Old Man Townsend’s face froze.

Everyone else in the vehicle burst out laughing. A few of them, ignoring Claire Chapman’s facepalm, started chiming in to tease him. The gloomy atmosphere from before instantly vanished.

It was only then that Paige Summers realized most of the people here knew Claire Chapman.

’I didn’t expect this guy to be so good at socializing. His people skills are amazing!’

With Claire Chapman acting as an intermediary, and Paige Summers being naturally cheerful herself, she quickly hit it off with everyone.

The Guard Captain split their group into four small teams to provide reinforcements separately.

Claire Chapman, his people, Paige Summers, and Martin Warren were on the same team. The other few members were also acquaintances of his, so he naturally took on the role of temporary team leader.

He, Martin Warren, and another Earth Ability User were responsible for long-range attacks. Paige Summers, on the other hand, gave up her Crossbow and chose to engage in close combat like the others.

Looking around, it was clear their temporary team had the best coordination.

When it came to killing Mutant Beasts, they not only used the fewest superpowers but were also the most efficient.

Sweetie played a huge part in this as well.

On the journey to Glimmerlake, it wasn’t just Paige Summers who had been honed. Sweetie’s method of exclusively targeting the eyes of Mutant Beasts had also been greatly refined.

Now, it specialized in attacking during the lulls in the Superpower Users’ assaults. Coordinating with Paige Summers’s close-quarters combat, they could sometimes finish a fight in just two or three exchanges. Sweetie would peck out a Mutant Beast’s eyes, and Paige Summers would immediately follow up with a fatal blow to a vital spot!

The coordination between the human and the bird was incredibly eye-catching, causing onlookers to click their tongues in amazement.

It wasn’t just the Superpower Users on their team; even the members of The Guard they were reinforcing felt their fighting spirit surge because of their performance!

As for the ordinary people under protection, they no longer worried that Sweetie, being a mutated bird, might suddenly fly down and harm them. Instead, they were full of admiration for its agility and ferocity. The younger children even cheered whenever Sweetie succeeded!

As for Paige Summers, she considered her own reward to be the greatest of all.

’A slow but endless stream of warmth flowing into my chest is putting me in a great mood! Although each bit of goodwill isn’t much, the sheer quantity makes up for it! The mark filled up in no time, and the excess is naturally flowing into the earring.’

She subconsciously touched her earlobe, her eyes shining brightly. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’It’s already more than half full!’

’Maybe I’ll be able to activate it sooner than I thought!’

A faint smile on her face, she thought, ’No matter what happens in the future, right now, I will do my absolute best to protect the people who are showing me such gratitude!’

With the help of the Hunting Party, the evacuating convoy began to move faster again.

But as Paige Summers looked back at the long line of evacuees, a sense of anxiety welled up inside her.

’It’s too slow!’

Over two hours had already passed. According to what Isaiah Langley said, the Beast Tide was surging toward Glimmerlake Base right now, and it probably wouldn’t be long before it arrived.

’At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before they catch up to the convoy!’

’These guards and Superpower Users alone can’t possibly protect so many people.’

’When that happens, none of them will escape!’

’Samuel Hughes and the others probably don’t understand the severity of the situation yet.’

’I don’t know what Marcus Monroe is planning. He’s following the convoy now to avoid standing out and causing trouble, but if real danger appears, he can leave at any time and head for Mount Turol on his own. But will they spread the word?’

She pressed her lips together tightly. She knew she was being a busybody, but she went to find Claire Chapman anyway.

"Hey! We’re moving way slower on foot than the Mutant Beasts. If we keep this up, it’s only a matter of time before those things that are following the scent catch up. Do you have any ideas?"

Claire Chapman had the others remain on high alert for any changes in their surroundings and pulled her aside.

"Do you have some intel?"

"Yeah. I estimate the Beast Tide will probably reach the base in about two hours."

Claire Chapman’s expression changed. He didn’t ask where she got her information, but simply murmured thoughtfully, "You’re right, this can’t go on..."

Paige Summers hesitated for a moment before saying resignedly, "We should at least get one group away first, especially..." ’The able-bodied adults and the children!’

She didn’t say the last part out loud, but Claire Chapman understood.

The idea sounded cruel, but it was the most viable option.

In the apocalypse, there were very few elderly people left among the general population. However, the people in their fifties in the convoy already looked like they were in their sixties or seventies. Years of poor living conditions had drastically reduced their stamina, making them the slowest. If everyone had to accommodate their pace, no one would make it out in the end.

"I know." Claire Chapman let out a deep sigh and forced a smile. "I know a lot of people here. I’ll figure out a way to communicate with the base."

Watching him hurry off, Paige Summers was quite impressed.

’He really didn’t have to take this on himself. I was just giving him a heads-up.’

’The members of Flying Eagle who decided to leave this time are all Superpower Users. They can also break away from the convoy at any moment, not to mention they had already left the base to begin with.’

’But now, he’s choosing to help the people from the base as much as possible...’

"So manly!" Paige Summers broke into a smile.

Just then, Martin Warren, who had gone back on Marcus Monroe’s orders, returned.

He relayed the message, "The boss’s orders are to stick with the convoy for now. The Beast Tide is a danger, but it’s also an opportunity. Based on the experiences of other bases, a lot of big ones will show up in the Beast Tide, which means no shortage of Crystal Cores! Heh heh, Larry said we still have some time. So, everyone get ready. We’ll wait for the right moment to act. By the way, you’re running low on arrows, right? The boss said you should go get some from him."

Paige Summers was a little surprised. ’Marcus Monroe has arrows?’

When she returned to the vehicle, she found out that he really did have them, and quite a lot of them!

Although their craftsmanship wasn’t as fine as her own, they were still decent.

Watching her take the Crossbow Arrows, Marcus Monroe’s mood finally improved a bit. "It’s inconvenient for you to carry too many at once. Remember to come get more from me when you need them."

Paige Summers was at a loss for words for a moment and could only thank him in a low voice.

Grant Yardley boisterously slapped her on the shoulder. "We’re all on the same team, no need to be so formal!"

Paige Summers forced a smile and nodded.

Marcus Monroe had someone else temporarily take over her protection duties, so she was able to sit in the vehicle and apply Poisonous Liquid to her arrows one by one.

The others watched the black Poisonous Liquid, their scalps tingling. They all instinctively shuddered and scooted a little further away.

Paige Summers shrugged, showing she didn’t mind at all!

’It’s been a while since I used Poison Arrows. Have these people forgotten how powerful they are?!’

’Once the Beast Tide arrives, they’ll be reminded of just how satisfying it is to kill a Mutant Beast with a single shot without using up too much superpower!’