NOVEL NEXT Chapter 313: Hidden
Above the station, the practical design of the base was immediately apparent. The walls were painted a dull gray, giving the space a semi-industrial feel.
The minimalistic design was functional but uninviting, reflecting the city's current state.
There were no decorative elements, only the essential features needed to keep the station operational.
Overall impression was one of efficiency over comfort.
"They look awful," Reign muttered aloud, observing the current conditions of the military .
The morale of everyone was at an all-time low, especially the soldiers who were all too aware of how serious the situation was.
Some of these soldiers had sacrificed a finger or two, and in some cases, entire limbs, to protect the city.
Others had given up their families, leaving them behind to focus on their duty.
And then there were those who had paid the ultimate price, giving up their own lives for the city's defense.
Brentwood was on the defensive, struggling to hold back the growing number of corrupted outside the barrier.
With each passing day, the situation grew worse. It seemed more likely that the city might be completely destroyed soon.
"I think they're losing the war," Reign said, observing the grim situation. "All they're doing is delaying the inevitable."
Lucas's ears perked up after hearing his words.
"I agree with you. I plan to leave this place as quickly as possible. I don't think it will hold out much longer too." he remarked.
He had initially thought the situation in Brentwood wasn't that serious, but seeing it firsthand and experiencing the horde had completely changed his perspective.
If it weren't for Reign's help, everyone would have already been dead—or worse, turned into corrupted creatures.
His presence had been the thin line between survival and complete disaster for them.
"Well, you'd better find another bodyguard. It's time for us to part ways here," Reign replied.
"Wait, what do you mean? I thought you were supposed to come back with me to Green Valley?,"
Lucas asked, surprised by the sudden change of plans.
Reign shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I'm done with protecting you. I have other things to handle. If you need a bodyguard, you'll have to find someone else."
Lucas's eyes widened in disbelief. "But we agreed you'd come with me. This is sudden."
Reign glanced at him with a bored look. " You'll manage without me."
Lucas tried to protest, but Reign was already walking away with Wick by his side.
'No... I can't leave this place without his help,' Lucas muttered to himself as he watched the two getting further and further away.
The journey back to Green Valley would be even more dangerous than before.
Without Reign, his chance of surviving had dropped from 90% to just 10%.
This was a huge drop, and with only a 10% chance of survival, Lucas had second thoughts. 'Should I wait for him to finish his mission in this place? ' he wondered.
'No, the more I wait, the greater the risk of being trapped here if things go wrong,' he thought.
In the end, he decided to head back to the station to see if there was a newer war train available for sale.
***
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After walking a few hundred meters, Reign reached the parking area of the base .
He had considered stealing a truck for himself, but before he could act, a white van pulled up and stopped right in front of him.
'Am I going to get kidnapped?' he wondered to himself.
The door slid open, revealing two familiar faces—the two men who had been with him on the train earlier pretending to be wealthy passengers.
"Miss Lilith sent us to assist you," said one of them, a man with a short, neatly trimmed haircut.
"Lead the way," Reign said, not bothering with more questions as he climbed into the van.
Inside the vehicle, the atmosphere grew tense.
Despite being on the same side, the two remained wary of him.
They didn't want to risk provoking him like the woman on the train who got kicked for being too friendly . Explore stories on mvl
In their minds, the best approach was to speak as little as possible and avoid offending him with their presence.
'Less words , less mistakes ' they told themselves.
"Where are we going?" Reign inquired, breaking the silence.
"In the safe house," Aljon replied. He was the one with the trimmed haircut.
As a new member, he hadn't taken the enhancement drugs yet, so he was still just a regular human.
"No need for that. Just head directly to where the lab is," Reign said sharply. His tone left no room for argument.
He was still angry about what Emy had done to him and wanted to get to the lab quickly to wait for her there.
The thought of her reaction when he collected what she owed made him exited. He pictured her face going pale with shock and fear, which made him smile slightly.
'Just you wait. I'll make sure you suffer and beg for your own death,' he thought, a sadistic chuckle escaping him.
In a way, he and Emy shared petty personality; the difference was that Reign always delivered.
Once he set his mind on something, he went above and beyond, ensuring he outperformed even his own expectations.
This trait worked in his favor but spelled trouble for anyone who crossed him.
A chill ran down the spines of the two spies as they watched Reign. His smile twisted cruelly, stretching his lips into an unnaturally wide grin that made him look crazy.
"Sir, we need to head to the safe house first. There's something there you will want to see," Aljon explained.
Seeing they were insistent, he decided to check it out first.
The van continued its journey, passing through the central area of the city. Once lively and vibrant, the place was now overrun with homeless people.
Teenagers, angry and frustrated, were protesting against the government in the plaza, adding to the sense of chaos in the city.
After a few more minutes, they finally reached the safe house. It was a two-story building with a very simple design.
When they opened the door, he found the interior barely furnished. Aside from a basic sofa, there were minimal items, but the house was functional and provided a place to stay.
"Mr. Rain, the documents are on your desk upstairs," Aljon said, guiding him inside. "Our informant gave this information, and it's quite accurate."
Reign nodded, not bothering to respond. He headed up the stairs, the creaking of the steps echoing through the otherwise silent house.
The wooden floorboards on the second floor felt solid underfoot, and the decor gave the place an unwelcoming feel.
At the top of the stairs, he found a small, tidy room .A simple wooden desk sat against the far wall, and on it, neatly arranged, were several folders and a stack of papers.
Reign walked over and began scanning through the documents, his eyes reading quickly as he searched for anything useful.
As he read through the documents, his face remained expressionless.
The papers contained detailed information about various key locations in the city, including maps , hunter list, and notes on security measures.
As he flipped through it, the initial pages held only general information. But as he continued, the content became more detailed and specific.
Eventually, he stopped on a page that made him question, 'Is this thing real?'