Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Admiring the Strong? Admire Me Instead.

She was truly shocked. ’Even with the Eye of Barrier Breaking, he’s still blocked from my view. His Superpower Level must be above S Level.’

Sue suddenly felt like she’d wasted her previous life. ’Just how many Superpowers are out there that I don’t know about?’

’And each one seems more incredible than the last!’

As she frowned, the two groups entered the elevator one after another. The doors slid slowly shut, the entire process swift and orderly, imbued with an indisputable authority.

"Who are those people? What a huge entourage."

"Judging by their clothes, they look like they’re from the military."

"No, that’s not it. Who are the bodyguards protecting? They look like a big shot!"

The people in the lobby began to whisper amongst themselves, their faces filled with curiosity and confusion.

Just then, someone murmured, "I think it’s the youngest son of the Hawthorne family."

"The Hawthorne family? Which Hawthorne family?"

"Which other one could it be? It’s *the* Hawthorne family—"

"Who?"

"Silas Hawthorne."

The moment his name was spoken, the lobby fell several degrees quieter, and shocked expressions appeared on many faces.

Silas Hawthorne. In their circles, the name was legendary. Six years ago, he had defied the consensus of the Hawthorne family to suddenly study abroad, pursuing network technology and artificial intelligence of all things. No one had expected him to appear at City Hall at a time like this.

As the low buzz of conversation continued to spread through the lobby, Elliot Lawrence’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He knew Silas Hawthorne’s reputation all too well. Back then, he had pulled strings just to get a single meeting, hoping to ask for a favor. And now that very same person was here? He looked up at Vincent Lawrence. Father and son’s eyes met, a shared gloominess settling in their gazes. It was clear they both sensed something was amiss.

"Dad, this is even trickier than we anticipated." Sue’s gaze was locked on the slowly ascending elevator, her tone contemplative. "It’s not just the army. Judging by their equipment and bearing, I’m afraid even special forces are involved."

Just as she spoke, a staff member hurried in and called out, "Thank you all for waiting, my sincerest apologies! Please make your way to the conference room on the third floor. This way, please!"

The crowd immediately stirred, surging toward the elevator bank to form a line.

Wyatt Sterling frowned and glanced at Jason Sterling, his eyes full of questions. Jason simply shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.

’With so many people around, this is no place to talk.’

But his mind was already in turmoil as memories from his past life surfaced with clarity. ’Silas Hawthorne... what an incredible man. He built a base all by himself at the very beginning of the apocalypse. It was the most stable sanctuary in the entire Zentria Region. Back then, our group fought desperately to get to the Hawthorne base, only to run into an undead horde halfway there. We were all wiped out.’

Only after they exited the elevator and the crowd thinned out a little did Jason Sterling lean close to Wyatt Sterling’s ear. He whispered, "Dad, we need to find a way to connect with the Hawthorne family. It’s a hundred times more important than the Lawrence family’s logistics network."

Understanding dawned on Wyatt Sterling in an instant.

’In times like these, the more powerful you are, the better your chances of surviving the chaos. The Hawthorne family was a backer you could rely on for a lifetime!’

The value of the Lawrence family instantly diminished in his eyes.

Everyone filed into the conference room and found their seats, subconsciously leaving the front row empty.

Staff members brought hot water for everyone. The heat in the conference room was on full blast, and a warm, humid air began to spread. A moment later, the doors to the conference room were pushed open, and the city’s top officials walked in at the head of a group.

Seeing them, everyone quickly rose to their feet in welcome.

"Please, sit! Everyone, sit down!" Marcus Morgan said, waving his hand amicably. But everyone remained standing respectfully until the entire group had entered before they dared to slowly take their seats.

Once seated, everyone was startled to realize that the soldiers from the lobby had followed them in. A wall of identical uniforms now lined the room, their postures as straight and unyielding as pine trees. Meanwhile, the bodyguards in black stood sentry outside the conference room doors, keeping all unauthorized personnel out.

And there, standing beside the city officials, was the subject of all the whispers: the youngest son of the Hawthorne family, Silas Hawthorne. He was young and imposing, with a tall, straight posture that made him stand out like a crane among chickens.

In an instant, countless gazes fell upon Silas Hawthorne.

The saying "other people’s children are always the best" could not have been more fitting for Silas Hawthorne.

He was remarkably tall, with a slender, upright build. A sharply tailored black overcoat accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His features were as if carved from stone, cold and severe, and his face was as refined as any top celebrity’s. But it was the powerful, profound aura he exuded that inspired a sense of awe. Even standing among a group of high-ranking officials, he was in no way outshone. In fact, with his natural, icy demeanor, he had become the most dazzling presence in the room.

Silas Hawthorne’s gaze swept dispassionately across the room. Like a star quenched in ice, his eyes scanned the crowd before briefly pausing on Sue’s face for a fraction of a second. Then, just as quickly, his gaze shifted away as if it had been nothing more than a casual glance.

But that single glance set off all the alarms in Elliot Lawrence’s head. His brow shot up, his mind flooding with questions.

’???’

’Did he just look at Sue?’ 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

’He’d only met Silas Hawthorne once. If Silas was going to recognize anyone, it should have been him. Why would he look at Sue? Had they met before?’

’No way. How could I not know about it?’

Sue was also looking at Silas Hawthorne, but there was no amazement in her eyes—only a hint of scrutiny.

In her past life, Silas Hawthorne had been a renowned figure in the apocalypse. The base he established wasn’t the largest in the Zentria Region, but it was the fairest, the most humane, and also the one with the strictest rule of law.

Back then, her group had drifted from one base to another, constantly exploited or ostracized, suffering endless injustice. It was only after hearing how good the Hawthorne base was that they had risked everything to get there. Moreover, Tiana Lynch had told them her son, Leo Lawrence, was temporarily settled at the Hawthorne base. He was her only reason for hope. But in the end, they couldn’t escape the undead horde. Everyone died on the road.

She just never expected that this man, so unapproachable in her past life, would appear right before her eyes in this life, before the apocalypse had even begun.

She nonchalantly turned her head and glanced at Jason Sterling, who was sitting not far from her. As expected, he was staring intently at Silas Hawthorne, his eyes churning with a greed and fervor she knew all too well.

’Everyone is drawn to the strong.’

’But in this life, *she* would be the strong one.’

The room grew even quieter.

After a few brief opening remarks, Marcus Morgan cut straight to the point. "I’m sure you’re all aware of the current situation. A severe cold snap is ravaging the country, and the north is almost entirely blanketed in heavy snow. Transportation is completely paralyzed, logistics have ground to a halt, and it’s become difficult for the government to carry out its work. The pressure on our municipality is unprecedented. I’ve invited you all here today because I want to hear your thoughts."

Hear their thoughts? The people in the room were momentarily stunned. No one could figure out the true meaning behind Marcus Morgan’s words.

Wyatt Sterling scanned the faces of those seated around him, a quick calculation running through his mind.

’The Hawthorne family is sitting in the same row as Marcus Morgan, so they naturally won’t be expected to speak. As for the remaining businesses... he didn’t give the Lawrence family a second thought. Considering the Sterling family’s current standing in Stellaport’s business world, being the first to speak wouldn’t be overstepping. In fact, it would allow them to seize the initiative.’