Chapter 167: Reaching an Agreement

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Reaching an Agreement

Seeing Trevor Tanner and Coco Sullivan bickering, Julian Shaw felt Dustin Sullivan’s gaze on him again.

He immediately threw up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "Hey, you can’t blame me for this. Your sister started it."

Dustin Sullivan’s voice was devoid of warmth. "I didn’t want to cause any more trouble here. But based on the ’good deeds’ you’ve done in the past, I have no choice but to be wary of you and those around you."

Julian Shaw immediately clutched his chest, putting on a deeply wounded, tearful expression.

It looked completely out of place with his mechanical arm and eyepatch.

"Oh, I’m so hurt! Dustin, you really think of me that way? I only accidentally screwed you over a few times... Is it really worth holding a grudge this long?"

Dustin Sullivan couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him, simply averting his gaze and giving him the back of his head.

Seraphina Sullivan observed silently from the side, an odd feeling stirring in her heart again. "..."

’Hmm... these two as well. One’s a cold-faced interrogator, the other’s a drama queen proclaiming his innocence.’

’Isn’t the atmosphere of this conversation a little... strange?’

’It’s like they’re acting out some drama about bickering rivals fated to meet.’

Seraphina Sullivan couldn’t help but cover her mouth. ’Have I been reading too many of a certain type of novel? Why do I feel the urge to ship everyone I see?’

Walking at the very front, Drake Hayes’s ear was cocked, listening to the group behind him completely ignore the tense atmosphere and even start engaging in all sorts of strange interactions. His mouth twitched violently, and a vein seemed to throb on his forehead.

Drake Hayes was left speechless. ’Hey! You people really don’t take our guard team seriously, do you?! We’re on official business right now, not providing a stage for your arguments and performances!’

Of course, Drake Hayes also breathed a sigh of relief. It was clear these people weren’t mortal enemies, so a fight was unlikely. They wouldn’t be acting this way otherwise.

Soon, the group left the outermost area.

They arrived at the core area of the Fireseed Shelter.

Drake Hayes led them to a place resembling a small conference room. He dismissed his subordinates, keeping only Jason Young by his side.

He stopped beating around the bush. His gaze first fell on Dustin Sullivan, who seemed to be the core of the group, and he got straight to the point.

"Since you all know each other, I’ll skip the pleasantries. We, the Fireseed Shelter, are about to face an unprecedented crisis, one that concerns the very survival of the entire Shelter. Outside, you must have already noticed the recent anomalies—the various nocturnal monsters have become more frenzied, and the frequency and intensity of their attacks have increased dramatically."

He paused, then said in a grave tone, "The ’Black Night Tide’ is coming. And based on all the signs, the scale and terror of this tide will far exceed any previous record!"

Hearing this, Dustin Sullivan, Seraphina Sullivan, and the others didn’t show much surprise on their faces, merely nodding grimly.

They had already learned this information through various channels.

Julian Shaw stood to the side. He had already learned the details from Drake Hayes and was now observing the reactions of Dustin Sullivan, Seraphina Sullivan, and the others. Seeing their lack of surprise, he thought to himself, ’As expected of Dustin Sullivan, his information network is as good as ever.’ He had always been wary of Dustin’s Abilities and background.

However, when his gaze inadvertently swept over Seraphina Sullivan, an inexplicable sense of alarm rose in his heart.

He had sensed during their earlier fight that there was more to Seraphina Sullivan than met the eye.

He subconsciously touched an inconspicuous black bracelet on his wrist. It was a precious early-warning-type item of his.

Right now, the bracelet was emitting an extremely faint, cold sensation that only he could perceive, warning him to be careful of the whip-wielding woman and the sturdy, honest-looking man beside her.

’Oh?’ A flicker of genuine surprise and inquiry flashed in Julian Shaw’s single eye.

’Even the "Exploration Bracelet" is reacting to her? This woman... is no simple matter.’

Drake Hayes didn’t notice Julian Shaw’s subtle movements and change in expression.

He continued with the main topic, his gaze sweeping over Dustin Sullivan, Seraphina Sullivan, and Sean Chandler.

"Julian Shaw and his companions have already agreed to cooperate with the Shelter during the tide to resist the crisis. Now, I am formally extending an invitation to you, hoping you will also join us to face the coming ’Black Night Tide’."

He laid out his terms. "Of course, the Shelter won’t expect you to contribute for free. In return, we can provide the resources you need—be it fine weapons, Genetic Potions with various Effects, or ample food supplies. As long as it’s in the Shelter’s storerooms, we can make it available to you on a discretionary basis."

Naturally, Seraphina Sullivan and her group had no reason to refuse Drake Hayes’s invitation to cooperate.

After all, the subsequent objective of their second main quest was to ensure the Fireseed Shelter was not destroyed.

Cooperating with the Shelter’s officials would not only allow them to leverage its Power to complete their mission but also earn them extra material rewards and give them a deeper understanding of this world’s "Genetic Modification" technology. It was highly beneficial for them.

"We agree to cooperate," Dustin Sullivan replied affirmatively on behalf of the group, clean and crisp.

Seeing these formidable outsiders agree so readily, the tense expression on Drake Hayes’s face finally relaxed a little.

He sighed in relief internally. More strength meant a better hope of surviving the crisis.

With the cooperation agreed upon, Drake Hayes immediately arranged for his men to provide Seraphina Sullivan and the others with temporary lodging in the core area, where the conditions were considerably better.

Though still simple, they were at least private rooms, far safer and more comfortable than the sheet-metal huts in the outer area.

However, just as Seraphina Sullivan stepped into her assigned room and was about to organize her plans, Dustin Sullivan’s slightly puzzled voice came from outside the door:

"Sullivan, I have a feeling... are we missing someone?"

Seraphina Sullivan froze. "..."

’Oh no!’

’I was so focused on getting these people into the core area, I think I completely forgot someone.’

...

「At the same time, inside a small sheet-metal hut in the outer area.」

Nicholas Jensen slowly came to, sitting up in a daze while rubbing his still-aching neck.

He looked around the simple, empty room, where he was all alone, his eyes filled with pure confusion.

His expression was a classic case of "Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to be doing?"

"Wait, wasn’t I just with... huh? And then... then what happened?"

He tried hard to remember, but his memory stopped at the moment before he lost consciousness. Everything after that was a blank.

’How did I end up here all by myself??’

...

「A few days later.」

Having successfully settled into the core area of the Fireseed Shelter, Seraphina Sullivan occasionally had a strange feeling.

She felt as if she wasn’t struggling to survive in the perilous Doomsday Game.

The defensive systems and comprehensive logistical support of the Fireseed Shelter truly lived up to their reputation.

Inside the high Walls, order was maintained, resource allocation was methodical, and the formidable defensive Power prevented the vast majority of scattered monsters from even getting close.