Chapter 379: Taking the Fall

Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Taking the Fall

"Don’t tell me something happened inside."

Corisande said.

Previously, someone would open the gate right after we sent the signal.

But Tristan Lynch just sent three signals in a row.

"How about I climb up and take a look?"

Lachlan, who had a Wood Element Superpower, remarked that he was rather skilled at climbing walls.

"It’s too high. There’s no need."

Nina Jacobs said.

"Miss Zephyra is right."

Feeling her concern, Lachlan happily retreated to the back.

"Let me do it. I’ll melt this outer gate."

Seeing his chance, Shane Shepherd also eagerly offered to show off.

"We’re here to see our own people. Why resort to that? Let’s wait a bit longer."

Nina Jacobs said calmly.

She had already heard some movement inside.

’It’s just that things seem to have gotten a little more interesting.’

"Achilles Renner, it’s us! Aren’t you going to open the gate?"

Tristan Lynch, at the end of his rope, shouted toward the gate.

’What’s gotten into Achilles Renner?’

Just then, a sound finally came from within the gate.

The two gates were opened.

As he watched the first few figures walk out, Tristan Lynch was about to make introductions but quickly sensed something was wrong.

Every person who came out was holding a weapon.

Besides Achilles Renner and a few members of the organization, a number of unfamiliar faces followed behind them.

"Achilles Renner, what’s the meaning of this?"

Tristan Lynch asked.

Nina Jacobs looked at the man. He was tall and thin with upturned eyes, and he held a long metal spear. When he saw Tristan Lynch and the others, there was no welcome in his eyes.

Only killing intent.

’Looks like this meeting is going to be a little different from what I imagined.’

"Tristan Lynch, you all have the nerve to show your faces here again?"

Achilles Renner said.

"Renner? What’s wrong?"

Lachlan asked in confusion.

’Did we break some cardinal rule? Why is Achilles Renner looking at us like that?’

Achilles Renner then declared loudly:

"Tristan Lynch! Since entering Keldorn, your group has disobeyed orders, looked out only for your own selfish interests, and repeatedly ignored warnings to lead your own sorties. This has resulted in a ninety-percent casualty rate for the operation’s team members."

"Not only that, but you also established a private, independent outpost, failed to report your findings, and embezzled supplies..."

"As one of the leaders of this operation, I, Achilles Renner, have the right to deny you entry. If you still intend to force your way in, then don’t blame us for what happens next!"

Nina Jacobs noticed that as Achilles Renner spoke, someone behind him was raising a camera to film the entire exchange.

His words were stern and righteous, enough to make any listener burn with indignation.

But her companions could only listen, dumbfounded.

Tristan Lynch even wondered if this was some kind of bizarre welcoming ceremony. He asked with a slightly awkward, tentative smile,

"Renner, what are you talking about? What private outpost? Weren’t we supposed to have two in the first place...?"

"Tristan Lynch! Out of 200 team members, fewer than 20 are left. Do you admit to this fact or not!"

Achilles Renner demanded.

Corisande couldn’t figure out what kind of stunt Achilles Renner was pulling. She said, baffled,

"But that’s what happened. Renner, weren’t you involved in all of it, too?"

"We really did run into Intermediate Zombies, and the situation inside Lornwood Base was unexpected."

"Stop your nonsense!"

Just then, a female subordinate behind Achilles Renner cut her off coldly.

"Exactly. You all brought this upon yourselves. It has nothing to do with Renner."

"We’ve been standing guard here for days precisely to stop people like you from trying to come back and fight over the supplies!"

Another male subordinate added.

"Tristan Lynch, for the sake of our past partnership, you should just leave. Otherwise, don’t blame us for what comes next!"

Achilles Renner said.

"Renner, you must be joking, right?"

"Weren’t you the one who told us to wait there for Magnus York?"

"This is Miss Zephyra. She’s here in Magnus York’s place."

Tristan Lynch still didn’t seem to grasp what was happening.

Achilles Renner glanced at Nina Jacobs, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"Zephyra? Never heard of her."

"There’s no one by that name in the organization."

Nina Jacobs chuckled and said,

"Can’t you see it yet?"

"He wants to pin all the blame for the casualties on your group."

"That way, he won’t have to face any punishment when the mission is over."

"And to do that, he just has to get rid of you ’external personnel.’ Then there’ll be no witnesses."

Nina Jacobs’s words were a wake-up call for the others.

"Of course he won’t acknowledge me. He’ll probably even try to frame me as an imposter,"

Nina Jacobs continued.

Achilles Renner narrowed his eyes and said warily,

"You’re replacing Magnus York?"

"In that case, just show us your proof of membership. That’ll clear things up."

By now, Tristan Lynch and the others had caught on.

Lachlan immediately moved to stand in front of Nina Jacobs. "Miss Zephyra, don’t believe him! He’s a liar! Whatever you do, don’t show him your proof of membership!"

"That’s right! You want us to be your scapegoats?"

"Good thing we have Miss Zephyra to vouch for us. Don’t listen to a word he says!"

Shane Shepherd also said.

Tristan Lynch sneered. "No wonder you didn’t want us coming here. So this was your plan all along."

"We might have been afraid of you before, but not this time. Miss Zephyra will make every last one of you regret this!"

"..."

Nina Jacobs fell silent. This was a development she truly hadn’t expected.

’Proof of membership. I definitely don’t have anything like that.’

’But in a situation like this...’

’How could I not take advantage of it?’

So Nina Jacobs said sternly,

"Achilles Renner, is this how you treat your subordinates?"

"I believe them. Today, I’ll give you one chance. Apologize to Tristan Lynch and his team, and I can act as if this never happened."

"Otherwise, don’t blame me for cleaning house on behalf of the organization!"

"Miss Zephyra..."

Corisande’s eyes welled up with tears.

Her group had always been nobodies at the bottom of the hierarchy. No one ever gave them a second glance. If they died one day, perhaps no one would even remember them.

But Zephyra was defending them so fiercely, even demanding that Achilles Renner apologize to them.

This was the first time anyone had ever spoken up for them!

Achilles Renner hadn’t expected someone from the organization to show up at a time like this.

However, his plan had already progressed this far. There was no turning back.

"In that case, let’s let our strength do the talking!"

Achilles Renner raised his metal spear, his eyes thick with killing intent.

The two subordinates and the others behind him also took attack stances.

"Everyone, listen up! Today’s reward is by the head!"

"Leave no one alive!"

Achilles Renner shouted.

The crowd behind him grew excited, their eyes turning red with bloodlust.

Most of them were convicts, and in the apocalypse, they had become the kind of people who lived on a knife’s edge.

Getting rewarded for killing? For them, it couldn’t be simpler.

"I hope you won’t regret this."

As Nina Jacobs spoke, a ring of flame-wreathed Stone Spikes materialized around her.

"I’ve never killed a Dual Element Superpower User before. This is exciting!"

A bald man’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face in excitement.

Nina Jacobs said nothing more, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her eagerness.

The only reason she hadn’t struck yet was because she was waiting for them to make the first move.

That way, she could trigger the system’s "The Best Defender" title and earn more rewards.

"Achilles Renner! I’m your opponent!"

The back door of the RV swung open, revealing someone Tristan Lynch and the others never expected to see.

"Felix Finch? How did you..."

Tristan Lynch was momentarily at a loss for words.

’These past few days, we’ve been so busy gathering supplies, I can’t believe Felix Finch managed to untie his ropes on his own?!’

"A defeated foe delivering himself to my doorstep. Perfect!"

Seeing Felix Finch charge at him, Achilles Renner moved to meet him head-on.