NFBE Chapter 341: Meridia Base
Chapter 341: Meridia Base
Nina Jacobs had guessed the man’s identity wasn’t simple, but she never expected it to be *this* complicated.
When the SUV pulled up to a checkpoint, one of the Defense Soldiers saw the man inside and exclaimed in shock:
"Commander Quinn?!"
"Open the gate,"
Mordecai Quinn said.
"Yes, sir!"
Watching the gate slowly rise, Nina Jacobs stepped on the gas and drove through.
Thanks to Mordecai Quinn’s status, Nina Jacobs even got to skip the routine inspection for entering the base. She drove straight into Meridia Base without any obstacles.
Veridia was situated in a basin, while Meridia Base was built on a plateau at its very edge.
The place looked like it had been converted from a resort villa. Most of the buildings still had a vacation-style architecture, but the original beige walls had been corroded to a dark gray by acid rain.
"I didn’t expect you to be the commander of this base."
Nina Jacobs said after parking the car in a designated spot and getting out.
"It’s just a title. The commander in name only," Mordecai Quinn replied.
"It’s getting late. The process for renting a place here is rather tedious. Why don’t you two stay at my place?"
Mordecai Quinn’s next words put Nina Jacobs on guard.
"No, thank you."
Nina Jacobs refused.
"It seems you still don’t recognize me.
Don’t worry, I’m not the type to repay kindness with malice."
’Don’t recognize him? Repay kindness with malice?’
An image of a person suddenly flashed through Nina Jacobs’s mind.
"That’s right. The mutated python, the flatbread, and the water."
Mordecai Quinn saw the astonishment in Nina Jacobs’s eyes, though it was only for a moment.
The reason he had stopped at the checkpoint halfway was to wait for her.
That road only led to one place: Meridia Base.
"So it was you."
It was just that the blood-soaked figure that had rolled out of the snake’s belly had been too hard to recognize.
Only his eyes had left any sort of impression on Nina Jacobs.
"So, I’m not just offering hospitality for no reason," Mordecai Quinn said.
"That’s reasonable."
Although Nina Jacobs still had her doubts, she accepted Mordecai Quinn’s kind offer, thinking of her own reasons for coming here.
Since it was her first time here, Nina Jacobs sized up Meridia Base as she walked.
It was different from what she had imagined. Beggars lined the streets everywhere.
Many people were kneeling and bowing repeatedly before a piece of Talisman Paper.
There were also people returning from outside, but most of them walked in silence.
"What are they praying to?" Nina Jacobs asked.
"Deceased relatives, perhaps. Or ancestors."
Mordecai Quinn’s expression was unperturbed as he looked at them, as if he was already used to the sight.
"Look, isn’t that the Commander? He actually came back alive? Wasn’t he dead?"
"He still has the nerve to come back?"
"So who’s the actual commander of our base now? The Ziegler guy or the Quinn guy?"
"Who cares? It’s the same no matter who it is. We won’t get any food from anyone but the old commander..."
The low murmurs of the surrounding crowd were incessant.
This continued until the two of them arrived in front of a three-story building.
"Looks like someone’s moving out?"
Nina Jacobs watched the people moving in and out, a flicker of interest in her eyes. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed a good show was about to start.
Mordecai Quinn didn’t say a word and walked straight inside.
At the main entrance, a man fiddling with a tea set saw who had walked in, and the tea set fell from his hands with a CLATTER.
"Mordecai Quinn? You’re not dead?"
The man stared at Mordecai Quinn in disbelief.
"What, you wanted me dead too, Tate?"
A flash of disappointment crossed Mordecai Quinn’s eyes.
Just then, a man and a woman heard the commotion and quickly came out.
The young man wore a pair of glasses and looked completely harmless.
The woman looked to be in her fifties. The moment she saw Mordecai Quinn, the smile on her face froze.
"What is it... Mordecai Quinn?"
