Chapter 562 - 448: Admonishment and Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey
Chapter 562: Chapter 448: Admonishment and Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey
Beyond the five major types of superpowers, there were also the extremely rare Spiritual Ability, Thunder Element, and Life System. The Thunder Element possessed the most explosive and formidable attack power, while the Spiritual Ability was the most bizarre and unpredictable. As for the Life System, apart from the young female prodigy once hailed as the War God, he had never seen another Life Ability User.
However, a user of the Healing System—a tier just below the Life System—resided in Villa Three of the Morhaven base. Even being a tier lower, it was an exceptionally rare ability.
Furthermore, under certain conditions, the five major superpower types could mutate into rarer forms of abilities.
The Ice Ability, for instance, was a mutation of the Water Element. It not only possessed immense offensive power but also came with control effects, making it incredibly rare.
’And Flora Bloom killed him just like that?’
’If I saw that correctly, Flora Bloom was using a Water Ability, right? But what level is it? I can’t sense it at all! A single, seemingly harmless ring of water killed a Nebula Level superpower user—one the Cross family spent a fortune in manpower and resources to cultivate?’
The implication sent an instant chill down the spine of Graham Cross, a man who wielded considerable power within the Cross family.
He immediately left and hurried toward the trading market in the Morhaven villa district. Heath Cross was likely there today with Gloria, browsing for items.
He had to explain the situation regarding Flora Bloom’s return to the younger members of the Cross family. Most importantly, he needed to warn them not to provoke that woman.
’That local kid, Ethan Monroe, wasn’t wrong. I might really be getting old and slow, losing my touch at reading people. Flora Bloom’s strength is extraordinary—at least, an old timer like me can’t see through it.’
He had to do something before the Young Master returned.
Soon, aside from those out hunting, more than sixty members of the Cross family, including Solomon Sterling and Li Yimi, gathered inside Graham Cross’s villa in Villa District Two.
After warning everyone not to provoke Flora Bloom, he decided to see her one more time before Lex Cross returned.
He couldn’t swallow his pride and apologize, but he could at least clear up today’s misunderstanding.
Lex Cross normally only concerned himself with the people in Villa Three. As long as they were safe, he didn’t meddle much in other affairs. Graham Cross, on the other hand, sometimes turned a blind eye when some of the younger family members under his command used their influence to bully others in the base. As long as it didn’t involve anyone from Villa Three, he would always side with his own family.
But based on today’s events, it was clear Flora Bloom was different.
She was as ruthless and merciless as Lex Cross, expressionlessly taking a life with a simple gesture. She didn’t care one bit whether her victim was part of the Cross family.
She had no regard for social niceties or connections. It seemed she wouldn’t even show Lex Cross any deference.
’It seems I need to redefine this woman.’
As Flora Bloom returned to the Villa Three district, the familiar surroundings allowed her to relax completely.
Ethan Monroe followed behind her, recounting what had happened while she was away.
"You have no idea. In the month you were gone, the situation at our base changed dramatically."
"A lot of the superpower users at the base left their original teams to join up with the newly arrived Cross family."
Flora Bloom stopped in her tracks. "What?"
Seeing Flora Bloom’s shocked expression, Ethan Monroe repeated what he said.
"I said, all those turncoats went over to the Cross family. The people that Graham... I mean, Uncle Graham brought. They’ve managed to recruit about half the superpower users in the base now."
"Old Sai is furious about it!"
"The sentence before that!"
"The one before that? ’In the month you were gone?’"
Flora Bloom looked at Ethan Monroe. "I’ve been gone for a month?"
"Strictly speaking, you’ve been gone for one month and three days, Flora."
"Lex!" Upon seeing Lex Cross’s familiar, chiseled face, Flora Bloom rushed toward him, only to be intercepted by a small figure.
"Mama!" Polly suddenly appeared from behind Lex Cross, her arms wrapped around the Nightmare Beast’s neck. The moment she saw Flora Bloom, she fearlessly leaped off the beast’s back and ran toward her.
A month ago, the little girl had still been wobbly on her feet, but now Polly ran with a steadiness that could rival a three- or four-year-old.
Polly reached Flora Bloom’s arms first. Though Lex Cross was smiling, he reached out, plucked Polly Cross from her mother’s embrace, and tossed her back onto the Nightmare Beast.
"Go wash the beast blood off of you."
At Lex Cross’s command, Polly obediently urged the Nightmare Beast to run toward the villa. Even the normally mischievous Nightmare Beast didn’t dare make a peep as it galloped away with Polly on its back.
Before Flora Bloom could even react, her arms were empty. The next second, she found herself in Lex Cross’s embrace.
Lex Cross’s embrace was pleasantly warm, with no unusual temperature. If he had a scent, it was the clean smell of sunshine on clothes washed with soap and left to dry.
"Our daughter is covered in beast blood. How come you aren’t?"
"If I was, it would mean I’m too weak."
"Don’t tell me you took her out to hunt beasts."
"From a young age, the children of the Cross family must wade through rivers of beast blood and tread upon the corpses of our enemies. Otherwise, how will they learn to protect themselves when they’re older?"
Flora Bloom shifted in Lex Cross’s arms, content to remain in his embrace. There were no dramatic displays of affection; their relationship felt more like comfortable, domestic chatter.
"Daughters are supposed to be pampered!"
"She has killed evolved beasts, slain zombies, and fought elites from every faction. Isn’t that a rich enough upbringing?"
"What?" Flora Bloom looked up, her wide eyes glaring at him. "You didn’t just take her to kill beasts, you had her killing zombies at her age?"
Lex Cross nodded.
"Are you crazy! She’s not even two!" She shoved Lex Cross away. "Our daughter is so little! Taking her to kill some beasts to build her courage is one thing, but if anything had happened to her in a horde of zombies, I’d kill you with my own two hands!"
"I was one year old when I followed the Cross family patriarch to the outer battlefields."
"You are you, and our daughter is our daughter! I don’t want her to go through so much! I just want her to be safe! Lex Cross, you bastard! I’m not done with you!"
Flora Bloom glared fiercely at Lex Cross for a good long while. But when she saw the sincere yet unrepentant gleam in his eyes, her anger only flared hotter.