Simon Hughes smiled. "So, they’re Superpower Users?"

"Yes!" Joy Warren nodded again. "All three of them are very powerful Superpower Users."

"Three?" Simon Hughes’s eyebrow twitched. "A kid that small is a Superpower User, too? Now that’s interesting. What’s her Superpower? What level?"

Joy Warren wasn’t sure how to answer.

It’s one thing for a person not to hide their own Superpower type and level, but it’s another thing entirely to have someone else reveal it to others right in front of them.

As a Superpower User herself, Joy Warren naturally understood this.

And the more she understood, the more uncertain she was about whether to speak.

The smile on Simon Hughes’s face grew wider. "What’s the matter? Not sure if you should say? Do you really need to hesitate over something like this? Or do I need to remind you who provides the food you eat, the things you use, the roof over your head? Forget your body—even your thoughts belong to me. Before you refuse to answer my question, you should first consider the consequences and whether or not you can handle them."

It wasn’t the first time Simon Hughes had said such things to her.

But he always said them in private, or in front of strangers.

Though it made Joy uncomfortable, it was still within the realm of what she could endure.

But now, hearing Simon Hughes say this in front of Sierra, Jayce, and even Candice Tate, Joy felt her face burn with shame.

It felt as if she’d been slapped across the face in public, or stripped naked and forced to stand before the crowd, bereft of all privacy, to say nothing of dignity.

Joy instinctively looked toward Sierra.

Though terrified, she still wanted to see Sierra’s expression, to know what Sierra thought of her now.

Sierra was watching the scene unfold with a deadpan expression when she saw Joy turn to look at her.

Joy’s gaze was incredibly complex. The combination of her hesitant look and her anxious eyes was enough to make any observer feel conflicted as well.

But for Sierra, that was all it was—a flicker of complicated emotion.

Nothing more.

’Joy is in a pathetic state right now, but she chose this path for herself.’

’Whatever the consequences of her own choices, she has to be the one to bear them.’

The two women stared at each other in silence, neither one speaking a word.

Simon Hughes, however, seemed completely oblivious to the subtle atmosphere between them.

"So you’re all Superpower Users? If you’ve been on missions with Joy, your Superpowers must be pretty decent. Any interest in coming to work for me? Rest assured, if you work for me and help me find what I’m looking for, I’ll make it worth your while. Housing, food, clothing, supplies—I can provide it all!"

Sierra gave a faint, silent smile. "No, thanks."

Jayce shot Simon Hughes a cool glance. "Not interested."

Simon Hughes shrugged, unconcerned.

The invitation had been a casual one anyway.

There were plenty of Superpower Users in Subterra; it wasn’t as if he absolutely needed these two.

It was a shot in the dark, nothing more.

If it paid off, great.

If not, it didn’t matter.

"No problem if you’re not interested now. But if you ever change your mind, feel free to come find me! Anytime at all. My offer will still stand!"

Hearing this, Sierra was actually a little surprised.

’So this trust-fund kid who just publicly humiliated Joy isn’t a complete idiot after all!’

’But thinking about it, that makes sense.’

’Anyone who’s managed to survive this long has to have at least a few brain cells to rub together.’

’The completely brainless ones all died long ago.’

Sierra and Jayce both gave a casual nod. Having no interest in continuing the conversation with Simon Hughes, they took Candice Tate and left.

They hadn’t gotten far, however, when Joy Warren came chasing after them, out of breath.