Chapter 617: Grand Finale

After Hayden Jennings was taken down, the entire Jennings Family—including siblings Carter and Joy Jennings—and all the members of Hayden’s research team were rounded up in one go.

They confessed to their crimes without reservation, and all that awaited them was conviction and sentencing by the court.

As for what happened to those few from the Walsh Family, Melody Summers found out by following the gossip online.

It turned out that on the same day Hayden Jennings was taken down, Brandon Walsh received an advance tip from his mole in the police force. Without hesitation, he grabbed Shane Walsh and Kylie Walsh and fled by car.

But what they hadn’t expected was that just as their car left Anworth, they ran into a group of mountain bandits.

These bandits had turned to outlawry during the years of cataclysm, and they specialized in robbing passing pedestrians and vehicles. They stopped Brandon Walsh’s car, plundered their supplies, and in the end, killed all three of them.

But what these bandits hadn’t expected was that just one day after dumping the bodies of the three Walshs, before they even had a chance to enjoy their loot, they were surrounded and attacked by soldiers sent to clear the mountain of outlaws.

The army wiped out the bandits. While taking inventory of the victims’ remains, they discovered the still-fresh corpses of the Walshs, who were on the police’s wanted list.

Because Brandon Walsh was a deputy chief, the news of his death was announced across all networks as per standard procedure. The official report omitted their involvement in developing the zombie virus, stating only that Brandon Walsh and his family had committed serious legal and disciplinary violations and had been killed by criminals during their pursuit.

Although the official announcement was light on details, the power of netizens is boundless. Within just a few hours, eagle-eyed users had pieced together the general story:

"NetizenXXX: He was a deputy chief, for crying out loud. What did he do that was worth losing his head over? To the point he had to flee."

"NetizenXXX: Something huge! You guys remember Autumn Sawyer? Word on the street is he was the big shot who was keeping her, and the real owner of The Serene Leaf Teahouse! Autumn Sawyer took the fall for him!"

"NetizenXXX: And not just The Serene Leaf Teahouse. You might not believe this, but they were creating a zombie virus! Ever heard of The Nimbus Hotel? One of the most famous five-star hotels in the country. Its owner was in on it too!"

"NetizenXXX: It’s true, I can confirm. My brother works at The Nimbus Hotel. He was waiting for a notice to return to work, but then he was told the hotel was closing down because the owner got busted for illegal research."

"NetizenXXX: Their surname is Jennings, so it must be connected to Hayden Jennings. It’s the zombie virus, no doubt about it! Lots of people over in Anworth know."

"NetizenXXX: Holy crap, a zombie virus? That’s terrifying! What do these rich people get out of making something like that?! Are their lives just too comfortable or something?!"

"NetizenXXX: Holy shit, holy shit, are the zombies coming??"

"NetizenXXX: So the cataclysm isn’t ending in 2028? What’s waiting for us next is a zombie virus?"

"NetizenXXX: Awesome, I call dibs on being the first to turn. Don’t even try to take my spot!"

"NetizenXXX: For three years during the cataclysm, I’ve stuck to the bottom line of law and morality and haven’t hurt anyone. But if I turn into a zombie, I can eat people with a perfectly logical reason! I want to eat meat! I’m gonna fucking eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat!"

"NetizenXXX: Uh oh! The poster above is a real zombie!"

"NetizenXXX: Everyone, don’t panic. Rumor is there’s already a vaccine for the zombie virus. It was developed by the team led by Professor Paige Walsh, who was recently named a Star of Cathaysia. Insider info, this is a photo of her team at the award ceremony [Image]."

"NetizenXXX: Is this photo real? The team even includes the young lady from the Thorne Family. I remember her dad, Wendell Thorne, was a traitor, right? Colluded with foreign powers, funded rebels... doesn’t a crime like that warrant the execution of your entire clan?"

"NetizenXXX: Is the poster above insane? Why should she be dragged down by what her dad did? She’s made a huge contribution to the country. It’s like a phoenix that was accidentally born in a chicken coop! Wendell Thorne should be bowing down to his daughter from hell. From now on, the family tree starts with her."

"NetizenXXX: Thank God the zombie virus didn’t spread. 2028 is just a few days away. I hope all the bad luck stays behind in this year! Wishing for a smooth 2028 for everyone!"

...

The next day was a day off, and Melody Summers slept in until she woke up naturally.

Still bleary-eyed, she opened the window to get some fresh air and suddenly heard the clear, crisp sound of a bird’s song.

At the sound of the bird’s song, the sleepiness in Melody’s eyes vanished. Her eyes widened as she looked outside and saw a small, chubby, gray-and-white bird perched on the windowsill!

The little bird was a tiny ball of fluff. When it saw Melody looking at it, it fluttered its wings, tilted its head, and stared right back at her.

After her initial shock, Melody was filled with utter delight. ’I can’t believe it! I haven’t seen a bird in so long, not since the cataclysm started!’

