Chapter 64: Chapter 64: There’s a Problem with This Family

But Joanna Ward was completely oblivious, assuming everyone was afraid of her. She grew even more arrogant and domineering, planting her hands on her hips and shouting at the crowd, her pride so immense she seemed to have lost all sense of proportion:

"I’m telling you, my family is loaded! We have connections! Don’t talk to me about rules or waiting in line! My husband has frostbite, so he has to be the first one seen and get priority treatment! You’d better wise up and get a doctor over here immediately, just for him!"

She pointed her finger in the registration soldier’s face, her attitude utterly insolent. If he hadn’t been holding a rifle, she probably would have lunged at him.

"If you dare cover for Victor Keller and refuse to grant us special privileges, I’ll report you and keep going all the way up the chain! I’ll make sure every single one of you pays for this! Money makes the world go round, and in here, even the rules have to make way for my family!"

As she shouted, she tried to forcibly drag Zachary Lynch through the main entrance, still yelling, "Get out of the way! Everyone, move! We have money! It’s only right that we get priority treatment!"

"Halt!"

A cold command rang out from the tent’s main entrance. The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that instantly silenced all of Joanna Ward’s hysterical screaming.

Everyone turned to look and saw a stern-faced duty officer with prominent epaulets striding toward them, followed by two fully armed guards whose gazes were as sharp as knives.

The moment Joanna Ward saw the officer’s higher rank, she latched onto him like a lifeline and rushed forward to complain. "Sir! You’re just in time! This Victor Keller, he..."

"I heard you quite clearly."

The officer cut her off, his icy gaze sweeping over her. His tone was completely devoid of warmth. "First, this is a public shelter, not a private hospital. Second, all personnel—regardless of wealth, status, or connections—will be treated in the order they were registered. This is a strict rule, and no one gets an exception."

Joanna Ward was stunned for a moment before playing her trump card. Her voice rose to a shriek. "My family has money! I can pay for priority! I’ll pay double! Ten times the price! Isn’t it just money you want?"

"Money is useless here."

The officer spoke word by word, his voice echoing clearly throughout the entire tent so that everyone could understand:

"In the face of an extreme disaster, all lives are equal. Your wealth doesn’t mean you’re superior to others. Your anxiety doesn’t give you the right to disrupt the order for everyone else. Every single person here has endured the freezing wind and snow of negative fifty degrees. Every single person is at risk of frostbite. No one is more special than anyone else."

He pointed to the Shelter Management Regulations clearly posted at the entrance, his voice ringing with conviction. "Before the rules, all are equal. You need medical attention? Fine. Get in line. If you dare to charge the registration desk, disturb the peace, or try to abuse your privilege again..."

The officer’s gaze hardened, and the guards behind him instantly took a step forward.

"...then according to shelter regulations, you will be immediately expelled from the shelter. You alone will be responsible for the consequences."

As his voice faded, the entire tent fell silent.

Everyone stared at Joanna Ward, who stood frozen in place with a deathly pale face. Their eyes were filled with contempt and a sense of vindication.

"That officer really put it well!"

"Yeah, it was so satisfying to watch!"

"She’s been yapping nonstop. She doesn’t even have her luggage anymore, but she’s still screaming about being rich. With all this snow, what the hell good is money!"

"Serves her right!"

The crowd’s whispers made Zachary Lynch flush beet-red with shame. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into. He tugged desperately at Joanna Ward’s arm. "That’s enough! Stop making a scene! Let’s just get in line! You’re making a fool of yourself!"

Joanna Ward opened her mouth, about to throw another tantrum, but her eyes met the officer’s glacial stare and the dark muzzles of the guards’ rifles. Her arrogance was instantly snuffed out, and she couldn’t utter a single word.

The woman who, moments ago, had been screaming that money makes the world go round, now stood with her face flushed crimson with shame and anger, not daring to utter a single word of rebuttal.

"Aren’t you going back to the line?" the officer reminded her coldly.

Joanna Ward trembled but, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, could only dejectedly drag Zachary Lynch back to the end of the line, head bowed. She didn’t dare utter another word about money, priority, or privilege.

Inside the tent, registration, temperature checks, and medical consultations resumed in an orderly fashion.

No one dared to speak of exceptions again, and no one dared to disregard the regulations.

No matter how fierce the blizzard or how desperate the situation, at least here, fairness was being staunchly upheld.

"It’s pretty fair here," Elliot Lawrence couldn’t help but whisper.

"Mm, it seems pretty good."

Sue Lawrence tightened her grip on her son’s hand. ’In my past life, this base never existed. But this air-raid shelter is located within the borders of what used to be Silas Hawthorne’s base. I wonder who’s in charge of this place now.’

’It’s guarded by the military, but I remember from the disaster relief meetings that even that Human-shaped Weapon was always with Silas Hawthorne. If this really is his base, then I’ve hit the jackpot. As long as we can lie low here, I can guarantee my family will survive.’

As she mulled this over, she noticed a figure sticking closely behind her family. Sue Lawrence glanced back. It was Pamela Sutton.

They hadn’t been far apart to begin with. After they got off the sled, Pamela Sutton had deliberately closed the distance. Now, only three people stood between them.

Pamela Sutton’s gaze was fixed on Sue Lawrence.

Because an officer had reprimanded Joanna Ward, the line was now quiet and moving forward in an orderly manner. Although many people were so cold they could hardly bear it, everyone gritted their teeth and persevered.

Soon, it was the Lawrence family’s turn. A device scanned their faces, and their personal information immediately appeared on a screen.

"Vincent Lawrence?"

The soldier at the registration desk stared at the screen, stunned for a moment. "Please wait here for a moment."

He then got up and went to speak in a low voice with Nolan Quinn, the officer who had just dealt with the commotion. Both of them kept glancing over at Vincent Lawrence, Sue Lawrence, and their family.

Seeing this, many others started to notice the Lawrence family. Pamela Sutton, in particular, felt a vicious, sinister smirk creep across her face.

’When did this family manage to piss off the military? They must have been found out. Are they about to be kicked out?’

’Haha! The snow outside is ten meters deep. Without a military vehicle, there’s no way to travel. You’d sink with a single step and be buried alive!’

’Sue Lawrence’s family... they’re as good as dead!’

The more Pamela Sutton thought about it, the happier she became. But then, a second thought occurred to her. ’No. Sue Lawrence has to live. I still haven’t found out where my son is or if he’s okay!’

Her expression darkened as she stared coldly at Sue Lawrence’s back. Part of her wanted disaster to befall the family, but another part of her needed Sue to survive—at least long enough for her to get some answers.

"Did that family do something illegal and get found out?"

"Yeah, with technology these days, they can identify anyone, from fugitives to other wanted individuals, with a single facial scan."

"Tsk, how did we end up with scum like this? First, it was that woman yelling about how rich she was, and now maybe we have fugitives..."

"Shh, we don’t know what’s going on yet!" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Hmph. Whatever it is, there’s definitely something wrong with that family. Officer, people who are rotten to the core aren’t worth saving!"