Flora Bloom returned to the fourth floor of the low-rise apartment, looking refreshed, and called everyone into her living room.

Sitting on the sofa, Flora Bloom told everyone about the peeping tom from that evening. She also shared the other method for moving into the villa district that Chester Sawyer had just told her about.

"Is it really necessary to move to the villa district? It’s comfortable and has its own independent power supply, but it costs ten thousand Crystal Cores a month. We..." Shauna Wallace lowered her head, conflicted. She didn’t have any skills to earn Crystal Cores. Although she had awakened a superpower, it was the Healing System, which had no offensive capabilities at all.

It’s like they say, you can’t bite the hand that feeds you. If their whole group moved to the villa district, they would be spending Crystal Cores that Flora Bloom had earned. She didn’t know how the others felt, but she would feel unworthy.

"The bungalows, low-rises, and houses are all close by—the furthest is only two streets away. We caused such a huge scene right after we got to the base. There’s no guarantee people won’t come looking for trouble later. Besides, we don’t know if the person who was spying on us today is a friend or foe. The enemy is in the shadows while we’re out in the open. Someone was able to climb the wall to our floor and spy on us, and Caleb didn’t sense a thing."

"What? Caleb... Even he didn’t detect them?" Sherman Lynch looked at Caleb, his brow furrowing deeply when he saw the boy shake his head. Of those present, only the original nine-person team knew that Caleb, despite being the youngest, had the highest Superpower Level. He was also a rare Spiritual Ability User. If even he failed to notice them, then the intruder’s strength must be considerable.

"Exactly. There are a lot of us, including quite a few ordinary people, plus a pregnant woman and children. This area is a chaotic mix of people; I agree that it’s no longer suitable for us," Sherman Lynch said, analyzing their current situation.

"By the way, Flora, what was that method for getting into the villa district without paying Crystal Cores?" Jade asked curiously.

"It’s like this. There are two ways to live in the villa district. The first is the one you told us about, Dad: ten thousand Crystal Cores a month. This makes it impossible for most superpower users to afford in a short time. The apocalypse has only been going on for a little over a month. Think about it, how long would it take for a single person or a team of ten or twenty to gather ten thousand Crystal Cores? Even if they managed it, they could only live in the villa district for one month, which isn’t worth it. That’s why only three households live there now. One is Morgan Sterling. Another is the sibling duo who lead the King’s Army, Seth Warren and Kirk Warren. And the last one is Heath Holden, a Level 3 Earth Element user."

Flora Bloom relayed what Chester Sawyer had told her, breaking down the situation for everyone.

"However, there’s another way to move into the villa district without paying any Crystal Cores. Dad, you know Chester Sawyer, right?"

Caleb Bloom and the others nodded. "We know. He’s the one who showed us to this place."

"I’m sure you all know by now that less than half of this base’s villa district is actually inside the safe zone. Morgan Sterling and Chester Sawyer said that if we don’t want to pay Crystal Cores to rent a villa, we can lead a team to clear out the part of the villa district that’s outside the safe zone. This would also count as helping the base expand its territory. And, as long as we can clear a section, we can pick any villa we want for permanent residence, without paying any Crystal Cores."

"Is there really a deal that good? Flora, don’t get scammed." Sherman Lynch was the oldest and most senior member of the team, and he was quite suspicious about the reliability of this offer.

What he didn’t consider was that while he knew Flora Bloom’s true strength, others didn’t. In the time since the apocalypse began, they hadn’t interacted with many people, so he wasn’t really sure what level others had reached. But he knew that with Flora Bloom’s power, clearing a small area would be incredibly simple.

’But others might not see it that way!’

"I’ve arranged to meet Morgan Sterling at the back gate of the villa district in two hours. We need to get ready quickly."

"Get ready?"

Flora Bloom nodded. "We have about ten thousand Crystal Cores among us here. This is what I’m thinking: Dad, you, Old Lynch, and Old Monroe have been at the first level for a long time. You’ll stay here and absorb Crystal Cores to reach the Second Level. Cynthia, you’ll stay and keep watch too. If you can break through to Level 3, do your best to make it happen. There are quite a few Level 3 superpower users in this base, so our strength can’t be too low. Mr. Wallace and I will also use these two hours to absorb Crystal Cores. Old Lynch, since you’re only at the first level, breaking through to the Second Level will be quick. Okay, it’s decided. Everyone, hurry up."

