Chapter 488: Everyone Comes to Find Someone
Chapter 488: Chapter 488: Everyone Comes to Find Someone
Inside the desolate Lornwood Base.
There were few people on the streets.
Some were searching through abandoned rooms for any remaining food or usable supplies.
Scavengers were plentiful, and brawls broke out constantly.
But there was no one left to keep order.
What they didn’t know was that after today, Tomorrow Base would no longer be escorting anyone else out.
Inside a thoroughly ransacked administrative building, a man watched a nearby squabble, his expression filled with disgust.
"Miss Ziegler, it’s getting late. We’re heading back now. We’re leaving tomorrow. Whether or not you join us is up to you; we don’t mind either way."
Veronica Ziegler was sweating profusely as she dug through a pile of waste paper, with no energy to spare for the man’s words.
Seeing this, Dylan Stone was about to turn and leave with his men.
Just then, several people walked in through the doorway.
These newcomers were clearly different from the other survivors left in the base. A single glance told you they were not to be trifled with.
Veronica Ziegler glanced over as well.
When she saw Nina Jacobs, her eyes widened.
"It’s you?"
Veronica Ziegler shot to her feet and rushed right up to Nina Jacobs.
"Miss Ziegler? Long time no see."
Nina Jacobs feigned surprise.
Veronica Ziegler looked frantic, her face gaunt and exhausted—a far cry from how she had appeared on Mornfell.
"Summer Warner, you’re alive! You’re alive?!
Do you know where Alistair White went?
Or Magnus York? Since you’re alive, then Alistair White must not be dead either, right?"
Veronica Ziegler demanded frantically.
She reached for Summer Warner as if to keep her from fleeing, but Wayne Warner stepped in her way.
"Wayne Warner and I were just lucky to escape the mountain that day.
Alistair White and Magnus York... they must have been killed by that group. Do you still not know what happened that day?"
Nina Jacobs asked.
’During the trip to Mornfell, only Wayne Warner and I showed our faces.’
’Adrian Shaw and the others from City D Base had remained completely hidden.’
’According to the false information we spread, Magnus York and Alistair White were killed by Trey Windslow and Edric Holden, who then stole the Mystic Ice Core.’
’Could it be that Veronica Ziegler still doesn’t know?’
"No, I know. I heard they all died.
But there was no trace of him or Magnus York on the mountain!
They must still be alive! Otherwise, why can’t I even find his body?"
Veronica was visibly agitated.
"You’ve been to Mornfell too? You know what happened?"
The man at her side questioned Nina, his eyes fixed on her.
"Yes, Dylan Stone, her name is Summer Warner. She was also on Mornfell that day.
Since she’s alive, it proves that Alistair White is very likely alive too!
Quick, grab her! Don’t let her get away!"
Veronica Ziegler pointed at Summer Warner.
"Shut up."
Dylan Stone glared at Veronica Ziegler.
’She looks impatient and foolish, yet with just a few words, she’s managed to pit our two groups against each other.’
’He had too few people with him. This was not the time for an open confrontation.’
"Everyone, my name is Dylan Stone, and these are my friends.
We came to Lornwood Base to help Miss Ziegler look for someone. Miss Ziegler is probably just overly anxious. I hope you all won’t take her words to heart."
Dylan Stone’s expression softened as he spoke to Nina and her companions.
Lornwood Base was lawless now. If their two groups were to fight, the outcome would be uncertain.
Besides, anyone who could escape from Mornfell was bound to be formidable.
"Is that so? What a coincidence. We’re also here looking for someone,"
Nina Jacobs said.
"Who are you looking for?" Veronica Ziegler immediately asked.
Seeing that Nina had no intention of dealing with Veronica, Silas Crowley spoke up:
"We’re looking for a man named Tristan Lynch.
Have you seen him by any chance?"
At the mention of Tristan Lynch, the expressions of the group before them flickered.
"We had a little run-in with him. He was supposed to help us load some supplies, but he took off. We heard he ran to this place."
