Chapter 443: Dr. Ford, Player Chet Lucius

Chapter 443: Chapter 443: Dr. Ford, Player Chet Lucius

The old man and the young man had clearly spotted the approaching SUV on the highway, as well as Seraphina Sullivan and the two others inside.

They stopped in their tracks, their gazes wary yet holding a sliver of hope.

Seraphina Sullivan brought the car to a slow stop a short distance away, and the three of them got out.

She remained appropriately cautious, but her expression also held the excited friendliness of a survivor encountering others after a narrow escape from death.

The two groups soon met at the side of the road.

A sense shared between Players.

Or rather, a keen sense for the aura of one’s "own kind," was almost instantaneous.

The young man, Chet Lucius, swept his gaze over Seraphina Sullivan and Flora Sullivan.

This was especially true when he saw the uniquely designed sniper rifle in Seraphina Sullivan’s hands, and the unfitting composure and faint sense of Energy emanating from Flora Sullivan.

His eyes shifted slightly, and he understood at once.

’They’re Players, just like me.’

The old man, on the other hand, let out a genuine sigh of relief. A grateful smile appeared on his weary face, and his voice, though hoarse, was filled with sincerity.

"Wonderful... I never thought we’d meet other survivors in this dead wasteland, aside from myself and Lucius."

"It seems Heaven hasn’t completely abandoned these old bones of mine just yet."

Seraphina Sullivan saw that they weren’t showing any hostility.

Especially since the young Player’s gaze was probing but held no malice, she relaxed slightly.

’Perhaps this old man is the one he’s supposed to protect, just like my own mission target.’

’Since our missions might not conflict, and we’re both headed to the Shelter, there’s no need for conflict. Cooperation might even be more beneficial.’

She immediately slipped into character, her face showing a perfect blend of surprise and residual fear.

"Yes, we were also lucky enough to escape from another city."

"It’s just... so wonderful to meet other people!"

She pulled Flora Sullivan and Sharon Lynn forward. "This is my sister, Flora, and this is Sharon, whom we rescued on the road."

Flora Sullivan played along, putting on an expression that said how good it was to see another living soul.

Though her acting was a little over the top, carried by the genuine emotion from Seraphina Sullivan and Sharon Lynn, it didn’t seem too jarring.

In contrast to the feigned happiness of Seraphina Sullivan and Flora Sullivan,

Sharon Lynn’s joy was completely genuine.

She trotted over to the old man, her little face tilted upward, her eyes welling up again.

"Grandpa, hello!"

"It’s so wonderful to meet you!"

"So... so we’re not the only ones who made it..."

Her voice, catching in a sob, held both the joy of seeing more survivors and the sorrowful memories it dredged up of the others on the plane.

Sharon Lynn’s innocence and vulnerability instantly softened the tense atmosphere.

Dr. Ford affectionately patted her head, and even the tight line of Chet Lucius’s mouth eased slightly.

However, just as the atmosphere seemed to be easing, Seraphina Sullivan’s sharp eyes caught a subtle flicker of surprise in Chet Lucius’s gaze as it swept over Flora Sullivan.

It vanished as quickly as it appeared, his expression returning to calm.

’He’s noticed that there’s something unusual about Flora...’ Seraphina realized.

’I’m protected by items or Talents like the [Stone of Concealment], so it’s hard for any Identification Skill to probe me.’

’But Flora, as strong as she is, doesn’t have any special Disguise or cloaking Abilities.’

’To a Player who also possesses an Identification Skill or special senses, her inhuman Aura—the kind belonging to a transcendent life form—is probably even more conspicuous than a regular Player’s.’

’It seems this Chet Lucius is not only powerful, but he might also possess a decent identification or perception-type Talent or item,’ Seraphina assessed silently.

However, Chet Lucius clearly showed no hostility or greed upon discovering Flora Sullivan’s unique nature.

In this perilous instance, one more ally of unknown strength was better than one more enemy.

This was especially true since both sides shared the same objective and were each escorting a "burden" that required protection.

And so, Chet Lucius took the initiative to break the somewhat delicate atmosphere and introduced himself.

"My name is Chet Lucius."

"This is Dr. Ford. He’s an expert in... biology and special forms of Energy."

"Right now, he’s also researching the monsters that have suddenly appeared in this world!"

His tone was respectful when he introduced Dr. Ford. "We’re also preparing to head to Shelter Three."

"Grandpa Ford, you’re going to Shelter Three, too?"

Sharon Lynn’s eyes lit up, and she said eagerly.

"We are, too! My parents work inside. Sullivan said it’s really safe there, so we can all go together."

As she spoke, she shot a grateful look at Seraphina Sullivan.

"If Sullivan and Flora hadn’t saved me, I definitely wouldn’t have made it this far..."

Seraphina Sullivan nodded at Sharon Lynn, then turned to Chet Lucius and Dr. Ford.

"I’m Seraphina Sullivan, this is my sister Flora Sullivan, and this is Sharon Lynn."

"We’re also heading for Shelter Three."

"It looks like our objective is the same."

Upon hearing this, an "I-knew-it" expression flickered across Chet Lucius’s face before he made a natural suggestion.

"Since our destination is the same, traveling alone through this monster-infested wilderness is too risky."

"How about... we travel together?"

"We can watch each other’s backs."

His proposal was exactly what Seraphina Sullivan was hoping for.

’Another Player for an ally, especially one who seems powerful and is accompanied by a potentially valuable "expert" among the Native People, would make dealing with the dangers on the road much easier.’

’As for potential trust issues and the distribution of benefits... I can observe them as we go. It’s better than turning him down now.’

Seraphina Sullivan agreed with almost no hesitation. "I was thinking the same thing," she said with a nod. "There’s strength in numbers. By helping each other, we’ll have a better chance of reaching the Shelter."

She extended a hand, and Chet Lucius reached out to give it a light shake.

The two sides had reached a preliminary agreement to cooperate.

Dr. Ford watched from the side with a gratified smile, saying repeatedly, "Excellent, excellent, traveling together is a good idea! More people means more strength!"

Sharon Lynn was so happy she started clapping her small hands.

After the brief exchange, Seraphina Sullivan invited Chet Lucius and Dr. Ford to get in the SUV.

Dr. Ford was getting on in years, and between the shock and exhaustion, he soon fell fast asleep in the back seat next to Sharon Lynn.

Flora Sullivan leaned quietly against the window, watching the desolate scenery rush past.

Seraphina Sullivan drove while Flora Sullivan sat in the passenger seat, in charge of keeping watch and occasionally "navigating."

Chet Lucius sat in the middle row with his eyes closed, resting. But Seraphina Sullivan could sense that he remained in a state of semi-alertness, clearly not fully relaxed.

Seraphina Sullivan drove the SUV steadily along the bumpy, dilapidated highway.

Once she confirmed that Dr. Ford and Sharon Lynn had fallen into a deep sleep in the back, lulled by exhaustion and the vehicle’s rocking, a thought crossed her mind. She retrieved an inconspicuous little gadget from her Storage Space—a [Silent Sticker].

She peeled the backing off the sticker and gently pressed it onto the partition between the driver’s seat and the middle row.

An invisible, imperceptible wave of Energy instantly spread out, forming a small, soundproof field.

Within this field, no sound could escape, and external sounds could be selectively filtered or blocked.