Chapter 566: Chapter 449: Forced Purchase

"These people from the Cross family have recruited most of the superpower users at the base. They’ve also destroyed many of its long-standing unwritten rules."

"So in the month I was gone, Lex just let his family—all of them bullies who prey on the weak—push around the people from Earth?"

"Don’t blame Lex! Of course he tried to intervene. He strictly ordered the Cross family to follow the base’s rules, avoid conflict with our people, and live in harmony.

But there are over a hundred of them, and even the weakest is a Nebula Level Superpower User. They might put on an act inside the base, but once they’re out on missions, how can our people possibly out-compete them for resources?

Besides, they never bother any of us from Villa No. 3. So, a lot of the time, how is Lex supposed to intervene? He only looks out for us because of you!"

Flora Bloom frowned. Hearing Cynthia say that, she realized it would be incredibly difficult to resolve the base’s internal problems.

Shelly added,

"Besides, Flora, the Cross family is a major clan from the Star Nation. Why would they waste their time squabbling with people like us?

It’s actually the base’s original superpower users who are throwing their weight around after joining the Cross family’s faction, riding on their coattails. These two troublemakers are perfect examples. Before, would they have ever dared to cause a scene here?

Everyone knows Villa No. 3 has a stake in this place. But now, Captain Cross is a Cross, and since these guys joined his family’s faction, it’s hard to draw a line.

Even if we wanted to help, we wouldn’t know where to start."

Flora Bloom’s expression turned foul. ’Isn’t the root of all this the people Graham Cross brought here?’

’If they had just kept to themselves, would the base be in such a mess? I was ambushed the day I got back. If that can happen, how can anyone else feel safe?’

’The major cosmic families have surely entrenched themselves on Earth by now. If Morhaven is consumed by internal strife at a time like this, there’s no telling what disasters will follow.’

’This is my turf,’ she thought, ’and I won’t allow anything to go wrong.’

Her expression hardening, she looked toward the fruit stall owner and walked over.

Quinn and the other Wind Ability User were both High-level Superpower Users. In contrast, the two thugs trying to strong-arm the vendor—one Earth Element, one Water Element—were merely High-level Grade 1, a full grade lower than Quinn and his partner.

In terms of raw power, if a fight broke out, those two wouldn’t last three moves against Quinn.

And yet, Quinn and his partner were holding back, trying to argue rationally with the two thugs. They were clearly itching for a fight but forced themselves to endure the humiliation.

Flora’s face was grim as she walked up to the two superpower users, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Who told you to come here and rob people?"

Flora’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried, and everyone nearby who heard it flinched.

Although only her Water Ability had reached the Cosmic Level, she was still a Cosmic Level powerhouse. An expert of that rank possessed a naturally imposing aura that, unless consciously suppressed, was palpable in their every move.

When the two superpower users saw it was Flora Bloom, they swallowed hard and began to stammer.

"I—we weren’t robbing him!"

"That’s right, we paid with a Crystal Core! He’s the one being dishonest. He sold us the fruit, then tried to back out of the deal."

A mocking smile touched Flora’s lips.

"Did you think joining the Cross family gives you free rein to do as you please? This is Morhaven Base. It doesn’t belong to the Crosses."

"Captain Bloom, you’re just in time! These two tried to force me to take a Middle Level Zombie Crystal Core for my fruit! When I refused to sell, they just started snatching it!" He looked at Quinn. "Captain Quinn, you were standing right there, you must have seen it! I wasn’t the one being dishonest!"

Quinn felt a sudden wave of relief at the sight of Flora Bloom. He wouldn’t have felt this secure even if Lex Cross himself had shown up today.

"That’s right! I saw them trying to force the sale! When the deal fell through, they resorted to violence!"

Flora nodded and glanced at Quinn. "Then why didn’t you intervene? Aren’t you two supposed to be guards for this marketplace?"

Quinn froze. "But they’re with the Cross family..."

"The Cross family is the Cross family, and Morhaven Base is Morhaven Base! The two are separate! Even if Lex himself were here today, this kind of behavior would not stand!"

A flush of excitement spread across Quinn’s face. "Yes!"

"Whatever the standard punishment is here for this kind of offense, I want you to double it. Don’t worry about giving the Cross family any face!"

The moment Flora finished speaking, the superpower user beside Quinn suddenly looked uneasy.

"But, Captain Bloom," he began, "according to regulations, people who cause trouble, strong-arm vendors, and assault others are to be severely beaten and have all their assets in Morhaven confiscated." He paused, looking perplexed. "How exactly do we double that?"

Flora’s sharp gaze fell on the two men, who were paralyzed on the spot by her spiritual power.

"Quinn, starting tomorrow, you will begin recruiting a new Guard Squad for this marketplace. As for these two... we’ll use them to make an example."

"And spread the word. I want everyone in the base to know: Morhaven has no room for fence-sitters. If anyone has a problem with that, they are free to leave."

Quinn nodded gravely. "Yes! I’ll see to it immediately!"

Flora turned to the other superpower user beside Quinn. "Your character is good enough that you can stay on as a guard. But you’re far too timid."

"You deal with these two."

"Huh? Me?" He pointed at himself. "But, the Cross family...?"

Flora kicked the man in the calf, a blow that was sure to leave a nasty bruise. The man only winced and endured it, a wronged look on his face.

"Stop being so goddamn indecisive. When I tell you to do something, you do it. And find a Fire Ability User to burn the bodies afterward. We don’t need them polluting the place or being an eyesore."

"When this is over, you and Quinn will report to me at Villa No. 3."

Upon hearing this, both Quinn and the other superpower user looked stunned. "We... we can go to Villa No. 3?"

Flora rolled her eyes. "I have plenty of empty rooms at Villa No. 3. Pick one and move in. Just be sure to register with Millie at Villa No. 1 first."

The two pitiful superpower users who had snatched the fruit could only lie paralyzed on the ground, listening as their lives were forfeit in a few short sentences, with no room to even beg for mercy.

Just then, Polly, having slept her fill, began to stir. Feeling there was nothing left for her to do at the marketplace, Flora asked Cynthia where the Cross family had set up their main camp. Then, with her small group and the one beast in tow, she strolled over.

The Cross family now occupied most of the villas in Villa Area No. 1. The original residents had been replaced by a gaggle of lackeys who had sided with the newcomers.

To Flora’s surprise, Seth Warren, Kirk Warren, and Azure Leroy were among them. What’s more, Azure Leroy—who had once been Seth Warren’s personal Water Ability User—had somehow transformed herself in the span of a single month into Gloria Cross’s new best friend.

Flora had to admit, she was impressed with Azure Leroy.

’This was a woman who had once been Morgan Sterling’s secret lover,’ Flora mused. ’After I locked her up for a while, she became one of Seth Warren’s people. Now, with the power dynamics shifting again, she’s managed to leapfrog over Seth and cozy up to the young lady of the most powerful family on base.’

’A woman without real skill—or a shred of shame—could never pull something like that off.’

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