CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 120: I MUST FIND YOU

Hannah Collins reported the matter to her superiors under her own name, but initially, they didn’t believe it. However, they did trust Hannah as a person.

They then responded, saying they would inform the mayor of Holy Spring Town and asked Hannah to lead a team to investigate.

By this time, the road blockage had been cleared enough for vehicles to pass, and military vehicles were already on their way to Holy Spring Town.

"Don’t worry, I’ll take you to see Norman Bennett, so don’t panic," Hannah comforted the restless Elliana Lyle.

At that moment, a soldier brought a self-heating meal, already heated and placed in a cardboard box, and handed it to Hannah, saying, "Captain, it’s warmed up."

"Here, Little Sprout, quickly eat something." After handing the meal to Elliana, Hannah hugged the shivering Elliana to keep her warm.

Even though they were separated by a raincoat and both were damp, it should provide some warmth.

Watching the person slowly nibble at the food, Hannah admired her. She actually came this far alone to find Norman Bennett.

Soon, the vehicle arrived in Holy Spring Town, followed by several military vehicles behind them.

Thanks to Hannah’s report, her superiors, though initially skeptical, had been on high alert, and when the water level first started to rise, the mayor of Holy Spring Town noticed it!

Upon receiving the notice, the military leaders immediately dispatched a large force to Holy Spring Town to reinforce the riverbanks!

Listening to the report from the soldiers in the military vehicle behind them, Hannah instinctively glanced at Elliana.

Little Sprout really predicted it; she even began to think Little Sprout had some sort of foresight ability!

Standing outside the vehicle, Hannah handed a flashlight to Elliana, "Little Sprout, take the flashlight and wait for me here. I have to go reinforce the riverbanks, and I’ll notify Norman Bennett!"

"Hannah!..."

However, Hannah walked away right after saying this, without giving her a chance to speak!

She knew that there seemed to be no signal where Norman Bennett was, so Hannah’s notice might not reach them!

She got out of the vehicle, hoping to drive herself, only to find there was no vehicle for her to use.

By now, the soldiers were already directing the people to evacuate, and everyone around the small town was so busy that no one had the time to pay attention to her!

In desperation, she grabbed a busy evacuating old man and urgently asked, "Do you know if there’s a large factory nearby? Yuanqi Group’s."

"What did you say?" Due to the noise of the heavy rain, the old man leaned his ear closer to her.

Elliana repeated her question into the old man’s ear, and he pointed to a road behind, saying, "There’s only one factory here, it’s on that road leading into the woods."

"Okay, thank you. Hurry and get out of here." She released the old man’s hand and headed straight toward the road he indicated.

The rain grew heavier, and she gripped the waterproof flashlight tightly.

The road beneath her feet was gravel, flanked by woods, with many fallen branches on the road, and the further she went, the more water there was.

Eventually, her sneakers got stuck in the ankle-deep mud, leaving her barefoot, but she ignored her shoes and kept running forward.

Without the mud-heavy shoes, she found she could move faster.

Not knowing how far this road would lead or how long the journey would take, all she knew was she had to find Norman Bennett.

Meanwhile, on Hannah’s side, sandbags were being packed, and soldiers transported them one by one to the riverbank.

In this rainy night, their busy figures were the most striking sight.

Watching Hannah carrying a sandbag, a soldier wanted to help, "Captain! Let me, you go notify the civilians to evacuate!"

"Someone’s already been sent to notify, no nonsense, hurry up and carry them!"

"Yes!"

...

"Ahーーー!"

A scream was drowned out by the heavy rain! No one could notice.

Elliana fell to the ground, writhing in pain, and despite the agony, she struggled to pick up the flashlight nearby.

When the light shone on her foot, she looked over, trembling.

Next to her foot was a flow of bright red water; her foot had been pierced from the sole to the top by a sharp branch broken by the wind!

The piercing pain was nearly unbearable...

Tears mixed with rain, she lay on the ground, head buried, gasping heavily.

After quite a while, she propped herself up with her arms, trying to get up, with the branch and the tree trunk attached; each movement drew more blood from the wound...

She had to pull it out, and as she did, every muscle in her face twitched, she bit her lip hard. With all her strength, she let out a muffled scream that was swallowed by the heavy rain, "Ahーーー!"

Though it was just a branch barely thicker than a nail, the pain of pulling it out was almost life-threatening!

She lay in the rain for a minute, but every second felt like an hour.

She still managed to get up, telling herself it didn’t hurt...

After enduring countless hardships over three hours, she finally found the factory with the Yuanqi Group sign.

The factory had lost power, and everyone seemed to still be inside.

With a flash of lightning as bright as day, she saw the collapsed signal tower not far away.

So the wind had knocked down the signal tower here from the start, hence why Norman Bennett couldn’t be reached, and the factory was still quiet.

It seemed she had come to the right place; the people at the factory had yet to receive the evacuation notice, and she needed to inform them quickly!

...

―――Dormitory.

Urgent footsteps echoed in the hallway when Raymond Wood rushed in without knocking for the first time, looking visibly alarmed: "Boss, Miss Elliana is here, telling us to evacuate."

Norman Bennett, who was organizing documents by flashlight, froze upon hearing this and immediately abandoned the paperwork to head out.

In the dormitory stairwell, he saw the little girl propped up against the stairs, her large raincoat covering her small body.

"Why did you come?" Although surprised, Norman Bennett quickly pulled Elliana into his arms.

"Norman Bennett, a flood is coming." Her voice was weak, and she bit her lip hard to stay focused.

"Hurry, Hannah and the others are already reinforcing the water bank, quickly notify everyone to evacuate."

"Hurry up～"

The people on the lower floors had already been woken by Elliana, and Raymond Wood brought a loudspeaker to repeatedly inform the workers to evacuate orderly along with Norman Bennett.

With most workers having vehicles, plus the public buses, not only could everyone fit but there were empty seats left.

So, this time, everyone could evacuate together.

Elliana was already in the car with Norman Bennett, at the back of the convoy. With the raincoat being long enough, she deliberately tucked her foot in to avoid worrying the man.

"Norman Bennett, hold me, I’m cold."

She cradled her chest tightly, as cold blood circulated through her body. It was a hypothermic state, and she could only cover it tightly, knowing if her heart turned cold, she was done for.

The man gently removed her wet raincoat, holding her tightly in his arms.

Words were unnecessary against the strength of this trembling embrace, this warmth was beyond measure.

His little girl took such huge risks to inform him about the evacuation. Seeing her condition, his heart was filled with aching and gratitude, but mostly aching.

Driving back from the factory to Holy Spring Town did not take long; however, as they approached Holy Spring Town, the car slowed down.

At that time, the riverbanks were on the verge of collapse! It wouldn’t be long before the waters would flood over, and even the reinforced sandbags were already tottering.

Shortly after, their vehicle stopped, advancing no further. Elliana looked out the window and saw Hannah leading people towards them.

...

"Hannah."

Upon seeing Norman Bennett, Hannah was a bit surprised, "Norman Bennett, why are you evacuating just now? Didn’t I send you the factory notice earlier?"

Hannah appeared somewhat anxious and continued, "We’ve just received news that the evacuation route ahead has suddenly collapsed, cutting off the evacuation path."

She had just sent a company of soldiers to clear the road and help evacuate people, but the message from up ahead indicated it would take at least half an hour.

And now, what worried her most was the riverbanks nearing their limit!