Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower

Chapter 865: Chapter 867:Advance Technology

Hanake had already considered the possibility that Bella might withdraw from the restaurant, but he hadn’t expected Marcus’s attempt to secure a position there to fail so quickly.

Now that Jade had rejected Marcus outright, they would have to find another way to gain access to the restaurant and gather the information they wanted.

For the moment, their efforts had yielded little more than wasted time and an exposed connection.

Once Jade learned the full extent of the scheme, he immediately forwarded the information to Ivy and Silas.

After receiving the report, Ivy remained surprisingly calm.

She had already suspected that someone would eventually target the restaurant, especially given its growing popularity and the valuable resources associated with it.

Ivy chuckled softly as she finished reading the message.

“This is such a childish move. From what I can see, he won’t gain anything from this attempt, and his entire plan has been rendered useless for now.”

Catherine, however, didn’t share her amusement.

The older woman shook her head, her expression growing serious as she considered the implications of the report.

“No, Ivy. In fact, this is a rather dangerous move, and you’re underestimating what he might be planning.”

Ivy turned toward her, waiting for an explanation.

Catherine continued, “He has already managed to establish a connection with one of your core employees, even if that employee has now left the restaurant. Don’t assume that his interest in Bella will end here. He may arrange for Marcus to approach her again, pretending to be concerned about her well-being or offering her another opportunity. Once he gets close to her, he can gradually attempt to extract more information about the restaurant and the people behind it.”

Catherine paused briefly before adding,

“And if Bella refuses to reveal anything willingly, he might resort to more dangerous methods. He could attempt to drug her, impair her judgment, or manipulate her into making decisions she would never otherwise consider. By the time she realizes what’s happening, the damage could already be done.”

Ivy’s expression immediately turned serious.

She had initially regarded Marcus’s actions as a rather clumsy attempt to gain access to the restaurant, but Catherine’s explanation made her realize that the situation could be far more complicated than it appeared.

“Then what should I do?” Ivy asked, her voice carrying a note of concern.

Catherine eventually spoke in a calm, decisive tone.

“First, you need to ensure that Bella remains under proper protection. Don’t allow her to become isolated or leave her vulnerable to further manipulation. As for the restaurant itself, the next step should be to shut it down completely, at least temporarily.”

Silas immediately shook his head in disagreement.

“If we shut down the restaurant now, they’ll assume they’ve successfully identified an important person connected to us. In a way, that would confirm their suspicions that the restaurant is more significant than an ordinary business. They might even conclude that Bella is the person they’ve been looking for.”

Catherine looked at him thoughtfully, while Ivy’s expression grew increasingly contemplative.

The situation was no longer simply about protecting a successful restaurant.

It had become a question of how to prevent Hanake from discovering the people, resources, and secrets hidden behind it without revealing just how much they already knew about his scheme.

“But if we make Bella appear to be an indispensable pawn, they might hesitate to approach her again. They would realize that targeting her could bring them more trouble than benefits, especially if they suspect that she has the backing of someone powerful.”

Ivy nodded thoughtfully before saying, “I think I have a plan.”

With that, she began explaining her idea to the others, carefully outlining each step and the purpose behind it.

By the time she finished, Catherine’s brows had drawn together, and a crease appeared between them.

“This plan carries considerable risks,” Catherine remarked, looking at Ivy with a troubled expression.

Ivy met her gaze without flinching. “If we refuse to take any risks now, it will only be a matter of time before we lose everything. The prince and princesses might eventually take control of our restaurant anyway, and once that happens, we won’t have much left to protect.”

Catherine sighed, her expression revealing the conflict she was experiencing. “Ivy, you’re making too many impulsive decisions lately. Although I admit that your plan has the potential to work, there’s also a considerable chance that they’ll see through it and discover your involvement. If that happens, the consequences could be far more serious than losing a restaurant.”

Ivy smiled faintly, although her eyes remained determined.

“If we don’t take a risk now, it will only be a matter of time before they catch us anyway. At least this way, we have a chance to turn the situation in our favor instead of waiting for them to make their next move.”

Catherine fell silent, weighing Ivy’s proposal against the possible consequences.

After a long moment, Catherine finally decided to use her own connections to arrange an audience.

Once everything had been prepared, Ivy gave Jade the signal to proceed. Jade immediately contacted Bella and explained the entire plan to her, making sure she understood what was expected of her.

After receiving the news, Bella discussed the matter with Alana. The two women exchanged a few words before agreeing to move forward together.

Soon afterward, Bella and Alana set out for the royal mansion, located in the heart of Planet Astra’s capital, a magnificent city known as Heart City.

Heart City wasn’t merely the political center of the planet; it was the very heart of its civilization.

Its streets were filled with advanced vehicles, towering buildings, and technological marvels that demonstrated just how far the superior beings had progressed.

At the center of this magnificent city stood an enormous mansion where King Hugo usually resided.

Unlike the residences of the princes and princesses, which were scattered throughout the capital, this mansion served as the primary seat of the king’s authority.

It was the place from which he governed the entire planet, and nearly every major decision affecting Planet Astra could eventually be traced back to it.

However, gaining entry into the mansion was no simple matter.

Ordinary citizens weren’t permitted to enter without explicit authorization, and even the princes and princesses had recently found it increasingly difficult to gain access.

The security surrounding the royal residence had become exceptionally strict, making an invitation to enter a privilege that few people could hope to receive.

For Bella and Alana, therefore, this visit was an extraordinary opportunity.

It was only because Catherine had personally intervened and used her considerable influence that the two women were finally granted permission to enter.

As they stepped through the enormous entrance, both women instinctively straightened their backs.

The atmosphere inside the mansion was so different from anything they had experienced before that they couldn’t help looking around with undisguised curiosity.

After being escorted through several corridors, they finally arrived at the living room.

There, they found King Hugo seated in an extraordinary mechanical chair.

At first glance, it resembled an ordinary rocking chair, but a closer look revealed that it was an advanced piece of technology capable of far more than simply rocking back and forth.

The chair swiveled gently from side to side, adjusting its position according to the king’s movements, while several robotic arms occasionally emerged from its frame to massage his shoulders and back.

At certain intervals, the entire structure transformed, shifting from a rocking chair into something resembling a reclining deck chair.

The movements were smooth and almost silent, making it difficult to determine where one mechanism ended and another began.

Bella and Alana exchanged astonished glances.

‘What kind of technology is this?’ they wondered, finding it difficult to look away from the remarkable contraption.

The chair was only the beginning of the wonders surrounding them.

The flooring beneath their feet appeared to contain a flowing layer of water.

Gentle ripples moved beneath its transparent surface, creating the illusion that they were standing above a peaceful stream.

The effect was so realistic that Bella instinctively glanced down, half-expecting to feel cool water beneath the soles of her shoes.

The ceiling was even more astonishing.

One moment, it displayed a breathtaking view of the galaxy, with countless stars scattered across the darkness of space and distant nebulae glowing in brilliant colors.

The next moment, the scene transformed into an ordinary ceiling, resembling the kind of architecture they were accustomed to seeing in everyday buildings.