Chapter 295: 10,000 Contribution Points

Hector Grant’s expression was exceptionally resolute. “I’ve made up my mind. I know what I have to do. I’m the one leading this mission. Since I brought you all out here, I should be the one to get you all back safely.”

Sierra Sullivan was in no mood to listen to his so-called principles. She asked only one question. “So, you’re saying you’re going to find Dr. Hayes and have him make you stronger? You want to become like those… things? Like one of those walking corpses? You want to become Dr. Hayes’s puppet?”

“Puppet?” Hector Grant repeated the word, his expression momentarily complex.

But the complexity quickly vanished, replaced by determination.

An unprecedented determination.

“As long as I can get everyone back to Subterra safely, I don’t care if I become a puppet.”

Sierra Sullivan sneered. “Captain Grant, you can’t possibly think anyone will be grateful to you for this, do you? Look at Simon Hughes and his lot. Do they even know the meaning of gratitude? Even if you go through with this, they’ll just call you an idiot behind your back. They won’t feel a shred of gratitude. Is it worth it, for people like them?”

“It’s not about whether it’s worth it. I’m just doing what I think is right.” Hector Grant’s voice grew even firmer. “No matter what others think, I just don’t want to have a guilty conscience.”

“What a noble sentiment! ‘Don’t want to have a guilty conscience’!” Jayce clapped his hands. “But what if you sacrifice yourself and it still doesn’t change anything? Once you’ve lost your mind, what do you think will happen to your men? They’ll just end up like you—used as offerings! You might be willing to give yourself up, but are they? Is that what you want for them, too?”

“I…”

Hector Grant was at a loss for words.

‘He’d forgotten about that.’

He could sacrifice himself, but he couldn’t sacrifice others.

Especially not his own men.

They had been with him since before the apocalypse, right up to this day.

They trusted him and obeyed him. How could he let them die too?

He couldn’t do it.

Hector Grant’s face was filled with hesitation.

But soon, his eyes lit up as if he had thought of a better solution.

“Jayce, Sierra Sullivan, I know what you’re capable of. Could you…”

“No!”

“No!”

Before Hector Grant could finish, Sierra Sullivan and Jayce refused in unison.

Jayce’s face was ice-cold. “Hector Grant, this isn’t the world before the apocalypse. You should understand what the situation is now. You should understand even better who is worth protecting. Even if you have a strong sense of responsibility, even if you want to bear the fate of others on your shoulders, you should at least choose people who are worthy of such a sacrifice, right?”

“Your men have followed you for so many years, obeyed your every command, and been through hell and back for you. I won’t stop you from making any choice for their sake,” Sierra Sullivan added. “But if it’s for someone like Simon Hughes, I don’t agree with it, and I certainly won’t help you.”

Hector Grant’s face flushed, as if he were embarrassed by their words.

After a moment of silence, Hector Grant let out a long sigh. “You’re right! I know what to do now. As for what I said just now… just take it as a joke!”

Seeing that Hector Grant had abandoned his previous decision, Sierra Sullivan and Jayce exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Thankfully, there were still people here that Hector cared about.’

Otherwise, they really wouldn’t have known how to talk him out of it.

Two hours can feel both long and short.

The metal door slid open and Dr. Hayes walked out, signaling that the two hours were up.

Dr. Hayes looked at the group, his voice calm and devoid of any emotion. “Time’s up. You can tell me your decision now.”

No one spoke.

Seeing Hector Grant standing motionless, Simon Hughes instantly grew anxious. “Captain Grant, why aren’t you saying anything? Shouldn’t you be setting an example?”

Hector Grant shot Simon Hughes a cool glance. “Set an example? What kind of example? You chose to come on this mission for the generous reward. Now that there’s trouble, you expect me to protect you with my life? I’m not your father. Why should I spoil you like that?”

Simon Hughes stared at Hector Grant, dumbfounded. He never imagined that not only would Hector refuse to take all the responsibility on himself, but he would even speak to him like that.

‘Is this the same Hector Grant I used to know?’

‘When did he become like this?’

It wasn’t just Simon Hughes who found it unbelievable; the others were stunned as well.

Hector Grant’s own men, in particular, stared at him with expressions of surprise and shock.

Having worked together for so many years, they knew their captain’s character well.

They had been worried that their captain would step up and shoulder the entire burden himself.

Now, hearing him make the complete opposite choice, they were naturally astounded.

But after the shock, they all let out a huge sigh of relief.

‘This is great!’

‘Our captain didn’t abandon us!’

‘He’s not saving the likes of Simon Hughes!’

In contrast to their joy, Claire Vance was seething with anger.

She stepped out from the crowd, pointing a slender finger at Hector Grant. “Hector Grant, how can you have the nerve to say something like that? You’re an official representative, and we’re just ordinary survivors! At a time like this, shouldn’t you and your men be shielding us?”

When Hector Grant made his choice, he had still been struggling internally, unsure if he was doing the right thing.

But after hearing Claire Vance’s words and seeing the expressions of the people around him, all of Hector Grant’s conflict and hesitation vanished without a trace.

He was now incredibly glad he had made this decision.

Jayce and Sierra Sullivan were right. If something happened to him, his brothers-in-arms would definitely meet a terrible end.

Sacrificing his own life and the lives of his men for people like Simon Hughes and Claire Vance was simply not worth it!

Hector Grant’s expression was grim. “You don’t like it? Then make a move! Let’s fight. If you can beat me, I’ll be at your disposal.”

Claire Vance froze.

How could she possibly beat Hector Grant?

Not to mention all the men he had under him!

Knowing it was impossible to get Hector Grant and his men to step forward, Simon Hughes turned to the others.

“Who among you is willing to cooperate with Dr. Hayes? I’ll give them ten thousand Contribution Points!”

“Even if you can’t collect the ten thousand Contribution Points yourself, I will make sure every last point is delivered to your family and friends! I’ll even arrange housing and jobs for them, so they can live out the rest of their lives in peace and stability. I give you my word!”