Chapter 402: Hidden Threat

After a few seconds, the guards recovered from their surprise, realizing that their stares might make the newcomers uncomfortable.

These people had clearly endured something horrific, and the guards wanted to give them a proper welcome rather than make them feel uneasy.

Instead of staring, they focused on helping the survivors climb down from the trucks.

"Take your time. There’s no need to rush."

"Careful with that step. Let me help you."

"Is anyone feeling dizzy? If you need assistance, tell us immediately."

Their welcoming attitude eased some of the tension among the newcomers.

They couldn’t help but smile as they felt it... they were being treated like ordinary people instead of prisoners or experimental subjects.

Wilson was among the last to leave his truck.

He held his rifle securely while stepping down, but his eyes immediately wandered across the surrounding structures. He noticed the organized patrols, the defensive positions, and the personnel working together to manage the arrival.

This was not a temporary hiding place assembled by a handful of desperate survivors.

It was a proper settlement.

A place where people could live, work, and perhaps even rebuild their lives.

Wilson lowered his head slightly as he stepped aside to make room for the others.

He still didn’t know what the future held for him, but at least he had reached a place where he could begin thinking about it.

Nearby, another survivor stared at the shelter’s structures...

"Is this really where we’re going to stay?"

One of the guards overheard him and chuckled.

"If Sir Kai brought you here, then you’re welcome to stay while the shelter’s people arrange everything. For now, just follow the instructions and let the medical team check your condition."

The survivor blinked.

Then, as if the meaning of those words had finally sunk in, his shoulders relaxed.

He was welcome.

It was such a simple statement, yet for someone who had spent years being treated as disposable, it meant more than he could express.

***

Meanwhile, Xian and Xinyi were among the last passengers to climb down from their truck.

Xian jumped down first, landing a little too enthusiastically before looking around.

"Whoa!"

He stared at the watchtowers, the defensive structures, and the busy personnel moving through the area.

"This place is huge!"

Xinyi climbed down more carefully, using her mechanical arm to steady herself. Once she was on the ground, she also looked around in amazement.

Although she tried to maintain a calm expression, the curiosity in her eyes was unmistakable.

They had seen the illusion from the outside, but the view from within the shelter was even more impressive.

Xian immediately spotted Kai standing a short distance away.

"Sir Kai!"

He hurried toward him, with Xinyi following behind.

Kai turned at the sound of his voice.

"What is it?"

"Can we really stay here?"

Kai looked at the boy for a moment before smiling.

"Of course. Why else would I bring you here?"

Xian’s face brightened.

"I thought so! But I didn’t know your shelter was this amazing!"

Xinyi nodded in agreement.

"The illusion was incredible. I thought we were still looking at an ordinary hill."

"It’s also my first time seeing that," Kai replied. "Claire made it... The device helps conceal the shelter from anyone who doesn’t know where to look. It should make it harder for enemies to discover us."

Xian looked back toward the entrance they had passed through.

"So, if I came here without knowing about the shelter, I wouldn’t be able to find it?"

"Definitely not."

"That’s amazing!"

Kai chuckled at the boy’s reaction.

"Don’t get too excited. You’ll have plenty of time to explore after you’ve settled in."

Xian immediately nodded, although his expression made it clear that he was already thinking about all the places he wanted to visit.

Xinyi, meanwhile, looked at the garrison team helping the rescued survivors.

"Sir Kai, what happens to everyone now?"

"First, the medical team will examine them and make sure they’re stable. After that, we’ll arrange suitable accommodations and figure out what work they can do once they’ve recovered."

Kai glanced toward the newcomers.

"Some will need more time than others, but we’ll help them settle in."

Xinyi nodded thoughtfully.

She understood that recovering from what they had experienced would take more than food and a safe place to sleep. Many of these people would need time to adjust to their new surroundings, and some might never completely recover from their experiences.

Still, this was a much better beginning than anything they could have hoped for.

Farrah approached the three of them, having finished checking on the nearest group of survivors.

"Come on. Let’s get everyone settled first. You two can explore later."

"Okay!" Xian answered immediately.

Xinyi gave a small nod.

Kai watched as the children followed Farrah toward the designated area, then turned his attention back to the arriving survivors.

The journey had finally ended.

Now, the real work of helping these people rebuild their lives could begin...

***

However, the convoy’s arrival had not gone unnoticed.

Some distance away, behind a cluster of ruined buildings, a figure stared at the hillside where Kai’s group had disappeared.

They had been following the convoy for some time, hoping to discover where Kai was heading. Initially, they hadn’t expected to find anything particularly interesting. However, watching dozens of vehicles pass through what appeared to be an ordinary hill had completely changed their mind.

"...An illusion?"

The figure squinted their eyes.

They had seen Gene Skills capable of producing unusual effects, but concealing an entire settlement was something else entirely. The fact that Kai’s group had entered without hesitation suggested that they were familiar with the hidden entrance.

This discovery was worth reporting.

However, the figure didn’t immediately take out their communication device. If the settlement possessed advanced detection equipment, activating a communication signal too close to the area might expose their position.

They could hide from heat detection and other sensors, but they couldn’t hide their communication device’s radio waves...

They weren’t foolish enough to take that risk.

After watching the hillside for a few more seconds, the figure slowly retreated, carefully moving through the ruined buildings while avoiding the open streets.

Only after putting considerable distance between themselves and the hidden settlement did they finally stop.

"So, this is where Kai has been hiding..."

A faint smile appeared on their face.

They had no intention of investigating the settlement alone. Whatever Kai had established behind that illusion, approaching it without preparation would be dangerous.

For now, gathering information was enough.

The figure retrieved a small communication device from their pocket and activated it.

"Reporting in. I’ve discovered a hidden settlement connected to Kai Aries."