Chapter 220: Claiming the Prize
Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Claiming the Prize
Lynn Shelby looked at them as if they were all idiots. He shoved his wristband into Aaron Palmer’s face. "A transfer of fifty thousand points! I’ve already edited the footage I shot and posted it to the Mutation Circle anyway. If he wants to spend points for the original cut, why wouldn’t I take the money?!"
After he finished, he added indignantly, "I’m straight!"
Miles Dawson couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. "Brother Forrest, I really believe you, hahahahaha!"
Hector curiously asked Rhonda Dawson, "Mommy, what does it mean to be straight? Can’t straight people date online?"
Rhonda Dawson hurriedly covered Hector’s mouth. "Straight or not, you can’t date online. I’ll tell you when you’re older."
Seeing that he couldn’t get an answer from his mother, Hector turned to Wayne Dawson. As his grandfather, Wayne Dawson had even less of an idea how to explain it.
He could only say slowly, "Hector, there are many bad people online. It’s easy to get scammed out of your points if you date online."
"Oh, okay. I definitely don’t want to get scammed out of my points." Hector felt as if his little brain had finally understood.
Mrs. Dawson watched the video and said leisurely, "This video isn’t badly shot. It’s quite good at boosting morale."
Grandpa nodded in agreement and even pulled aside a nearby staff member to ask a few questions. He then spoke with a look of realization, "From now on, these videos will be played on a loop in the base. The superpower tutorials and the details of the rescue operations will all provide positive guidance for the base."
Everyone also understood and nodded in agreement.
Looking at the daily reforms and changes within the base, everyone knew in their hearts that the country had never given up on fighting the apocalypse. The leaders at the forefront were risking their lives to carve out a path of survival for humanity.
Once the video finished playing, a row of leaders filed onto the stage. It was the first time everyone had seen these leaders. The host introduced them one by one, but after a quick glance, the crowd remembered almost none of them.
The procedure was no different from a pre-apocalyptic conference. The leaders took turns speaking, and their speeches all revolved around the same old tropes: the virus was ruthless, but true love existed in the world; as long as everyone banded together, there was no hurdle they couldn’t overcome!
Wave after wave of positive energy was delivered, warming everyone’s hearts. They couldn’t wait to roll up their sleeves, return to their respective posts in the base, and get straight to work.
Luna Dawson’s head drooped as she muttered to Mrs. Dawson beside her, "Goodness, this moral education session is turned up to the max."
Mrs. Dawson raised a hand and rubbed her hair, her voice gentle. "It’s necessary. The more chaotic the world gets, the more we need positive guidance. Only when everyone’s hearts are united can we withstand hardships."
"I know, I know, my dearest mother." Luna Dawson stifled a yawn as her eyelids fought to stay open. If it weren’t for the fear that the host would call her name the very next second, her spirit would have long since drifted back into her dimension to continue doing the endless farm work.
She finally managed to endure until the leaders’ speeches ended, and a round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. At last, the thrilling commendation segment had arrived!
The first to step onto the stage was Major General Thomas Dalton. The moment this iron-willed man—who had protected over three hundred thousand survivors while breaking through the siege—stood on the stage, the crowd instantly erupted! Thunderous applause and endless whistles echoed throughout the venue.
Several leaders took turns showering Thomas Dalton with extravagant praise. They awarded him a medal and supplies right then and there, and they also loudly announced his new appointment: Major General Thomas Dalton would henceforth be the Mayor of District Three! As soon as those words were spoken, the cheers nearly blew the roof off.
Immediately after, several leaders of the military base also took turns going on stage. Whether it was the appointment of new officials or awards to commend meritorious deeds, the applause from the audience never ceased.
Luna Dawson’s head was bobbing up and down, and she was just about to face-plant into the back of the seat in front of her. Beside her, Kevin Keane curled his lips into a smile and reached out to gently poke her arm. "Wake up. If you keep sleeping, your award is going to be claimed by someone else. It should be your turn soon."
Luna Dawson shuddered and instantly sprang up from her half-asleep state. She sat with her back perfectly straight, staring at the rostrum with a gaze as devout as a pilgrim. The speed at which her demeanor shifted made everyone’s shoulders shake with laughter.
She didn’t have to wait long. Once the leader on stage finished receiving his award and stepped down, the host cleared his throat. The moment he picked up the microphone, the venue fell silent. "The next entity to be commended is a very special team—the Sunset Squad! Relying solely on the strength of their small team, they took down four Tier Four Zombies and Aberrant Beasts, creating a miracle in single-team combat since the establishment of this base! Now, let us welcome the captain of the Sunset Squad—Luna Dawson—to the stage to receive her award with a warm round of applause!"
"Luna Dawson! Luna Dawson!" Someone started the chant, and soon after, a tsunami of cheers followed. All the survivors at the scene who had witnessed Luna Dawson’s freakish combat prowess began to shout in excitement.
Luna Dawson sprang to her feet. Just as she was about to dash toward the stage, Mrs. Dawson tightly grabbed her wrist.
Mrs. Dawson deftly hooked a finger under the mask on her face and pulled it down, whispering an instruction, "Take off your mask before you go up. Don’t let people say we don’t know the rules and disrespect the leaders."
Luna Dawson obediently nodded. With a flip of her hand, the mask was stowed away in her dimension. She strode confidently onto the stage, where several leaders were already waiting for her.
Cameron Grant now focused his attention on Luna Dawson as she came to receive her award. The old general, who had spent half his life in the military, was visibly stunned for a half-second as he looked at the tender, youthful face before him.
He clearly hadn’t expected the ruthless, tough captain of the Sunset Squad his son frequently mentioned to actually be a little girl.
Shock aside, the old general quickly recovered. Gripping the microphone, he loudly praised, "Good! Excellent! A young hero! Comrade Luna Dawson possesses such courage and strength at such a young age. This is truly a blessing for Celestia!"
With that, he personally handed a heavy box and a medal to Luna Dawson.
Luna Dawson accepted the prizes and flashed a wide smile at the microphone. As soon as she opened her mouth, a string of clichéd pleasantries spilled out. "Thank you to the base leaders for your recognition, and thank you to all my comrades for your support! The Sunset Squad was only able to achieve what we have today thanks to the base’s cultivation! In the future, we will definitely continue our efforts, kill more zombies and monsters, and do our part to build a beautiful base..."
Her words were completely airtight, so textbook perfect that it sounded as if she had memorized a script beforehand.
The large screen above the stage broadcast the scene in real time. Luna Dawson’s face, now unobstructed by the mask, was clearly displayed before everyone’s eyes.
The crowd instantly exploded in an uproar!
"Holy shit! That’s the captain of the Sunset Squad?! She’s actually a little girl?!"
"No way, no way! She’s that pretty?!"
"Who cares if she’s pretty? The point is she’s a Fourth-stage Superpower User! The only Fourth-stage in the entire base! She’s got both the looks and the power—that’s too insane!"
The buzzing sound of discussions filled the air, but Luna Dawson remained completely oblivious. After rattling off her thank-you speech, she cradled the heavy box and turned to slip away to the side of the stage. Her footsteps were so fast it looked as if a zombie were chasing her.
Just as Luna Dawson slipped off the side of the stage, a slightly cool grip tightly seized her wrist. She was forcefully yanked to the side and cornered in the backstage area, instantly enveloped by the man’s cold aura.
She subconsciously stiffened her back and went to backhand him in a struggle, but when she looked up, she crashed into a pair of pale pink eyes.