Free Web NovelChapter 165: Chapter 165 What are you here for?
All through the meal, while the rest of the group happily enjoyed the food prepared by Ivy, Nathan stubbornly refused to join them. He also refused to eat any of the food offered by Erick’s team.
Instead, he could only stand at a distance and watch as Ivy and the others ate without a care in the world, as though they weren’t inside a dangerous factory filled with deadly monsters.
After everyone had finished eating and rested for a while, the plates, pots, and all the remaining ingredients used for the hotpot were carefully packed away and cleared from the area.
Erick then rose to his feet, a can of cold soda still in his hand.
"Alright, everyone," Erick announced, his tone becoming serious. "It’s time for us to check the right-hand side of the factory."
"Yeah!" his teammates chorused excitedly as they quickly got to their feet.
Before leaving, Erick turned toward Ivy and gave her a slight bow.
"Thank you so much for the food, Mrs. Ivy."
"It’s alright, Mr. Erick. You’re welcome," Ivy replied with a warm smile, returning the bow politely.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Ivy!" the rest of Erick’s teammates said in unison.
Although they kept their voices low to avoid attracting monsters, every one of them bowed deeply toward Ivy in appreciation.
"You’re all welcome," Ivy replied with a gentle smile.
With that, Erick and his team headed off to continue their search, leaving only Ivy, Darren, Albert, and Josh behind.
"Alright then, let’s get started as well," Darren said.
The others nodded in agreement before beginning their own search of the right-hand side of the factory.
As they walked through one of the factory corridors, Albert glanced at Ivy with curiosity visible in his eyes. freewebnoveℓ.com
"So, what exactly did the two of you come to this factory for?" he asked. "Food as well?"
Ivy looked at him in confusion.
"Food?"
Albert nodded.
"I mean, you really didn’t have to come on such a dangerous mission if food was your goal. From what I’ve seen, your base has plenty of supplies. And if you needed more goods, you could have simply targeted smaller supermarkets to restock. There was no need to come all the way here where there are tons of resources but also countless monsters."
"I know, right?" Ivy replied with a light chuckle. "But honestly, I’m not really here for the goods. Though I certainly won’t mind taking some for myself while we’re here."
Albert raised an eyebrow.
"Then what are you here for?"
"To earn a reward from my Golden Finger," Ivy answered without hesitation, her expression becoming serious. "It’s been helping me ever since the beginning of the apocalypse."
"Golden Finger?" Albert repeated under his breath, trying to process her words.
Ivy nodded.
"And before you ask what that means, it’s basically a voice in my head that gives me tasks. Whenever I complete those tasks, I receive rewards."
Albert blinked several times.
"A voice in your head...?"
Before he could ask any more questions, Darren suddenly spoke up.
"And don’t go around telling everyone about the Golden Finger she just mentioned," Darren said firmly. "Since you’re part of our team now, focus on helping Mrs. Ivy complete her task. Taking over this factory is already connected to what your group is doing anyway, considering you’ve already activated the destruction program."
Albert looked at both of them before nodding.
"I understand."
A warm smile appeared on his face.
The fact that they trusted him enough to reveal something so important wasn’t something he took lightly.
Ivy and Darren nodded in satisfaction before the group continued searching through the factory.
After walking for a short distance, Ivy suddenly turned toward Albert.
"So what about your group?" she asked curiously. "I don’t believe you’re here solely for resources."
Albert glanced at her.
"What makes you think that?"
Ivy smiled faintly.
"The same thing you said earlier. This place is dangerous. Resources can be found elsewhere. If that’s true for us, then it’s true for your group as well."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"So there must be another reason you all chose to come on such a dangerous journey."
Albert remained silent for a few seconds.
Eventually, he shook his head.
"I wouldn’t want to expose that."
His answer came immediately.
"The same way I won’t reveal your reasons for being here to the others is the same way I can’t reveal my group’s true objective."
He looked ahead while speaking.
"What I can say is that resources are only part of the reason we’re here. There are other things we’re searching for as well...things that are just as important."
"Hmm..."
Ivy studied him carefully.
A faint smile gradually appeared on her face.
He’s trustworthy after all, she thought inwardly.
Anyone else would have immediately started asking questions or spreading information. Yet Albert had respected their secret and expected the same courtesy in return.
"Alright then, Albert," Ivy finally said. "I respect your decision."
Albert smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
Josh, who had been quietly listening to the conversation the entire time, nodded his head in approval.
The fact that Ivy didn’t press for more information after Albert made it clear that he wasn’t interested in revealing the details made both him and Josh respect her even more.
Most people would have continued asking questions out of curiosity, but Ivy simply accepted his decision and moved on.
That alone spoke volumes about her character.
