Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Dante’s Plan

Before she could finish, Dante raised his hand sharply.

"Absolutely not. That would be dangerous for her. We don’t even have the strength to protect her right now. Forcing her or even suggesting experiments would be foolish. If we push her, she’ll run away. And in this apocalypse, with all kinds of evil lurking out there, people can’t even trust their own family. If others find out about her ability, she’ll become a target. We can’t let that happen."

Talia absorbed his words, her expression tightening with newly awakened worry. She looked toward Bella’s corner, her brows furrowing.

"I’ll go check on her before I leave."

Dante nodded, not stopping her.

Once she left, Dante’s expression darkened slightly as his thoughts spiraled.

’With the current power shift happening, I’m not planning on creating any batch of loyal superhuman army here,’ he mused.

’My daughter wants me to contribute more, to fight for the military leadership role. But my plans... are completely different from hers.’

The memory of Ivy’s warning echoed in his mind... harsh, disturbing, and convincing enough to shake him.

Over time, he had realized just how unfit the military had become for someone like him.

So unfit that he had even considered migrating to the base where Ivy worked.

It felt shameful to admit, even to himself, but survival mattered more than pride.

’If lowering my ego keeps me alive a little longer... then so be it.’

After a few minutes, Talia returned, her steps hurried and her expression visibly troubled.

She looked at Dante with a tense, uneasy gaze and said,

"Dad... something’s wrong. Many of the people General Frank rescued are acting strangely. We shouldn’t let Bella stay there."

Dante understood immediately what she was implying.

In fact, he had been thinking the same thing the moment he laid eyes on those so-called rescued survivors.

General Frank had grown far bolder than before... nearly arrogant.

He had begun planting spies inside the military, passing them off as helpless civilians who just needed rescue.

How did Dante know? It wasn’t intuition alone; it was the way those people walked, the discipline in their movements, the alertness in their eyes.

From just one glance, he could tell they were trained. And trained people did not appear out of nowhere.

Such individuals were either operatives from a hidden organization... or, worse, soldiers from the secret army Frank had been quietly building behind everyone’s backs... an army meant to overthrow the entire military base when the time was right.

Dante clenched his fists slowly. The faint tremor in his knuckles betrayed the anger boiling inside him.

He looked at Talia, and a sudden idea flashed through his mind.

"Talia," he said firmly, "there’s something you need to do for me."

Meanwhile, far away from them, Silas was crouched behind a meticulously arranged display of lanterns and neatly folded banners, secretly planning a proposal for Ivy.

He had promised her a grand wedding... a wedding he intended to honor even if it took every bit of creativity he possessed.

And now, as he envisioned finally becoming one with the love of his life, excitement surged through him, almost childlike in its intensity.

The thought of Ivy wearing a ring he placed on her finger filled him with a thrill so strong that he momentarily ignored the military, the shifting power structure, and even his duties.

His mind, for the moment, belonged solely to her.

The moment Ivy told him the base belonged to her, he had immediately vowed to become a military officer stationed there.

He wanted to protect her base, her people, her home.

That desire cemented itself even further when Ivy herself had proposed something shocking... she wanted him to become the main general of the entire military.

Silas had originally only intended to serve as a small officer, yet Ivy was offering him full command.

He had been deeply touched by her sincerity, so much so that he wanted to give her the world in return.

However, he also understood one thing clearly: without a grand proposal, he wouldn’t even get close to her.

Her parents had made that painfully clear. They had hinted repeatedly... sometimes subtly, sometimes bluntly... that his earlier attempts were well below their standards.

So Silas had taken their words to heart and had begun preparing a proposal that would truly match Ivy’s greatness.

He was still arranging decorative crystals on the floor when he heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, he saw Lily enter the house with a slightly bewildered expression.

"What happened?" Silas asked, dusting his hands.

Lily straightened her posture and said, "A woman named Talia is here. She’s requesting to meet you."

Silas raised an eyebrow, surprised. But he nodded, wiped his palms on his shirt, and followed Lily.

Soon, he saw Talia standing near the entrance. The moment she spotted him, she strode forward with urgency and said,

"Brother... Father sent a message."

Silas let out a long sigh. "That old hag. He can’t even let me propose to my wife peacefully."

Talia froze, her eyes widening in shock. "Wait... when were you planning to propose to Ivy?"

The faint sparkle of excitement in her gaze made Silas smile.

She had truly come a long way... from hating Ivy to now being thrilled at the idea of Ivy becoming his wife. That change alone was a milestone he treasured.

"The day after tomorrow," he replied.

Talia’s expression shifted to hesitant concern. She nodded slowly. "Then... I’ll definitely help."

Sensing her hesitation, Silas frowned slightly. "Talia, what happened?"

She bit her lip, deliberated for a moment, and finally decided to tell him everything... about the military’s sudden election for a new leader, fake rescued civilians, about General Frank, about Bella, and about the danger surrounding them.

By the end of her explanation, Silas’s expression had darkened considerably.

"General Frank truly can’t wait anymore," he muttered coldly. Then he looked at Talia and said, "I’ll talk to Ivy. You can stay here if you want."

Talia opened her mouth, ready to refuse, but the cool air brushing against her skin made her stop.

Outside, the world was burning... literally so hot that stepping out felt like being tossed inside an oven.