Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 121

A Week Later

Karl’s apartment remained a haven amidst the chaos of the storm. While other residents struggled with failing heaters, dwindling food supplies, and the biting cold that seeped through their poorly insulated walls, his unit was a stark contrast. The temperature inside was warm and comfortable, the shelves were stocked with food, and the faint smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.

This wasn’t mere luck. It was all thanks to Karl.

Sitting on the couch, he scrolled through the interface of his power. The glowing panel that only he could see displayed a list of skills to change common sense, which now he think it is useless.

Jane walked in from the kitchen, carrying two steaming mugs. She placed one in front of Karl and kept the other for herself, sinking into the chair opposite him. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"I still don’t understand how you manage this," she said, her voice a mix of awe and suspicion. "Everyone else is losing their minds out there, and here we are—warm, fed, and... safe."

Karl smiled faintly, keeping his true secret to himself. "Good planning, I guess. I’ve always been good at stocking up before things get bad."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "You stocked up enough for a snowstorm that’s lasted this long? Enough to keep a heater running when half the building’s freezing?"

Karl shrugged, deflecting. "Maybe I’m just lucky."

Jane didn’t push further, though her expression made it clear she wasn’t entirely convinced. She took a sip of her coffee, leaning back with a sigh. "Well, whatever you’re doing, I’m grateful for it. If it weren’t for you, Layla and I wouldn’t have made it this far."

As if on cue, Layla appeared from her room, wrapped in a thick blanket. She yawned, plopping down on the couch next to Karl. "Morning," she mumbled, reaching for the plate of toast he’d prepared earlier.

"Afternoon," Jane corrected, glancing at the clock. "You’ve been sleeping half the day again."

Layla shrugged, biting into her toast. "Why not? It’s not like there’s anything to do."

Karl chuckled. "Not true. There’s a whole list of chores I’ve been saving for you."

Layla groaned. "You’re worse than Jane sometimes."

The lighthearted banter was a welcome reprieve from the tension that hung over the rest of the building. Karl had gone out briefly earlier in the week, only to see neighbors shouting at each other over stolen food and who was hogging the communal bathroom. The sight had reinforced his decision to keep his apartment a fortress of peace and plenty.

---

Later That Evening

As the storm howled outside, the three of them sat around the small dining table, enjoying a hearty meal of pasta and freshly baked bread. Karl watched as Jane and Layla laughed over a shared joke, their faces lit by the warm glow of the battery-powered lamp.

Moments like this reminded him why he kept his powers a secret. If anyone in the building found out how he was managing to keep them comfortable, it would invite chaos. People would demand explanations, demand access to his resources. Worse, they might even try to take it by force.

"Hey, Karl," Jane said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You okay? You’ve been quiet."

He nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah. Just thinking."

"About what?" Layla asked, tilting her head.

"Just... how lucky we are to have this place," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "Things could be a lot worse."

Jane gave him a thoughtful look but didn’t press further. Instead, she raised her mug in a toast. "To Karl, the miracle worker."

Layla snorted but followed suit, lifting her glass of water. "Yeah, to Karl. The guy who somehow made an apocalypse cozy."

Karl laughed softly, clinking his glass with theirs. "I’ll drink to that."

---

Nightfall

As Jane and Layla retreated to bed for the night, Karl stayed up, sitting by the window. The snowstorm showed no signs of relenting, the wind whipping fiercely against the glass. He opened his panel again, scrolling through the inventory he’d built up. The list was extensive, but he knew he had to be careful. Even his powers had limits, and he couldn’t risk drawing too much attention.

With a deep breath, he closed the panel and leaned back in his chair, letting the warmth of the room lull him into a rare moment of peace. For now, at least, they were safe. And as long as he could help it, they would stay that way.

Karl scrolling through his phone. The group chat for the apartment complex had turned into a warzone. Angry messages flooded in every few seconds, each one more hostile than the last.

[Greg - 4C]: Whoever took my last can of soup, I’m coming for you. This is your last warning.

[Martha - 3B]: Oh, grow up, Greg. Nobody wants your stupid soup. Try fixing your attitude instead.

[Linda - 5A]: Martha, stop escalating things. We’re all in this together!

[Tom - 2D]: We wouldn’t need to be "in this together" if people stopped hoarding supplies. Some of us are freezing over here!

Karl frowned but didn’t reply. He knew better than to get involved. Engaging in the chat would only draw attention to him, and the last thing he wanted was for anyone to start questioning how his apartment was so well-stocked and comfortable.

He leaned back in his chair, listening to the faint hum of the heater. Outside, the storm raged on, the wind howling against the windows. It was a stark contrast to the warmth and peace within his apartment. Jane and Layla were already asleep, their bellies full from the hearty dinner Karl had prepared—courtesy of his powers.

The messages in the group chat continued to escalate.

[Greg - 4C]: I KNOW someone here has extra food. You think you can hide it forever? You can’t. We’ll find out.

[Linda - 5A]: Stop threatening people, Greg. You’re not helping!

[Tom - 2D]: We need to have a building-wide meeting to figure this out before it gets worse.

Karl snorted quietly. A meeting? That was a recipe for disaster. He could already imagine the shouting matches, the accusations flying, and the chaos that would follow. It was better to stay out of it, to keep his little bubble of safety intact.

He muted the chat and set his phone aside, stretching his legs. The storm wasn’t going to let up anytime soon, and the apartment’s residents were only going to grow more desperate. But that wasn’t Karl’s problem. His focus was on keeping Jane and Layla safe—and keeping his powers a secret.

---

The Next Morning

The apartment was calm as Karl prepared breakfast, the smell of fresh coffee and scrambled eggs filling the air. Jane wandered into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning," she mumbled, grabbing a mug of coffee.

"Morning," Karl replied, flipping the eggs in the pan. "Sleep well?"

"As well as I could, knowing the rest of the building is about to tear itself apart," Jane said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Did you see the chat last night?"

Karl nodded. "Yeah. It’s a mess."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "And you didn’t say anything?"

"Nope." Karl placed a plate of eggs and toast on the table. "Not my problem."

Jane gave him a skeptical look. "You really think you can stay out of it forever? What if they start knocking on doors, looking for answers—or supplies?"

Karl shrugged. "Then I’ll deal with it. Until then, I’m not sticking my neck out."

Layla appeared in the doorway, yawning. "What are we talking about?"

"The group chat," Jane said, gesturing to her phone. "It’s a disaster."

Layla rolled her eyes. "Of course it is. Half the people in this building are lunatics."

Karl smirked. "And the other half?"

"Delusional," Layla said with a grin, grabbing a piece of toast.

Jane sighed, shaking her head. "You two are impossible."

Karl leaned against the counter, his expression serious. "Look, I get that things are bad out there, but we’ve got everything we need right here. The meeting before is enough, Getting more involved will only make things worse—for us."

Jane hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if this blows up, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Karl didn’t respond, but his mind was already racing. The storm outside wasn’t the only thing he needed to worry about. As long as he kept his powers hidden and his apartment secure, they’d be fine—or so he hoped.