Chapter 161: Collecting Information, Starting Production

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Collecting Information, Starting Production

The system’s follow-up mission.

Seraphina Sullivan, Dustin Sullivan, Nicholas Jensen, and the others quickly exchanged a knowing glance, each seeing the gravity and understanding on the others’ faces.

Without a word, it was clear that everyone had received the follow-up mission issued by the system.

Dustin Sullivan was the first to break the silence, his voice low. "It seems the core crisis we’re about to face is ensuring this Fireseed Shelter isn’t destroyed in the ’Night Tide’."

His gaze swept over the sturdy metal walls and towering defensive structures around them, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of relief in his eyes.

Nicholas Jensen heard this and shrugged, a mix of confusion and nonchalance on his face.

He glanced around the Shelter, which was like a war fortress, especially recalling the twelve stone pillars outside that had annihilated the Night Bats in an instant.

His tone was rather optimistic. "I think this Fireseed Shelter is impregnable. With defenses this strong, it won’t be destroyed that easily, right? Isn’t the system making a mountain out of a molehill?"

He had yet to learn the more specific, more terrifying information about the "Night Tide" that Dustin Sullivan had obtained from his precognition item, so he didn’t fully grasp the severity of the mission.

Seraphina Sullivan mentally shook her head.

’Knowing the system’s usual tricks, it would never issue an easy mission.’

’Since it made "protecting the Shelter from destruction" the main follow-up quest and offered a reward on the level of a "Talent enhancement"...’

’...it means the danger of the coming "Night Tide" will be absolutely beyond imagination.’

’Enough to deal a devastating blow to this seemingly indestructible fortress.’

Dustin Sullivan had clearly thought of this as well.

He added grimly, "We can’t let our guard down. The system’s mission difficulty is often tied to its rewards. This ’chance for a Talent enhancement’ won’t be easy to get."

He looked at the bustling crowds and intricate passageways all around them.

He suggested, "Since we’re already inside, our top priority is to familiarize ourselves with the environment and gather more information about the Shelter’s defensive systems, resource stockpiles, and the specific threats the ’Night Tide’ might bring. We still have a few days to prepare, and we have to make full use of them."

Seraphina Sullivan readily agreed. "Okay, let’s split up to be more efficient. We’ll meet back here in three hours to share what we’ve found."

Dustin Sullivan nodded and immediately took a curious, wide-eyed Coco Sullivan with him, disappearing into the crowd and heading deeper into the Shelter to begin their reconnaissance.

Seeing this, Nicholas Jensen also subconsciously tried to slip away, muttering, "Well, I’ll go check things out over there..."

He was still talking as he backed away, but before he could finish, his back slammed squarely into a "wall of flesh."

At some point, Sean Chandler had silently blocked his retreat.

Seraphina Sullivan slowly turned around, watching him with an amused, unhurried expression, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Seraphina Sullivan’s voice was soft, but held an undeniable edge. "Hold on, our dear ’My Queen.’ In such a hurry... have you forgotten something?"

His dark history of being a "self-proclaimed queen" was brought up to his face, and Nicholas Jensen’s face instantly turned bright red.

He was so embarrassed his toes could have dug a hole in the floor, but he tried to play dumb. "Huh? F-forgotten what? Didn’t we agree to split up and gather intel?"

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t say a word, just slightly raised her chin and shot him a look.

Sean Chandler, receiving the command, wore a helpless expression on his simple, honest face, but his hands showed no hesitation.

He clamped a hand on Nicholas Jensen’s arm like an iron vice and half-led, half-dragged him toward a relatively secluded, empty corner nearby.

"Hey, hey, hey! Chandler, what are you doing?! Let go! We can talk about this! Sullivan! You can’t do this! I protest..."

Nicholas Jensen’s protests were feeble and useless against Sean Chandler’s absolute Power.

He could only be dragged uselessly to the corner to face his impending fate: "coming clean" or "forced labor."

Seeing that no one was paying attention to the secluded corner, Seraphina Sullivan quickly retrieved a small, sealed vial from her Space.

Inside was the scale powder of the Night Dust Moth, previously collected by Flora and carefully stored by Moe.

She carefully uncapped the vial, and just as Nicholas Jensen was still trying to bargain with Sean Chandler, she flicked her wrist, precisely scattering a pinch of shimmering powder onto him.

The moment the powder touched his skin, the Effect was instantaneous.

Nicholas Jensen’s body stiffened. His eyes glazed over instantly, his mouth fell slightly agape, and he looked as if he was about to fall into an Illusion and start spouting nonsense again.

"I am... the ruler of darkness... the light..."

This was exactly the Effect Seraphina wanted, but she had no interest in watching his "queen performance" again.

Her red lips parted slightly, and the Aura of Sweet Fragrance gently wafted out like a pink mist, instantly coiling around and seeping into Nicholas Jensen’s breath.

The reason she went to the trouble of using the scale powder first was to create a plausible excuse for his "blackout."

When Nicholas Jensen woke up, he would only think he had accidentally inhaled some residual hallucinogenic dust, causing temporary amnesia. He would never connect it to Seraphina Sullivan having the Ability to directly control minds.

In the treacherous environment of Players, Seraphina Sullivan had to hide the fact that her Sweet Fragrance could control others as much as possible.

Under the dual effects, the dazed look in Nicholas Jensen’s eyes was quickly replaced by a vacant stare.

He quieted down, looking at Seraphina Sullivan with a slightly empty gaze, awaiting her command.

"Alright, now stay close and be good," Seraphina Sullivan ordered.

Under her Control, Nicholas Jensen nodded obediently and followed behind Seraphina Sullivan like a little lackey, matching her step for step.

The interior of the Fireseed Shelter was huge, but it also felt quite crowded.

Aside from the core functional buildings, the outer areas were filled with many crude little houses pieced together from stone slabs and scrap metal, providing the refugees with temporary shelter from the elements.

Seraphina Sullivan easily traded a small packet of compressed biscuits for a tiny space, less than five square meters, from someone.

It was cramped, but at least it offered some privacy.

She sent Sean Chandler out to move about freely and gather as much information as possible.

Meanwhile, she took Nicholas Jensen into the small room.

After closing the door, Seraphina Sullivan first cautiously set up some soundproofing, then, as if performing a magic trick, she pulled a large number of... toys from her Space Equipment.

And they were all toy guns and bombs.

"Get to work."

Seraphina Sullivan issued her command to Nicholas Jensen. "Use your Mobile Doll Talent. Make all these toys real!"

Nicholas Jensen obeyed Seraphina Sullivan’s command and acted at once, his movements sharp and precise.

He stretched out his hand, and a faint light seemed to flow from his palm.