Flora Bloom gave one hundred Crystal Cores to each person who needed to level up, and five hundred to Caleb. One hundred Crystal Cores were enough for a first-level superpower user to break through to the Second Level, but it wasn’t necessarily enough to reach Level 3. The energy required for accumulation varied from person to person; Caleb’s five hundred Crystal Cores might not even be enough for him to reach Middle Level 1.

For example, Caleb had only needed a few dozen Crystal Cores to break through to Level 3, but if Flora Bloom wanted to reach the same level, that amount would be far from sufficient.

Flora Bloom’s starting point after awakening her superpower was much higher than the average person’s, and her body’s capacity for energy was greater. With each level, she could handle more energy, so naturally, she required more Crystal Cores.

Shauna Wallace glanced at Flora Bloom shyly a few times, looking awkward as if she wanted to say something but was holding back. But Flora Bloom still noticed.

"Shauna Wallace?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Flora Bloom, can I go with you?"

"Oh?" Flora Bloom hadn’t expected Shauna Wallace to want to go with them to clear the zombies from the villa district outside the base. "Why do you want to go? Isn’t it safer to stay in the base?"

Shauna Wallace’s expression became unusually determined. She looked at Flora Bloom and said, "I think there might be a way I can help. Even though I don’t have any offensive power, if something unexpected happens, my superpower can heal you!"

Flora Bloom thought about it and agreed. Although Shauna Wallace had no offensive power, a Healing System superpower was indeed very useful in a crisis!

’The usefulness of the Healing System is that it’s an area-of-effect healing ability! As long as she has enough superpower and spiritual power, she can keep even a large number of people from dying in a critical moment—hanging on by a thread.’

’Moreover, as the Healing System is upgraded and leveled up, it gains a very powerful offensive ability at the High-level.’

"If you want to help, then raise your level so you don’t drag us down. A first-level Healing System user is practically useless in my team. Do you understand?"

Just as Shauna Wallace lowered her head in embarrassment, sighing to herself, Flora Bloom unexpectedly thrust a small handful of Crystal Cores into her hand.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and absorb the Crystal Cores to level up! You’re coming with me on the mission in a bit!"

Something flashed in Shauna Wallace’s eyes before quickly disappearing. The look she gave Flora Bloom was filled with both gratitude and happiness. Then, without a word, she sat down next to Cynthia Grant and began to absorb the Crystal Cores.

Lucia watched as everyone else absorbed Crystal Cores to level up, while she alone was ignored. No matter what, she was a superpower user too—even if it was the Water Element—and at the very least, a member of the team! Just as Flora Bloom was about to sit down and absorb Crystal Cores herself, Lucia couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Why does everyone else get to absorb Crystal Cores and level up, but not me? I want to level up too!"

Flora Bloom gave her a cool glance, then ignored her and sat down.

"Flora Bloom, you can’t play favorites like this! I’m carrying a child of your Bloom family. If I get upset, it will affect the baby’s health."

Flora Bloom’s eyes, which had just closed, snapped open. She stared at her coldly and said, "If anything happens to the Bloom family’s child, then you can go die with it."

"You—you dare?!" Lucia hadn’t expected such a merciless response from Flora Bloom, and her face instantly turned pale.

Flora Bloom glanced at Joel Bloom, who was standing to the side with an unhappy expression. Her younger brother had become quiet and reserved ever since his injury healed, and now he was just enduring it silently, not saying a word.

Lucia moved closer to Joel Bloom, grabbing his arm and shaking it. "Joel, look at your sister! How can she treat me like this? I’m carrying your child, for goodness’ sake! As your sister, she has no respect for you at all!"

SLAP!

Flora Bloom watched as Lucia stared at Joel Bloom in disbelief, clutching her face, before finally closing her eyes to absorb the Crystal Cores.

’Looks like my brother isn’t so foolish that he can’t tell right from wrong after all.’

"My sister is the one who fought for those Crystal Cores. Giving them to you is a kindness, not giving them is her right! What gives you the right to make demands?"