Chapter 396 - 281: Pioneering
For the time being, Paige Summers had no intention of telling Marcus Monroe about her body’s actual condition.
’This business of shrinking... well, I’m not that small yet, anyway. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.’
’Besides, Andy is already working on the cure. Who knows, maybe it’ll be ready by the time they get back?’
It wasn’t that she was being too optimistic.
It was just that she had probed the inside of her body countless times and couldn’t find a single thing wrong.
She didn’t even know where to begin to reverse the condition!
It was more than a little frustrating...
However, she had no problem briskly recounting her adventures as a "Grain Distributor" along the way.
Marcus Monroe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after hearing her story.
"I did intend to wash my hands of Jovitas’s affairs, but how could Black S possibly agree to that! That’s why there’s no need to bribe the people in Jovitas; every one of them already sees me as their future boss!"
Paige Summers asked, puzzled, "Don’t tell me you said that on purpose for him to hear?"
Marcus Monroe chuckled. "Do I even need to? Wasn’t I just in a bad mood? Jovitas looks profitable, but its internal affairs are a huge pain. I really wanted nothing more to do with it. But Black S has been exceptionally good to me. On second thought, it didn’t seem right to just walk away, so I reluctantly took it on."
Paige Summers pointed at him and laughed. "You’re just fishing for sympathy after getting exactly what you wanted!"
Marcus Monroe tilted his head, thinking for a moment. "Ultimately, it’s only because this incident didn’t cause Jovitas any losses—and in fact, let them gain a considerable advantage—that Black S truly has nothing to say."
Paige Summers nodded. She understood that much.
Black S was certainly good to Marcus Monroe, but that was predicated on what was best for Jovitas. Anything else, like personal feelings, had to take a backseat.
"Alright, you’ve heard what you wanted to hear. Get up. Let’s go for a walk outside!" Marcus Monroe said, pulling Paige Summers out of bed.
Of course, by "a walk," he didn’t mean in the city, but outside its walls.
Since they were already in Norgate, wouldn’t it be a wasted trip if they didn’t take the opportunity to search for Nora Lowell?
So, the two of them, along with Sweetie, quickly left the city.
Marcus Monroe had already spoken with the guard detail. Paige Summers would use her own credentials for now. Even if they wanted to change them, it couldn’t be done here; the equipment was incomplete. They would have to go back to Central City for that.
The two walked at a leisurely pace toward the buried tunnel entrance. After finding nothing, they headed over to the spot where they had met the men in black.
Naturally, the place was deserted.
As Paige Summers wandered through the woods, she suddenly said, "What do you think about us building a planting base here?"
Before the apocalypse, the soil in the north was excellent, the climate was ideal, and the region was a major producer of rice. Although it had been contaminated since the apocalypse, with her rice seeds, it might not be unsuitable for cultivation.
Her words reminded Marcus Monroe of something.
"That’s a good idea. I previously made a point of sending soil and water samples from the north to The Research Institute. Academician Warren said the contamination here is less severe than around Central City. They originally wanted to start their land restoration experiments here first, but since Norgate hadn’t been reclaimed at the time, it had to be delayed. Now, though... I imagine The Research Institute will be proposing it to The Government very soon."
Paige Summers’s eyes lit up.
"So they’ve made progress on the experiments?"
"They have. I hear Nadia played a significant part. Academician Warren is much friendlier to me now. He even thanked me for recommending such a good apprentice to him."
Paige Summers smiled.
’It seems Nadia has found her place,’ she thought. ’That’s good.’
Then, Marcus Monroe added, "However, we can’t get The Research Institute involved with the planting base. That would just create unnecessary trouble." He gazed out at the distant wilderness, then said after a moment of deliberation, "I’ll send some people to get things started. Secrecy is crucial."
Establishing a real planting base was no small undertaking.
It would have to be kept secret not only from The Central Government, but Marcus also had no intention of letting Jovitas participate. After all, Black S was still around. If he were to make a decision that went against Marcus’s plans, it would just be a nuisance.
He might as well transfer some people directly from The Dead City. Those men had been through life and death with him; by comparison, they were the most trustworthy!
Marcus Monroe gazed toward Norgate in the distance, a smile playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow.
’If we can really succeed with large-scale cultivation...’ he thought. ’It’s not that I’m greedy, but it would be most reassuring to have this city firmly under the control of my own people!’
’Therefore, this task is best left to Sylas Underwood of the Spiritual System.’
’He’s been resting for long enough. It’s time he did something!’
The two of them scoured the entire area but couldn’t find any trace of the men in black or anything Nora Lowell might have left behind. They had no choice but to head back to the city.
Upon their return, Marcus Monroe immediately ordered the squad that had accompanied him to Norgate to make a trip to The Dead City and deliver a message to Sylas Underwood.
The journey would be somewhat dangerous, but not beyond their capabilities.
Besides, The Dead City had established several Hunter camps in the wilderness. As long as the squad could make contact with one, they could be safely escorted into the city.