Trevor’s eyes lit up. He stood and respectfully placed the silk ribbon in Nina’s hand.

...

Nina gazed at the silk ribbon, but the system’s voice suddenly rang in her mind.

[Host has triggered the "Heart of Gratitude" title. Bonus reward: Earth Attribute Weapon, Diamond Sand!]

She couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

’So this could also trigger "Heart of Gratitude"?’

Combined with the bag of Mystic Ice Cores from the day before, Nina felt that taking on this disciple hadn’t been a bad deal at all.

"That day, I saw that your Wood Element Superpower seemed different from others..."

Nina began to speak slowly.

Trevor’s Wood Element Superpower could sprout directly inside a zombie’s body and strike its vital points, which was somewhat similar to her own.

As for guidance, the best she could do was relay the contents of the Wood Element Skill Book to him.

Trevor listened intently. Nina didn’t say much, but it was enough to shock him.

He listened while concentrating his Superpower, trying out what he had just learned.

Just as Nina got up to leave, the system’s notification sound rang out again:

[Host’s current actions will lead to saving 683 humans in several days. "Selfless Savior" title triggered. Reward: 683 bottles of Healing Potion.]

’This...’

’Did what I just taught Trevor lead to him mastering something that will save so many people?’

「Inside City D Base.」

Stella’s fame had exploded overnight. Many people tried to visit and build connections, but they were all politely turned away.

Everyone noticed that Stella still operated as usual, heading out every day to kill zombies, leaving early and returning late.

This also sparked a wave of base residents going out to kill zombies.

For a long time after, the zombies around City D Base were almost completely wiped out by the base’s Superpower Users.

However, on the third day after the competition ended, Icarus Golding appeared on Nina’s usual path.

"You guys go back first."

Nina said to Wayne Warner and the others behind her.

’It seems Icarus Golding is finally ready to show his hand.’

For the past few days in the base, she had been using "Five Senses Enhancement" to try and track Icarus Golding’s movements.

But she hadn’t found anything unusual.

But she believed Icarus Golding definitely had a reason for approaching her, and this was it.

"I hear Captain Jacobs goes out every day to hunt for Zombie Crystal Cores and search for supplies?"

Icarus Golding said as he walked, a sympathetic expression on his face. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Yes. If the team wants to grow, more supplies are essential."

Nina replied.

Icarus feigned a look of pity. "A talent like Captain Jacobs, I never thought you’d be troubled by a lack of supplies."

Nina pretended not to understand the meaning behind his words.

She listened as he continued, "If someone could provide Crystal Cores and supplies for Captain Jacobs, wouldn’t that make your Stella even more formidable?"

"I don’t believe in free lunches."

Nina replied.

Icarus Golding gave a mysterious smile. "I recently learned of an organization. As long as you join, you’ll receive a continuous supply of Crystal Cores and materials.

"I wonder if Miss Jacobs has heard of it?"

"There’s something that good? All you have to do is join?"

Nina asked.

Seeing that Nina seemed somewhat interested, Icarus Golding quickly explained:

"Hahaha, just joining isn’t enough. If other members of the organization run into trouble, you’re expected to help each other out. After all, it’s a warm, big family that helps one another."

"Joining won’t affect Miss Jacobs’s current life in any way. It’s just an extra identity."

"Tomorrow morning, I happen to be meeting a manager friend from the organization. If he agrees, Miss Jacobs can join directly."

Icarus Golding gave Nina an address.

The address wasn’t inside the base, but at an abandoned factory outside of it.

Nina looked at the address, a smile playing on her lips.

"Alright, I’ll go check it out."

"Excellent! We’re very much looking forward to Miss Jacobs joining.

"But about tomorrow’s meeting..."

Icarus Golding said meaningfully.

"Don’t worry. I’ll go alone tomorrow. No one else will know."

Nina naturally understood what he meant.

’The organization Icarus Golding is talking about is very likely the Aegis Conclave, and he must be a member.’

’The Aegis Conclave she knew in her past life was indeed different from any other organization.’

’Only those with a high enough Superpower Level were qualified to join.’

’After joining, there were no required contributions. She heard that just by registering, you would be rewarded with Crystal Cores and supplies. The higher your Superpower Level, the greater the rewards. And just as Icarus Golding said, it wouldn’t affect your normal life; you just gained an extra identity in private.’

’Conditions like these were hard for anyone to refuse.’

’But that was precisely why Nina found it suspicious. In her past life, after her entire team received an invitation, she had refused to join multiple times.’

’That’s why she suspected the Aegis Conclave was the one who tried to hire Liam Grant to kill her.’

"Nina, what are you thinking about?"

When Daniel Hale returned, he saw Nina walking slowly down the road, seemingly lost in thought.

"Nothing. Uncle Hale, are you off work?"

"Yeah, I’m off. I’ve arranged to talk with Lawson at his place tonight.

"Do you want to come along?"

Daniel Hale asked.

The people who were rating the base had all left, including the ones from the smaller bases.

He planned to take this opportunity tonight to report the matter of the Bishop Clan to the base leadership.

"I’ll pass. I have other things to do tomorrow."

Nina replied.

"Alright. Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing.

"Liam Grant and his team are back."

Daniel Hale said. As soon as Liam Grant returned this afternoon, he’d had someone inquire about what they had been up to in City J for the past month.

"How did it go? Did they find anything?"

Nina still remembered Liam Grant’s purpose for going to City J. They were searching for the "Mystic Ice Core."

Daniel Hale shook his head. "I heard they didn’t."

At first, he didn’t believe it. He even used his Spiritual Element Superpower to check and found that Liam Grant and his team had indeed not absorbed a Mystic Ice Core.

His Spiritual Element Superpower could detect abnormalities in someone who had absorbed an Ice Core, but he found none in Liam Grant’s group.

Not only that, but the reason they took so long to get back was apparently because they were surrounded by zombies. They were trapped in a small town for over half a month...

In the end, the base had to send a support team to rescue them.

"But they probably don’t have time to worry about that now."

Daniel Hale said.

Nina understood immediately. Having been gone for so many days, Liam Grant and his team probably didn’t know what had happened in the base yet.

Wyatt Jacobs, holding a grudge against Mr. and Mrs. Grant, had killed them with the zombie virus. Wyatt himself was now dead, the team "Wuji" had disbanded, and its members had scattered to who-knows-where...

’Liam Grant’s world must have just collapsed.’

’But none of that had anything to do with her.’

Inside a house sealed with a temporary notice, Liam Grant stared in disbelief at the empty, lifeless rooms.

Hannah Grant was inside, sobbing her heart out.

"Liam, don’t be too upset..."

Renee Strong moved her lips, her voice dropping.

But Liam still heard her. He whipped his head around to glare at Renee, his eyes filled with fury.

"How can I not be upset? Isn’t this exactly the result you wanted to see?!

"Going to City J was your idea! Leaving Wyatt Jacobs behind was also your idea!

"Tell me, were you in cahoots with him?!"

Liam’s eyes were bloodshot as he gripped Renee’s arms tightly.