Chapter 431: The Fuller Siblings, Dylan Kane’s Designs

Chapter 431: Chapter 431: The Fuller Siblings, Dylan Kane’s Designs

Flora Sullivan proudly lifted her chin and patted the Stag Chief, which had walked over to her and meekly lowered its head. "I told you, he’s my mount! His name is Deerie. Isn’t he cute?"

Frederick Fuller: "..."

He felt like his earlier boasting had been a complete joke.

"Frederick Fuller! I told you to go say hello to our neighbors and get acquainted, not to run over and show off your petty research findings!"

A woman’s voice, tinged with exasperation and reproach, called out.

A young woman who looked to be in her late twenties strode over. She wore black-rimmed glasses and a faded white lab coat, her quiet demeanor belying a sharp competence.

She had delicate features, but her eyes held the characteristic focus—and a hint of exhaustion—of a researcher.

She walked up to Frederick Fuller and first gave Sean Chandler and Flora Sullivan an apologetic smile.

"Hello. I’m terribly sorry about this.

My name is Autumn Fuller, and this is my little brother, Frederick Fuller. We both evacuated from the Bexley Biological Research Institute.

Yesterday, Administrator Laura Lowell, who’s in charge of assignments, mentioned that we had neighbors who’d arrived earlier. I sent this kid over to say hello and get to know you, but I didn’t expect him to... sigh. I apologize for the scene."

Autumn Fuller spoke logically and with a sincere attitude, a stark contrast to Frederick Fuller’s slightly showy and impetuous nature.

Sean Chandler just nodded, still not saying much.

Flora Sullivan, however, blinked and looked at Autumn Fuller curiously. "Are you scientists who study animals?"

"You could say that. We mainly research the adaptive mutations and controllable breeding of organisms in a post-apocalyptic environment."

Autumn Fuller adjusted her glasses, her gaze inevitably drawn to the Four Seasons Deer Alpha beside them. Awe and an intense desire for inquiry flashed in her eyes.

"But... it seems your companion is more... astounding than any of our research subjects.

Is this truly... a miracle of natural Evolution, or..."

She didn’t finish her question, but her interest in the Four Seasons Deer was obvious.

Inside the RV, Seraphina Sullivan heard the conversation and understood the situation outside.

Hearing phrases like "Bexley Biological Research Institute" and "controllable mutation and breeding," her interest was piqued as well.

’Maybe... I can trade with them in the future for some information on cultivating mutated creatures, or perhaps special plant seeds?’

Seraphina thought.

It was always better to have more friends than enemies, especially when they seemed to be technical specialists.

"We’re all living here now, so we can help each other out if anything comes up," Sean Chandler said to the Fuller siblings, his words polite and brief as per Seraphina’s instructions.

Interrupted and chastised by his sister, Frederick Fuller was clearly embarrassed. He snorted and said stiffly, "We still have a lot of equipment and animals to set up, so we don’t have time for idle chit-chat."

With that, he shot another resentful glance at the magnificent Four Seasons Deer Alpha before turning and walking back toward his own convoy.

Autumn Fuller gave Sean Chandler another apologetic nod, said, "We’ll talk later," and followed her brother.

Sean Chandler’s expression remained unchanged as he watched the two of them walk away.

Flora Sullivan, on the other hand, was already getting bored. Fiddling with her hair, she pouted and mumbled, "Sooo boring... When can we go find good food in a dungeon again? It’s so stuffy here."

Her lively nature thrived on adventure and exploration, and staying in the relatively peaceful base was making her antsy.

Just then, Seraphina Sullivan pushed open the RV door and stepped out. Hearing Flora’s complaint, she gave her a light, exasperated tap on the head.

"Enjoy the peace while it lasts. In a couple of days, you won’t have a moment to spare even if you wanted one."

The one-month "disaster pause" was about to end.

The global survival system would reactivate, and new disasters and dungeon missions could appear at any moment.

That familiar pressure—of being forced by an unseen power to constantly advance, fight, and struggle—would soon descend upon everyone once more.

Seraphina was also wondering what kind of new dungeons the system would introduce when it returned.

Would they follow the previous style, or would there be new changes?

She needed to be prepared.

Flora wasn’t annoyed by the tap. Giggling, she vaulted onto the back of the Four Seasons Deer Alpha.

An idea struck her. Since she was idle anyway, she might as well try using the Stag Chief’s "Spring Breath" Ability to improve the barren environment around their ranching area. Sprouting some greenery would at least make the place look a little nicer.

She activated her contractual link with the Stag Chief, guiding it to release a gentle Aura imbued with Life Force.

Soon, in a small area centered on the Stag Chief, the soil seemed to grow moist. The tender shoots of hardy grasses began to break through the earth at a visible rate, bursting with vigorous life.

However, Flora’s "greening project" was only halfway complete when her keen senses suddenly detected several malicious gazes secretly watching them from behind a distant pile of scrap materials.

Flora paused, a look of confusion on her small face.

’Another group? Why is it so "lively" today?’

...

In the distance, behind a pile of scrap metal and construction materials, several figures were huddled down, whispering amongst themselves.

"Well, Boss, was I right or was I right? Young Master Ethan Soto’s intel was spot-on.

These newcomers not only have some skills of their own, but they also brought an incredible mutated giant deer with them!"

A shifty-eyed, weaselly-looking man was speaking to a man in the center who had a lean, powerful build, short hair, and eyes as sharp as a falcon’s.

This man’s name was Dylan Kane.

He was the third-in-command of "Hound," a small but notable group of Players in the base.

His personal Talent was a special one: [Contract Sharing].

It allowed him to share a portion of the Abilities of a Tamed Beast he had successfully contracted.

He could usually gain half of the contracted beast’s Abilities.

The more powerful the contracted beast, the more terrifying the Power boost he received.

This was a key reason why he had managed to secure a foothold among the competitive Player circles of the Central Base.

Of course, the Talent’s drawback was also obvious.

He needed to contract a Tamed Beast that was powerful and rare enough.

Moreover, the contracting process itself was risky and draining.

He had always longed to find a truly powerful mutated creature to serve as his core battle beast.

The weaselly-looking man continued his instigation. "Boss Kane, I heard some of those people from the Vorlag Safe Zone who traveled with them talking. They said this giant deer hasn’t been formally contracted yet—it’s just been temporarily tamed by that little girl using some trick!

If you could contract it, your strength would skyrocket!

Then, our Hound group might finally be able to crush those bastards from Ironwall and do whatever we damn well please in this base!"

Dylan Kane narrowed his eyes. His gaze pierced through the gap, locking onto the Four Seasons Deer Alpha in the distance, which looked even more extraordinary as it released its Aura of Life Force. The greedy light in his eyes grew more and more intense.