Chapter 227 - 148: Crisis

Concealing such a massive fissure was a grand undertaking, not something one person could accomplish.

As Marcus Monroe and Claire Chapman met each other’s eyes, they both knew the answer.

"The people from Norgate!" Claire Chapman said with conviction.

Marcus Monroe nodded. "Without a doubt. This is their home turf, after all. It wouldn’t be difficult for them to create a camouflage like this to slip past us."

Claire Chapman sighed to himself.

’This joint military and government expedition has a very clear objective: to act as the vanguard for retaking Norgate. But from the looks of it, Norgate is no pushover. It’s a tough nut to crack, and whether we can actually pull this off is hard to say!’

’But no matter what, they shouldn’t have sent us in to be cannon fodder!’

’What was supposed to be a simple cleanup mission has morphed into a battle against a grand conspiracy, fraught with danger at every turn... In the end, it was my fault as captain. I misjudged the situation, and that’s why this mission has gone so poorly...’

After thinking for a moment, Marcus Monroe added, "However, Norgate wouldn’t go to all this trouble just for Paige Summers. They were most likely trying to eliminate Sheldon Reid, and she just got caught in the crossfire. Now that they’ve made their move, they won’t give up easily, especially with an opportunity like this. Under these circumstances, our best course of action is to get back to Central City as soon as possible!"

Claire Chapman agreed emphatically. "I’ll go talk to Sidney Warren about this right away!"

While they were discussing their next move, in another tent on the other side of the camp, Leon Vaughn was briefing Sheldon Reid on the events that had transpired during his absence.

Upon hearing that Milton Faraday had escaped, Sheldon Reid chuckled lightly. "He wants to leave? It’s not that simple. He’ll soon learn the price of betrayal! Still, I don’t get it. What madness possessed him to even try something like this..."

Leon Vaughn pondered for a moment. "I suspect he has likely established contact with Norgate. As for why he’d betray you, I can only assume it was for some benefit."

Sheldon Reid shook his head. "Milton Faraday’s father served as my father’s adjutant for more than ten years. He had plenty of opportunities to be swayed by immense profit, but he remained steadfastly loyal until he was discharged for medical reasons. Milton was deeply influenced by him. I know the man; that’s not why he’d do it..."

At this, Leon Vaughn was completely baffled, admitting he couldn’t fathom Milton’s motivations.

Sheldon Reid couldn’t immediately figure it out either, but it didn’t matter to him. He had more urgent things to do.

"Issue the order: the entire corps is to go on high alert and await my command!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And have the captain of the Skyfire Squadron see me at once."

"Yes, sir!"

The Skyfire Squadron was a special unit within the Power Corps. All its members were shapeshifters, a type of Original Ability User. The forms they took all shared a common trait: the ability to fly for short durations.

They were one of Sheldon Reid’s secret weapons.

’Bringing them along was meant to be a precaution, just in case. I never thought I’d have to deploy them so soon. It’s a shame...’

While the Power Corps remained on standby, Claire Chapman had already convinced Sidney Warren, the highest-ranking official from the Government, to order a full retreat.

Although Sidney looked deeply troubled by the request, he ultimately agreed.

Claire Chapman didn’t ask how he planned to break the news to the Power Corps. He simply left the tent and ordered his subordinates to inform all the Mercenaries.

When he got back, Paige Summers was there, and Marcus Monroe was filling her in.

"Good, that’s the right call. If Sheldon Reid wants to stay, let him. We’re just here for the money; there’s no need to throw our lives away for his ambitions."

Claire Chapman shot her a glare. "You’ve got some nerve! When he came to get you, I offered to go along, but you refused. If I’d been there, that Faraday kid wouldn’t have gotten away with it!"

Paige Summers scratched her head, knowing he was just worried. "Okay, okay, my mistake. But since I made it back safely, can you cut the angry captain routine? Anyway, I need to go help Rain pack. You and Marcus Monroe can figure out our escape route!"

With that, she scurried out of the tent.

Claire Chapman was exasperated. He turned to Marcus and said, "You’d better keep a close eye on her. That woman’s knack for finding trouble is on another level!"

Marcus Monroe looked unconcerned. "She’s already being as low-key as she can. It seems some people just enjoy bothering her."

’An Artifact Maker famous throughout the mercenary world for her generosity... How in the world is that "low-key"?!’

’This must be that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing people talk about. Now I’ve seen everything!’

The corners of Claire Chapman’s mouth twitched. He retreated, utterly speechless.

Sheldon Reid got word of the Mercenaries’ planned retreat before Sidney Warren even had a chance to find him.

He had just finished briefing the Skyfire Squadron, so the news didn’t come as a major surprise. He said to Leon Vaughn, "This is for the best. Take a portion of our troops and retreat with them. You’ll go along. See to the arrangements."

"Commander, you should lead the retreat!" When Sheldon Reid seemed to disagree, Leon Vaughn gritted his teeth and pressed on. "Your injuries haven’t healed yet, you need to recover... I’ll stay and watch over things here. I swear I’ll complete the mission!"

Sheldon Reid frowned; he’d nearly forgotten about his condition. As much as he hated to admit it, the corps doctor had warned him that if his arms didn’t heal properly, it would have serious long-term consequences.

