Howard Everett’s smile faltered for a moment. He smoothly changed the subject. "Speaking of Leanne Walsh, there’s something I just can’t wrap my head around. She knew the location of those hidden supplies in incredible detail, almost as if she’d seen it with her own eyes. But we investigated, and she shouldn’t have received any messages from over there..."

Hearing this, Paige Summers immediately clamped her mouth shut.

This was a topic she really shouldn’t comment on, lest he also wonder how she knew about the lead and start digging for the truth. However, only Leanne Walsh knew the specifics about the supplies, so Paige subconsciously concluded that Marcus Monroe must have broken her out from Shawn Monroe’s clutches.

Her mood lightened considerably.

’This isn’t the right time to deal with her. I’ll let her live a little longer. I’ll settle it when I get back!’

After confirming the time and meeting place, Howard Everett left in a hurry.

Paige Summers let out an even bigger sigh of relief. She ran through a mental checklist of things she needed to bring and immediately started preparing.

Time flies when you’re busy, and most of the day passed in the blink of an eye.

After nightfall, Paige Summers arrived at the designated meeting spot. She had a pack on her back and a Crossbow at her side. This time, she didn’t bring her Short Sword, having swapped it for a newly forged Single Blade. She was also carrying a wrapped bundle containing six more new blades she had just finished making.

This was the easternmost part of The Dead City’s Lower District, right near the city wall. Because it had once been surprise-attacked by a massive Mutant Beast, people were unwilling to live nearby even after it was rebuilt.

It was extremely quiet.

Save for the sound of a dozen or so breaths.

As soon as Paige Summers got close, someone emerged from an inconspicuous corner and made a "follow me" gesture.

It was Isaiah Langley.

She followed silently.

It wasn’t until she reached a large tree that she saw everyone was gathered there.

Besides the ones she recognized from the last hunting expedition, there were five unfamiliar faces. Marcus Monroe was leaning against the tree trunk and waved her over when he saw her.

Paige Summers walked over and handed him the weapon bundle.

No one spoke, but the moment Marcus Monroe took the bundle, he knew what it was. He glanced at her and gave a subtle nod, as if to express his thanks.

Paige Summers just smiled.

’The materials were all leftovers from making the crossbows, so it didn’t feel right to keep it all for myself. This way, I’m just returning the favor.’

’Besides, the blades I forged are in no way inferior to the best ones sold outside, or even those I’ve seen at auctions. My only complaint is with the quality of the material.’

’I originally planned to give them as a parting gift when I left The Dead City, but I figure they need them more right now.’

When Marcus Monroe and the others opened the bundle, their eyes lit up. In the pitch-black night, if you added a hint of green, they’d look just like a pack of wolves.

Six blades certainly weren’t enough for everyone. The men exchanged a flurry of murderous glares, and before Paige Summers could even figure out what was happening, the owners had been decided.

The blades were all snatched up. Just as Paige Summers was wondering how they planned to get out of the city, a head suddenly popped out from under the large tree, startling her. Filled with curiosity and confusion, she was once again placed in the middle of the group as they nimbly jumped, one after another, into the hole beneath the tree.

’So *this* is another way for a Natural Ability User to use an Earth Element Power! What an eye-opener.’

The tunnel he’d dug was narrow, only allowing one person to pass at a time, and they had to stoop. But the earthen walls on both sides were perfectly smooth, as if they’d been carved with a knife. If she didn’t know he couldn’t have started ahead of time—that he must have begun after dark—she would have suspected it took him two whole days.

The tunnel began under the tree inside the city and ended a hundred meters outside the city walls.

Back on the surface, Paige Summers noticed the Earth Ability User was the last one out. He took care of the cleanup as he emerged, filling the tunnel behind him. By the time he was out, the tunnel was sealed. He then smoothed the ground and scattered some rocks over the spot, making it nearly impossible to tell anyone had ever dug there.

’Amazing!’

But there was no time for Paige Summers to marvel. They had to hurry and get far away from The Dead City. Only then could they take the vehicles out of their storage rings and drive. Otherwise, relying on their own two feet, even Superpower Users would die of exhaustion.

The group of twelve left The Dead City under the cover of night, sprinting across the wilderness toward their distant destination!

At the same time, on a certain street within The Dead City, the atmosphere was heating up. People bustled about, ready to kick off a relaxing night.

Shawn Monroe was in a private room in one of these buildings.

Anyone who knew him and saw him here would just think he was being his usual young, promiscuous self, unable to be tied down even by a stunning Fifth-rank Thunder Ability User like Nora Lowell. But at this moment, Shawn Monroe was in no mood to indulge in women. He was here purely as a cover to meet with his confidants, Ace and Jayden Yeats.

Shawn Monroe sat at the table, his face taut. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Do you think that old man has already detected our movements?" Over the past two days, Graham Monroe had been secretly meeting with people, including some of the staunch followers who had rebelled against Central City with him. Now, they held a certain amount of power in The Dead City.

Ace thought for a moment and said, "We have a mole among the people he met with. There’s no sign we’ve been discovered. He just routinely asked for their thoughts on the current situation."

Shawn Monroe frowned. Even though that was the report, he still felt uneasy.

Just then, Jayden Yeats said softly, "But what if he already knows who belongs to the Young City Lord..."

He didn’t need to finish the sentence; the other two were already struck with alarm. A storm raged in Shawn Monroe’s heart, in particular. If that were true, wouldn’t it mean that Graham Monroe had every development firmly in the palm of his hand? What would he have left to fight back with?

"It can’t be!"

Ace’s suppressed voice echoed in the private room, voicing the very words that had been on the tip of Shawn Monroe’s tongue.

However, after a brief moment of panic, he quickly calmed down.

There were too many reasons he could no longer tolerate Graham Monroe’s existence. And once you start something like a rebellion, there’s no turning back. He could only—and would only—see it through to the end.

"Even if he knows something, the fact that he hasn’t taken action means he’s still just suspicious. In that case, we might as well put on a little show for him!"