Chapter 298: Changing Face

Claire Vance didn’t want to believe what Simon Hughes was saying.

But deep down, she knew that what he said was very likely the truth.

The thought of being surrounded by zombies and Aberrant Beasts on the way back sent a shiver down Claire Vance’s spine.

She wanted to leave because she wanted to live, not to get herself killed.

“Then what do we do?” Claire Vance still couldn’t accept it. “Are we really just going to be trapped here until we die? I don’t want to die! Or… are you saying our only choice is to trust Dr. Hayes?”

What Claire Vance didn’t say was that, for the time being, she didn’t trust Dr. Hayes one bit.

She even suspected Dr. Hayes was a mad scientist. It was highly likely he had orchestrated this whole situation just to keep them here to cooperate with his so-called research.

But in a situation like this, even with her suspicions, there was nothing she could do.

She was powerless against Dr. Hayes and even had to pin all her hopes on him.

The mere thought of it made Claire Vance incredibly exasperated.

Looking at the expression on Claire Vance’s face, Simon Hughes could guess what she was thinking.

“I have the same suspicions you do. And it’s not just us. I’d wager many of the people here feel the same way,” Simon Hughes said with a small smile. “For now, we don’t have to do anything. We just need to wait.”

“Wait for what?”

Simon Hughes glanced toward Sierra Sullivan’s group. “Sierra and her people won’t just sit back and wait to die. We just need to wait for them to make a move. Once they and Dr. Hayes are at each other’s throats, we can swoop in and reap the rewards.”

Although Claire Vance thought Simon Hughes was oversimplifying things, she couldn’t think of a better solution. She could only nod. “Alright, let’s wait and see for now.”

This time, Dr. Hayes kept those people inside for longer than ever before.

Meanwhile, the number of zombies and Aberrant Beasts outside was also slowly increasing.

But unlike before, they didn’t rush to attack, merely prowling restlessly outside.

It was as if they were waiting.

Sierra Sullivan had also observed them through a crack in the door, and the more she watched, the heavier her heart grew.

Right now, it felt more like the calm before the storm.

She was certain a battle was coming.

And… it would be a bloodbath.

Twenty days passed, with everyone growing more anxious and uneasy.

It wasn’t an especially long time, but it wasn’t short, either.

Although the Aberrant Beasts and zombies didn’t attack, their numbers increased daily.

Watching them mill about outside, the pressure on everyone mounted continuously.

They felt like lambs to the slaughter, never knowing when they might be torn to shreds by the zombies and Aberrant Beasts.

Their only hope now was Dr. Hayes.

But twenty days passed, and the door hadn’t budged an inch, showing no sign of opening.

“Damn it!”

“Is Dr. Hayes actually going to pull this off or not!”

“It’s been so long! How can there be no word at all!”

“Even if he failed, he could at least come out and tell us! But up to now, he hasn’t said a damn thing.”

A middle-aged man with a haggard face stood there, complaining nonstop.

Those who heard him glanced over, but quickly looked away again.

At first, they might have watched such a scene with some interest.

But after so many days, this sort of thing happened several times a day. They had gotten used to it, and it no longer stirred any emotion in them.

Just as they thought the day would pass uneventfully, the large, sealed door finally opened.

The middle-aged man, who had just been cursing nonstop, instantly snapped his mouth shut and looked toward Dr. Hayes in a nervous panic.

‘He didn’t hear what I just said, did he?’

‘If Dr. Hayes really did hear me, would he retaliate?’

The middle-aged man’s expression shifted rapidly as he debated whether he should apologize to Dr. Hayes.

But before he could make a decision, Dr. Hayes broke into a smile.

It was the first time Dr. Hayes had smiled in days.

Seeing the smile on Dr. Hayes’s face, everyone got to their feet, their eyes fixed on him in anticipation.

“Dr. Hayes, you look so happy. Does this mean it was a success?”

“Dr. Hayes, what were the results?”

Hector Grant was also nervous. “Doctor, how did it go?”

Dr. Hayes’s smile grew even wider. “The situation… Why don’t you see for yourselves.”

As Dr. Hayes finished speaking, a group of people emerged from behind him.

The moment they stepped out, Sierra Sullivan sensed something was different.

‘So strong!’

‘Every single one of them is so strong!’

They were like newly drawn swords, each one radiating a sharp aura that felt both powerful and dangerous.

But that wasn’t what surprised Sierra Sullivan the most.

What truly shocked Sierra was their expressions and their eyes.

Their expressions were natural, their eyes lucid and full of life.

They were completely different from the mindless puppets they had been before.

Soon, Sierra Sullivan spotted the dark-skinned man from before.

The man’s face was flushed with excitement.

“Captain Grant, you don’t have to worry! I made it out safely!”

His voice trembled with excitement, and his exhilaration was palpable.

Hector Grant snapped out of his shock. “You… How do you feel right now?”

“I feel fantastic!” the dark-skinned man said, thumping his chest. “I’m more than just a little bit stronger! My Superpower has been enhanced…”

He cut himself off and scratched his head.

“Heh, Dr. Hayes told us not to say by how much, but it’s a huge boost!”

As he finished, he nodded emphatically, as if to prove he was telling the truth.

In truth, even if he hadn’t said anything, everyone could sense that he had indeed grown much stronger.

Most importantly, he had grown stronger while remaining perfectly lucid!

The people who had adamantly refused to go in before were now all filled with regret.

‘If they had gone in too, would they have become that strong as well?’

Too bad there’s no medicine for regret.

There might be no medicine for regret, but Dr. Hayes was still here!

As long as Dr. Hayes was willing to give them a chance, they could still become stronger.

“Dr. Hayes!” The middle-aged man who had just been cursing him rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Could you… could you help me get stronger too?”

Seeing him be the first to speak up, many people shot him scornful glances.

‘The nerve of this guy! He’s really got no shame!’

‘He was practically cursing Dr. Hayes to his face a minute ago, and now he had the gall to shamelessly ask the doctor to make him stronger.’

Though many were thinking this, not a single person voiced their disapproval out loud.

Compared to calling him out, the chance to become stronger was, of course, more important.

“Dr. Hayes, I want to get stronger too! Could you give me a chance?”