Chapter 220: The Entire World Fell Silent
The scene before them stirred a feverish desire in many of their hearts.
If they could have this supply depot all to themselves, they would truly never have to worry about food or drink again for the rest of their lives.
They could just shut the main gate, and nothing—not Aberrant Beasts, zombies, or even sandstorms—could get in.
They could live out their days in peace and security.
However, such thoughts came as quickly as they went.
Never mind whether they could defeat Hector Grant and his subordinates.
Their friends and family were all still back in Subterra.
Many of these Superpower Users had never even met before, let alone grown familiar or built any trust.
’What could a fractured group like them possibly accomplish?’
Even if they got lucky and won, they would only end up as enemies in the end.
’And who would be willing to share such a massive supply depot with anyone else?’
After thinking it over, the idea of turning on Hector Grant was completely unrealistic. It was better to just obediently follow his orders.
If they successfully brought these supplies back to Subterra, they would not only receive a handsome reward but also earn respect. It would be nothing but beneficial for their future prospects.
Although no one voiced these thoughts, some couldn’t completely hide their feelings, and hints of them surfaced on their faces.
Hector Grant, of course, noticed these emotional shifts but paid them no mind.
Greed was a basic human emotion.
It was perfectly normal to have greedy thoughts. As long as they could control that greed and make the right choice, that was enough.
He wasn’t looking for perfect saints. He needed people capable of facing Aberrant Beasts and zombies, people who could help him get these supplies back to the base.
"I will open the doors one by one. Space Ability Users, you will come forward individually. I’ll assign different supplies to each of you based on the size of your ability’s space. There’s one thing you need to remember: I’m keeping a record of how many supplies go into each space, and Subterra has equipment that can inspect them. Don’t even think about falsifying the numbers or secretly holding back supplies. Entertaining such ideas is extremely dangerous. It will bring you nothing but harm."
What Hector Grant said wasn’t pleasant to hear.
But in situations like this, it was often better to say the hard things upfront.
The Space Ability Users all nodded. Some even spoke up, promising they wouldn’t get any funny ideas and telling Hector Grant not to worry.
Hector Grant didn’t respond to their assurances.
What they said was one thing; what they did was another.
He would only judge them by their actions.
He had given them their warning. If they still decided to try something, they would have to bear the consequences themselves.
Loading the supplies didn’t take long.
It didn’t take much effort for the Space Ability Users to absorb the supplies.
In just over two hours, the Space Ability Users had stored away all the supplies.
From that moment on, these Space Ability Users became the ones everyone had to protect.
They represented not just themselves, but also the goods stored within their dimensional spaces.
Hector Grant checked the time. "It’s getting late," he announced. "If we head back now, we won’t get far before we have to camp in the open. We’ll stay here tonight. It’s a good chance for everyone to get a proper, safe night’s rest. We’ll set out at dawn tomorrow morning."
Hector Grant’s decision made everyone very happy.
This place was completely safe, which meant they could get a good night’s rest.
They needed to be well-rested to better face the challenges of the next day.
Hector Grant also understood the principle: if you want a horse to run, you have to let it graze.
He made a point of having that evening’s meal be especially flavorful.
A hearty stew made with a hot pot base, its numbing, spicy, and savory aroma filled the air.
In addition to the stew, there was also a cold salad.
It was a mix of cucumber and celery, tossed with chili powder and a generous amount of vinegar.
It wasn’t sophisticated, but it tasted incredible.
After the apocalypse, most people had survived on dry rations. What they craved most was exactly this kind of intensely flavored food.
For staples, there was a choice of flatbread, rice, or noodles.
Even though there wasn’t much meat, for everyone, it felt like a holiday feast.
Sierra Sullivan was very satisfied with the evening’s meal, and Jayce and Candice Tate also ate happily.
As for Nathan Thorne, that went without saying.
He was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice vat, practically wanting to roll around in it. He ate until his face was shiny with grease and his lips were beet-red from the spice, but he paid it no mind and just kept eating.
He only stopped when he couldn’t stuff in another single bite.
With all the supplies stored away, the warehouse was now mostly empty.
They could find any empty spot to sleep, so at least they didn’t have to crowd together.
Sierra Sullivan found an empty room, closed the door, and took several thick mattresses out of her dimensional space.
They laid the mattresses directly on the floor, and with blankets, they were ready for sleep.
Nathan Thorne lay on a mattress, sprawled out like a starfish, and let out a long, contented sigh.
"Ah, this is the life! Nothing beats sleeping on a real bed."
His words made Sierra Sullivan and the others laugh.
"You really have a way of stating the obvious!" Jayce said with a laugh.
Nathan Thorne looked serious. "But of course. Telling it like it is is my favorite thing to do!"
They had actually invited Dominic Crawford as well, but he had refused.
They weren’t the type to be pushy.
Since Dominic Crawford didn’t want to join them, they certainly weren’t going to force him.
That night, the surroundings were secure and their sleeping arrangements were comfortable. By all rights, they should have slept soundly.
But for some unknown reason, Sierra Sullivan didn’t sleep well.
In the middle of the night, Sierra Sullivan woke up.
The room was pitch-black. Sierra Sullivan didn’t turn on a light, afraid of disturbing the others.
She just lay with her eyes open, staring into the darkness.
Just then, Sierra felt a hand take hers.
Even without seeing the person, she recognized the touch instantly.
It was Jayce.
’So he was awake, too!’
The two of them held hands, saying nothing, but the simple contact was enough to gradually soothe their hearts.
「The next day.」
It was only six in the morning when Hector Grant woke everyone up.
There was plenty of food left over from last night. They heated it up, ate quickly, and after packing up, they were ready to depart.
By then, it was just past seven o’clock.
The sky outside couldn’t have been light for long.
Hector Grant went to the front and opened the door from the inside using a series of procedures.
This was also why Hector Grant hadn’t been worried about anyone sneaking off with supplies during the night.
The main gate was incredibly sturdy. Trying to force it open would create a massive commotion and inevitably wake everyone else up.
But as for opening it silently, no one besides him could do it.
As the main gate opened, before Hector Grant could even get a clear look at what was outside, he felt a vicious blast of wind rush toward him.
Hector Grant’s heart seized. He dodged instinctively and immediately slammed the door shut.
SLAM!
The world fell silent again.