Chapter 133: A Problem and a Promise from Justin Brooks

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: A Problem and a Promise from Justin Brooks

Seraphina Sullivan had originally planned to stay cooped up at home, using the rare sunny day to organize her Space and train.

With the threat of rain gone, the gloom hanging over everyone’s hearts lifted.

She noticed many residents in the complex were growing restless.

The month-long torrential downpour had finally stopped, and the floodwaters were receding at a slow but visible rate.

More importantly, news had spread that the official Vorlag City Shelter had been attacked by Players. This made many feel it was far from a safe haven, but rather a place filled with unknown dangers, prompting them to return to their own homes.

People began to organize their own rescue and recovery efforts.

Just one day after the rain stopped, the murky floodwaters that had reached the third floor had already receded to below the first.

But as the floodwaters retreated, they left a scene of utter devastation.

The streets and hallways were littered with washed-away furniture, debris, and a thick layer of foul-smelling silt.

In order to clear a path home as quickly as possible, many residents began to organize themselves, heading out with what few tools they had to start cleaning up.

In the unit next to Seraphina Sullivan’s, Samuel Webb’s family was in the middle of a meeting.

Mrs. Webb clutched her chest, her face a mixture of lingering fear and a hint of gloating. "Oh, Samuel, thank God we didn’t listen to them and go to that Shelter. See? Something terrible happened, didn’t it? I just heard in the group chat that Miss Parker from the next building was blown up by those damned Players right at the Shelter entrance yesterday! My, oh my, what a miserable way to die!"

Her tone held not a shred of pity for the deceased. In fact, she was secretly pleased because that Miss Parker used to always speak ill of her grandson.

Samuel Webb sat to the side, his brow deeply furrowed.

After returning from the doomsday dungeon, he knew that his neighbor across the hall, Justin Brooks, was in serious trouble, with extremely severe injuries.

And, he didn’t know whether to call it lucky or unlucky, but he and Justin Brooks had been in the same dungeon instance.

He had witnessed with his own eyes the horrific scene of Justin Brooks being ambushed and nearly tortured to death by that madman named Hunter Lowe.

Hunter Lowe’s cruelty and power had left him with deep psychological scars.

Right now, he wasn’t worried about Miss Parker at all, but about the terrifying Hunter Lowe!

He knew Hunter Lowe had recognized Justin Brooks and had sworn revenge.

Justin Brooks lived in this very complex. That madman would likely come back.

"Mom! Stop with the useless chatter," Samuel Webb interrupted his mother’s rambling, his tone grave. "We need to pack our things and leave as soon as possible! We can’t stay here anymore!"

Mrs. Webb was just getting into her story when she was stunned by her son’s sudden declaration that they had to leave.

The smug look on her face turned to bewildered disbelief. "Leave? Why? The rain has stopped, the water’s going down, and we’re fine at home, aren’t we? It’s so chaotic out there, where could we even go?"

Seeing his mother’s reluctance, Samuel Webb felt a surge of anxious helplessness. He couldn’t just blurt out the terrible truth, so he could only stress his point with a heavier tone, "Just don’t ask! Trust me on this! This place is about to become extremely dangerous! We have to go!"

「Meanwhile」

Justin Brooks received the latest update from Philip Jensen through an encrypted channel.

The message confirmed Hunter Lowe’s attack from the previous day.

It also revealed that he was now at an animal farm on the outskirts of the city, gathering massive amounts of flesh and biomass through extremely cruel methods. His actions were highly aggressive and purposeful.

Justin Brooks’s face instantly turned ugly, and he slammed his fist on the edge of the bed. "I knew it! That lunatic Hunter Lowe is preparing for the broodmother’s incubation! I didn’t die, so he’ll definitely come to silence me, and he might even take his anger out on this whole area!"

A powerful sense of responsibility and concern for his neighbors’ safety made it impossible for him to rest and recuperate in peace.

Gritting his teeth against the waves of pain from his wounds, he struggled to get out of bed. He had to return to his unit immediately, partly for better protection, and partly to avoid bringing disaster upon his family and the residential area.

Seeing this, his mother, Susan Webb, rushed to stop him, her voice full of heartache. "Justin! Your injuries haven’t fully healed, how can you leave now? Can’t you rest for a few more days, wait until you’re a little better?"

Justin Brooks looked at his mother’s worried face, feeling helpless. He couldn’t tell her about the imminent, terrifying threat, but he didn’t want to make her worry too much either.

He forced a smile and used his usual excuse to soothe her. "Mom, there’s an urgent mission. I have to report back right away. Don’t worry, I’m built tough. I’ll be fine."

The moment she heard "mission," Susan Webb’s tears started to fall. She knew the nature of her son’s work and couldn’t stop him, no matter how reluctant she was. She just mumbled, "You only just got back... How can there be so many missions..."

Justin Brooks felt bad too. He changed the subject, "Mom, before I go, I need to thank the person across the hall who treated me. I can’t forget that they saved my life."

The distraction worked. Susan Webb quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, you should thank them properly. If it weren’t for Seraphina and her boyfriend, Mr. Chandler, you never would have held on until Captain Jensen and the others arrived. Come on, I’ll go with you!"

...

At that moment, Seraphina was in her living room, completely focused on practicing her new Skills.

She gathered Energy in her hands, trying to concentrate the Effect of Scorching Hand, even fantasizing about forming a Flame that would envelop her entire fist.

For now, though, she could only make her palms grow hot and emit a few sparks.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Miss Webb’s familiar voice came from outside.

Seraphina immediately retracted her Energy and quickly swept away some items she’d rather not have seen, like the Poisonous Python Black Whip, into her Scavenger’s Farm Space.

On the other side of the room, Sean Chandler tacitly cleaned up the chunks of pork he’d been using for suture practice, storing them in his Gem Space Bag.

Seraphina took a deep breath, composed her expression, and went to open the door.

Outside stood a red-eyed Miss Webb. Behind her was Justin Brooks—the same man who had been on the brink of death but was now able to stand, albeit with difficulty, his body wrapped in bandages but his posture still ramrod straight.

A flash of surprise crossed Seraphina’s eyes. She hadn’t expected Justin Brooks to recover so quickly. He had been so gravely injured just yesterday, and today he was already up and walking.

’The physical constitution and Willpower of a soldier Player are truly extraordinary.’

Justin Brooks didn’t think his mother would lie to him, so he also believed that it was Sean Chandler who had saved him.

His gaze fell solemnly on Sean Chandler. With the instincts of a soldier and a Player, he could immediately sense the man’s calm, reserved, yet formidable Aura. This was no ordinary person.

’With my Transformation Ring, no one can see any changes in me.’

Justin’s voice was still weak, but his tone was utterly sincere as he spoke to Sean.

"I owe you my life. Words can’t express my gratitude. I don’t have anything of value to repay you with right now, but I, Justin Brooks, will remember this debt. In the future, if you ever run into any trouble—especially... problems that come with our ’status’ as Players—don’t hesitate to find me. I’ll do everything I can to help."