Chapter 344: Luring the Snake

Eleanor Ziegler never imagined she would be locked in a cage in front of everyone.

She tried to shatter the cage with her Wood Element Vines and wood thorns, but found they were instantly incinerated the moment they touched the rays of fire.

Eleanor Ziegler didn’t dare to imagine what would happen if her own body touched them.

Wails echoed all around her. The men she’d brought had all been beaten to a pulp by the Strength Element Superpower User.

"Do you have any idea who I am? Let me out!"

Eleanor Ziegler snarled.

"You have five seconds. Apologize, or you’ll die."

Nina Jacobs slowly began to count.

With every number she counted, the cage shrank.

"It hurts!"

Eleanor Ziegler’s eyes widened as she watched the rays of fire inch closer and closer.

And at Nina Jacobs, who stood outside the cage.

’She’s not kidding!’ There wasn’t a trace of warmth in her eyes.

"Three... two..."

"I apologize! I apologize!

I was the one who offended you both today! I-I’m sorry!"

An unprecedented wave of humiliation washed over her. Never in her life had Eleanor Ziegler been so wronged.

A smile played on Nina Jacobs’s lips.

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the fiery cage.

But just as she turned to leave, a wood thorn shot toward her back!

"Go to hell!" Eleanor Ziegler shrieked.

"I guess you’re just shameless."

Nina Jacobs had suspected Eleanor Ziegler wouldn’t let it go, but she hadn’t expected her to lose her composure so quickly.

WHOOSH!

A Fire Serpent shot past the wood thorn and swiftly coiled around Eleanor Ziegler.

Eleanor Ziegler’s blood-curdling scream echoed instantly.

"Stop!"

A man arrived just in time and immediately ordered the several Water Element Superpower Users behind him to put out the flames on Eleanor Ziegler.

Nina Jacobs had only used twenty percent of her power to create that Fire Serpent.

And yet, it still took several Water Element Superpower Users a great deal of effort to extinguish it.

The reason she didn’t kill her was to lure the snake from its hole.

After all, in this life, she supposedly didn’t know Zachary Ziegler.

By now, Eleanor Ziegler had already fainted from the pain.

Her body was covered in horrific, massive blisters and burns.

"Who did this?! Who is responsible for this!"

Aaron Fletcher stared in shock. He had rushed over the moment he received the report.

He never expected to find Eleanor Ziegler burned to this state.

If he’d been a second later, she would undoubtedly be dead.

’Who on earth would be so bold?!’

"Fletcher, it was them... it was the two of them who..."

A man who had been kicked against a wall by Wayne Warner spoke, clutching his abdomen in agony.

His ribs were likely broken. With a trembling finger, he pointed at Nina Jacobs and Wayne Warner.

"Men, take them into custody!"

Aaron Fletcher knew this wasn’t the place for a discussion.

Eleanor Ziegler was a successor from the direct line of the Ziegler Family. Now that she had been injured so severely here, he had to bring the culprits back to give the Zieglers an explanation.

Otherwise, he feared he’d be the one they’d come looking for.

"Everyone, stop. Don’t touch them."

A familiar voice rang out, and everyone, including Aaron Fletcher, looked astonished.

The newcomer was none other than the Base Commander, Mordecai Quinn.

Mordecai Quinn was known for never making public appearances, let alone intervening on someone’s behalf.

"Mordecai Quinn, they’ve seriously injured Eleanor Ziegler!"

Aaron Fletcher said.

Mordecai Quinn, however, ignored him. He walked straight up to Nina Jacobs. "Are you two hurt?"

"No, we were just defending ourselves."

Nina Jacobs replied.

She was curious to see how Mordecai Quinn would handle this.

Or rather, what position he would take now that he had supplies.

But it seemed he knew exactly where he stood.

"Mordecai Quinn!"

Aaron Fletcher couldn’t believe it. Not only was Mordecai Quinn not holding them accountable, he was actually showing concern for the perpetrators.

