Faced with no other choice, Teresa Taylor sighed and nodded slightly. "Nothing else."

Erics Peterson decreed, "Since you injured a fellow officer and caused minor injuries, your punishment is five days of confinement, half your work points reduced for three months, and the deducted points will be compensated to Clara Rivera. Additionally, your promotion to Brigadier General will be delayed by three months. Any objections?"

Work points were the base's internal currency. Ability users and soldiers could earn them through missions, and use them to exchange for goods, luxury items, and even ability fruits.

Outwardly composed, Erics was secretly tense as he studied Teresa Taylor's reaction. If she refused confinement, that would indicate a rebellious streak. No matter her abilities, he couldn't afford someone insubordinate. He'd find an opportunity to discreetly eliminate her. If she accepted, it showed she was redeemable—just a minor slip in judgment.

Though frustrated, Teresa vowed, "All right. I'll head to the confinement area after this."

Relief swept over Erics Peterson as some ability users pleaded, "Director Peterson, isn't this a bit harsh? Clara shares some blame here; perhaps reconsider..."

Abruptly, a guard burst into the room, panic etched across his features. "Director Peterson! It's Henry! He... he reported..."

"What did he say? Out with it!" Erics snapped, distracted from Teresa's matter.

"Henry reports that Brigadier General Edgar Hughes is dead!" the guard blurted out.

Edgar Hughes was a traditionally-minded officer, who resisted accepting his unofficial promotion and insisted his men address him as Colonel. But within the base, everyone knew him as Brigadier General Hughes.

The announcement left everyone stunned. "How could a strong officer like Brigadier General Hughes die?" "Did he encounter a powerful mutant creature?" ...

Erics Peterson barely hid his apprehension. "Bring Henry in immediately! Convene a meeting. Notify Brigadier General Martin Stewart, Brigadier General Elen Hawkins, Brigadier General Rock Campbell, and Teresa Taylor—you can attend before confinement. Get Professor Cooper here too..."

The base had only five Alpha-ranked ability users; losing one was an agonizing blow.

As names were called, the meeting room quickly filled. Henry was ushered in, all eyes fixed hotly upon him. "What's going on? Explain everything!"

Henry, wearing a pained expression, recounted, "Following our planned mission, we successfully retrieved Professor Hector William and proceeded to the New York Pearl Tower to await our base's extraction team." "Upon arrival, we discovered an unexpected intruder..."

As Henry detailed his firsthand accounts, everyone sat in stunned silence.

It turned out the New York Pearl Tower harbored a powerful ability user capable of sniping enemies through the violet mist! His combat prowess was formidable to the extent that even Edgar Hughes couldn't stand against him. According to Henry, Hughes was taken down in mere seconds—his terrifying power undeniable.

"This is the hammer that crushed Brigadier General Hughes!" Henry produced the weapon. The deformed hammerhead and clear finger impressions on its shaft were striking.

Silence fell over the room, everyone wondering what kind of monstrous strength could warp such a tool!

Martin Stewart's nose wrinkled suddenly. "Wait, let me see the hammer."

Voices questioned this peculiar interest.

Taking the hammer, Martin sniffed thoroughly, gritting his teeth. "It's him! That mole who kidnapped Olivia Brooks!"

Him!

Their feelings surged. "We finally have his location!" "Heaven has avenues you didn't tread, yet hell's gates you barged through!" ...

Could James Lone be behind this? Teresa Taylor was taken aback. What was he doing at the New York Pearl Tower? This complicated matters—before, their inability to locate James spared confrontation. But now? They'd undoubtedly pursue him directly!

Despite his skills, James Lone alone couldn't oppose so many ability users; escape was gradually growing unlikely!

"Excellent!" Martin Stewart beamed, overjoyed. He'd been gearing up for another search, only to find his adversary's hideout instead.

Erics Peterson, though outraged, started piecing together the puzzle: "This ability user is incredibly strong, seemingly possessing multiple abilities." "First is burrowing, a skill superb for evasion." "Second is rapid long-distance travel—snatching Olivia Brooks overnight, and reaching the New York Pearl Tower by daybreak, implies significant endurance capabilities." "Considering he set up at the Pearl Tower, perhaps his abilities mirror Henry's, suggesting possible flight." "Henry reported Edgar Hughes died with blood pouring from his orifices—an action reminiscent of Ray's mind attack, bypassing obvious defenses. It looks like that ability countered Edgar Hughes."

"He has enormous strength, evidenced by the hammer and the warped pole—rare among us." "And as he can snipe through the mist, he clearly has some power that grants sight through it."

"It means this person likely possesses five abilities: tunneling, flight, cerebral attack, immense strength, and vision through the mist. Truly a formidable ability user."

Peterson wore an icy smile, outwardly lauding his foe, while inwardly exuding confidence. Eliminating a mole-like foe hinged primarily on locating him—mission half accomplished.

Erics Peterson never doubted they'd overwhelm an opponent. Five abilities or not, 100-plus ability users offered a superior count of over 150 abilities!

Heavily silent, Rock Campbell interjected, "I suspect he possesses another—ability to locate power fruits—how else could he gather so many?"

At this, everyone nodded, recalling their own field missions' hardships. They knew firsthand the tangle of towering trees and knee-deep brush, shrouded in mist, constraining their viewpoint. Animals and humans alike ate power fruits. Seeking them was pure luck without a guiding ability.

The proposal intrigued Erics Peterson. Envision controlling such a man and the power fruits he'd discover!

"Martin Stewart, I charge you with capturing this ability user. You'll receive 50 ability users, 200 soldiers, and can requisition any necessary survivors. Bring him alive unless absolutely unavoidable!"

Confidence buoyed Martin Stewart: "He pulled off a surprise attack last time—but now I'll make him repay it all!"

Burrowing, flight—so what? How about a spatial lock!

Everyone was invigorated by the briefing. Only Teresa Taylor bore furrowed brows.

So much for non-involvement of ordinary survivors! She heard them dragging in non-combatants, despite Erics Peterson's prior insistence they wouldn't send them on dangerous missions.