Chapter 97: Wolf on the Left, Tiger on the Right

"Of course it’s voluntary," General Aldridge said, looking at Sierra Sullivan with a puzzled expression. "Wait, what do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you think I rounded these people up and forced them to awaken their Superpowers?"

Before Sierra Sullivan could even say a word, General Aldridge flew into a rage.

His voice was already loud, but now that he was angry, it went up by more than an octave.

"I’m an upright and honorable man! I would never do something like that. How could you think that of me?"

"Do you think just anyone can get into Dr. Hayes’s lab? Do you think Dr. Hayes will let just anyone who shows up try to awaken a Superpower? Dr. Hayes’s screening process is much stricter than you imagine! You really are..."

General Aldridge was panting heavily, his face flushed red. He looked so furious he was at a loss for words.

Being cursed out to her face like this by General Aldridge, Sierra Sullivan didn’t feel angry, just a bit awkward.

The situation now was indeed completely different from what they had imagined before coming here.

Jayce immediately stepped in front of Sierra Sullivan, lifting his chin to look at General Aldridge. "We did misunderstand you, but it’s all my fault. It has nothing to do with Sierra. Don’t blame her."

General Aldridge looked at Jayce, then back at Sierra Sullivan, and suddenly burst out laughing.

"You two..."

He waved his hand.

"Alright, alright. If I get worked up over two kids, it’ll make me look like I’ve got issues too. I’ll let this slide, but next time something like this happens, don’t be so impulsive. Not everyone is as reasonable as I am."

Hearing General Aldridge call himself reasonable, Sierra Sullivan also laughed silently.

’General Aldridge... he actually does seem pretty reasonable!’

Dr. Hayes, who had been watching from the side, interjected, "Are you done talking? If you’re done, you can leave! You’re being too loud in here!"

General Aldridge raised an eyebrow. "I can leave whenever. I just don’t know what these two are planning to do."

Sierra Sullivan looked at Dr. Hayes. "Dr. Hayes, was Hugo Cheney’s Wood Element Ability awakened here with you?"

"Yes," Dr. Hayes admitted directly. "But his talent is limited. I doubt he’ll ever reach the First Level."

Sierra Sullivan was speechless.

’That really is limited, then.’

"Then what about Hugo Cheney and Harvey Cheney? They set up a similar lab in Building 10, tricking survivors into going there to awaken Superpowers and be experimented on. Did you know about that?"

Dr. Hayes frowned. "How would I know? Harvey Cheney did ask me some questions about this before. I thought he was just curious. I never imagined he’d do something like this."

Sierra Sullivan didn’t think Dr. Hayes was lying.

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Sierra Sullivan felt she had already gotten a certain read on Dr. Hayes.

Dr. Hayes was the type of person who disdained lying.

If he really wanted to lie, he could have distanced himself from the situation much more cleanly.

"So Harvey Cheney did it himself. To shift the blame, he deliberately brought you up, trying to point us in your direction," Sierra Sullivan explained.

General Aldridge, listening from the side, finally understood what had happened.

"I knew that old bastard Harvey Cheney was no good! Is he doing this to find a way to enhance Hugo Cheney’s Superpower? Why do so much for such a useless son!"

General Aldridge looked like a gruff man, but surprisingly, when it came to serious matters, his mind worked incredibly fast, even considering angles most people wouldn’t think of.

Hearing General Aldridge’s words, Sierra Sullivan also felt his guess was very plausible.

But after thinking it over, Sierra Sullivan believed Harvey Cheney wasn’t doing this just for Hugo Cheney.

"It’s very likely Harvey Cheney is also doing this for himself. He wants a Superpower too, but he’s afraid his talent is just like Hugo Cheney’s. He’s scared that even if he awakens a Superpower, its level will be low, and he’ll be ridiculed. So, he’s using the excuse of finding a solution for Hugo Cheney to scheme for his own benefit. And if things go south, he can push all the blame onto you two."

General Aldridge had a short fuse, and hearing this, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Have you got that old rascal under control? Let’s go! I’m going with you to see him right now! Daring to sling mud at me... isn’t he afraid of drowning in his own filth!"

As he spoke, General Aldridge was the first to turn and stride toward the door.

He opened the door, and seeing that Sierra Sullivan and Jayce hadn’t followed, he urged them loudly, "What are you two doing? Hurry up!"

Seeing his frantic rush, Sierra Sullivan and Jayce exchanged a look and had no choice but to follow.

No one spoke along the way.

Soon, they arrived back at Building 10.

Kevin Everett was waiting anxiously for their return.

The moment he heard a noise, Kevin Everett immediately stood up.

When he saw General Aldridge walk into the room with a dark expression, Kevin Everett instantly became guarded.

He had dealt with General Aldridge before and knew the man was not easy to handle.

’Why would he come here with Sierra Sullivan and Jayce?’

After entering the room, however, General Aldridge didn’t look at Kevin Everett. He scanned his surroundings and asked, "Where is that shameless old rascal Harvey Cheney?"

Kevin Everett was utterly confused.

He looked questioningly at Sierra Sullivan and Jayce. "What’s going on?"

Sierra Sullivan went over and quickly and quietly explained everything that had just happened.

Kevin Everett was very surprised, but now wasn’t the time to delve into details. He immediately walked over to General Aldridge.

The two talked for a moment before Kevin Everett had someone bring Harvey Cheney out.

Harvey Cheney was dragged out by two people.

Inside the small room, he had already heard General Aldridge’s booming voice and was so frightened he was trembling all over.

’It’s over!’

’It’s all over!’

Not only did General Aldridge not get into a fight with Jayce and Sierra Sullivan, he had even come with them.

He had not only deceived Jayce and Sierra Sullivan, but he had also framed General Aldridge.

’Now that they’ve joined forces, is there any chance I’ll get out of this alive?’

Compared to General Aldridge’s physique, Harvey Cheney was as scrawny as a little chick.

With just one hand, General Aldridge grabbed the collar of Harvey Cheney’s shirt from behind and lifted him up.

"I hear you’ve been telling people that I taught you to harm others?"

Harvey Cheney trembled even more violently, shaking his head repeatedly as he started to cry. "No! No! Of course not!"

Jayce stepped forward. "No? Are you saying I framed you, then?"

Harvey Cheney’s body instantly stiffened, and he didn’t know what to say.

’A wolf on my left, a tiger on my right. What could I possibly say at a time like this?’

"I... I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! It was all my fault! I was spouting nonsense! I’ll never do it again!"