Read Novel Full Chapter 358: Idol
Chapter 358: Chapter 358: Idol
Because of that, Ivy’s gaze held a glimmer when she looked at him now.
Beside her, Bella’s eyes shone with open admiration.
She had always dreamed of becoming a psychologist, and Eric was her idol, the person she had admired quietly from afar long before the world fell apart.
Eric, however, stiffened when he noticed Ivy’s admiring stare.
’She must have attended one of my public lectures,’ he thought nervously. ’At least someone here appreciates my work.’
He was tense. Before becoming a psychologist, he had been a drug addict.
His past was ugly, scarred, and full of shame.
Even now, he felt insecure about being judged.
Getting into this base had seemed nearly impossible, but he had joined the line anyway.... hoping for a chance to live safely.
Now, realizing the representative seemed to regard him favorably, a quiet relief loosened his shoulders.
Eric pointed at Hannah again.
"With my ability, I can clearly detect lies. And just like before, I’m stating it again... Hannah is lying. She fabricated the claim that Ivy tried to take advantage of her."
Hannah shot up with fury.
"You’re lying! You just want to please Ivy! You want her favor!"
Eric shook his head calmly.
"If that were true, I can prove otherwise. Choose anyone from this crowd. Let them speak a truth or a lie... whatever they want. I can detect it. That is my power."
A ripple of awe cut through the onlookers.
Someone from the crowd finally muttered,
"Why are we even listening to Hannah? If Ivy kicked her out, there’s a good reason. Kick her out again."
Ivy turned toward the voice and recognized the man instantly.
Henry.
He grinned at her like an overly excited puppy, and Ivy felt a sudden, horrible premonition...
’Don’t you dare jump on me.’
Thankfully, he restrained himself. If Ivy had known he held back only because he feared his captain, she would have slapped him.
Henry faced the crowd.
"People like Hannah are nothing but leeches. Representative Ivy should create a blacklist for people who don’t deserve to be even stay outside the base."
Ivy nodded without hesitation. "That’s a good idea."
Hannah’s face contorted with panic. She opened her mouth to protest, but several guards arrived at that exact moment.
The commotion had long since drawn attention.
Many people had already run to Martha, requesting bodyguards.
Now those guards stormed in, seized Hannah by the arms, and dragged her struggling form away.
Ivy turned toward Bella with a composed nod. "You may enter."
Bella stepped inside, relief softening her stiff posture.
Ivy then looked at Eric and Henry. "You two may enter as well."
A few murmurs of dissatisfaction rippled through the crowd, but Ivy raised a hand, silencing them.
"Their courage touched me. Call it favoritism if you wish... I’ll accept that."
Her words rang clear, unwavering. She made no attempt to sweeten them.
Then Ivy turned to the guard.
"If anyone here feels dissatisfied with my decision... no need to check their background."
A few hopeful faces lit up, assuming Ivy would grant them easier entry.
But Ivy’s next words poured cold water over their heads.
"Blacklist them. Anyone who is dissatisfied with this arrangement will not be allowed entry or permitted to rent a house."
A stunned silence fell. Then fear. Then absolute obedience.
This was something Ivy had learned from her siblings:
Being overly gentle in the apocalypse was the same as sticking a "step on me" sign on one’s own forehead.
Strength required clarity, and clarity sometimes meant sharpness.
With that settled, Ivy turned and walked inside the base with Bella, Eric, and Henry trailing behind.
The temperature difference hit them immediately.
Outside had been scorching, the air dry enough to sting their noses.
Inside, however, a gentle coolness wrapped around them like a quiet embrace.
The faint scent of fresh bread from the nearby supermarket lingered in the breeze, mixing with the clean smell of disinfectant and soil that had actually been turned recently, not the rancid, rotting odor they had gotten used to.
The moment Henry crossed the threshold, he practically bounced forward.
"Ivy! How in the world are you managing a base this huge?"
Henry’s eyes sparkled, admiration practically radiating off him.
"You’re truly amazing. No wonder you’re Captain’s wife! Absolutely worthy!"
He raised a thumbs-up with both hands, grinning like a child who had just seen fireworks.
Ivy let out a soft chuckle.
"What were you doing in the line?"
Henry scratched the back of his head so sheepishly that even Ivy almost laughed again.
"I came to get a residency for me and my girlfriend."
Ivy glanced at him with a teasing lift of her brow.
"Oh? You have a girlfriend already? Fine, tell me the details later. I’ll get your paperwork arranged."
Henry’s face lit up like a lantern.
"Compared to my captain, you treat me so much better..." he muttered dramatically.
Ivy waved him off, her smile amused. "It’s nothing."
But Henry was already distracted. His gaze darted toward the supermarket nearby.
Its wide glass windows reflected the warm lights inside, where shelves were actually organized, foods, water, basic supplies, all neatly lined up.
No screaming. No pushing. No blood spilled over a packet of noodles.
"This place..." Henry inhaled deeply, letting out a shuddering sound of relief.
"The breeze here is completely different. Outside felt like hell. Here... this is heaven."
He closed his eyes in bliss, letting the gentle wind wash over his skin.
Eric nodded quietly beside Ivy.
"When I stood in that line, I truly felt like my skin was going to melt," he confessed.
"But here... the temperature, the air... everything feels regulated. Peaceful."
As he walked, he noticed more details.
The houses were arranged neatly in rows, each one painted, maintained, and shockingly intact for the apocalypse.
People walked calmly, with no desperation in their eyes. No scavengers.
No thieves. No rotting corpses hidden behind walls.
There was no pungent smell, the kind every other base carried because they never cleaned properly.
Everything looked... hopeful.
Eric felt a lump form in his throat.
’A place like this exists? After everything humanity has lost?’
He stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed.
Ivy glanced at him and spoke with a gentle curiosity.
"Eric... are you here alone?"
Her voice pulled him out of his reverie.