A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1443 - 978 Salvation Army_2

Chapter 1443: Chapter 978 Salvation Army_2

It’s precisely thanks to these mutants that the Salvation Army has survived one blood moon after another, gradually growing and expanding. Now they’re beginning to spread outward, and this man is a minor leader within the Salvation Army. He led the mutants here to carve out new territory.

"So, why did you attack that human settlement?"

"That’s not my responsibility!"

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s inquiry, the man shivered instantly, scrambling to defend himself.

"I just spotted a settlement here and wanted to say hello. But who would’ve thought the sentries would start shooting as soon as they saw the mutants, enraging them... I can’t control an enraged mutant! That’s not my fault!"

"Heh."

At the man’s response, Duanmu Huai chuckled coldly. He’d have to be a fool to believe this nonsense. Mary and Tall City Saya had made it abundantly clear to him that the settlement was ambushed. If things had gone as this man claimed, the settlement would have sounded the alarm instead of being caught off guard. Besides... when it comes to what people in the wasteland say...

Just treat it like a story—don’t believe it entirely.

Even the group of survivors Duanmu Huai had saved—not even he knew how much of their words he could trust. There was no helping it; such was the harshness of this cruel world.

Still, this guy wasn’t lying through his teeth entirely. According to him, he only brought a small squad of mutants—about a dozen. Last night, more than half of them were wiped out by Duanmu Huai, leaving just two, which thoroughly scared him. Originally, he’d planned to leave, but then he spotted Duanmu Huai descending from the sky—this guy must’ve had a momentary lapse of reason. After losing so many mutants, he’d surely face punishment upon returning. Capturing Duanmu Huai or his power armor might earn him some praise instead.

And so, he foolishly ordered the mutants to strike.

Well, we all know how that turned out.

Finding no other enemies around, Duanmu Huai carried the man back to the warehouse and threw him at the feet of the settlement commander.

"Take a look at this punk. Do you recognize him?"

"It’s him!"

The wounded commander’s eyes turned red the moment he saw the man.

"You know him?"

"Of course!"

The commander glared ferociously at the man, who perhaps knew he was in the wrong and kept his head down, not daring to argue back.

"Just a while ago, this guy swaggered into our settlement claiming to be from the ’Salvation Army’ and demanded we submit to them. Naturally, we refused and chased him out immediately... Could this have something to do with him?"

"Pretty much. This guy was in charge of the mutants. Earlier, he even told me it was you attacking them first that enraged the mutants... Heh."

As he spoke, Duanmu Huai cast a sidelong glance at the man. Judging by the situation, it seemed like this guy, humiliated by the settlement’s rejection, had flown into a rage and ordered the mutants to destroy it—understandable in a way. After all, he did have a mutant squad and a mini-nuke at his disposal. Small settlements like this wouldn’t stand a chance.

When he’d be asked later, he could just claim the locals were aggressive and started a fight, leaving him no choice but self-defense... People like him exist everywhere, don’t they?

Dead men tell no tales—no one could argue against him afterward.

"You bastard!"

The others weren’t fools. By now, they’d pieced together the situation, seething with rage. What they didn’t expect, however, was the man’s complete indifference to the settlement residents’ fury, no matter how much they wished to hang him on the spot.

"This isn’t my fault! I’ve already warned you people—the Salvation Army isn’t to be messed with! My advice? Let me go, or when the Salvation Army comes, you’re all dead! If you release me, I might even put in a good word for you with the General..."

"You—!"

The commander, infuriated by the man’s taunts, pulled out his gun and aimed it at him, wishing he could shoot this bastard who had destroyed their settlement and killed his people on the spot. Yet his rationality held him back—this settlement was already on its last legs. If the Salvation Army truly came for them, they were no match in their current state...

But soon, Duanmu Huai made the decision for them.

"Alright, relax. This is no big deal. You can go in peace now."

As he spoke, Duanmu Huai extended his hand and slapped the man’s head with a fierce thud, smashing it to pieces. The man’s eyes widened, but before he could say another word, his body went limp and collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

"Wait, Mr. Duanmu, did you just kill him like that?"

The scene stunned everyone. Duanmu Huai simply shrugged.

"Of course. This punk hurt my little sister. Who does he think he is, messing with Tribunal members? Oh, by the way, this was just a warm-up. Didn’t he say he came from the Salvation Army? We’re going to pay them a visit and settle this score properly!"

"N-No need for that, Mr. Duanmu."

Even Mary was startled and quickly gestured in protest.

"I’m fine, really. Plus, the other side is also a faction of human survivors, right? Technically speaking, isn’t the Tribunal supposed to remain neutral...?"

"There are conditions for that."

Duanmu Huai glanced at Mary.

"By the way, I scanned the mutant corpses earlier. Guess what I found?"

"Huh?"

"According to the Bird Divination Tool’s analysis, these mutants’ bodies show signs of genetic modification, viral enhancement, and massive radiation exposure. And I’ve even heard that the Salvation Army has been recruiting people everywhere..."

"........."

Mary froze, quickly grasping the implication.

"Mr. Duanmu, you’re saying... these mutants were created by the Salvation Army?"

"Highly likely. That’s why I’m going to take a look. You understand the Tribunal’s principles, don’t you?"

Mary was silent at that. The Tribunal’s mission was to fight aliens, heretics, and demons. If the Salvation Army really was a force capable of turning humans into mutants, Duanmu Huai wouldn’t hesitate to destroy it.

"Are you serious?!"

Just then, Joel, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"What is it? Something on your mind?"

"Actually..."

Joel glanced at the corpse on the ground and hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Actually... the place I’m supposed to take Ellie to is the Salvation Army’s headquarters..."

"... Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Joel nodded.

"You’re taking Ellie to the Salvation Army’s headquarters? Why? What’s her connection to them?"

Duanmu Huai curiously studied Ellie, who stood nervously beside Joel, holding his hand tightly but standing firm under his gaze.

"I don’t know, actually. Initially, I took on a commission from a friend. She asked me to deliver this girl to the Salvation Army. As for the reason... she didn’t explain."

"I see..."

Duanmu Huai stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes.

Well, isn’t this convenient?

Looks like his goal in this world might just revolve around the Salvation Army!