It was a very sweet face: large, round eyes, a small, pert nose, and plump red lips that made her the very picture of an adorable girl. Most alluring was her skin. Having been sheltered indoors for years, it was delicate and smooth. Though a bit pale, that was perfectly understandable given the splint on her arm.
All in all, she had a lot of potential for the keeping.
Though he harbored improper thoughts toward the girl, when she looked up, unsure whether she should return the handkerchief that was now stained beyond recognition, Shawn Monroe immediately wiped the predatory look from his eyes, the kind that might alarm his prey. He became the picture of gentleness, and the friendliness in his voice skyrocketed.
"Just leave it on the side. Someone will clean it up."
Paige Summers nodded and did as he said.
At that moment, she had no more attention to spare for Shawn Monroe. They had arrived at the Dead City.
After the car gave the signal, the city guards quickly opened a smaller side gate. Though called "small," it was large enough for a truck to pass through. The arched main gate in the center was typically only opened on special occasions.
The car drove smoothly into a tunnel over ten meters long, then stopped for an inspection.
After her Identity Card was verified, Paige Summers was led into a room off to the side of the tunnel. There, she underwent a full-body scan in front of a machine about half a person's height to confirm she was not infected with the Zombie Virus. Only then was she sent back out.
The two men were already back in the car. Paige Summers hesitated, not reaching for the open door. She nodded to the men inside and said, "Thank you for your help, but I can get home on my own from here. There's no need to trouble you two any further."
Shawn Monroe arched a brow in surprise.
'He'd noticed Paige Summers's odd reaction after she heard his name; she definitely knew who he was. Under the circumstances, his willingness to give her a ride was a clear invitation. Did he even need to spell it out? And yet, she'd refused… Or was she really so stupid she couldn't understand?' His eyes darkened, and he issued a somewhat displeased command, "Get in the car."
"Really, it's fine. I can just walk. Goodbye."
Paige Summers thanked him again with an innocent smile, then proved she meant it by promptly walking out of the tunnel and heading in the opposite direction.
Shawn Monroe ground his teeth as he watched her slender figure quickly disappear. "Ace, is she playing hard to get?"
The man in the driver's seat, Ace, couldn't help but chuckle. "Doesn't look like it." 'So the girl isn't as dumb as I thought! These days, there are countless women trying to latch onto someone powerful. Plenty have been taken back to the Citadel by the boss in exchange for a better life. A pity none of them ever met a good end…'
"Hmph."
Shawn Monroe waved for Ace to drive. The car quickly exited the tunnel and sped off down the lane reserved for the Inner City.
Meanwhile, Paige Summers, who had just walked away, was far from being as calm as she appeared.
She walked faster and faster until she was a good distance from the city gate. Only when she was certain no one was following did she let out a long, relieved sigh.
She had been terrified.
Terrified that Shawn Monroe would unleash his domineering side and have her dragged back by force on a whim.
It wasn't that she had so much faith in her own charms; she was just worried that the plot she had derailed would suddenly be forced back on track.
'In the novel, after the original owner of this body was rescued, she was taken to the Citadel, putting up a half-hearted resistance! But as heaven is my witness, I, this Paige Summers, have absolutely zero interest in that male lead!'
Leaning against a wall by the road to calm herself, she decided to head home as quickly as possible.
Her home wasn't far from there. It was in the Lower District, in a particularly bad spot.
Of course it was.
If the city gates were ever attacked, wouldn't people like them—with no power and no one to protect them—be the first to bear the brunt of it? It was nothing like the Upper District, situated in the heart of the city. No matter which direction an attack came from, its residents had more time to prepare than anyone else.
Following her memory, Paige Summers crossed two streets and entered a low, two-story building. The corridor inside was long, pitch-black, and filthy, reeking of various foul odors.
At this time of day, most people weren't at home. They were either out hunting beyond the walls or roaming the city—in short, everyone was scrambling for their next meal.
Thankful for the quiet, she hurried up to the second floor and entered the room at the very end of the hall.
The previous occupant had been gone for over a month. While the room was still relatively tidy, it was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Mustering what strength she had left, Paige Summers used a little of her scarce water supply to clean, taking the opportunity to familiarize herself with the possessions she had just inherited.
Aside from worthless furnishings like a table, chair, and bed, she only found two very well-hidden packages of compressed biscuits and five mung bean-sized First Order Crystal Cores...
Tossing all her possessions and herself onto the bed, Paige Summers began to think.
'Eating and drinking both cost money. Even if I scrimp and save, what I have on hand will probably only last a week. What then?'
'If I want to survive, I can't just cut back—I have to bring something in!'
'Join a Hunting Party and leave the city?'
She glanced at her arm with a bitter smile. 'Who would want to take on a cripple as dead weight?'
'As for other options… I'll rest for a bit, then go check the mission hall…'
Just as she was drifting off to sleep, a violent pounding on the door jolted her awake.
"Paige Summers!"
"I know you're back! Open up!"
"If you don't open this door, I'll smash it down!"
An urgent, crude female voice shouted from outside, accompanied by a pounding so forceful it shook plaster loose from the walls. Paige had no doubt that if she didn't respond, the person outside would break the door down.
Quickly shoving the biscuits under her pillow and grabbing the Crystal Cores to stuff into a small, personal pouch, she yanked the door open.
Before she could speak, a pimple-covered face loomed in, its expression so ferocious it looked like its owner wanted to tear a chunk of flesh from her body.
"You bitch! You got Bro Perry killed, and you still have the nerve to show your face here!"