Chapter 186: Interrogation! The Reason for Everything

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Interrogation! The Reason for Everything

Seraphina Sullivan found Keith Griffith’s long tirade—ostensibly sincere but malicious at its core—rather amusing.

She took a step forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sean Chandler. Her gaze swept over the crowd as her voice rang out, clear enough for everyone to hear:

"Help? And who are you to us? Why should we help you?"

Seraphina’s tone was level, yet it carried a detachment that permitted no argument.

"For the sake of argument, Players are people, not Gods. Can’t you see that we’re freezing right now, enduring the cold just like everyone else? You want him to brave the blizzard to find food and supplies for you? Has it never occurred to you that he could die out there too?"

Someone in the crowd immediately shot back defiantly, "But... but he’s an officially registered Player! He has a responsibility..."

"Responsibility?"

Seraphina cut the person off.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Says who? We just registered our information with the authorities. That doesn’t mean we joined an official organization, and it *certainly* doesn’t mean we’re obligated to serve you! So, as for your demands, we refuse."

Sean Chandler chimed in decisively, "I only registered. I didn’t join any official group."

Their clear refusal was like cold water hitting a pan of hot oil, and the crowd’s anger instantly ignited.

"So you’re just going to stand by and watch us die?!"

"How could we have people as cold-blooded as you in our community!"

"Get out! You’re not welcome in this community!"

It was unclear who shouted "Get out" first.

The hysterical crowd was instantly incited, and they all began to chant, their voices growing louder and more vicious.

Seraphina watched the absurd scene unfold, taking special care not to miss the flash of triumph in Keith Griffith’s eyes.

She let out a silent, helpless sigh.

’Is this what humanity has become since the apocalypse began on Azure Star?’

’They hadn’t even reached the point of true, utter desperation yet.’

’The temperature outside was still dropping, but it wasn’t impossible to get around.’

’The real danger was the ceaseless blizzard.’

’They were unwilling to risk their own lives to find a means of survival, yet they shamelessly demanded someone else go through hell and high water for them.’

Seraphina knew perfectly well that the root of the problem wasn’t just human selfishness, but also the deliberate instigation by a certain someone.

Just as the crowd’s fury reached a fever pitch, their accusations nearly overwhelming the entire hallway.

"BAM!!!"

A deep, resounding CRACK suddenly echoed through the hall!

Everyone jumped at the sound, and the jeering came to an abrupt halt.

The crowd stared in horror, only to see Sean Chandler slowly pulling his fist back from the Wall beside him.

On the hard surface of the Wall was a deep, clear indentation, webbed with cracks!

Bits of plaster and debris crumbled to the floor.

Sean Chandler raised his icy eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping across the terrified faces before him. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was filled with a chilling menace:

"Anyone dares say another word... and I can’t guarantee my next punch won’t be buried in their chest."

The blatant threat, combined with the shocking fist print on the Wall, instantly cowed everyone into silence.

The same people who had been screaming for them to "get out" a moment ago now didn’t even dare to breathe.

Keith Griffith’s face went pale. He struggled to maintain his composure as he said to Seraphina, "Mi-Miss Sullivan, Mr. Chandler is... using violence to threaten his neighbors. Aren’t you going to stop him?"

At his words, Seraphina simply tilted her head slightly.

A faint, unreadable smile played on her lips, as if she’d just heard a fascinating question.

She said nothing.

But her silence, along with the enigmatic curve of her lips, was the only answer he needed.

Keith Griffith glanced at the terrifying fist print on the Wall, then met Sean Chandler’s utterly cold eyes. A shiver ran through him, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He was terrified that if he pushed any further, this monster would go on a rampage. All of his schemes would be ruined, and he’d likely lose his life in the process.

’Quit while I’m ahead,’ he thought. ’My goal of pressuring them has been achieved!’

With that thought, Keith Griffith quickly squeezed his way out of the crowd.

He plastered an anxious yet responsible expression on his face and called out loudly, "Everyone, calm down! Stay calm! Don’t be rash! I’m the community’s manager, and I promise I will give you all a solution for the food and supplies situation!"

As he spoke, he waved his hands emphatically, urging the crowd to leave. "Go on and disperse, head back home for now! Don’t just stand around here! It’s cold outside, and I’ll figure out a way to keep us all safe!"

The neighbors had been scared witless by Sean Chandler’s punch.

Seeing a way to back down, and though they were still resentful, they began pushing and shoving their way out, terrified that if they were too slow, Sean Chandler’s fist would land on them.

Seeing the crowd disperse, Keith Griffith breathed an inward sigh of relief and prepared to slip away himself.

However, just as he turned to leave, Seraphina’s cool voice sounded from behind:

"Manager Griffith, please wait. There’s something I’d like to ask you in private."

Keith Griffith froze, his scalp prickling with fear.

’Stay behind alone?’

’Are you kidding me!’

’He had absolutely no desire to be alone with these two monsters, especially after they had just dropped all pretenses. He was afraid he wouldn’t make it out of this apartment alive!’

"Er, Miss Sullivan, can we talk some other time? I have something urgent to attend to..."

He made an excuse and quickened his pace, trying to flee.

But Sean Chandler gave him no such chance.

A hand like an iron vise clamped down on the back of Keith Griffith’s collar. Without another word, Sean yanked him off his feet and dragged him stumbling into the apartment!

"SLAM!"

The door slammed shut before Keith Griffith’s despairing eyes.

The moment he was inside, before Keith Griffith could struggle or beg for mercy, Seraphina unhesitatingly blew a puff of Sweet Fragrance at him.

The Aura of Sweet Fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Keith Griffith’s eyes instantly went vacant and dull, losing all trace of life.

He stood motionless, like a puppet.

The interrogation that followed went exceptionally smoothly.

Just as Seraphina had expected, today’s entire farce had been orchestrated by Keith Griffith, who had been fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

His motive, it turned out, was to make Seraphina and Sean Chandler "witness the depravity of human nature" and grow disillusioned and disgusted with their neighbors and their attempts at moral blackmail.

Seraphina was completely baffled.

’Is this guy completely insane?’

’Has he never heard the saying? You can’t be morally blackmailed if you have no morals to begin with.’

However, as she delved deeper with her questions, Seraphina learned of a name and a plan that put her on high alert.

’The real reason... was to get Sean Chandler to join... the organization behind Gene Morton?’

Hearing the name Gene Morton, Seraphina immediately recalled the early days of the torrential rain.

The group of armed men who had broken into the community to loot supplies... their leader, a Player, was named Gene Morton!

"So it’s true. You’ve been in cahoots with that Gene Morton all along!" Seraphina’s eyes turned to ice. "Conspiring with outsiders to rob your own neighbors of their supplies... you’re a real ’model’ manager, aren’t you!"