Chapter 565

With a precise shot from the Aberrant, Jake destroyed the final crystal cluster up ahead. The street in front of him was now completely devoid of crystals, allowing him and the group of humans following closely behind to safely progress farther down the street. Green fragments of shattered crystal lay scattered across the asphalt, glinting in the sunlight and crunching underfoot with every step.

Jake lowered the Aberrant as he continued forward, his eyes sweeping over the now-cleared street. There were no more clusters jutting out from the buildings or growing through the asphalt. As he reached the end of the street, it opened out into a vast, open area. They had finally reached their destination.

He took a few more steps across the square before coming to a halt. The space before him was far larger than the streets they had just passed through. At the very center stood City Hall, its imposing facade rising high into the air and casting a broad shadow across part of the square. The building looked old and battered, but at the same time, it was sturdy and well-built, having withstood everything that had taken place in the city during the past several months. 

Flynn, who had fallen behind to walk closer to his people, and Roland were the first two to emerge from the street and step into the open area. They both stopped almost immediately.

“Damn,” Flynn muttered behind Jake, staring at the scene in disbelief.

Jake glanced back and saw the two of them staring across the vast, empty square. Neither man said anything for several seconds. There was nothing growing out of the asphalt, nothing clinging to the walls, no aether crystals anywhere in sight at all. The complete absence of them made the place seem almost unreal.

Since it was completely free of aether crystals, it was safe for them to stay here.

“He did it,” Flynn said to Roland, who was standing by his side. “He actually did it.”

“Yeah,” came a gruff reply from the bigger guy.

“Told you we could trust him,” Flynn said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “You didn’t want to believe it, but you were wrong. You were doubtful of him for no reason.”

“And I still am,” Roland countered. His eyes remained fixed on the square and the imposing building. “It doesn’t mean it isn’t some kind of trap. Just because he led us here doesn’t mean there isn’t something else going on. He wouldn’t have brought us all the way here without a reason.”

“I asked him about it already and told you that he only…”

“Yeah, I remember what you told me. But that doesn’t prove he’s being honest about his so-called good intentions. Until we’ve searched the entire place, inside and out, and made sure there’s nothing waiting to ambush us, I say we keep our guard up.”

“I understand, but…”

“Just keep your guard up.”

The two of them stayed behind him, talking in hushed voices, but Jake could hear them all right. He pretended to hear nothing, keeping his attention focused on the square ahead. There was no reason for him to get involved in their argument. Roland was cautious, perhaps overly so, but Jake couldn’t exactly blame him for that. In a world like this, assuming that something was safe simply because it looked safe was a good way to end up dead.

The rest of the group gradually emerged from the street into the open area around City Hall. One after another, they stepped into the square, slowing down as they took in their surroundings. Several of them exchanged shocked expressions, as if they could hardly believe what they were seeing.

“It’s completely safe here now,” somebody said. “There’s not a single crystal here. We can stay here now!”

A few people murmured in agreement, while others cautiously looked around, as if expecting a cluster of crystals to suddenly erupt from the ground.

“I can’t believe this is the same area as before,” somebody else said. “It was completely ridden with crystals the last time we were here! Did that guy really get rid of all the crystals all on his own?”

Jake ignored the comments and continued surveying the area. This place could become more than just a temporary refuge for the survivors. With the right preparations, it could be turned into a sturdy stronghold and a proper base of operations, where they could manufacture all kinds of equipment and even vehicles.

“I call dibs on the building,” a familiar voice suddenly said.

It was Albert.

In his peripheral vision, Jake saw him, closely followed by his two closest friends, begin walking toward the imposing building occupying the very center of the vast square. Albert had a grin plastered across his face as if he had just discovered a treasure chest rather than an abandoned government building.

“What do you mean, you call dibs on the building?” someone protested. “It’s huge! There’s more than enough room inside for us and plenty of other groups too!”

“Finders keepers, losers weepers,” Albert called as he accelerated toward the gate.

His two cronies burst out laughing and hurried after him, clearly determined to help him claim his prize before anyone else could.

“The first one who gets to the building will be the owner and can decide who to let stay with them,” Albert added, his voice carrying across the square.

A few of the others laughed at his ridiculous declaration, while several more immediately picked up their pace, apparently unwilling to let Albert actually make good on his claim.

Albert and his two cronies laughed as they ran toward the gate. A moment later, they were through and running across the premises toward the prominent building.

He was obviously joking, but some of the other humans must have taken his threat to claim the building all for himself too seriously because they started chasing after Albert, calling out to him to wait. A few laughed as they ran, while others seemed genuinely determined not to let him beat them to the building.

Jake couldn’t help but think they were acting like children on a playground rather than grown-ups and seasoned survivors in a dreadful world. He watched them rush across the open square, their weapons bouncing against their sides as they ran. He guessed they were just plain happy to find such a large and safe area free of both aether crystals and mutants. Wherever they had been stationed before must have been much smaller and less safe than this area.

Sure enough, Roland wasn’t happy about them acting so recklessly and throwing caution to the wind.

“Stay on guard, everyone!” he yelled at them angrily. “It can be a trap. Somebody could be waiting for us inside!”

