Nina Jacobs nodded in understanding.

It was just like the Lockwood Squad back in City J.

Even when they hid in a basement, the slightest scuffle would attract a horde of zombies, ultimately leading to their complete annihilation.

"Why would they do that?"

Joanne Page asked in disbelief.

"To eliminate dissidents and control the narrative,"

Aidan Keaton replied.

There used to be many survivors trapped in Aethelgard. She, Frederick Langdon, and the others were in the first group to be rescued.

At first, they thought everyone else would be saved too, but Riventon Base never launched any follow-up rescue missions.

Later, they joined forces with other survivors to protest, demanding the base send people to save Aethelgard. They even marked out the likely locations of other survivors.

The protest made many people question the base leader, Justin Stone. In response, Stone quickly agreed to a rescue mission.

"Justin Stone called on those of us who had protested to join the rescue mission, claiming his people weren’t familiar with the layout of Aethelgard. We immediately signed up after hearing that, but as it turned out..."

Aidan Keaton said, her brow furrowed.

There were over 300 protesters who joined the rescue.

They all naively believed Justin Stone’s words.

The day they entered Aethelgard, they immediately sensed something was wrong. The people from the base didn’t start a rescue; instead, they lured all the surrounding zombies into the city.

Soon after, zombies blocked the entrances and exits of Aethelgard, and then the city gates were shut.

At this, a pained expression crossed Aidan Keaton’s face.

The horrifyingly cruel scene flashed before her eyes again. Nearly all of the 300-plus volunteers had been devoured by zombies.

"We had already rescued so many survivors by then, but... but..."

Lena Driscoll broke down, covering her face as she spoke.

Those people thought their rescuers had finally arrived.

They were clutching the children they had struggled so hard to protect.

They were holding the hands of lovers, family, or friends with whom they had weathered every hardship.

Carrying the hope they had fought so desperately to keep alive, they stepped out of their hiding places.

But what awaited them was another round of abandonment and death.

The look in their eyes before they died was unforgettable. Over the past few days, the rescuers had been crushed by guilt and despair countless times.

"That bastard, Justin Stone!"

Shirley Lucas’s eyes burned with fury. To think something like this had happened in Aethelgard.

It was utterly horrifying.

"It’s not your fault."

A woman said.

Nina Jacobs had already noticed when she arrived that besides Aidan Keaton’s group, there were only about sixteen or seventeen other people in the basement.

"You were tricked, too. If it weren’t for you all these past few days, we wouldn’t have survived either."

The woman, who looked to be in her fifties, was comforting Aidan and her friends.

Seeing this, the others also chimed in with words of comfort. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Honestly, it doesn’t matter if we get out or not. Even if we made it to Riventon Base, those people would never let us live in peace,"

a middle-aged man said, shaking his head.

"Our search and rescue team from City D has been looking for you,"

Joanne Page couldn’t help but say.

"The City D... rescue team?"

Someone looked up, staring at her with a bewildered expression.

"That’s right. We’re all from the City D Base," Joanne Page confirmed with a nod.

She walked over to Aidan Keaton and said, "If we could get in, we can definitely get you out. We’ll figure out a way together."

"But the people outside... they’ll shoot anyone they see coming out of here on sight.

We have no way to escape,"

Lena Driscoll said.

Justin Stone was taking his revenge.

All because they had dared to oppose him back at the base.

Many of their companions had managed to escape before, since Aethelgard wasn’t completely sealed off.

But they were all discovered and killed by the people in the camp outside.

"Actually, we should have realized it from the start.

Justin Stone deliberately left the Space Superpower User among us back at the base,"

Frederick Langdon said.

Aethelgard was filled with supplies, most of which were protected inside shipping containers or cargo trucks.

The reason Justin Stone dared to lock them in here was because he knew they didn’t have a Space Superpower User.

He was waiting for them to die off on their own.

In the meantime, they would also serve to keep the zombies inside the city occupied.

As long as there were living people inside, the zombies wouldn’t all swarm out of the city.

"No Space Superpower User, you say?"

Shirley Lucas sneered. ’Well, they have one now.’

Joanne Page instantly understood what Shirley meant.

"You must know where the supply caches in Aethelgard are, right?"

Joanne Page asked.

Aidan Keaton nodded. "Have you forgotten I grew up in Aethelgard? We’ve been trapped here for months; we couldn’t be more familiar with where the supplies are."

She looked at the newcomers.

’Could it be that they’re planning to...’

"If you can get out of here, it wouldn’t be hard to take some supplies with you,"

Frederick Langdon said.

"Who said we only plan on taking *some*?"

’Since we’re here, shouldn’t we make Justin Stone bleed a little?’

"That’s right. And we’re taking you, too,"

Joanne Page added.

Aidan Keaton’s mouth fell slightly open. A look of yearning had appeared on her face, but the light in her eyes quickly died out.

"It’s impossible to get out."

She didn’t want to see anyone else die.

And she especially didn’t want to see Joanne Page and her group die for their sake.

"Where are the supplies?"

Nina Jacobs asked directly.

"Getting out isn’t the problem. Time is,"

she said.

"Time?" Frederick Langdon didn’t understand what Nina meant.

"We need to collect at least half of the supplies before they notice us,"

Nina Jacobs replied.

"How is that possible?! Do you have any idea how many supplies are here?"

the middle-aged man from before exclaimed.

"How many?"

Shirley Lucas’s and Nina Jacobs’s eyes lit up as they asked in unison.

"Well... a lot, anyway. The freight station alone is packed full.

And we’ve moved some supplies ourselves over the past few days,"

the middle-aged man answered.

Seeing this, Aidan Keaton quickly took out a hand-drawn map and handed it to Nina Jacobs.

"I drew this. The supply caches are mostly concentrated here.

Except for the supplies here, which can’t be taken,

you can start with these few spots. You can get to them directly from the underground tunnels."

"Take us there,"

Nina Jacobs said.

’An entire city’s worth of supplies... Even if Shirley can’t hold much, there’s still me.’

Nina Jacobs checked the time.

There were still seven hours until dawn.

"Aethelgard is a transportation and transit hub. Besides the overground tracks, there are also many underground tunnels for moving supplies..."

Frederick Langdon explained as they walked.

They soon led Shirley Lucas to an archway.

In the dim light, the words on the archway were still visible: Underground Transit Center - Gate 1.

Stepping through the archway, they could see stacks of supplies.

"We managed to move all these supplies in here ourselves. Quick, take them all,"

Aidan Keaton said.

Knowing that Shirley Lucas was going to collect the supplies, no one objected. In fact, they hoped someone would take everything away.

No matter where the supplies ended up, it was better than them being taken by Justin Stone’s people.

"Aiden, don’t worry. I’ll definitely get you out of here,"

Joanne Page said.

"I used to really want to get out..."

Aidan Keaton looked down with a bitter smile. That was why she had tried to throw so many distress notes to the outside world.

But after witnessing so much death, she started to feel that living and dying were the same.

"You have a younger brother named Kyle Keaton?"

Nina Jacobs, who was standing to the side, asked.

Seeing Aidan Keaton stare at her in shock, she added, "He’s in my squad."

"Kyle is still alive?!"

Aidan Keaton asked, her voice filled with disbelief.