Chapter 485 - 494: Grand Melee
Chapter 485: Chapter 494: Grand Melee
She couldn’t be certain if it was the Three Tigers Corps who had discovered this place and taken the supplies in her past life.
After all, her rebirth had already changed many things.
While the broad strokes remained the same, the minor details had long since silently shifted.
’It could have been the Three Tigers Corps, or it could have been another faction that took everything before Caleb Xavier returned.’
She was just curious. Given Caleb Xavier’s personality and abilities, she wondered what kind of expression he’d wear after learning that the supplies he’d spent so long preparing had been snatched up by others for free. ’The look on his face must have been priceless!’
"Is something wrong, Miss Sterling? Do I have something on my face?"
Hunter Night asked, a little puzzled when he noticed Stella Sterling’s strange gaze on him.
"It’s nothing. I was just wondering if the owner of this little shop might come back for his things."
Stella Sterling said, feigning curiosity.
Hunter Night just chuckled. "He’s probably dead. He went abroad all by himself, and then the apocalypse hit. No food, no water, and all alone in a foreign land... Under those circumstances, ten to one he died out there. Even if he is still alive, there’s no way he could ever get back."
Hearing this, Stella Sterling remained noncommittal. If she didn’t know the real situation, she would have thought much the same.
But she knew with absolute certainty that if the shop’s owner was indeed the Caleb Xavier she knew, then he was not only still alive, but alive and well.
She said no more.
Just then, a commotion came from outside.
The few of them exchanged a glance.
Their men hadn’t been gone long. It was impossible for them to have returned so soon, which meant it was likely someone else.
Everyone grew vigilant, using whatever was available to conceal themselves as they waited to see what was happening.
Before long, people began to descend via the passage they had dug.
A boisterous voice followed. "Hahaha! Look at all these supplies! I knew those Three Tigers guys were being sneaky for a reason! So this is the sweet spot they found!"
From his hiding place, Hunter Night’s expression shifted. They had thought their movements were stealthy, but it turned out they had been followed after all.
"This is all ours now! Those guys from the Three Tigers Corps must have already headed back with a load. They’ll be back for more soon. Let’s move, men! We need to clear this place out before they return. Don’t leave a single thing for them!"
More people streamed down one after another, about twenty of them in total.
They began to madly plunder the supplies the Three Tigers Corps had left behind.
Some of them immediately tore open packages and started eating, only to be fiercely reprimanded by their boss. "What the hell are you eating? With all these supplies, you think you’ll be short on food later?"
"The priority right now is to get all this stuff topside! Otherwise, when the Three Tigers Corps gets back, we won’t be able to leave so easily."
"Right, right, whatever you say, Boss."
The man nodded, but not before quickly stuffing the entire open bag of snacks in his hand into his mouth.
Facing his boss’s furious glare, he then began gathering supplies with renewed haste.
Seeing that he was working more briskly than the others, the boss’s expression finally eased a little.
He turned to one of his men, a bit puzzled. "Strange. The Three Tigers Corps really didn’t leave anyone to stand guard. I was hoping they’d left someone behind so I could cut them down."
"Hahaha, you’re amazing, Boss! But I bet those Three Tigers guys thought they were being so secretive, they figured no one had noticed. That’s why they felt safe enough to all go back without leaving a guard. They probably never imagined we’ve had people watching them for a while now. And now, it’s all ours for the taking!"
The newcomers chattered away as they packed the goods.
Then, one of them started walking in their direction.
Hunter Night watched him, ready to strike at any moment.
The little shop was only so big; it was only a matter of time before they started gathering supplies from this spot. Their group wouldn’t be able to stay hidden.
But just as the two sides were about to clash, another commotion rang out.
Stella Sterling looked over. WHOOSH—another dozen or so people scrambled down, all of them unfamiliar faces.
The new arrivals froze for a moment upon seeing the people below. Then, without a word, they raised their weapons and lunged at the group that had arrived first, hacking at them while simultaneously trying to snatch the supplies from their hands.
Stella Sterling and Hunter Night exchanged a look. Neither made a rash move, deciding to wait for the two groups to tear each other apart before they made their appearance.
However, today’s situation was clearly exceeding their expectations. It wasn’t just two factions—another group of people had arrived.
"Hahaha, it’s a real party down here! But you folks aren’t being very decent, are you? Thinking of keeping all these supplies for yourselves. We’re all just scraping by in Veridia; when you find a supply cache this good, shouldn’t you share it so we can divide it up fairly?"
"Hmph, Mutt, who do you think you’re fooling with that noble act? If you found a place like this, you’d share it?"
The leader of the faction that had followed the Three Tigers Corps scoffed disdainfully, glaring at the latest arrivals.
"Goddammit, I told you not to call me Mutt."
The leader of the third faction cursed angrily but quickly calmed down. "Hahaha! So many supplies... since none of you want to split them evenly, let’s just see who’s stronger. Whatever you can grab is yours!"
The scene instantly plunged into chaos as all three factions began to brawl.
Stella Sterling rubbed her forehead. ’So much for stealth.’ It seemed the Three Tigers Corps thought they were being covert, but in reality, several groups had been watching them from the shadows.
Those other groups had simply been waiting for the Corps to make the first move, planning to swoop in afterward and claim the spoils.
At that moment, Hunter Night felt a pang of embarrassment under Stella Sterling’s gaze.
Just then, amidst the chaotic three-way battle, the makeshift cover shielding them collapsed with a loud CRASH, exposing the few of them standing behind it.
The brawling factions, seeing a few more people appear out of thin air, all froze for a second. Then, one of them broke into a malevolent grin. "Well, well. Goddammit, a few more were hiding here. Perfect. We can take care of you all at once."