Chapter 481: Give an Explanation
"Of course. You only trust people who are weaker than you, don’t you?"
Nina Jacobs’s Diamond Sand Spikes rained down on Anselm Hughes relentlessly.
Thinking back on her plan over the past few days, she realized Cordelia and the others’ original identities in Lornwood Base had been a huge convenience.
Ms. Carter’s suspicion back in the correction bay had also given her the perfect opportunity.
But ultimately, it was all because Anselm Hughes and the Whites were far too confident.
Anselm Hughes defended himself nonstop, realizing he didn’t stand a chance of fighting back against Nina Jacobs.
"The Puppetry Technique... just how did you break free from it?"
Anselm Hughes asked.
A Fireball struck his shoulder, instantly scorching flesh and bone.
"Trying to distract me so you can use poison?"
Nina Jacobs glanced at the fallen vial. ’Anselm Hughes should hate my guts right now, not be asking me so many questions.’
’The questions are just a ploy to make me lower my guard.’
"Too bad you’ve already played all your cards."
Nina Jacobs activated her Fire Element Superpower, sending several Fire Serpents surging toward Anselm Hughes.
BAM!
Unable to dodge in time, Anselm Hughes yanked Cecily Wells, who was standing beside him, into the path of the attack.
The raging flames instantly engulfed Cecily Wells.
"So your whole family... is cut from the same cloth."
As Cecily Wells’s eyes closed for the last time, she remembered Julia Hughes’s malicious smile.
’She should have realized it back then. Anselm Hughes and Julia Hughes are the same kind of people...’
Anselm Hughes didn’t get far before a Stone Spike suddenly shot up from the ground, tripping him.
Just as expected, a moment later, a Thorny Vine wrapped around his ankle.
"Holly, don’t kill him yet,"
Nina Jacobs said, stopping her.
"Why not?"
Holly Morgan asked, confused.
"Because everyone deserves an explanation."
Nina Jacobs replied.
What happened at Lornwood Base was too complicated. If Tomorrow Base wanted to clear its name, they had to publicly expose Anselm Hughes as the true culprit.
"I also owe everyone an explanation."
Evander Langdon had also walked over.
Nina Jacobs had actually noticed Evander Langdon a moment ago. She hadn’t expected him to wake up at such a perfect time.
Moreover, he looked no different from a normal person.
Perhaps Harlan’s treatment had also had a positive effect.
「Before the gates of Tomorrow Base.」
Anselm Hughes was imprisoned inside a cage made of Diamond Sand.
It was a cage specially made by Nina Jacobs, surrounded by a sand shield to prevent Anselm Hughes, a Gold Element Superpower user, from using his abilities.
"Everyone, the conflict between Lornwood Base and Tomorrow Base has been settled. From this day forward, Lornwood Base will be no more."
Nina Jacobs stood beneath the gates of Tomorrow Base, speaking calmly to the tens of thousands of people before her.
The crowd immediately erupted into discussion. Some cheered, while others were worried.
They were worried that Tomorrow Base would just become the next Lornwood Base.
"Today’s events will not affect the existing systems of Tomorrow Base. We hope to coexist peacefully with everyone in the base."
After Nina Jacobs finished speaking, many people breathed a temporary sigh of relief.
"However, regarding Lornwood Base’s slanderous rumors, we must also issue a clarification."
Nina Jacobs had Cordelia bring out stacks of investigation reports and evidence, which were then projected by a machine for all to see.
She then handed the floor to Felix Finch:
"Hello everyone, I am Vice Base Commander Felix Finch. After a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, we now announce the findings as follows:
"Mr. Evander Langdon, the commander of Lornwood Base, was not ambushed and killed by us. On the contrary, he was under the long-term drug-induced Control of Anselm Hughes and his wife, Arcadia White. His personal freedom was stripped away, and he was framed for baseless crimes. After a period of medical treatment, his condition has now improved."
What was going on? Evander Langdon had been controlled by someone?
This revelation greatly surprised many people in the crowd.
Evander Langdon’s own words confirmed this fact.
Unafraid of the questioning gazes, he walked to the center of the stage and bowed deeply.
"I am Evander Langdon. I am sorry. I let Lornwood Base become what it is today. I failed to protect the base."
The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted with curses.
"You think an apology makes everything okay? Why should we accept your apology!"
Evander Langdon’s expression remained unchanged.
"I don’t deserve anyone’s forgiveness. Even if someone were to kill me right now, I would have no complaints. The reason I am standing here is to seek justice for the old base commander.
"Luring a massive horde of zombies into Crestfall was a plan the old base commander rejected.
"It was Anselm Hughes and his people who, by some unknown means, caused his entire body to fester until he couldn’t even speak. The old base commander never betrayed anyone in Lornwood!"
"This time, I only managed to escape Lornwood Base with the help of a few old friends who knew the truth. I was not coerced by Tomorrow Base."
Evander Langdon knew the kind of infamy he carried, but he had no intention of running from it.
"So we were all deceived by General Hughes and Mrs. White?"
Someone in the crowd was still trying to make sense of it all.
Felix Finch continued:
"Regarding the second slanderous rumor: according to our investigation, Anselm Hughes secretly transferred supplies from Lornwood Base no fewer than forty times. The destination was his wife Arcadia White’s hometown, Whittaker Town."
"Anselm Hughes and Arcadia White used various methods to control the base’s water supply, with the goal of controlling all the survivors in the base.
"According to incomplete statistics, during this five-month period, 5,332 people died in Lornwood Base due to their violent policies. This number does not include the survivors who died while searching for water and supplies outside the base..."
Felix Finch’s brows furrowed, his voice filled with anger as he read this part of the report.
"Over five thousand people... over five thousand..."
Someone cried out in anguish.
"All those supplies we and the old base commander risked our lives to bring back... they were all stolen by these people?"
"Why wasn’t this discovered sooner? Why didn’t anyone find out sooner?
"Anselm Hughes, I’ll kill you!"
Many people rushed furiously toward Anselm Hughes, but they were blocked by a line of City Guard Soldiers.
"Anselm Hughes, do you admit to these charges?" Nina Jacobs asked coldly.
Inside the cage, Anselm Hughes seemed to have been completely drained of his strength, looking utterly defeated.
But he just laughed, a tacit admission:
"Why else would I say these people are idiots? As long as you find a scapegoat who has made great contributions to the base, they’ll gratefully endure anything. And that number you just announced isn’t accurate. You need to add some more."
As he spoke, Anselm Hughes held up one finger to the crowd.
"What do you mean by that?!"
Mirelle Keller wished she could kill the man right then and there.
"Nothing much. Just that today, the ten-thousand-plus people remaining in Lornwood Base will all be buried with me!"
After saying this, Anselm Hughes let out a sinister cackle.
But soon, he pointed angrily at Nina Jacobs and shouted, "If it weren’t for you, our plan would have already come to fruition! This is all because of you!"
He had been replaying everything in his mind, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.
Only a moment ago did he realize that everything had changed after he met Nina Jacobs that day.
But Nina Jacobs showed no trace of panic or confusion, as if she had already seen through everything. She said, "Are you talking about your plan to poison everyone in Lornwood Base today?"
Anselm Hughes’s eyes widened. "How could you possibly know?!"
Nina Jacobs waved her hand, and a group of people walked forward.
"Because you reap what you sow.
"You can’t even remember how many people around you were just waiting for the right moment to deal you a fatal blow. The insiders you thought you had... they were already on our side.
"The people of Lornwood Base will be safe and sound. As for you... you’ll have plenty of company on your way to hell."