Silas Crowley fabricated the story on the spot.
Dylan Stone narrowed his eyes. He gave Veronica a look, and she finally spoke:
"We’re also here looking for someone.
Summer Warner, just tell me, is Alistair White really dead or not?
If he’s dead, then where? I just need to find his body!"
Nina Jacobs shook her head, her expression unchanging as she said:
"By the time that group ambushed us, Magnus York and Alistair White had already grievously injured each other fighting over an Energy Stone.
Those people just took advantage of their weakness. All I remember is Alistair White falling into some kind of pit. He must be dead."
’Magnus York and Alistair White had both been killed by me. I just don’t understand why Veronica Ziegler is so fixated on finding Alistair’s body.’
"Impossible... We went to the mutated animal’s cave. Alistair’s body definitely wasn’t in there..."
Veronica Ziegler muttered.
"Miss Warner, aside from Alistair White, we’re also looking for Miss Ziegler’s cousin, Zachary Ziegler. Have you heard that name?"
another unfamiliar man asked from behind Veronica Ziegler.
"Zachary Ziegler? Never heard of him."
’My heart skipped a beat. Zachary Ziegler was one of the Zieglers. In my past life, he was the leader of Meridia Base and an old friend of Liam Grant’s.’
’In this life, I had accidentally saved Mordecai Quinn, the future leader of Meridia, on Mornfell, and I had already helped him secure that position.’
’And Zachary Ziegler, who’d led a group of elite Superpower users to hunt me down, had already been quietly eliminated by Wayne and me...’
A look of disappointment crossed the man’s face.
"We’ve seen the Tristan Lynch you’re looking for."
At this, Dylan Stone spoke up.
"Where?" Nina Jacobs asked.
"Right here in Lornwood Base, at the place we’re staying. We’re about to head back now. Why don’t you and your group come with us, Miss Warner?"
Dylan Stone said, extending a warm invitation.
"Yeah, Summer. It must be fate. I have more questions for you. Why don’t you come with us for a while?"
Veronica Ziegler added.
Silas Crowley, however, seemed skeptical. "How did he end up with you?"
"Much like your own trouble with him, he picked a fight with us, too. A few of them tried to rob us, so we captured them,"
another man behind Dylan Stone explained.
"Alright. Then we’ll have to trouble you."
Nina Jacobs smiled.
’Silas had only ever mentioned one person, Tristan Lynch, but that man said, "a few of them." It looks like Tristan really is in their custody.’
’It also proved they actually knew who he was.’
’Which means these people must be connected to The Aegis Conclave.’
’And as for Veronica Ziegler...’
’I glanced at her. The reason she was searching for Alistair was most likely that Golden Silk Jade Armor.’
’Back then, Veronica had left the mountain first while Alistair continued searching for the Mystic Ice Core. She had lent him the Golden Silk Jade Armor for protection.’
’That armor must be a Ziegler family heirloom.’
’But after Alistair died, I took the Golden Silk Jade Armor and put it in my system inventory.’
’If that’s the case, could Dylan Stone’s group be working with Veronica because they’re also after the Golden Silk Jade Armor?’
It was nearly dusk, and Tomorrow Base had completed its final evacuation.
The main gate of Lornwood Base was slowly swung shut, left completely unguarded.
The whole of Lornwood Base felt like a ghost town, though the faint sounds of brawls and fighting could still be heard.
Silas Crowley and the others fell silent, their guards up.
If something were to happen here, there would be absolutely no one to intervene.
Sure enough, the moment Nina and her companions stepped into a courtyard, a large group of people emerged and surrounded them.
"Where is Tristan Lynch?"
Nina could already smell the heavy stench of blood.
"Don’t be hasty. We only invited Miss Warner to come for a visit.
As for these others... they’re rather unnecessary," Dylan Stone said, gesturing toward Silas Crowley, Reginald Sutton, and the rest of Nina’s group.