Chapter 305 The Miracle of Building 18
Steven and Henry were chatting about hanging out in Sunshine Community for a bit to see if Peter's missile threat was legit or just hot air.
Based on Steven's information, West Mountain Base doesn't have the technology for precise satellite-based location tracking.
So, the whole missile strike thing? Probably a bluff.
Even if they did have that kind of tech, there's no way they could track Steven in real-time and know he was chilling in Sunshine Community.
Steven wasn't too worried about his safety.
But the idea of some unknown threat hanging over him? Yeah, that was a bit unsettling.
"The beef between me and West Mountain Base isn't going away. Unless I get out of here, Peter's always gonna be gunning for me, trying to take everything I've got whenever he gets the chance."
Steven sighed. "I just want a quiet life, not looking to pick fights. But why does trouble always seem to find me?"
Henry saw Steven looking down and gave a little smile. "Maybe it's 'cause you've got too much good stuff?"
Henry shrugged. "Look at me, I don't have those problems. Sure, my life's not as cushy as yours, but that's how it goes. If you're doing well, people get jealous; if you're struggling, they look down on you. No matter what, you can't stop people from being envious!"
Steven gave a helpless smile and leaned against the window. "If only I were strong enough to take down that damn base!"
They both laughed, not really taking the idea seriously.
I mean, taking on a big base with all its armed forces and high-tech weapons? That's a death wish.
Even if Steven had some psychic powers, charging in there would be suicide.
While they were chatting, the women in the house had already set up the beds and sorted out the daily stuff.
Then Henry casually brought up something. "Oh, by the way, there's been a group of weird folks hanging around nearby. Not sure if that info's any use to you."
Steven blinked. "Weird folks? At this point, who isn't weird?"
With all the mutations going on, what's considered abnormal anymore?
But anyone still alive now must have some skills.
"Who are these people?" Steven asked.
Henry said, "They're kinda like monks, and there's a bunch of them, at least a few hundred!"
Steven frowned. "That many?"
The more people, the bigger the potential threat.
Henry said, "Yeah, I was worried they might be here to rob us. But they didn't seem hostile. I talked to them and found out they're part of some religion called Snowfall Cult."
Steven laughed. "Snowfall Cult? Sounds like ancient folks freaking out over natural disasters and turning them into gods. Thor, Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo. Now there's a Snow God! Just people looking for comfort in something supernatural. Not surprising; people always flock to that stuff in tough times."
Religions tend to grow in chaotic times because people need something to believe in to get through the rough patches.
Henry's voice got serious. "But these folks are kinda odd. Their leader, Jordan Hill, found me and immediately knew I was a Psychic." Henry glanced at Steven. "And he said he could help me boost my Supernatural ability and make me stronger!"
Steven's face got serious.
In this era of mutations, nothing's too weird anymore.
But a power that could enhance other powers? That's pretty tempting.
But Steven knew, there's no such thing as a free lunch, and people don't help you out of the goodness of their hearts.
"This guy's probably a scammer. As for knowing you're a Psychic, maybe he saw you using your powers outside." Steven paused and asked, "Even if he's legit, why would he help you for nothing?"
Henry nodded. "I thought the same. You always said not to trust strangers' goodwill. So I turned him down."
Steven smiled a bit. "Good call."
"But he went into the community to find others. Not sure what happened after that," Henry added.
The community was big, and that group went in. Henry didn't know where they went or which direction they disappeared.
Steven thought for a moment and said, "You think those Snowfall Cult folks went to find Chase?"
After all, the only people living in the community now were the residents of Building 18 and Henry's family.
"Yeah, I think so!" Henry replied.
Steven gazed out the window, squinting through the frost-covered glass at the dark, lifeless high-rises in the city.
After a long pause, he finally said, "I'm heading out for a bit."
"Going to Building 18?" Henry asked. "Want me to tag along?"
Steven gave a slight smile. "Nah, they're just regular folks, nothing to worry about."
Even though he said that, Steven geared up in full combat attire and placed Fluffy on his shoulder.
In close combat, Fluffy was a beast, even more formidable than Henry.
Cats have that explosive power and speed that humans just can't match.
"Steven, where are you off to?" Cindy asked, noticing him all suited up.
"Just gonna check on some old friends," Steven replied casually.
He didn't elaborate and just pushed the door open, stepping out.
Cindy and the others didn't know Chase, so there wasn't much to explain.
Steven mainly wanted to see how Chase and his crew were holding up.
As for the Snowfall Cult, he wasn't too interested, but gathering some intel wouldn't hurt.
Leaving Building 25, Steven and Fluffy made their way to Building 18.
The community was eerily silent, no signs of life anywhere.
But along the road, Steven noticed some snow mounds that looked like graves.
He couldn't tell if they were for garbage or people.
But most likely, they were for people. Who would bother burying trash in these times?
The ice and snow would naturally cover all the human filth.
When Steven reached Building 18, the snow had piled up to the sixth floor, but they still kept a window open on the sixth floor as an entry point.
Steven pulled out his pistol, cocked it, and fired two shots into the sky.
The gunshots reminded the residents of Building 18 of the fear Steven had once instilled in them.
"Steven's back!" In a room, Chase saw the shooter through the window and immediately recognized him!
Even with the helmet and white combat suit, that familiar way of calling people was unmistakable.
"This is bad!" Chase's heart sank; he felt like his life was about to end.
Next to him, Chase's wife and son came over. "We'll fight him if we have to! We finally saw a chance to survive, why does he have to ruin it? If he learns about that thing, we're all dead!"
Facing his nervous and excited wife and son, Chase sighed. "I'll go talk to him. Don't do anything rash; even if everyone in our building went against him, we wouldn't stand a chance."
They had all seen Steven single-handedly take out half the community back then.
He had a gun; what did they have to fight back with?
Chase told his wife and son, "If I don't make it, don't think about revenge. Just stay here and protect our last hope."
Tears welled up in his wife and son's eyes. They didn't want Chase to go, but they knew they had no other choice.
Chase took out his phone and sent a final message to his neighbors, then walked out of his home and headed downstairs.
Before long, Steven saw Chase climbing out of the sixth-floor window.
But this time, seeing Chase, Steven was taken aback.
He was so thin, almost just skin and bones.
If he hadn't looked closely, Steven might have thought he was looking at a mummy.
The only reason he recognized him as Chase was because of the expensive Bolena glasses he was wearing, which cost at least $700.
"Chase, long time no see! Didn't expect you to still be kicking," Steven greeted casually.
Fluffy sat cross-legged on Steven's shoulder, its black gem-like eyes fixed on Chase, looking very obedient, but ready to tear him apart in an instant.
"Steven, is that you?" Chase asked.
Steven nodded. "Yeah, it's me."
He looked up and saw shadows moving behind the window, and couldn't help but be surprised. "I've been gone for over a month, and there are still so many people alive in your building. That's a miracle! How'd you pull it off?" Steven asked, eyeing Chase.
Chase swallowed hard and replied, "Mainly relying on the food seeds you left behind."
"What? You actually managed to grow those crops?" Steven could hardly believe his ears.
"I'm not even going to talk about this cold weather. In a month, what kind of crops can be harvested and provide enough food for you?" Steven asked.
Suddenly, a bold idea popped into Steven's mind.
He looked deeply at Chase. "Seems like your building has a Psychic too!"
All unexplained things had one explanation: mutants!
As he said this, Steven was already gearing up for a fight.
If he sensed anything off, he wouldn't hesitate to take Chase out right then and there!
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