Chapter 31: Why Is He Here?

"Are you saying we should have Wyatt Jacobs establish a line to Ian Chandler?"

Renee Strong considered the idea.

Having Wyatt Jacobs handle it would indeed be better.

"Besides, things are about to get chaotic here."

Liam Grant looked out the window.

Today was the last day of the acid rain.

After today, this area would likely have the highest concentration of zombies around.

Then, no matter what happened, Wyatt Jacobs could use the chaos as cover to get Ian Chandler away.

If Nina Jacobs came asking for help then, he might consider it.

But...

Liam Grant looked at his hands in frustration. He still hadn’t awakened a superpower.

「The Hale Residence.」

After returning, Leo Hale and Nina Jacobs took Ian Chandler to give George Crawford and his men, who had been locked in the backyard, a brutal beating.

At first, Ian Chandler was still afraid.

But when George Crawford started begging for mercy, Ian Chandler actually smiled.

He walked forward. Somehow, several nails had appeared in his hand.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

George Crawford glared at Ian Chandler.

Without a word, Ian Chandler kicked George Crawford down and pinned his face to the ground with his foot.

George Crawford, unable to move, could only watch helplessly as the innocent-looking Ian Chandler drove the nails one by one into the skin of his face.

The pain was excruciating.

Seeing this, Mr Abbott and the others were scared out of their wits.

"That kid is ruthless,"

Leo Hale muttered from the side.

Ian Chandler didn’t stop until George Crawford’s eyes rolled back from the pain and all the nails were gone.

"Feeling better?"

Nina Jacobs handed Ian Chandler a disinfectant wipe.

As far as she was concerned, what Ian Chandler had done wasn’t excessive at all.

’If not for my rebirth, Ian Chandler’s life would have turned out just as it had in my previous one.’

"Yeah. Thank you, Miss Jacobs."

Ian Chandler hugged Nina Jacobs.

Nina Jacobs couldn’t help but blush. Even though Ian Chandler was only thirteen or fourteen, he was already quite tall.

But remembering all he had been through, she gently patted his back.

"It’s over now. You don’t have to be afraid anymore."

Thankfully, Ian Chandler was just expressing his gratitude and soon let go of Nina Jacobs.

"What should we do with these guys?"

Leo Hale looked at the badly beaten George Crawford and his men, feeling troubled.

"Let’s keep them locked up. We’ll deal with them after the rain stops."

Nina Jacobs noticed that George Crawford and his men all had acid rain burns to varying degrees.

’She hadn’t planned on letting any of them leave alive anyway.’

’Once they turn into zombies, maybe they can be used for some target practice.’

Daniel Hale and Vera Coleman used up the last of their fresh ingredients to make a sumptuous lunch.

Although neither of them were great cooks, the food was at least edible.

"Nina, about what you asked me before, Vera and I have discussed it."

After the meal, Daniel Hale had become more serious than ever.

Ian Chandler and Chelsea Walsh also looked up, curious.

"Once this acid rain ends, we’re going to leave here for a while."

Nina Jacobs was surprised by what Daniel Hale said.

’This was my plan, too.’

After the rain stopped, the floodwaters would recede.

With the zombie virus just beginning to spread, it was the perfect time for them to leave.

This was the city center; staying here would only lead to endless trouble.

"Yes, we could stay at my grandmother’s house. There are fewer people there,"

Nina Jacobs replied.

"We were originally planning to head to the west side of the city.

Your father has a friend who owns a hotel there. But if you want to stay at your grandmother’s, we’ll stay at your grandmother’s."

Thinking Nina Jacobs was missing her grandmother again, Vera Coleman quickly agreed.

"My brother is also on the west side of the city!"

Chelsea Walsh said excitedly.

’Maybe I’ll even be able to see Forrest Walsh.’

"What are you guys talking about?

Why leave home to go to a place with few people?"

Leo Hale, listening from the side, didn’t understand.

’Could Nina Jacobs’s old house possibly be safer than their villa?’

