Chapter 192: Vigilance in Times of Peace, Plans to Leave

Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Vigilance in Times of Peace, Plans to Leave

Seraphina Sullivan’s face showed a hint of surprise when she heard the news Philip Jensen brought.

The government was moving faster than she had anticipated.

"The safe zone in Vorlag City is already built?" she asked, seeking confirmation.

Philip Jensen nodded.

"Yes, the main above-ground structure of Vorlag City Safe Zone One is complete and ready for use. The safe zone utilizes new technology and materials, making it better able to withstand various natural disasters, including the extreme cold, and provide basic survival support for the citizens."

"I understand. Thank you for letting me know," Seraphina Sullivan said, acknowledging the information.

Philip Jensen’s gaze shifted to the quiet and reserved Sean Chandler standing beside her.

He hesitated for a moment before adding:

"Mr. Chandler, my personal recommendation is that you consider taking Miss Sullivan into the safe zone with you.

More registered Players are gathered there. You can freely exchange information and intel about the Doomsday Game with each other. You might even learn something valuable.

Moreover, there are officially organized trading posts within the safe zone where Players can trade items or supplies they don’t need.

You don’t have to worry about being targeted when trading in the safe zone. You might not be aware, but it’s no longer safe for Players to operate alone. Several malicious factions formed by other Players have appeared in the area, and they’ll attack lone, exposed Players."

His words were both a kind gesture and a subtle probe.

Seraphina Sullivan mulled over Philip Jensen’s words.

In truth, Philip Jensen desperately hoped that a powerful Player like Sean Chandler, whose character had been tested, would join the safe zone, become a protective force for the Vorlag City safe zone, and bolster the Shelter’s defenses.

Sean Chandler’s response was, as usual, concise. He just nodded. "I’ll consider it."

Seeing this, Philip Jensen didn’t press the matter further.

Just then, the door to the neighboring apartment creaked open with a SQUEAK.

Samuel Webb had clearly heard Philip Jensen’s announcement as well. An eager look on his face, he was just about to ask for more details.

But just as he was about to ask,

his mother, an old woman wrapped in a thick quilt with only half her face showing, poked her head out and spoke first, her tone a mixture of dissatisfaction and entitlement.

"Is the safe zone really finished? Well then, can you soldiers send a car to pick us up? In this god-awful weather, how are we supposed to get there on our own?"

Philip Jensen’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at her words.

But he maintained his patience and explained.

"Ma’am, all official resources are currently focused on the construction and subsequent maintenance of the safe zone. We are extremely short-staffed and cannot provide transportation services at this time. Citizens who wish to enter the safe zone must travel there on their own."

The old woman’s face immediately fell. She snorted coldly. "Hmph! This should be your duty! My little Beau is freezing and has a fever. In this cold, how do you expect us—the old and the young—to get there? And what about food? Are you providing meals in the safe zone? What are the conditions like? If it’s no better than staying home..."

"Mom! Stop it!"

Seeing his mother’s words growing more and more unreasonable, Samuel Webb quickly cut her off, his face a mask of embarrassment and apology.

Seeing the look on her son’s face, the old woman resentfully fell silent.

Her son was a Player who survived the perilous Doomsday Game and could bring back food from the dungeons. Otherwise, she would have already been pestering this soldier in front of her to take their family to the safe zone.

The old woman was quite obedient to her son, but the dissatisfaction in her eyes was still plain to see.

Philip Jensen had clearly encountered this kind of situation before; his expression remained largely untroubled.

He simply said one last thing to Seraphina Sullivan and Sean Chandler, "Please, seriously consider what I’ve said. The gates of the safe zone are always open to citizens in need of help."

With that, he didn’t linger and proceeded to the next building to continue making his announcements.

However, Philip Jensen’s arrival and the news he brought were like a stone tossed into a placid lake.

It quickly sent ripples spreading out.

The entire building, and even the surrounding residential complexes, erupted into a frenzy at the news that the "safe zone was complete"!

For those whose food and fuel were about to run out, the news was like a final, life-saving straw to grasp.

The desire to survive overwhelmed their fear of the bitter cold outside.

Many people immediately rushed back to their homes and began rummaging through their belongings, packing up what little they had left.

They wrapped themselves in layer after layer of the thickest clothing they could find, preparing to set off for the safe zone at once.

In their minds, the journey would be cold for a while, but they could get through it if they just gritted their teeth and endured.

But if they remained at home, the only paths awaiting them were to starve or freeze to death.

The news from Philip Jensen was like a ray of sunlight piercing through the gloom, dispelling the despair that had lingered for days.

The light of hope returned to many faces, and neighbors even began calling out to one another, discussing traveling together in groups.

Yet, amid this rising tide of anticipation, inside an apartment on one of the floors, Keith Griffith’s expression was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

"Damn it! How did the government build the safe zone so quickly?!" he paced anxiously around the room.

’If Sean Chandler and Seraphina Sullivan take this opportunity to go to the official safe zone, won’t the mission Morton gave me be a complete failure? Then the guarantee I made to Morton, thumping my chest, and the position he promised me... won’t it all go down the drain?’

The more he thought, the more frantic he became, as if seeing the ladder of promotion he had worked so hard to climb collapsing right before his eyes.

’No! I absolutely cannot let them reach the official safe zone!’

A vicious glint flashed in Keith Griffith’s eyes.

’I have to notify Morton immediately and have them bring people over. It would be best to ’invite’ Sean Chandler into our organization before he and Seraphina Sullivan leave for the safe zone. As long as we have him in our hands, there’s nothing the government can do!’

At this thought, he no longer hesitated. He immediately pulled a bizarre-looking whistle, seemingly crafted from a sliver of black bone, from a pocket close to his body.

This was an emergency communication item left for him by Gene Morton.

He walked to the window, avoiding any potential lines of sight, placed the Bone Whistle to his lips, and blew hard.

The whistle produced no sound, but an invisible, specific wave of Energy emanated from him, traveling out in a predetermined direction...

Meanwhile, back inside her apartment, Seraphina Sullivan was also lost in thought.

Should she follow the crowd into the government-established safe zone, or rely on her own Ability and find another place to survive alone?

’Although I’ve always hidden my identity as a Player and acted like a normal person, avoiding contact with others and not relying on a group to survive will arouse suspicion sooner or later.’

Seraphina Sullivan analyzed calmly. ’Besides, humans are social creatures, after all. No matter how strong an individual’s Power is, there are always limits. You’ll eventually encounter problems you can’t solve alone.’

She currently possessed the [Scavenger’s Farm] Space, had relatively abundant supplies, and was protected by Sean Chandler and a group of summons, so she didn’t have such worries for the time being.

But what about the future?

Who could guarantee that a crisis wouldn’t arise that required the strength of a group or specific intelligence to overcome?

Seraphina Sullivan always believed in being prepared for danger in times of peace; she never considered herself invincible.

’I was already planning to move anyway. Maybe... I could go check out the safe zone.’

She weighed the pros and cons.

’More Players are gathered there, which means more opportunities to exchange information about different dungeons. Understanding intel on other dungeons is crucial for my future survival.’

Once this thought took root, it grew clearer and clearer.