76: Section 76

The Light Bearer's name was known to everyone!

Her appearance never boded well.

"This Dust Citizen used an Upper Citizen's weapon without authorization. Seize him!"

Two Law Enforcers walked straight toward Dust Citizen 4068. One pinned him down while the other announced: "4068, you used an Upper Citizen's weapon without permission! You have violated the Lighthouse Law and shall be punished with twelve lashes."

The Light Bearer said coldly: "Carry out the sentence!"

4068 took a few lashes and roared frantically: "Why are you hitting me? I clearly helped them just now!"

The Law Enforcers carrying out the punishment had no intention of stopping.

Charles had originally come to watch a joke, but the Wasteland Hunters had not only collected a large amount of supplies but also suffered few casualties.

Breaking out of such a dangerous place further increased Mark's prestige.

Charles couldn't find a target for his frustration, so he could only take it out on a Dust Citizen.

In the Wasteland Hunters' territory, hitting their people—even if it was just a Dust Citizen—was like slapping the Wasteland Hunters in the face.

4277 and 4079, who were moving supplies nearby, saw their friend being beaten and rushed over to stop it.

Jing Yuan pulled 4277 back, signaling her not to go over.

Then Jing Yuan stepped forward and intervened to stop the Law Enforcer.

"What are you doing?"

The Law Enforcer glared at Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan applied a little pressure with his fingers. The Law Enforcer couldn't bear the pain and let go of the iron whip.

The iron whip hit the ground with a clang.

At this moment, Mark stepped forward and said, "Lord Leader, if you beat him into a cripple, I'll be short one worker."

Jing Yuan also said: "I authorized his use of the Upper Citizen weapon! Special circumstances require special measures; otherwise, should we just wait to die when facing Phage Beasts?"

"You have no right to authorize a Dust Citizen to use an Upper Citizen's weapon!" Charles roared at Jing Yuan. This time, he was truly angry.

Mark had no choice but to step forward and say, "Jing Yuan is right. Special circumstances call for special treatment. We can't just stand there and wait for death."

For a moment, the atmosphere was tense.

The group from the Law Enforcement Office didn't dare to act rashly when facing the Wasteland Hunters.

After a standoff, Charles regained his fake smile and said, "Fine, since both captains are pleading for this Dust Citizen, the remaining lashes will be recorded for now. If he offends again, they will be carried out together."

"Yes!" The Light Bearer and the Law Enforcers retreated behind Charles.

"Good riddance!"

4277 and 4079 helped 4068 up.

Watching Charles and his group leave, 4068 said indignantly, "A bunch of unreasonable bastards! I clearly protected the supplies!"

Mark turned back and said, "Watch your words. Protecting the Lighthouse is the duty of Upper Citizens. As a Dust Citizen, you must always remember your status!"

"Just because of some genes?"

"Superior genes mean a higher survival rate. That is the rule of the apocalypse."

Hearing this, Jing Yuan hurried forward and said to Mark, "Alright, alright! He knows. You don't have to be so harsh!"

Then he turned to 4068 and said, "Captain Mark is saying this to help you! If you keep talking nonsense, they'll come back, drag you to the Law Enforcement Office, and give you another beating. By then, we won't be able to protect you even if we want to! To survive on the Lighthouse, you must always remember to be careful with your words and actions!"

4068 had spoken out of momentary anger without thinking of the consequences, nor did he realize Mark was helping him!

Jing Yuan pointed it out directly; he'd be a fool not to understand now.

"Thank you!" 4277, standing beside him, thanked Jing Yuan.

Seeing this, 4068 felt disgruntled again!

He shook off 4277 and turned to leave.

Seeing this move, Jing Yuan also felt angry.

Jing Yuan said to 4277, "Go back and talk some sense into him!"

"Okay!" 4277 and 4079 quickly chased after him.

Jing Yuan was also speechless. If it weren't for the fact that 4068 had saved Penny, he wouldn't have bothered.

At that moment, Jing Nan walked over.

"It seems the Wasteland Hunters have returned with a full load. I'm not the only one who wants to come and express gratitude to the Wasteland Hunters!"

Mark smiled faintly. "Why are you wandering around here instead of staying in the control room?"

Jing Nan stated her purpose directly: "The City Lord has ordered you and Jing Yuan to attend the Court Council."

Chapter 77: Announcement

When Jing Yuan heard he had to attend the Court Council, he knew what the situation would be.

He walked up and said to Mark, "Mark, a word in private!"

Jing Yuan and Mark went to a quiet spot, and Jing Yuan whispered, "During the Court Council later, don't tell the City Lord about seeing humans on The Surface yet!"

"Why?"

Jing Yuan looked at Mark and said, "Have you ever thought about it? Everything on the Lighthouse—the three great laws, the Lighthouse's faith—is established on the basis that survival on The Surface is impossible. If you say this in public, no one will believe you."

"That's why I plan to go down and investigate further."

"We definitely need to go down and investigate, but you don't need to tell the City Lord about this yet."

Jing Yuan knew that Morgan definitely knew there were humans on The Surface.

But for what reason Morgan wanted to hide these things, Jing Yuan didn't know.

Before he transmigrated, the plot hadn't reached this part yet.

To prevent Morgan from stopping them from going down to find Bai Yuekui, he had to make sure Mark didn't speak up first. Everything could wait until Mark successfully became the City Lord.

Jing Yuan said, "Promise me, we'll discuss it after the Court Council is over. When the time comes, I'll go down and search with you."

Only then did Mark nod.

After their discussion, they followed Jing Nan away.

On the elevator, Mark said to Jing Nan, "The gravity bodies are starting slower and slower! If Jing Yuan hadn't ordered the gravity bodies to start in advance this time, there might have been two more casualties because of the slow startup."

"That depends on how many materials in the supplies you brought back can be used to improve the gravity bodies."

"Can you improve them in a week?"

"A week later?" Jing Nan's tone was a bit strange.

Jing Yuan looked at Jing Nan's expression. Was there something important happening in a week?

Right!

Today, Morgan would announce Mark as his successor to the City Lord position, with the ceremony to be held in a week.

Looking at Jing Nan's expression, did she know in advance?

"You can't sit still as soon as you get back. Have you ever thought about taking a desk job?"

A desk job?

Jing Yuan listened from the side; Jing Nan definitely already knew.

"This is my lot in life! I don't have a choice, do I?"

"That's hard to say!"

Jing Nan's expression, her tone... it was confirmed. She definitely knew in advance that Mark would succeed as the City Lord.

But why would Morgan tell her in advance?

Jing Yuan hadn't figured this part out yet.

Central Command Hall.

The heads of various departments gathered to report on their work.

When it came to this ground collection mission, because casualties were low, Charles had no grounds to criticize Mark, but he still wouldn't let Mark off the hook.

Therefore, he tried his best to attribute all the credit to Jing Yuan.

Since Mark had returned with a full load, Charles actually realized that Jing Yuan hadn't done as he'd said.

But he had no choice; he didn't want Mark to get too much credit, so he could only shift it to Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan didn't say a word about this.

It didn't matter.

In fact, it didn't matter to Morgan either.

After all, he was about to announce Mark as the City Lord.

Mark followed Jing Yuan's advice and did not tell Morgan in public about encountering humans on The Surface.