Free Web NovelChapter 282: Chapter 190: Accusation
Of course, Claire Chapman never expected Paige Summers and her group to return so soon.
He had originally estimated that, if everything went smoothly, they might reach the warehouse’s vicinity by this afternoon at the earliest. But just getting there didn’t mean much; whether they could actually secure the supplies was another question entirely.
Still, with Paige Summers and Ben working together, he was confident their lives wouldn’t be in danger, even if they failed to get the supplies.
He, on the other hand, was under considerable pressure.
With those two away, the team still needed mobile personnel.
Looking around, the only person who could fill the role besides himself was Sean Raines. Though Sean didn’t have a superpower, he had his talisman paper, which made him incredibly elusive. He could often kill zombies in the blink of an eye.
Claire Chapman had placed great hope in him!
And what was the result?
He hadn’t really noticed it before, but now he realized the guy was an unparalleled slacker!
As long as his life wasn’t in danger, he would absolutely refuse to go all out. And to top it off, he always pretended to be exhausted! free𝑤ebnovel.com
And if you called him out on it, he’d give you a whole list of excuses.
"I’m just trying to help everyone grow as fighters, especially you, Captain," or, "My talisman paper is rare; I have to save it for the most critical moments..." In short, he was completely just phoning it in!
’What a headache!’
’He wasn’t like this when Paige was around. Why did he become a completely different person the moment she left?’
Claire gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. ’Could it be that bastard is only here to get on Paige’s good side? Fine. Just fine. When she gets back, you can bet I’m going to tell on him. You want to put on an act? I’ll ruin your reputation completely!’
Just as he was mulling over how to deal with Sean Raines, a sudden scream made him jump.
Claire Chapman reached the scene at almost the same time as Paige Summers and her group.
Of course, they were soon followed by many other team members who came to see what was going on.
Fortunately, they had just finished clearing out the zombies in the area. Otherwise, the team, who hadn’t even had a chance to rest, would have been thrown into another fight.
The thought made Claire’s anger flare up, and his usual friendly expression toward May Joyce nearly cracked. He turned and glared at Sean Raines, who was standing opposite her. ’Don’t you know this woman loves to scream?’ he thought furiously. ’Why the hell are you getting so close to her? Can’t you just stay away?!’
But it was in that moment, as he glared, that he spotted Paige Summers and the other three.
He immediately forgot about the two troublemakers and rushed over. "You’re back!"
Paige Summers pulled her gaze away from May Joyce and Sean Raines and smiled. "Yes, we’re back, Captain!"
"That’s great!" Claire Chapman gave her a quick wink. Before the others got too close, he whispered, "How’d it go?"
"Better than expected."
Claire Chapman’s heart settled. He had to restrain himself from breaking into a wide grin and ruining his image as captain.
Just then, the other team members crowded around, anxiously asking if they were hurt and if the mission had been a success.
Paige Summers had already figured out how she would explain things to the team.
She couldn’t hide the fact that they’d acquired the supplies. Bloodfall needed to expand its ranks, and for that, they had to build their reputation. This mission was the perfect opportunity. The Foundry that others couldn’t get into? Bloodfall could. The supplies others couldn’t get? Bloodfall could. She didn’t even need to exaggerate; success itself was the best advertisement.
’As for the supplies, while I can’t hide them, I can say whatever I want about the quantity and variety of items in my storage space!’
She had already decided to only bring out the finished metal products.
In reality, these items were of little use to the regular team members, other than to be traded for Crystal Cores.
When the time came, she could just trade for any of the useful items she wanted back.
’As for anything I can’t get back, it doesn’t matter. I have plenty of ore. I’m not worried about being unable to smelt even better things!’
With her plan already set, she spoke magnanimously. "It was a difficult journey, but thankfully, we didn’t let you down. We’ve secured the supplies. You’ll all see them once we’re out of here!"
The team members looked at one another, their faces breaking into joyful expressions.
If the situation weren’t so tense, they would have erupted in cheers.
All their hard work on this long journey had been for this very moment!
What’s more, Paige Summers’s group successfully retrieving the supplies meant the team could finally leave this godforsaken place. Everyone was overjoyed.
Only Vincent Vaughn and Chester Lincoln looked utterly confused.
’Wasn’t the warehouse empty? Why is the vice-captain saying she got the supplies now?’
Paige Summers then realized she had forgotten to fill them in. She turned to explain, "The supplies were actually in that underground cavern. It’s just... the scene inside was so horrific that I was in a terrible mood after seeing it, so I didn’t want to talk about it. That was my mistake. I hope you don’t mind!"
A horrific scene... Recalling Paige’s low spirits and silence back then, Vincent Vaughn and Chester Lincoln immediately filled in the blanks. They pictured the countless people who must have been hiding in that cavern, only to starve or die of thirst, leaving a floor littered with corpses and skeletons. ’No one would feel good after seeing that!’
"We understand!"
"Yeah, we would’ve found out eventually anyway. It’s no big deal! Don’t worry about it, Vice-Captain!"