"You should learn a thing or two from Nina about planning for a rainy day."

Daniel Hale said irritably.

If it hadn’t been for Nina Jacobs’s warning, he wouldn’t have considered this angle.

More people meant more trouble.

With so many people now in the villa complex and every household’s supplies almost gone, something was bound to happen even without a contagious disease.

Moreover, he had a strong sense of unease. The image of Ben Stone and his mother was a constant warning in his mind, and even Chelsea Walsh had encountered one of those zombie-like people.

Vera Coleman was pregnant, and he had to protect her.

"Fine, we’ll go wherever you say.

Anyway..."

Just as Leo Hale was speaking, there was a sound at the main gate again.

"Don’t tell me it’s someone else looking for a place to stay?"

Vera Coleman said with resignation.

Unfortunately, the video doorbell had been damaged by the acid rain, so they couldn’t see what was going on outside.

Nina Jacobs activated her "Five Senses Enhancement," and was surprised to find an unexpected person at the door.

"Nina Jacobs, it’s me, Wyatt Jacobs!

Please, I’m begging you, open the door!"

Wyatt Jacobs shouted.

Now everyone in the house could hear him.

"Leo Hale, go get the door."

Vera Coleman said.

Wyatt Jacobs was the son of her ex-husband’s brother, so they had a distant family connection.

"That kid asked me for a loan last time...

I had completely forgotten about it."

"It was right not to lend him any."

’If Wyatt Jacobs had actually used Vera Coleman’s money to hoard supplies, I would have literally killed him.’

’But I have a question,’ she thought. ’Didn’t Wyatt Jacobs go to Shannon Renner’s place?’

’The apocalypse hasn’t even started yet. Could Shannon Renner have been reborn, too?’

"Did you have a fight with Wyatt Jacobs?"

Vera Coleman couldn’t help but ask before the door was opened.

She seemed to remember Nina always taking good care of Wyatt Jacobs.

Nina Jacobs shook her head. "There’s nothing like that."

’It was true that, in this life, she and Wyatt Jacobs hadn’t had a falling out... yet.’

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie.

Nina Jacobs, I finally found you!

With everything that’s been going on, I’ve been so worried about you."

Wyatt Jacobs put on a ’thank-goodness-you’re-alright’ expression, as if he had truly been worried about Nina Jacobs.

"Weren’t you going to see your friend?"

Nina Jacobs scoffed inwardly.

’What a waste that Wyatt Jacobs never got into acting.’

"At a time like this, how could a friend be more important than my own family?

Don’t tell me you weren’t worried about me at all?"

Wyatt Jacobs’s words made the corner of Leo Hale’s mouth twitch.

’What kind of man even acts like that?’

"The fact that you managed to get here means you’re fine, doesn’t it?"

Nina Jacobs didn’t mind playing along with his act.

’Let’s see how long Wyatt Jacobs can keep this up.’

"And this is?"

Wyatt Jacobs’s gaze shifted to Ian Chandler, his expression unreadable.

’I can’t believe they were right.’

’Ian Chandler really is with Nina Jacobs.’

"That’s Ian Chandler. It’s a long story."

Vera Coleman was quite fond of the quiet Ian Chandler, though he seemed to prefer sticking close to Nina Jacobs.

"Oh, I see.

Hello, I’m Wyatt Jacobs. It’s nice to meet you."

After hearing Ian Chandler’s story, Wyatt Jacobs greeted him amicably.

He even extended his hand.

However, Ian Chandler only gave a slight nod, leaving Wyatt Jacobs feeling a bit awkward.

"Miss Jacobs, my head is still a little dizzy.

Could you help me find a thermometer?"

Ian Chandler asked weakly.

He already had a handsome face, and his slightly sickly appearance made it impossible for Nina Jacobs to refuse.

"Okay, I’ll take you to get some rest."

However, the moment they left the living room, all traces of Ian Chandler’s weakness vanished.

He leaned close to Nina Jacobs’s ear and whispered mysteriously:

"Miss Jacobs, I want to show you something."