Chapter 540: Joining Forces to Build a Safe Base

Chapter 540: Chapter 540: Joining Forces to Build a Safe Base

Wesley Moore sighed, his gaze drifting past Seraphina Sullivan toward the distant ruins.

That place had once been the core area of the Central Base, with orderly buildings and bustling crowds.

But after most of the Central Base had evacuated, all that remained was a field of charred rubble and scattered corpses.

"We used to think that by coming to the Central Base, survivors would be rescued and could live peacefully from then on."

His voice trailed off. "Clearly, we were far too arrogant."

Jasper Drake stood beside him. The former soldier from the Vorlag Safe Zone now looked like any other down-and-out survivor.

His clothes were covered in dust and blood, and a cut from a piece of shrapnel marred his face, still untreated.

"Miss Sullivan."

He spoke, his voice hoarse and weary. "The food seeds we got from you before... they were taken too."

He gave a wry smile, one filled with bitterness. "The Central Base was certainly large, but it was also riddled with problems.

Too many factions, all fighting amongst themselves. No one would yield to anyone else.

On the surface, it looked like we were united, but in reality, everyone had their own agenda.

This chaos was just the spark that finally ignited all those long-festering issues at once."

He paused, looking at Seraphina Sullivan with an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "You want to build a base here. We’ll help you. But—"

He glanced back at the people clearing away corpses, at the wounded huddled and trembling in corners, at the survivors with vacant eyes who had no idea how they would live to see tomorrow.

"There are a lot of problems. And a lot of people who weren’t taken by the Central Base.

On top of that, there are many injured people here, a shortage of medicine, and not even enough basic food and water."

What Jasper Drake didn’t say out loud was, ’Can you, one person, really solve all these problems?’

Seraphina Sullivan understood his implication, but she wasn’t angry. She just looked at him calmly.

"As long as they join the base I’m establishing, I can solve all of it."

Seraphina Sullivan’s tone was as casual as if she were discussing something utterly ordinary.

Jasper Drake was stunned for a moment.

Wesley Moore was stunned as well.

Seraphina Sullivan looked at them, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. "You mentioned the food seeds. Don’t forget, things like the Growth Potatoes and the Healing Blood Grapes all came from me. You really think I wouldn’t keep some for myself?"

Jasper Drake opened his mouth to speak but found he had no idea what to say.

Of course, he remembered. Those miraculous Growth Potatoes—a single one could feed an ordinary person for a whole day.

And the Healing Blood Grapes, which could accelerate wound recovery.

All these treasures had been given to them by Seraphina Sullivan.

He had assumed back then that Seraphina Sullivan had given them her entire supply. It seemed he had taken things for granted.

"I kept plenty for myself."

As if reading his mind, Seraphina Sullivan added nonchalantly, "And besides, I have other things."

She didn’t elaborate, but both Jasper Drake and Wesley Moore could hear the confidence in her voice.

It wasn’t a bluff, nor was she just putting on a brave face. It was genuine certainty.

Not far away, Jason Ross was directing his subordinates to move the bodies.

His movements were mechanical and numb, as if he were performing a task that had nothing to do with him.

But his ears were perked, listening to the conversation between Seraphina Sullivan, Justin Brooks, and the others.

"As long as they join the base I’m establishing, I can solve all of it."

Hearing those words come from a young girl, Jason Ross’s first reaction was disbelief.

He had worked in the logistics department of the Central Base for so long that he knew just how difficult it was to keep a base running.

Food, water, medicine, defense, management.

Every single element was a bottomless pit. Countless Players and ordinary people had struggled together just to barely keep the Central Base operational.

’On what grounds could this young girl claim she could solve it all by herself?’

But Jason Ross didn’t voice his objection.

He just watched Seraphina Sullivan silently, observing her eyes, which were too calm for someone so young. He watched her equally composed teammates behind her and her RV, which was wreathed in a mystical cloud.

He remembered the night the chaos erupted, everything he had seen while hiding in a warehouse and peeking through a crack in the door.

The Players being manipulated by purple threads, the people frantically attacking their own comrades, the ordinary citizens screaming and running in terror.

He thought he would die there too, but he survived.

Then he discovered that the high-and-mighty management, the military he thought would protect everyone, had left with a select group of survivors.

All that was left behind were those who hadn’t made it out in time, and a ground littered with bodies.

And now, a young girl was standing in the ruins, saying she was going to build a new base right here.

Jason Ross didn’t know if she could pull it off.

But he admired her courage.

There weren’t many people with that kind of guts left in this world.

He lowered his head and continued moving the corpses.

But his steps felt a little lighter than before, and his breathing came a little easier.

Perhaps it wasn’t because of what Seraphina Sullivan had said, but simply because she was standing there.

In this place where everyone had been abandoned, she was the first person to willingly walk in.

With Justin Brooks, Jasper Drake, and the others joining her, the weight that had been pressing on Seraphina Sullivan’s heart finally lifted.

She had originally thought it would take a lot of convincing to get them on her side, but they were more decisive than she had imagined.

Maybe it was because they were too tired—too tired to keep struggling alone.

Or maybe it was because they were too desperate—so desperate they were willing to grasp at any glimmer of hope.

Whatever the reason, Seraphina Sullivan knew one thing for sure.

The base construction plan could now begin.

No hesitation, just immediate action.

Although the Central Base had been evacuated, many people had not left.

The wounded huddled in corners, the survivors with vacant eyes, the people who had no idea where to go tomorrow.

These were all people Seraphina Sullivan wanted to keep.

They were also the people she needed; they were all incredibly important to her.

But not everyone would be willing to join a base that hadn’t even been built yet.

Seraphina Sullivan needed someone to persuade them.

Seraphina Sullivan walked up to Wesley Moore, the former head of the Vorlag Safe Zone.

He wasn’t a Player; he had only survived this long thanks to the constant protection of Justin Brooks and Jasper Drake.

But his mind was still sharp, his experience was intact, and his skills from managing the affairs of the Vorlag Safe Zone for all those years remained.

"Mr. Moore, you’re my elder, so I’ll address you as such."

Seraphina Sullivan looked him in the eye, her tone respectful.

Wesley Moore was taken aback for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "That’s fine. I’m not in charge of anything anymore, just an ordinary survivor."

He looked down at his own hands, which were covered in calluses and scars, and shook his head in self-mockery.

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t respond to that. Instead, she said earnestly, "But you have experience managing a safe zone. I’ll need your help going forward."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the survivors scattered throughout the ruins.

"We’ll start by organizing the remaining personnel now.

After the chaos, some people will certainly be reluctant to join us, and we won’t force them.

Those who are willing to stay, we’ll welcome. Those who want to leave, we won’t stop."