Chapter 421: Connor Webb’s Ulterior Motive, Making the Kill List

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Connor Webb’s Ulterior Motive, Making the Kill List

Connor Webb had set his sights on Seraphina Sullivan.

However, he didn’t make an immediate move on her in front of everyone.

Connor Webb knew that, at the very least, he had to keep up appearances and follow the Central Base’s rules.

Besides, his prey was already in the "cage."

He had all the time and means to slowly plot his next move.

He shot Seraphina Sullivan a smile he considered charming, but which was, in reality, utterly nauseating.

Then, with his "Harem," he swaggered through the inspection and disappeared into the depths of the underground area’s entrance.

Seraphina Sullivan watched Connor Webb’s retreating figure, her eyes turning to ice. But she, too, refrained from acting immediately.

’Acting now would only tip him off, putting me at a disadvantage and forcing me to reveal my hand too early.’

’Dealing with someone who has such a bizarre Ability and a way to cheat death requires a much more meticulous plan. Or... the absolute certainty of a one-hit kill.’

"Looks like that guy is more than just a little crooked," Sean Chandler said, walking up to Seraphina Sullivan.

His gaze followed the direction where Connor Webb had vanished, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

He had sensed the man’s undisguised lust and malice directed at Seraphina.

Flora Sullivan also came over. Although she didn’t have a deep understanding of complex human emotions, she was extremely sensitive to malice.

She glanced at Sean Chandler and asked directly, "Are you going to take care of him, or should I?"

Sean Chandler shrugged and looked at Seraphina Sullivan. "Ask your boss."

Justin Brooks and Wesley Moore walked over just then, completely oblivious to the murderous intent hidden in the brief exchange of glances that had just occurred.

Justin Brooks looked with concern at Paul Payne on the ground, who was out of danger and his wounds healed but still weak, and asked, "Comrade Sullivan, how is he?"

"He’ll live. He lost a lot of blood, so he’ll need some time to recover," Seraphina Sullivan replied calmly.

At this moment, Paul Payne also slowly woke up. He blinked blankly, feeling that his chest was no longer in excruciating pain and could even feel a strong heartbeat. He murmured, "I... I’m not dead?"

"Isn’t that obvious?" Flora Sullivan said in her unique, flat tone. "If my boss hadn’t saved you, you’d be stone cold by now."

Paul Payne froze, then looked toward Seraphina Sullivan. He struggled to sit up but was gently pressed back down by her. "Don’t move. You need to rest." His eyes filled with gratitude as he rasped, "Thank you... Thank you for saving me."

But that gratitude was quickly replaced by a wave of hatred. He remembered everything that had just happened, and his eyes turned crimson again. "Wait! Where’s Connor Webb?! That goddamn animal! He killed my sister and my niece! I have to find him! I’m going to kill him!!"

With that, he ignored his weakness and tried to force himself to his feet.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Laura Lowell walked over, her expression still grim, and she sternly stopped Paul Payne.

"If you go after him now, you’re just throwing another life away! If Miss Sullivan hadn’t saved you just now, you’d already be dead! And..."

She gritted her teeth and didn’t continue, clearly thinking of that frustrating order from above.

She took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and said to Seraphina Sullivan, Justin Brooks, and the others, "This isn’t the place to talk. Follow me, let’s go to the temporary settlement first. As for the plan to handle those Four Seasons Deer, we should be hearing back from the higher-ups soon."

The bloody incident and the subsequent miracle of healing had already attracted a large crowd of onlookers, blocking the entrance.

Laura Lowell needed to disperse the crowd and restore order as quickly as possible. She also felt it was necessary to speak with Seraphina Sullivan’s group, who were both involved parties and valuable new talents.

Seraphina Sullivan and the others had no objections; they were already waiting for a decision on the Deer Herd.

And so the group, including Paul Payne who was being supported, followed Laura Lowell away from the noisy entrance. They arrived at a designated camp area nearby, a section of tents set aside for new arrivals to rest and wait.

After entering a relatively secluded tent, Laura Lowell shut the flap, blocking the view from outside. Unable to hold it in any longer, she slammed a fist onto a simple nearby table with a dull THUD.

"This is pissing me off!"

she growled, her face filled with indignation and resentment. Her previously calm and competent demeanor had vanished completely.

"That Connor Webb! He was clearly the one who provoked the fight, and he even killed in public! The evidence is conclusive! But the higher-ups... they actually ordered him to be let go! It’s... it’s absurd!"

Seraphina Sullivan looked at her and asked directly, "Why? Is the Central Base’s control over Players so lax? Or has it reached the point where Players with a Special Ability can ignore the basic rules?"

Laura Lowell opened her mouth to speak, but a look of conflict and hesitation crossed her face.

She looked at Seraphina Sullivan, then at Justin Brooks and Wesley Moore, and finally sighed, lowering her voice.

"It’s not entirely a matter of Control... The main issue is... the leadership of the Central Base is split into different factions, each with its own agenda.

"Some people... they value a Player’s usefulness and deterrent power more than anything. For certain... well, for Players who have a bad reputation but are undeniably strong, they’ve adopted a more... lenient, even welcoming, stance.

"Connor Webb is obviously one of the people favored by one of these factions.

"And that Ability of his..." She seemed to recall something, and a flicker of disgust and helplessness crossed her face before she trailed off.

Justin Brooks and Wesley Moore exchanged a look of understanding.

Indeed, wherever there are people, there are politics, and the Central Base was no exception.

It looked like dealing with the base’s officials in the future would require a keen sense of discretion. They would need to figure out who belonged to which faction, which rules were to be followed, and which "unwritten rules" they needed to watch out for.

These waters were deeper than they had anticipated.

Seraphina Sullivan, however, did not press Laura Lowell for more details about the high-level factions.

She had little interest in these power struggles, unless they directly affected her interests and safety.

She was more focused on the immediate, tangible threat—Connor Webb.

She turned her gaze to Paul Payne, who was sitting in a corner, still immersed in hatred and grief, but with a hint of confusion and lingering fear in his eyes.

’Since Connor Webb has already bared his fangs at me,’ she thought, ’then the enemy of my enemy... could be a useful source of information. Maybe even a dagger I can point at his Weaknesses.’

Seraphina Sullivan walked over to Paul Payne, squatted down, and looked at him calmly. "About that Connor Webb... what do you know? When did he come to the Central Base?

And those women with him, what’s their story?

Besides that Ability of his to immobilize people and... bewitch women, does he have any other tricks up his sleeve, or any powerful backers?"

Paul Payne looked up, gazing into Seraphina Sullivan’s clear eyes that seemed to see right through people. He remembered that she was the one who pulled him back from the brink of death, and his defensiveness and wariness lessened considerably.

He took a deep breath, the flame of hatred rekindling in his eyes. Slowly, through gritted teeth, he began to recount everything he knew: Connor Webb’s evil deeds, how he had murdered his sister and niece, his atrocities in the previous safe zone, and the rumors that had circulated since his arrival at the Central Base...