Chapter 158: Looking for Work

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Looking for Work

Inside the Military Command building in Sector One, the atmosphere in the supreme command room was exceptionally peaceful.

General Cameron Grant sat behind a spacious desk, his fingertips gently brushing over the dossier in his hands. The pages contained detailed, clearly annotated records of the highest-ranking superpower users currently in the base. Nearing sixty, he had a slightly plump figure but exuded an extraordinary warmth. The crisp military uniform he wore lacked any sense of tight, imposing pressure. The golden branches, leaves, and three dazzling golden stars adorning his epaulets were traditionally symbols of power, yet they only served to highlight his gentle nature. Sunlight spilled through the adjacent window, illuminating his amiable features and softening his aura. He was completely unlike other high-ranking officials who carried an inherent, oppressive authority.

Standing opposite him was his only son, Francis Grant. Holding a document, Francis softly reported the base’s recent progress to his father, his tone a mix of intimacy and respect. "This is the registration summary for superpower users and squads across all sectors as of the first half of this month."

Cameron looked up at his son, a warm smile in his eyes. He tapped the dossier lightly with a fingertip. "Ash, pay attention to the superpower attributes of these individuals. When assigning tasks later, try to ensure everyone’s talents are fully utilized." His voice was deep and mellow, devoid of any harsh, commanding edge.

"I understand. I’ll make adjustments based on future mission requirements," Francis nodded, handing over the document. "Also, the security reinforcements for the base perimeter are complete. The remaining restoration of water, electricity, and gas inside the base is expected to be fully operational within three days."

Cameron reached out to take the file, slowly opening it to review. Sunlight cast faint shadows across the pages.

Unlike the strict demeanor he maintained with subordinates, his gaze toward his son was noticeably more relaxed. He casually instructed, "Keep a close eye on the final touches and eliminate all hidden safety risks. If the base itself isn’t peaceful, where else can the people turn?"

"Understood. I will inspect the site daily," Francis replied with absolute certainty.

Cameron gently closed the file and leaned back in his chair, a barely perceptible heaviness flashing in his eyes. "Are there still no clues regarding the recent, unexplained disappearances of superpower users in the base?"

Over the past ten days, following the arrival of the main force at the base, the number of registered superpower users had indeed grown alongside the survivor population. However, dozens of superpower users—who had neither entered the Containment Zone nor been dispatched on missions—had vanished without a trace. Every superpower user was a crucial asset for the base’s future. Their silent disappearance from within the stronghold was by no means a trivial matter. The base’s leadership was frustrated; with so many pressing issues, it was truly impossible to oversee everything at once.

Francis spoke up. "The investigation department is still working on it, but most of those who vanished were superpower users living alone. The base doesn’t have full surveillance coverage yet, which makes this extremely difficult."

Cameron sighed. Years had etched marks of weariness onto his face, yet they had also cultivated the calm composure of a battle-tested veteran. "Alright, keep a close watch on it. Also, Raymond Rivers just spoke with me. The Kessler family is only acting somewhat radically in Sector Five and the Seventh District. Tell Luke Locke to speed up his progress. May is less than half a month away; the Containment Zone needs to be cleared out immediately."

Hearing this, Francis’s expression grew serious. "I understand. I’ll monitor their movements closely to prevent any accidents."

The sunlight in the command room remained soft. The conversation between father and son was calm and unspokenly synchronized. Cameron leaned back to read his documents while Francis organized various materials beside him. With sunlight streaming through the windows, the atmosphere was peaceful and quiet.

About an hour later, a sudden knock on the door broke the room’s tranquility.

"Enter." Cameron didn’t look up. His tone was casual, laced with a hint of lethargy from processing paperwork.

The door pushed open, and Samuel Summers walked in with a straight back. He gave a respectful military salute to Cameron, his voice resonant but not grating. "General, the dual-element superpower user Luna Dawson is here with a pass. She wishes to see Colonel Grant."

Francis paused his movements, raising an eyebrow in sheer surprise. He had been planning to seek out Luna in the next couple of days; he never expected her to show up on her own initiative today.

Cameron put down the document in his hands, stretched, and let out a long yawn. A physiological redness tinged the corners of his eyes. Devoid of any authoritative airs, he looked more like an elder finally letting his guard down. He asked slowly, "Is that the girl with the Third Rank Space Ability?"

"Yes, General," Samuel replied in a deep voice.

"Ash, go see what she wants." Cameron waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were assigning a trivial chore. "That girl has a Space Ability. If we can facilitate a collaboration to rescue and secure more supplies and survivors, that would naturally be for the best."

With that, he said no more. Lowering his head, he returned his attention to the stack of files on the desk, his fingers expertly flipping through the contents he needed to verify.

"Yes, Father," Francis gave a slight nod. Giving Samuel a look, the two quietly backed out of the office, shutting the door behind them to avoid disturbing Cameron’s work.

As Francis and Samuel walked into the reception room, they saw Luna standing by the window. She was on her tiptoes, looking out at the construction progress of the various functional areas in Sector One. Sunlight caught the tips of her hair, highlighting her vibrant silhouette.

Evan Olson sat up straight, while Kevin Keane slouched lazily against the back of his chair. The two were discussing the base’s recent anomalies in low voices. The noise at the door alerted the trio, and they turned to look at Francis simultaneously.

Luna’s eyes lit up. Immediately dropping her sightseeing posture, she beamed and waved at him, her voice crisp. "Colonel Grant is here!"

Her overly enthusiastic demeanor made Francis’s heart skip a beat in sudden panic. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was up to no good.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, they all took their seats. Francis picked up a teacup from the table, took a small sip, and got straight to the point. "Captain Dawson, you must have an important matter to discuss to seek me out today."

"It’s nothing major, really," Luna said, leaning forward slightly with a deliberately exaggerated tone. "We just heard that our handsome, dashing, and righteous Colonel Grant has been working tirelessly day and night for the people of the base. We were so moved we nearly shed tears! So, we were wondering if there are any major missions outside the base where our Sunset Squad could lend a hand?"

She blinked at Francis as she spoke, spouting sweet talk as if it cost her nothing.

Kevin silently raised his teacup to hide the amused curve of his lips. "Drop the act," he deadpanned. "Are you trying to harvest the Colonel’s organs?"

Startled by the sudden barrage of flattery, Francis nearly did a spit-take with his tea. He hastily set down his cup and coughed a few times before smoothing out his tone. "Are the S-rank missions in the mission hall not enough to satisfy you?"