Chapter 454: Unwilling to Stay
Chapter 454: Chapter 454: Unwilling to Stay
"Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. Great-Grandfather didn’t blame our Aiden."
"Once Aiden recovers the rest of the supplies, that’s when we’ll truly distribute things according to merit."
"But speaking of which, Flynn ran into some serious trouble this time, didn’t he? I heard he took sixty elites out, so how come only twenty-something came back?"
’Arcadia White had no doubt about Lincoln White’s favoritism. After all, Anselm Hughes was the man he’d chosen for her; otherwise, he never would have let her marry him in the first place.’
Chuck Willow’s smile faltered.
"Accidents are bound to happen when you’re out gaining experience. As long as Flynn comes back safe and sound, everything else..."
She smiled, her meaning left unspoken but clear.
"Alright, it’s been cleaned inside. We’re leaving."
"Sister-in-law, we’ll need you to look after things at home for a bit. Thank you in advance."
Anselm Hughes said.
"No problem. There’s no need to be so formal, brother-in-law."
Chuck Willow watched as the group boarded the wooden-wheeled vehicle, a strange smile playing on her lips.
"Come with me for a moment. I have something to tell you."
Arcadia White said, walking beside Nina Jacobs.
"Hmph, Mommy’s going to tie Miss Jacobs up."
Julia Hughes, apparently still dwelling on the previous day’s events, made a face at Nina Jacobs.
"Oh? Is that so?" Nina Jacobs said, smiling as she looked at Arcadia White.
Arcadia White’s expression changed. She looked down and scolded her daughter, "Julia, what nonsense are you talking about? Mommy just has something to discuss. If you keep talking nonsense, you won’t get any snacks for a week."
"I get it. It’s Miss Jacobs’ fault for not helping me."
The moment she heard there’d be no snacks, Julia Hughes immediately backed down.
In the main courtyard, Nina Jacobs and Wayne Warner followed Arcadia White through a circular archway.
This seemed to be the residence of the family’s second branch.
On the way, she had also seen Han Lewis lying on the ground in the courtyard.
Han Lewis still had that same vacant look. Nina Jacobs glanced at him briefly before looking away.
"How have you been these past two days? I thought you’d be frightened by what’s been happening here and pester Aiden to take you away."
Arcadia White sat at an antique wooden table and poured Nina Jacobs a cup of tea.
"It’s been very safe. It’s rare to get a good night’s sleep."
Nina Jacobs replied.
’Whittaker Town was indeed incredibly quiet. There was no need to worry about zombies here.’
’After all, the people here were perhaps even more terrifying than zombies.’
"It seems you’re well-suited for life here."
Arcadia White looked a little surprised, but she was still pleased.
She stood up, walked over to a painting hanging on the wall, and said:
"The White Family was originally a reclusive clan in old Drakonia."
"It’s only in recent years that we’ve had to make contact with the outside world. That’s why we used to live in White Village. It wasn’t until the great catastrophe that we returned here under Great-Grandfather’s leadership."
She continued to speak as she gazed at the ancient landscape painting:
"This catastrophe wasn’t something we wanted. We Whites can only protect ourselves. So, after we finish gathering supplies, we will live in seclusion here to escape the disaster."
"As you’ve seen, we don’t just bring any outsider here. An ancestor once prophesied that Whittaker Town would be destroyed at the hands of an outsider. Therefore, the people we bring here are only those worthy of our trust."
"After you and Wayne Warner, we will not bring any other outsiders to Whittaker Town."
Nina Jacobs listened in silence.
’Arcadia White’s words sounded so noble and righteous, yet she didn’t mention a single word about the evil they had committed.’
’But she did find that prophecy a bit interesting.’
"The White Family also has an ancestral Magic. Just like those puppets outside, we have ways to make them obey us. This Magic is not normally passed down to outsiders, but those who are recognized by Whittaker Town may have a chance to learn it."
Arcadia White turned around. Seeing that Nina Jacobs had finished her tea, she smiled in satisfaction.
"How does one get recognized by Whittaker Town?"
Nina Jacobs asked.
’So the Puppetry Technique really is a type of Magic that can be learned.’
"For example, those who marry into the White Family, or those who are willing to contribute to our family."
"Nina Jacobs, are you willing to stay here?"
Arcadia White expected Nina Jacobs to hesitate, but she answered immediately:
"I decline."
"General Hughes only asked me to stay here temporarily. And before I agreed to be hired, I also said that a monotonous job doesn’t suit me."
"Mrs. White, staying here would be far too boring for me."
After Nina Jacobs finished speaking, Arcadia White smiled and poured her another cup of tea.
She had already stored the previous cup of tea in her storage space, and this new one quickly disappeared as well.
"Fine. I won’t force you, then."
"At least for this period, stay in Whittaker Town and get some proper rest."
Arcadia White said with feigned regret.
After Nina Jacobs left, Laura Quincy came in.
"Ma’am, why didn’t you just drug the tea?"
"I thought she would have a hard time refusing you."
Laura Quincy said.
Arcadia White looked a little angry. "Can’t you tell? She’s wary of me."
"But there’s no hurry. We’ll leave her be for the next few days."
"We need to save our energy. We still have to fight for the right to manage the family."
"You’re right, Ma’am. This is a critical time. It’s only two people. I can keep an eye on them for you."
Laura Quincy offered.
"Mm. I think Chuck Willow has her eyes on that bodyguard, Wayne Warner. She wants to make him into the next Protective Puppet for her precious son..."
Nina Jacobs overheard every word the two of them said in the courtyard.
’They have designs on both of us?’
"Then let them try."
When Nina Jacobs came out, Julia Hughes was chasing Han Lewis around the large courtyard with a long bamboo pole.
Han Lewis ran toward the gate, making whimpering sounds.
A child couldn’t run as fast as an adult, and Han Lewis quickly disappeared from sight.
"You big idiot! That’s where they dispose of the dead!"
"Next time I catch you, you’ll be sorry."
Julia Hughes said angrily, standing by the side of the road.
Spotting Brock White playing in the sand in the distance, Julia Hughes’s eyes lit up and she ran over to him.
"Let’s go. We’ll go take a look too."
Nina Jacobs said to Wayne Warner.
The two of them walked in the direction Han Lewis had gone.
The road was still lined with rows of wooden houses, but the smell of blood grew stronger and stronger.
"Shattered scapula, broken hand bones, over one hundred wounds all over her body, blood loss of up to 2800cc... I really don’t know how she’s still alive."
Nina Jacobs saw Han Lewis run into a two-story building. As she walked in after him, she heard someone inside saying:
"Mr. White said not to save her."
Another voice spoke, which Nina Jacobs recognized as Thane Trevor’s.
"Trevor, wasn’t Holly Morgan your friend before?"
"Are we really not saving her?"
A Healer behind Thane Trevor asked.
"Friend?"
Thane Trevor gave a cold laugh. "Compared to your own life, which do you think is more important?"
"Since Mr. White has discarded her, she’s doomed to die."
"The White Family won’t let a Protective Puppet live for too long."
"I’m talking to you, Irwing, stop healing! Save your Superpower for the others."
A sharp rebuke rang out.
Immediately after, the door opened, and a woman in pink clothes with red, tear-filled eyes walked out.
She ran to a nearby stairwell, sat down on the steps, and buried her head in her lap, crying.
"..."
Nina Jacobs still hadn’t found Han Lewis, but she handed the woman a tissue anyway.
"Maybe this is for the best. For her, it must be a release. At least she won’t have to get hurt every single day anymore."
The woman said.