After a long pause, he relented. "Fine. I’m leaving this to you."

His plan wasn’t complex. Since rescuing their spy was now looking impossible, he would use the Skyfire Squadron to fly over Norgate’s Citadel, drop bombs to create chaos, and scatter masses of leaflets containing a mix of truth and lies.

For instance, the leaflets would inform the city’s populace that Central City had once attempted to send them massive amounts of supplies, only to be rejected by their City Lord. Not only that, but in his bid for permanent independence, Gryphon Lowell had resorted to oppressive tactics, secretly imprisoning anyone with ties to Central City. Even people who merely had relatives living there were rounded up.

The leaflets also included a list of the supposed prisoners.

This list included many who had already been secretly eliminated by Gryphon Lowell, some who were innocent but likely to arouse suspicion, and even a few of Gryphon Lowell’s own trusted subordinates.

The goal was twofold: first, to sow discord among Norgate’s citizens and use public pressure against the Citadel; and second, to muddy the waters for Gryphon Lowell, making it impossible for him to identify the real spy in his ranks.

Also, Milton Faraday had fled toward Norgate, presumably to defect to Gryphon Lowell.

That man could not be allowed to live.

The Skyfire Squadron captain’s primary mission was to infiltrate Norgate and deliver a personal letter to Milton Faraday.

Of course, the letter was just a pretense. The real goal was to exploit Gryphon Lowell’s paranoia and have *him* eliminate the traitor.

The plan may not have been complex, but it was incredibly dangerous. The operatives had to be ready to sacrifice their lives at a moment’s notice.

That was why he had originally designated it a contingency plan.

But now, he had no choice but to put it into action.

But having made the decision to both execute the plan and withdraw, Sheldon Reid didn’t dwell on it further.

’A single general’s triumph is built upon a pile of bleached bones.’

’It has been the way of the world since time immemorial.’

He admitted he was ambitious.

’But for someone in my position, is it not natural to want to reunify Astoria?’

And so, he saw nothing wrong with his actions.

But in Paige Summers’ eyes, his way of thinking was utterly baffling.

It was Sweetie who discovered the Skyfire Squadron’s movements.

Paige Summers had claimed she was helping others pack, but she couldn’t resist sneaking over to see what was going on. The moment she saw the Superpower Users transform, she realized Sheldon Reid was sending them to wreak havoc in Norgate.

The danger of such a mission was self-evident.

She watched for a moment before returning to Claire Chapman and Marcus Monroe to vent her frustration.

"I just don’t get it. What’s so wrong with Norgate wanting its independence? It’s been years since the apocalypse, and Central City lost contact with them for a long time. It’s only natural they wouldn’t want to be under its rule again... They’re so far away; even if they become independent, they’re no threat to Central City. Why is Sheldon Reid so dead set on conquering Norgate?"

Claire Chapman folded up a hand-drawn map and said flatly, "For fame, for profit... either reason is plausible. That’s just how people are."

Paige Summers sighed, feeling disheartened.

She understood, but she didn’t just dislike it—she loathed it.

’Humanity’s greatest enemies right now are supposed to be Zombies, Zombie Beasts, and mutated plants and animals. Our focus should be on saving more people, on figuring out how to decontaminate the land and water...’

’A nation is its people.’

’It sounds lofty, but if almost everyone is dead by the time the apocalypse is over, what will be left to rebuild?’

’But Sheldon Reid, the commander of Central City’s Power Corps, isn’t thinking about saving lives. He’s thinking about ending them... It’s truly chilling.’

’Has infighting become an unavoidable human instinct?’

Marcus Monroe took her by the hand and led her outside.

"Stop worrying about other people. You need to think about yourself."

"Mm."

"Don’t just agree, think about it. Seriously. I don’t need to spell out Sheldon Reid’s hostility toward you. It seems that rather than killing you, he’d prefer to capture you alive and keep you under his control. Do you get what that means?"

"Of course."

"So, what are you going to do? Central City is his home ground. He’s bound to make another move."

Paige Summers gave a self-deprecating smile. "If he won’t leave me alone, I guess I’ll just have to lead a rebellion."

Marcus Monroe fell silent for a long moment before suddenly asking, "Have you considered going to Southreach... or even just returning to the Dead City?"

"Huh?" Paige Summers was startled, then lowered her eyes. "Let me think about it."

Marcus Monroe nodded. At least she had plenty of time to think before they reached Central City.

Once the retreat order was given, both the Power Corps and the Mercenaries sprang into action.

Tents and other equipment were swiftly packed away.

By the time Paige Summers and her group emerged, most everyone was packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Sidney Warren felt a sense of relief upon learning the Power Corps would be retreating with them. It guaranteed the safety of both groups and would make his report back in the city much simpler.

But things did not go as smoothly as everyone had hoped.

Not long after their departure, a squad of Superpower Users in combat gear appeared at the now-empty campsite.

Each one of them moved with extreme speed and agility, and they were experts in concealment.

The man leading them had plain features, but his expression was sharp and competent. He studied the tracks on the ground for a moment, then gave a slight wave of his hand. Without a word being spoken, his entire squad immediately fell in behind him, following the trail of the retreating forces.

Their objective couldn’t have been clearer: to kill the ones who were supposed to have stayed behind.