The woman was clearly flustered.
Nina Jacobs had been enjoying the show, but she hadn’t expected to see Zachary Ziegler here.
"I’ve only been gone for two days, and someone is already trying to steal my nest?"
Mordecai Quinn asked.
"What are you talking about, Mr. Quinn? We just came to take a look. Isn’t there a housing shortage at the base right now?
I was just thinking of clearing out some of these empty rooms to make space for more survivors."
Zachary Ziegler explained with a smile, "And these two are?"
He had also noticed Nina Jacobs and Wayne Warner behind Mordecai Quinn.
"Yes, yes, what Mr. Ziegler says is true."
The woman beside him nodded repeatedly.
"These two are my honored guests.
Also, since when do you, Zachary Ziegler, get to call the shots here?"
Mordecai Quinn demanded sharply.
"I was wondering who was making such a fuss. So, Mordecai Quinn has returned."
A somewhat aged voice came from outside the door.
Nina Jacobs saw a scrawny old man, with a large crowd of people clustered behind him.
Seeing this, Zachary Ziegler also ran to stand behind the old man.
"Mordecai Quinn, a bet is a bet. You are no longer worthy of the position of Base Commander."
The old man said.
"I’ve returned. What right do you have to say I’ve lost?"
Mordecai Quinn retorted.
"What does it matter if you’re back?
You certainly don’t look like you’ve brought back any supplies.
Daniel Lewis and the others who went into the city with you came back long ago, and they were empty-handed, I hear.
You’ve already lost this bet."
The scrawny old man said.
Mordecai Quinn’s brow furrowed slightly, but he still said:
"Whether I’ve lost or not isn’t for you to decide, Elder Ziegler.
Since the oath was made in front of everyone in the base, it should naturally be up to the people of the base to decide, wouldn’t you agree?"
"Fine. Tomorrow, I will gather the people of the base once more.
We’ll just see how our Commander Quinn plans to talk his way out of this bet.
Zachary, let’s go."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Zachary Ziegler immediately followed.
After everyone had left, only the middle-aged man and woman remained in the courtyard.
"Mordecai Quinn, don’t try to be a hero.
If it’s really not going to work, just let it go. I don’t see anything wrong with letting them take charge."
The middle-aged man rubbed his nose, his expression a little awkward as he tried to persuade him.
Mordecai Quinn looked at him, and the man quickly explained, "I don’t mean anything by it! I just wanted to grab a few of the old commander’s things to keep as mementos.
You know, everyone was saying you died out there."
Vesper Tate’s voice trailed off, losing confidence as he spoke.
"I understand, Tate. You can go back for now."
After Mordecai Quinn spoke, Vesper Tate immediately prepared to leave as if he had been granted amnesty.
"Wait. Where is Daniel Lewis now?"
Mordecai Quinn asked.
"Daniel Lewis? He should be over at The Garrison. I saw Zachary Ziegler bring him back earlier."
Vesper Tate said.
"Zachary Ziegler brought Daniel Lewis back?"
Mordecai Quinn sensed something was wrong, but he didn’t say anything more.
Seeing her chance, the woman from before also prepared to leave, but Mordecai Quinn stopped her.
"Miss Sutton, have you taken their side as well?"
The air grew quiet. Mordecai Quinn stared at her back as he asked.
"Mordecai Quinn, don’t blame me. Rosalind is with Zachary Ziegler now. You know it’s not easy for a widow and orphan like us to survive here."
The woman turned her head and said calmly.
"Is that so? So you drugged me? Everyone knows you were the person I trusted most, right?"
Mordecai Quinn said coldly.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Hearing this, the woman fled out the main door in a panic, as if afraid another second would expose her completely.
"Sorry to have you witness that."
Mordecai Quinn turned around, his face unreadable.
"I’m in no position to laugh at you."
Nina Jacobs replied.
She was no stranger to the drama of being betrayed by friends and family.