"If she did this, she must have had her reasons.

I see it as self-defense. There’s no need for your involvement, Fletcher."

Mordecai Quinn shot Aaron Fletcher a cold look.

This was a man he had personally promoted, yet he had turned around and backstabbed him the moment the political winds in the base shifted.

Now, Aaron Fletcher was nothing more than a turncoat.

"Mordecai Quinn, let’s put this matter aside. Today is the day you face judgment from the people.

You don’t actually believe you’re still in charge of this base, do you?"

Aaron Fletcher suddenly remembered something and was no longer in a hurry.

The reason so many people were gathered was that everyone had heard the news.

Due to the Base Commander’s mismanagement, the base was out of food reserves.

If he failed to procure supplies within half a month, Mordecai Quinn would have to relinquish his position as Base Commander.

And today was the final day.

Caspian Ziegler had spread the news first thing in the morning, and now the plaza in front of the base was already packed with people.

"Do you think I’m scared?" Mordecai Quinn asked.

"Of course you’re not. A man with nothing to lose fears no one.

Mordecai Quinn, you have nothing left. The only reason you’re not afraid is that you’re planning to take everyone down with you, aren’t you?"

Another man stepped out from behind Aaron Fletcher.

"Director Carter, you’ve come as well."

Upon seeing him, Aaron Fletcher immediately began to grovel, scurrying over to Caius Carter’s side.

"I’m not the only one. Everyone who’s supposed to be here has arrived."

Caius Carter stared at Mordecai Quinn, his eyes glinting with anticipation, as if watching a good show.

"You seem to know me quite well,"

Mordecai Quinn said coolly.

"Mordecai Quinn, I’ll admit I used to envy you. But now, I almost admire you. At a time like this, you still dare to bring such undiscerning people to the base.

All units, on my command, seal the base! Now!"

Caius Carter commanded.

Not Mordecai Quinn, not the people with him—no one was getting away now.

Mordecai Quinn sneered. "Who the hell do you think you are, Caius Carter? All units, hear my order! Caius Carter is hereby stripped of all his positions within this base.

You will no longer follow his commands."

If Nina Jacobs hadn’t saved him from this desperate situation, he truly had been planning to take the Zieglers down with him.

But things were different now.

Caius Carter’s position had been granted by Mr. Quinn as a favor, and the men he led were not simpletons either.

They were men who had been with Veridia Base since its founding.

He was betting they wouldn’t act recklessly.

Sure enough, after Mordecai Quinn spoke, the men were stunned for a moment before roaring in unison, "Sir!!"

Caius Carter’s expression turned hideous.

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Don’t gamble your futures away by following this penniless madman."

"Mr. Carter, the old Base Commander saved our lives. We only recognize the Base Commander."

The man leading them, dressed in the uniform of The Garrison, declared loudly.

"Fine. Just don’t come to regret this.

The rest of you, with me!"

Furious, Caius Carter stormed off toward the base plaza with several dozen of his followers.

"Those men are experts trained by the main branch of the Ziegler Family,"

Mordecai Quinn told Nina Jacobs.

Six of the people following Caius Carter belonged to the Ziegler Family. Although they didn’t share the Ziegler name, their skills were said to be formidable.

"You seem quite wary of the Ziegler Family,"

Nina Jacobs asked.

’It seems Mordecai Quinn’s issue isn’t just with Zachary Ziegler.’

"Before my father died, he was investigating the Ziegler Family. The main family has several branches, and Caspian Ziegler’s is just one of them.

Members of these branches have spread out to various smaller bases. Without fail, those bases were quickly taken over and turned into profit-making tools for the Ziegler Family.

I imagine the main branch of the Ziegler Family survives by having these branch families funnel resources back to them."

Mordecai Quinn explained in a low voice.

"I see."

Nina Jacobs understood now. Veridia Base had been targeted by one of the Ziegler Family’s branches.