His voice carried across the square, causing several of the humans to slow down. Jake could see some of them heed his warning, tightening their grips around their weapons and looking toward the imposing building with renewed suspicion. A few even stopped altogether, glancing between Roland and the people already running toward the entrance.

But not everyone listened. Albert and several other humans running after him either hadn’t heard Roland at all or had simply chosen to ignore him. Albert certainly didn’t appear concerned, continuing toward the building without even looking back. Jake saw those who stayed behind cast Roland apprehensive glances, clearly unsure whether they should follow the others or remain where they were.

Jake knew there was no trap waiting inside the building, but he didn’t bother telling Roland or anybody else. There was no point in trying to convince them when they could see for themselves soon enough.

Anyway, he had accomplished what he came here to do. He had safely led Flynn’s group to the City Hall area, so his part was over. There was nothing left for him to do here, so he could simply turn around and leave.

Except the System had yet to pay him.

He still hadn’t received the 250,000 XP reward he was promised for bringing Flynn’s group to this location. Until that reward appeared, he had no intention of going anywhere. He had no idea why the System hadn’t granted it yet, but there was clearly some condition that hadn’t been fulfilled. Whatever it was, he would wait until it happened.

Perhaps the System required all of the humans to enter the building or, at the very least, step onto the actual City Hall premises enclosed by the tall, sturdy iron fence surrounding it. If that was the case, there was nothing for Jake to do but wait.

He stood near the edge of the square, casually watching the survivors as they moved around. They were slowly becoming more confident now that they had seen there was no immediate danger. Some were already making their way toward the building, while others remained outside, talking among themselves.

A minute later, Albert leaned out of a third-floor window of the building and yelled to those who were still outside.

“Hey, idiots! I did it,” he yelled in a jovial voice. “I got here first, so I’m now the owner of this place. I win, you lose!”

“Is it safe there?” somebody called out to him. “Did you find anything suspicious?”

“Nobody’s here, you dummy,” Albert shouted back. “It’s completely empty. And it’s totally ours now, guys. I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Why are you still out there?”

His voice echoed across the square, and a few of the survivors laughed at his antics.

And with that, Albert slipped back through the window into the interior of the building, disappearing from sight.

Now that Albert had confirmed that the building was safe, the survivors who were still outside began moving toward it all at once.

“Everyone, hold up,” Roland called after them angrily. “We need to be cautious. We still don’t know whether this is a trap.”

“Didn’t you hear what Albert said?” one of the survivors replied as they walked past him.

“I heard him just fine. But that building is enormous. There’s no way Albert could have checked every corner of it already. There could still be a trap waiting for us somewhere on the upper floors.”

His warning fell on deaf ears this time. None of the survivors stopped, and they continued toward the building, quickening their pace, eager to get inside and explore their new potential shelter. But a few remained more cautious, keeping their weapons close at hand as they crossed the premises.

As the humans passed by Jake, some of them looked at him and nodded in gratitude. He nodded back. There was no need for words. They understood what he had done for them.

As more and more survivors reached the City Hall premises, the System message he had been waiting for finally popped up before his eyes, informing him that he had just received the XP reward for bringing them here. It was his cue to leave.

Jake turned away from the building and began to stride across the square. He had barely taken a few steps when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

“Mark, wait.”

Jake slowed and glanced over his shoulder. Flynn was running after him, his footsteps echoing faintly across the square. A moment later, he caught up and came to a halt beside him.

“I just wanted to thank you for what you did for us,” Flynn said, slightly out of breath.

“No need,” Jake said, waving off the gratitude.

“What are you going to do now?” Flynn asked.

“Track down the other groups and lead them here. I thought I made that clear already.”

“You did.” Flynn fell quiet for a moment, then glanced at Jake with some hesitation. “But do you really have to head out right away? You could stay here with us for a little while before you go looking for the others.”

“Why?” Jake asked.

Flynn blinked and stared at him, clearly caught off guard by the question.

“What do you mean, why?” Flynn asked, looking at him in disbelief. “Don’t you need some rest? You’ve probably been going nonstop for quite a while. We have fresh water and some food. We’ll be happy to share whatever we have with you. It’s the least we can do after everything you’ve done for us.”

“Nah, I’m good,” Jake replied.

Flynn stared at him in silence for several seconds, his expression gradually falling. There was a faint sadness in his eyes, as though Jake’s refusal had genuinely hurt or disappointed him.

“Look, I can go with you if you want,” Flynn said after a brief pause. “Help you find the other groups.”

“No need. I work best alone.”

“I see.”

Flynn went silent again. He looked at Jake for a few seconds, seemingly searching for something else to say, but apparently couldn’t find the right words.

“Was there anything else?” Jake asked.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll get going.”

“Yeah.” Flynn gave him a faint smile. “On behalf of everyone in my group, thank you for bringing us here, Mark. You have no idea how grateful we are.”

Jake simply nodded without saying anything. He turned away from Flynn and began to walk toward the far end of the square, leaving City Hall and the humans behind him. For a brief moment, he could hear the distant voices of the group settling into their new shelter behind him. Then even those sounds gradually faded as he continued down the empty street.