Chapter 290: Sierra Sullivan, How About I Go With You?

Dr. Hayes watched the people return, his expression far from pleasant.

In fact, it was downright ugly.

“Useless! I invested so much into you, yet you still lost over half your number, and the rest of you are all injured…”

The men listened to Dr. Hayes’s words without any change in expression, and they didn’t say a word.

From the moment they had emerged with Dr. Hayes until now, they hadn’t spoken a single word.

It was as if they were born mute.

Hector Grant couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He stepped forward to defend them. “Dr. Hayes, those Aberrant Beasts and zombies were incredibly powerful, and there were so many of them. It’s already amazing that they made it back alive.”

Dr. Hayes glared at Hector Grant, displeased. “What do you know? You know nothing! Shut your mouth when I’m speaking! You just need to follow orders. Do you understand?”

Without waiting for Hector Grant to reply, Dr. Hayes turned and walked away.

And the injured men, without any signal from Dr. Hayes, automatically followed him.

Seeing them about to enter the metal door again, Nathan Thorne finally couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Dominic Crawford!”

Dominic Crawford had made it back alive.

But he was covered in injuries.

As he walked forward, blood dripped from his fingertips.

Yet he seemed to feel nothing, continuing to walk onward.

Even with Nathan Thorne shouting so loudly, Dominic Crawford didn’t stop.

Nathan Thorne didn’t give up and called out again.

“Dominic Crawford, you’re hurt! Let me heal you!”

“Not just Dominic Crawford! The rest of you, too! Let me treat your injuries!”

In the past, these men would have sought out Nathan Thorne for even a minor injury, trying every trick in the book to get him to heal them, preferably for free.

Now, however, not only did they fail to approach him, but they didn’t even pause when Nathan Thorne made the offer. They weren’t the least bit tempted.

Dr. Hayes stopped.

The men behind him also stopped, one by one.

“Ah, Nathan Thorne.” Dr. Hayes looked at him with a meaningful expression. “I know your Healing Ability is very useful, but there’s no need to trouble you this time. I’ll take care of their injuries. You just get some rest. There will be a time when we need you.”

With those parting words, Dr. Hayes led the men through the cold metal door.

Watching the door shut, completely sealing the inside from the out, Nathan Thorne finally snapped out of his daze.

“Sierra! Jayce!”

Nathan Thorne looked at them nervously. “What… what did Dr. Hayes mean by that…?”

Just recalling it made his heart pound with fear.

‘It feels like I’m being targeted by a ferocious beast, like I could be snatched up and eaten at any moment.’

The thought made Nathan Thorne shudder.

It wasn’t just Nathan Thorne who was afraid; Sierra Sullivan also felt something was very wrong.

Dr. Hayes’s cold gaze and words just now reminded her of those researchers they had captured before.

The ones who used survivors as test subjects.

Back then, they had felt embarrassed for misunderstanding Dr. Hayes. Later, because he helped them, they grew closer and closer to him.

From then on, they never doubted Dr. Hayes again.

But now, Dr. Hayes was completely different. He felt like a stranger—a terrifying one.

‘Which one is the real Dr. Hayes?’

‘Or is it possible… they’re both the real Dr. Hayes?’

Sierra Sullivan couldn’t make sense of it. She shook her head, trying to banish the chaotic thoughts.

“Captain Grant, what are your thoughts on this?” Sierra Sullivan walked up to Hector Grant and asked him point-blank.

“I never thought things would turn out like this—”

“Captain Grant!”

Sierra Sullivan cut him off.

“This isn’t the time for that. What do you plan to do about the situation at hand?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do I plan to do’?”

“Are you genuinely not getting it, Captain Grant, or are you just playing dumb? Dr. Hayes is experimenting on these Superpower Users! Look at those men from before. Did a single one of them look normal? Half of them died this time. How many will die next time? And when they’re all dead, do you think Dr. Hayes won’t make us his next target? Or what, do you want to end up like them, Captain? Do you want your own men to end up like them, too?”

With every question Sierra asked, Hector Grant’s expression darkened.

Many of his own men stood behind Hector Grant.

They all heard what Sierra said, but not one of them spoke. They just stared at Hector Grant, their gazes intense.

They didn’t care what anyone else had to say; they only listened to their captain.

After a moment, Hector Grant finally made a decision. “I’ll go ask Dr. Hayes again. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Sierra Sullivan glanced at the closed metal door. “Fine, go ask him. But I need to make one thing clear first.”

“Go on.”

“Regardless of what Dr. Hayes tells you, we’re leaving. We’re heading back to Subterra on our own.”

“That’s too dangerous!” Hector Grant’s expression changed instantly.

“And staying here isn’t?” Sierra retorted.

Her question left Hector Grant stunned.

‘She’s right.’

‘Is it really not dangerous to stay here?’

‘Given the current situation, staying might be even more dangerous.’

Although he understood this perfectly well, Hector Grant was still stubborn and unwilling to admit it outright.

In the end, Hector Grant still walked toward the metal door.

Sierra Sullivan didn’t have much faith in his chances.

‘Dr. Hayes won’t necessarily open the door for him.’

But this time, Sierra was wrong.

The moment Hector Grant approached, Dr. Hayes opened the door.

Hector Grant was taken aback.

It was as if Dr. Hayes had been waiting for him.

Though the thought crossed his mind, Hector Grant didn’t hesitate and walked straight inside.

His men tried to follow him.

After all, Dr. Hayes was so different now. Who knew what he might do?

What if Dr. Hayes went crazy and harmed their captain?

But before they could take a step, the door slid shut, locking them all out.

Staring at the closed door, the men grew frantic. But they didn’t dare force it open, so all they could do was wait with furrowed brows.

Watching this, Nathan Thorne grew even more nervous. “Sierra, nothing’s going to happen to Captain Grant, is it?”

“I don’t know.” Sierra shook her head.

‘I’m not Doctor Hart, how would I know what Dr. Hayes is going to do?’

For now, Dr. Hayes held all the cards. All they could do was wait and watch.

“Sierra, I overheard you saying you’re planning to leave. We could go with you, for added safety. What do you think?”

The voice was very familiar.

Sierra turned and scoffed. “I don’t think so.”