Paige Summers smiled and nodded.
’They’re quick on the uptake! Not bad, not bad at all!’
Still smiling, she turned her gaze back toward May Joyce’s group.
Claire Chapman had already used the commotion of the team members crowding in to slip to the edge of the group. He was now asking May Joyce what had happened.
Since it involved Sean Raines, Paige Summers couldn’t help but feel concerned.
She immediately gestured for the team members to quiet down. "Alright, we can celebrate after we leave this place! For now, everyone, hurry inside and get some rest. Patrols, stay on high alert!"
Everyone nodded obediently and dispersed.
Anyone who had wanted to linger and watch what was happening with May Joyce quickly gave up under Paige Summers’s sharp gaze. She even sent Ben inside.
Only then did she walk over to the three of them.
"What happened?"
With a strange look in his eyes, Claire Chapman spoke first. "May says she saw Sean Raines talking to a zombie. When he noticed her, he hid it. She suspects he’s... an inside agent for the zombies, or that he’s colluding with them to attack us from both inside and out..."
’Damn it, just saying that out loud feels like it’s lowering my IQ! If May hadn’t seemed so lucid, I’d have thought she was still scared out of her mind from what happened before! But... while her suspicions are a little too wild to be credible, the first part—what she saw with her own eyes—is probably true.’
’Which means Sean Raines was really talking to a zombie.’
’That’s not entirely impossible.’
Claire Chapman gave Paige Summers a meaningful look.
Paige, who happened to be thinking the same thing, immediately understood. She glanced at May Joyce, signaling for Claire to get her to leave so the three of them could talk freely.
"May." Claire immediately turned and patted May Joyce’s shoulder, his face full of concern. "I’ve got this. Let me question him. You should go back and rest. You look terribly pale, and we have to head back soon. It’s worrying to see you like this, you know?"
Reassured by his words, May Joyce instantly relaxed.
She was used to letting others handle the big problems, so she had no issue with leaving Sean Raines for Claire Chapman to deal with.
Most importantly, ever since the bloody incident in her room and her subsequent betrayal by a trusted subordinate, she had become extremely fragile, unnerved by the slightest disturbance. And in her moment of extreme vulnerability, Claire Chapman had been so gentle and caring. It felt as if no matter what hardship she faced, she would be safe as long as he was there.
Because of that, she had come to trust him and his words completely.
"Okay, then. I’ll leave him to you. Don’t worry about me, I’m going to rest now."
After watching her walk away, Claire Chapman turned back to see Paige Summers wearing a look of utter disgust. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain that he was only being nice to May Joyce because she was Leo Joyce’s sister, that he was just paving the way for Bloodfall... But the words died on his lips, and he said nothing.
He turned his gaze to Sean Raines.
’He’s the priority right now. We can deal with the other stuff later.’
Paige Summers also schooled her expression, her gaze cool as she looked at Sean Raines.
"What’s this? An interrogation?" Sean Raines asked, raising an eyebrow.
Claire Chapman shrugged. "There are only two of us. Stop trying to change the subject. Talk."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Say what needs to be said. Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
Sean Raines lifted his chin. "Sorry, that’s my private business. No comment. Besides, I’m not a member of Bloodfall. I don’t see why I need to explain myself to you, Captain."
"Oh? Is that so? Well, since you’re not a member of Bloodfall, there’s no reason for you to stick around. And believe me, as captain, I have every right to expel an outsider who might harbor ill intentions toward this Hunting Party! Be on your way. I won’t see you out."
Sean Raines ground his teeth. Forcing him to leave now, with so many zombies around, was a death sentence! After a long pause, he was forced to soften his tone. "Hey... you don’t have to be so ruthless, do you? We’ve known each other for a long time. If it wasn’t for me, you never would have gotten your superpower back..."
That topic made Claire hesitate, but it also annoyed him.
He would never forget the favor Sean had done him; it was the only reason he had tolerated his lazy attitude for so long. It wasn’t that he didn’t have ways of dealing with him, but because he owed him, he had held back.
But hearing Sean bring it up now, at this specific moment, felt too much like blackmail.
That was the source of his irritation.
Besides, he wasn’t pressing Sean out of any ill will.
He was just worried about his actions.
Not everyone is lucky enough to run into a zombie like Ben. freewebnoveℓ.com
If Sean did something stupid and got himself killed trying to approach a zombie, it would be a pointless waste!
Asking him nicely would get him nowhere, but the moment he applied some pressure, Sean used the favor to shut him down. The more Claire thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "The Hunting Party’s interests come before everything else. Personal favors and grudges have to be set aside. I’m sure you can understand."
Sean Raines glared at him for a long moment, but seeing that Claire was unmoved, he could only turn his gaze to Paige Summers.
Unfortunately, she dismissed him with a single sentence.
"When it comes to the Hunting Party’s safety, the captain has the final say."
Finally, Sean Raines heaved a long sigh and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Fine, fine, you win. I’ll talk. But you have to keep this a secret! If you don’t, you’ll be the death of me!"
