Chapter 484: All Of You Are Dead
There was a nearby cabin where Vodka and Warriyo had taken the survivors. They hadn’t joined the fight because Warriyo needed to tend to the injured.
By the time Vodka arrived with the last group, Ophelia was already helping him. The other women pitched in, and even the children helped.
It might have sounded cruel, but because every one of them had grown so accustomed to abuse and injuries, they all knew how to treat wounds. As a result, Warriyo had no shortage of assistants.
When the last convoy carrying the rescued prisoners and Ashley’s crew arrived, the place felt like one large campsite.
Fortunately, the food Ashley’s crew had prepared was enough to fill every stomach, and they had brought enough medicine to treat everyone’s injuries.
A large bonfire burned in the center of the clearing between the cabins.
Everyone was busy. Yet somehow, it was quiet.
"What do we do with them?" Red asked, glancing at Ashley.
Khan walked over and stopped beside her.
"I checked the nearest base," he reported. "Interpol already seized it without any trouble."
He shrugged. "I also left an anonymous tip about this place. They would’ve found it eventually, but I figured I’d speed things up."
"That answers your question," Ashley said, glancing at Red. "They’ll handle the cleanup for us."
Red and Khan looked at her for a moment before simply shrugging.
As they watched everyone quietly eat their first meal outside the compound, Khan spoke again.
"You think they won’t tell the authorities who did all this?"
Red shrugged. "Let’s hope not."
It was a risk.
The survivors didn’t know Ashley’s identity, but they had seen the rest of the crew.
As the three silently watched the survivors share their meal, Old Fool approached with several prisoners and a few of the women.
"Madam," Old Fool called.
Ashley and her men turned to face him.
"This might be too early to ask," he began, "but... what happens to us after this?"
"There’ll be people coming here," Khan explained. "They’re not with us, but Madam believes they’ll take good care of you."
He glanced around and realized everyone nearby had gone quiet to listen.
"They’ll take you home," he said with a nod. "If we could ask one favor—"
He stopped when Ashley raised a hand and lightly tapped the back of it against his chest.
"You don’t have to," she said with a small smile before looking at Old Fool.
Old Fool immediately understood. Khan didn’t have to tell them to keep it a secret.
"We rebelled," he said simply before turning toward the others. "That’s what happened. Isn’t that right?"
"I had a dream," one of the children suddenly said. "In my dream, I met Super B."
"I like Super B," another child chimed in.
Like children always did, they quickly turned the conversation into stories and fantasies.
Ashley smiled as she listened. Not because she had become a hero in their eyes. But because she was relieved to know these children could still imagine things... and still find comfort in them.
Old Fool smiled faintly at the children before turning back to Ashley.
His lips parted, then closed again. He glanced at the other prisoners, noticing the same hesitation reflected in their eyes.
When they met his gaze, they quietly lowered their heads. Whatever they wanted him to ask, none of them said a word. As though they all understood why he couldn’t.
"That was all we wanted to ask," Old Fool finally said. "Thank you again, Madam. For rescuing us... and for such a wonderful meal."
With that, the prisoners nodded respectfully before turning away.
Charm, who had been standing nearby, let out a quiet sigh.
Of course, he thought. They already risked their lives to save us. They even fed us.
It wasn’t anything extravagant, but it had meat. They couldn’t even remember the last time they had tasted real meat.
How could they possibly ask for more from the people who had already given them everything?
Still...
Now that the adrenaline had faded and they had spent hours sitting around the bonfire, one question lingered in everyone’s mind.
What awaited them now that the walls imprisoning them had finally fallen?
The prisoners had barely taken a few steps before Ashley’s voice stopped them.
"Do any of you have somewhere to go?"
Her question carried across the clearing.
People around the cabins and bonfires instinctively turned toward her.
Ashley kept her eyes on Old Fool’s hunched back.
Slowly, they turned around to face her.
She wore only the faintest smile. Then her gaze swept across everyone gathered there.
Taking a slow breath, Ashley climbed onto a nearby crate.
She stood atop it and raised her voice.
"Does anyone here still have a home... family... or even a life waiting for them?" she asked. "If you do, raise your hand."
Everyone looked at one another.
Then, one by one, hands began to rise.
Children.
Women.
Men.
But far more people kept their hands lowered than raised them.
Ashley silently counted.
There were children and women among those who hadn’t raised their hands. She wasn’t surprised. Some had already been orphans or homeless before they were dragged into that hell.
The Di Carpios might have been monsters, but they generally avoided kidnapping children whose families would actively search for them. Unless it was absolutely necessary.
Or someone made a mistake.
Ashley had made a promise; she would make things right.
No matter how much she hated admitting it, the blood running through Marshal’s veins was the same blood running through hers.
She couldn’t simply rescue them and walk away, leaving them to fend for themselves after years of suffering in a prison the Di Carpios had created.
"To those with somewhere to return to..." Ashley called out, making sure everyone was listening. "Here’s what you’re going to tell the people who will arrive."
Her expression hardened.
"There was a rebellion. You escaped as fast as you could and found this cabin." She drew in a deep breath. "DID YOU HEAR ME?"
"Yes, Ma’am!" everyone shouted in unison.
Ashley nodded, satisfied.
"You don’t know what happened back there. All you know is that there was a rebellion." Her gaze shifted toward those whose hands remained lowered.
"As for the rest of you..." She paused, her jaw tightening.
This is the least I can do. The least I can do for the people the Di Carpios... and I... have hurt.
"From this day forward..." she said quietly, her eyes unwavering, "all of you are dead."
Confusion spread across the crowd. They exchanged uncertain glances before looking back at her.
"You died during the rebellion," Ashley continued. "You perished in the fire and were consumed by the explosion."
Silence settled over the clearing.
Ashley smiled—it wasn’t wide nor was it forced—it was simply reassuring.
Somehow, that alone eased the tension from their shoulders.
A soft chuckle escaped her before she looked at Old Fool.
Then, in a much gentler voice, she asked,
"So... how are all of you with plants?"