"The tent area at the base entrance—what's going on there? Haven't you received the latest directives and base regulations from headquarters? Why is the city center so empty, yet the tents near the base entrance are overcrowded? Ordinary people are suffering in the freezing cold outside! Are your base staff all blind?"

  Qin Luo questioned sharply, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

  The mayor of I City clearly didn’t expect such a direct confrontation. Meanwhile, other combat teams standing by and observing the situation began to chime in with their concerns.

  "Yeah, the reports emphasized how severe the mutated marine creatures were supposed to be. But now that we’re here, it doesn’t seem all that urgent?"

  "Exactly! And what’s with this so-called welcome ceremony? Why are you throwing all this nonsense at us?"

  "Did you trick us into coming here? What exactly are you trying to pull?!"

  "Speak up! What are your intentions?"

  ...

  Faced with the composed yet relentless questioning from the elite combat teams of the three major bases, the mayor stammered, unable to form a coherent response. He hadn’t anticipated that none of his lavish temptations would sway these people.

  He had presented them with the best he had to offer—fine cigars, premium liquor, luxury cars, designer watches, beautiful women, and upscale mansions. Yet none of it seemed to move them in the slightest.

  The members of the Rose Team, standing nearby, observed Qin Luo taking the lead and decided to step in as well. They unleashed their abilities, filling the grand banquet hall with an array of vibrant plant-based powers. In an instant, the once-luxurious space was overtaken by twisting vines and blooming flowers, creating an oppressive and surreal atmosphere.

  Mayor Wu started to panic. He hurriedly tried to explain, "Actually, I’m being forced into this! I had no choice! The base lacks ability users, and I have no real authority. It’s all in the hands of my bodyguard, who’s been calling the shots. He’s the one recruiting people by any means necessary. I’m just as helpless and distraught as you are!"

  Qin Luo suddenly turned to the Rose Team and said, "Run a lie detection test."

  Mayor Wu froze in place, his words catching in his throat. He never imagined that such a thing as a lie-detecting ability could actually exist in this world.

  His face turned pale as he instinctively tried to sneak away, but his every move was being watched. His attempt to escape only solidified the impression that he was guilty.

  The Rose Team members acted immediately, combining their abilities—[Cage], [Hypnosis], and [Illusion]. Within seconds, Mayor Wu was securely trapped.

  It took less than ten seconds.

  The mayor, unable to withstand the pressure, began to confess, "I’m a traitor! I betrayed headquarters!"

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  The ability users in the room, seeing him start to shout, instinctively prepared for action, gripping their weapons tightly.

  Xu Duoduo, without hesitation, pulled out her pink chainsaw. Her expressionless face while holding the chainsaw was terrifying, the stark contrast making her seem even more menacing.

  Many people gasped at the sight.

  The ability users from I City Base shrank back into the corners, not daring to make a sound. Who would dare provoke her?

  Meanwhile, the Rose Team’s abilities continued to manifest, filling the hall with a dense network of plants that reached up to the ceiling. The clawing branches and blooming flowers created an eerie, menacing scene.

  The disparity in ability levels was glaringly obvious.

  The ability users from I City Base had to admit they were like frogs in a well, completely outclassed.

  Today’s events were beyond anything they could have imagined. The once-dominant mayor, who had ruled with an iron fist, was now utterly powerless, tied up and confessing his crimes within moments.

  "I did it on purpose! I wanted to recruit you all to work for me. I planned to poison you tonight! Haha! Once you stay here for a few days, you’ll become addicted and have no choice but to obey me!"

  "What’s so great about headquarters? What’s so impressive about them? They don’t even dare to come here! I City is the real paradise... I... Ah!!"

  Before the mayor could finish his rant, Qin Luo raised his gun and shot him in the head. The mayor collapsed with a thud, lifeless.

  Everyone in the room: "..."

  ???

  "Wait! Captain Qin, why did you kill him just like that? That was way too sudden!"

  "Yeah! He hadn’t even finished talking!"

  "How could you kill our mayor?! This is a massive city—we still need someone to manage it!"

  "You’re insane!!"

  Qin Luo calmly holstered his gun and countered, "This man was clearly scum. Why waste time listening to his nonsense? He even admitted to developing a new type of poison and planning to drug you all tonight! And you still want him managing the base? Are you out of your minds? If you’re fine, go eat some sour plums and stop whining. Keep complaining, and I’ll send you to the afterlife to join your precious mayor."

  His fierce demeanor silenced the other ability users, who huddled together, trembling.

  One of the Rose Team members, who had been probing Mayor Wu’s recent memories, spoke up, "It’s fine. He’s of no further use."

  However, in the mayor’s memories, they uncovered even more despicable acts. He had been imprisoning young girls, intending to offer them as playthings to others.

  The revelation left the Rose Team member shaking with rage. Unable to contain her anger, she used her vines to pierce the mayor’s body repeatedly, then smashed him into a bloody pulp.

  The scene was gruesome.

  Blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

  The ability users and staff from I City Base, having never witnessed such brutality, immediately vomited.

  No one dared to speak up, all trembling in fear, worried that the combat teams from the three major bases might cause even more chaos.

  In truth, the mayor’s death had already left his supporters completely disoriented, unable to regroup or pose any further threat.

  The members of the Golden Eagle Team felt humiliated but also thought that 3A always had a knack for stealing the spotlight.

  Jin Chuanqiong couldn’t hold back and questioned, "Even if the mayor was problematic, wasn’t your approach too reckless? What about the aftermath? Who’s going to manage this city now? I City Base is massive—it’s not some child’s play! And what about the ability user leader he mentioned? What about his bodyguard?"

  The situation was a mess, to say the least.

  Among the attendees at the banquet, besides the ability users, there were also several other officials.

  Qin Luo tapped the table and asked, "Is there anyone here capable of taking on the role of mayor? Step forward if you think you can handle it. This is your chance—if you’ve never done anything morally reprehensible, speak up."

  He approached the issue calmly, one step at a time.

  Just as the Golden Eagle Team was about to mock him, a man in his thirties stepped forward. "I... I can."

  Though nervous, he showed courage. "I can temporarily manage the base, and I can assure you, I’ve never harmed anyone."

  Qin Luo signaled for the Rose Team to verify his claim with their lie-detection ability. Once confirmed, he nodded decisively and said, "Alright, it’s you. You’re familiar with the base regulations from headquarters, right? If not, I’ll have my teammate send you the documentation. Follow the guidelines and immediately start organizing the survivors outside."

  The sudden drop in temperature could kill ordinary survivors left in the cold. They had worked hard to save those people—how could they let them freeze to death now?

  Other teams had also sent survivors to this base before, only for them to be treated like this. How could that possibly honor the sacrifices of those who had died to save them?