The "higher-up" in question wasn’t Shawn Monroe, but Quentin Sutton, the doctor at The Citadel.

During such extraordinary times, a doctor’s duties naturally extended beyond just treating illnesses.

In fact, Quentin Sutton was deeply trusted by Shawn Monroe. But because his temperament wasn’t suited for charging into the fray, Shawn Monroe had given him a special assignment in addition to treating the wounded: monitor Levi Young and bring back Paige Summers.

He was just about to see Shawn Monroe when the news arrived. When he heard that someone suspected to be Paige Summers had returned and taken Levi Young, his heart sank with a touch of worry.

At this point, he was not the man described in the "original story"—the one unilaterally infatuated with Nora Lowell and who vehemently hated Paige Summers. On the contrary, his interactions with Paige Summers while she was recuperating at The Citadel had left him with a favorable first impression. He felt that even though he practiced medicine and she created toxins, she was anything but narrow-minded. She was lively and cheerful, treating others with sincerity and courtesy. A young woman like that was a rare sight in the apocalypse, and he genuinely admired her.

He was vaguely aware of Shawn Monroe’s methods regarding her. While Quentin Sutton admired Shawn Monroe’s capabilities, he disapproved of his actions in this matter. ’Paige Summers is a strong-willed woman. Since she doesn’t like him, coercion will be useless.’ He was an emotional person by nature, so it was no surprise he thought this way. Consequently, he had very little enthusiasm for the task of forcibly bringing her back to The Citadel.

As for Nora Lowell, in the "original story," she never had the chance to meet Woody Warren after arriving in The Dead City, instead moving directly into The Citadel. Quentin Sutton’s interactions with her were quite frequent, which is how his inappropriate feelings developed. But now, Nora Lowell was staying with Woody Warren. Out of a sense of pride, she refused to visit The Citadel often, so it was usually Shawn Monroe who went to see her. The number of times Quentin Sutton had seen her could be counted on one hand; they were mere nodding acquaintances. There was no chance for him to gradually fall for her, let alone become so deeply infatuated that he would act like a Saint.

Given the circumstances, he privately felt it would be best if Paige Summers never returned.

But everything was heading in the direction he dreaded. Knowing Shawn Monroe’s methods, he was deeply pessimistic about Paige Summers’s chances of leaving again once she returned. But this couldn’t be kept secret... After hesitating outside for a long while, he finally entered the main hall to see Shawn Monroe.

Shawn Monroe wasn’t the only one in The Citadel’s main hall. Nora Lowell was there, too!

Quentin Sutton was surprised, but he didn’t think much of it.

He only knew Nora Lowell had been away on a task for Shawn Monroe. He figured she had just returned after completing it.

He gave a rough report about someone abducting Levi Young, deliberately leaving his words vague. He only said it was the work of a very unattractive-looking girl.

Shawn Monroe mulled it over for a moment before letting out a sardonic laugh. "It must be Paige Summers. No doubt about it. I never thought she’d have the guts to snatch someone right from under our noses. Quentin, you slipped up this time. I told you she’s extremely cunning. Disguising herself would be a simple matter for her!"

Quentin Sutton’s lips tightened. "Yes."

Shawn Monroe was surprised, but not particularly angry. The Dead City was his domain now. Since Paige Summers had returned, there was no way she was leaving again! He had it all planned out. ’As long as I keep her by my side, there will come a day when her weapon-crafting skills—and even she herself—will willingly become mine!’

"Here’s what you’ll do. Take some men from the guards and step up the search. You must find her and bring her to me! Pay special attention to the city gates. Find out how she slipped in and don’t let her slip out the same way. Otherwise..." Shawn Monroe gave him a chilling, unsmiling grin, "I’ll be holding you personally accountable."

Hearing the danger in his tone, a thin layer of sweat broke out on Quentin Sutton’s back.

’An outburst from Shawn Monroe wasn’t scary, but this attitude meant he was serious. If I screw up again, I’m afraid things won’t end well for me.’

He immediately complied and excused himself.

At that moment, Nora Lowell sat in a chair to Shawn Monroe’s side, her mood utterly foul.

She had only just returned, and hearing Paige Summers’s name filled her with an immense hatred.

She had indeed made it back. In fact, thanks to the delays Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers’s group had faced—robberies, car repairs, and the like—she had arrived even earlier than them.

But the hardships she had endured along the way were unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Being captured, imprisoned, and treated like a hostage—each was a profound humiliation. But she refused to be discouraged or to compromise. After giving up on Marcus Monroe completely and being tossed aside to his team members, she spent the entire journey to Mount Turol looking for a chance to escape.

Back in Norgate, she had survived the adversities created by her stepmother; of course she had her ways.

She simply seized the right moment for a "heart-to-heart" talk with Ace and Leanne Walsh. She played on their loyalty to Shawn Monroe, convincing them that if no one returned to report Marcus’s actions, the consequences for Shawn could be dire, potentially even destabilizing his position. And since Marcus Monroe had no immediate plans to kill them, the two grew bolder. One faked an illness while the other used seduction, desperately stalling Marcus Monroe’s men and the other Hunting Squad, creating an opportunity for her to escape.

Why her?

’Did it even need to be said? She was the highest-rank Superpower User of the three!’ 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Yet even for a Fifth-rank Superpower User, crossing the wilderness alone to return to The Dead City was unrealistic.

She resorted to every means necessary with the Hunting Parties she encountered on her way—robbery, murder, threats, seduction... She trampled her pride and principles into the dust just to secure a few bodyguards and rush back to The Dead City as fast as she could.

But to her dismay, Shawn Monroe was no longer as devoted to her as he once was.

When he learned the mission to seize the supplies had failed, he said nothing, but Nora Lowell, adept at reading people, saw the dissatisfaction and blame in his eyes. He verbally expressed joy, relief, and praise for her desperate escape and return, yet his words were laced with concern for the plight of Ace and Leanne Walsh...

’How could she possibly remain calm?!’

And that wasn’t all. He knew Marcus Monroe and the others would be back. While he was arranging men to capture them all in one go, he was also showing an intense interest in Paige Summers—the very person responsible for all her suffering!

’Where did that leave her in his eyes?’

’It was a slap in the face, delivered through his actions!’

The thought of the slap Paige Summers had given her made Nora Lowell’s eyes narrow. Suppressing the urge to tear her apart and devour her raw, she said in a deceptively calm voice, "Since Paige Summers is back, Marcus Monroe and his group must have arrived as well. Perhaps they’ve already entered the city..."

"It’s already been arranged." Shawn Monroe rose and walked toward the exit. At the door, he glanced back at her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Don’t worry. This time, I’ll make sure he never leaves. I am the true City Lord of The Dead City!"

As his back disappeared from view, Nora Lowell shot to her feet.

’She didn’t doubt that he wanted to kill Marcus Monroe. But as for Paige Summers... she’d have to take care of that herself!’

Leaving the main hall, she asked a servant for Quentin Sutton’s whereabouts and hurried over.