Sensing that Melody had no intention of feeding it, the little bird didn’t linger. With a "CHIRP CHIRP," it flapped its wings and flew away.

Watching the little bird fly straight toward the heavens, disappearing into the embrace of the blue sky, Melody knew that the "Animal Gift Pack" she had purchased was beginning to take effect.

In the days to come, the creatures of this land would rest and recuperate, slowly returning to how things were before the cataclysm.

Brimming with this hope, Melody happily ran down the stairs—THUMP, THUMP—to see what there was to eat in the kitchen. But as soon as she reached the living room, she saw Nina Summers sitting alone on the sofa watching TV.

"Why are you here by yourself? Where is everyone else?"

Nina Summers replied, "Grandma and the others took our youngest aunt out. They said the weather was nice, so they wanted to take her for a walk."

Melody understood. Ever since Hayden Jennings’s death, Maeve Summers’s mental state had been improving day by day. She was eating heartily and sleeping soundly. In just one short month, she had gained more than twenty pounds, transforming from the skeletal figure who first returned home into a healthy woman with a rosy complexion.

Everything was moving in a positive direction. All the gloom would eventually be swept away completely.

Just then, Grace Sutton also came running downstairs—THUMP, THUMP. Seeing the excited smile on her face, Melody asked curiously, "Auntie, what is it? Why are you so happy?"

"It’s Ian! My boy Ian is coming home!" Grace Sutton exclaimed, her face alight with excitement. "Their car is almost at the neighborhood gate! I’m going out to meet him!"

For the past few years, Ian Summers had followed the army across the country, providing disaster relief, transporting food, and quelling riots. Now that the situation at home was gradually stabilizing, he had finally been granted leave to visit his family.

Melody’s eyes lit up. "That’s wonderful! Let’s go meet him together!"

...

Melody Summers, Nina Summers, and Grace Sutton walked side-by-side through the neighborhood. The gentle sunlight felt wonderfully warm on their skin.

A joyful atmosphere filled the neighborhood. Parents were in the square with their children, hanging up small, handmade lanterns. With 2028 just a few days away, everyone prayed that the new year would bring favorable weather to the land and peace and prosperity to the nation.

The three of them walked to the neighborhood gate. As they waited for Ian, they watched the people coming and going—

Many refugees were leaving the neighborhood, carrying bags of all sizes. The floodwaters had slowly receded over the past few months, and now they were finally going home. Many of the resident homeowners came out to see them off:

"This is far enough! Thank you so much for taking care of us these past few months. Thank you for taking our family in!"

"Don’t mention it. I should be the one thanking you. I’m grateful you were here to keep me company these past months. Otherwise, I’m not sure I would have made it through on my own..."

...

"Brother, Sister, our family is big, so we must have caused you a lot of trouble these past few months. Thank you for putting up with us! After the autumn harvest next year, we’ll send you some fresh fruit and grain!"

"Ah, don’t say that. Sure, things were a little rocky at the start, but that’s all in the past. Now that you’re leaving, it’s actually going to feel strange without you!"

...

"Sister, Brother-in-law, have a safe trip! Remember to call and let us know when you get home!"

"Definitely! And Sis, once we get our home settled, you bring your husband and kids to come stay with us for a while! We promise we’ll be good hosts!"

...

People bustled to and fro at the neighborhood gate. They had once helped one another survive the cataclysm, and now they were bidding each other farewell as they set off toward their new lives. Watching this, Nina Summers said suddenly, "Maybe... I should move back home in a few days, too..."

Grace Sutton looked at her, puzzled, and asked with concern, "Why all of a sudden? You’re the only one left at your house. We’d worry about you living all by yourself..."

Nina Summers lowered her eyes and said nothing. ’I was so distant from Grandma’s side of the family before,’ she thought. ’It feels a little awkward to just keep living here indefinitely...’

Melody could see Nina’s inner conflict. She patted her on the shoulder comfortingly. "You’re working on the back mountain now anyway, so just stay with us for the time being... Besides, in a little while, we can all go back to Mount Anworth together and check it out!"

’I wonder what Mount Anworth looks like now, after all the mudslides and floods.’

Just then, a military vehicle pulled up and stopped at the neighborhood gate. As the three women watched with eager anticipation, Ian Summers stepped out of the vehicle, carrying two bags.

The moment she saw her son, Grace Sutton was so emotional she nearly burst into tears. She took two steps forward, patted Ian’s arm, and said in a tear-choked voice, "Oh, you child!... How did you get so thin?!... Thank goodness you came back in one piece..."

Ian scratched his head and grinned. "It’s better this way. Just think of the sense of accomplishment you’ll get when you fatten me up again! Don’t you forget, you were once famous far and wide as the best pig-raiser in our village!"

Grace Sutton laughed through her tears and gave him a light, exasperated punch. "You brat! You never miss a chance to be a wise-ass!"

Watching the happy, heartwarming scene, Melody said with a smile, "All right, let’s head home for now!"

"Okay! Let’s go home!"

(The End)