After absorbing the Newborn Sprout of Creation, Sterl didn't linger. He headed straight to the Expansion Hall to use the teleportation array.
At this moment, as Sterl had predicted, Teresa was in an extremely dire situation.
She stood in the Expansion Hall of Advanced Base 131 with a very distressed expression on her face.
Next to her was Daphne, equally furious.
The second-class players Sterl had previously recruited were forced to stand at a distance from the two women, also looking angry.
But they could only hold it in.
The Expansion Hall was now packed with players from at least four or five different bases.
The tall chandelier on the domed ceiling cast a glow on the faces of countless people below. Anyone with a bit of knowledge would recognize that these were all notable figures, at least second-class and above!
They were the backbone of Earth's human race!
At this moment, a high chair and desk had been elevated in the center of the hall, forming a giant tribunal.
On the tribunal, the chief judge slowly stepped forward.
Seeing this person, Teresa and Daphne's faces filled with terror—it was the head of their "Ironheart" family.
A figure who had been at the third class for a long time but was already capable of breaking through to the legendary level—Astrid.
She was an old lady dressed in old-fashioned attire, wearing a gray nylon coat and a long hat.
She was the strongest member of the "Ironheart" family and the symbol of the clan!
Teresa and Daphne knew that this matriarch possessed a fully maxed-out gold-quality skill! She seemed to be collecting other gold skills to prepare for an even stronger legendary promotion.
Many second-class, third-class players among Earth's humans speculated that having more gold-quality skills was better for advancing to the legendary level, based on this lady's actions.
Beside this lady, several jurors appeared with the glow of teleportation, each one holding an extraordinary position among Earth's humans.
The head of the "Dragonblood" family, Alcander. The head of the "Divine Might" family, Nelson. The head of the "World Anchor" family, Lexi. And numerous presidents of major guilds.
This was the luxurious lineup assembled from nearly ten advanced bases!
There was only one reason for this gathering.
As the guards shouted, "The trial begins!"
Beams of light instantly formed shackles that bound Teresa, Daphne, and the players under Sterl's command, rendering them unable to use any skills or even move. They could only stand there in a humiliating half-kneel.
At this moment, Astrid wore a look of pity.
"Teresa, you still refuse to reveal how you obtained that batch of equipment and resources?"
"Furthermore, who did you conspire with to kill our clan elder? Do you know he was the commander of this base? If you confess, we can give you a painless death."
"You should be aware of the reputation of the family's Tribunal."
Play Dead!
Teresa breathed a slight sigh of relief. If Daphne showed even a hint of revealing their master's information, even if it was false, Teresa would have no choice but to kill her!
Sterl had given Teresa a lot of equipment. While Sterl hadn't closely examined many of the attributes, Teresa had collected some with special functions. Even in her restrained state, she could still kill a similarly restrained and defenseless Daphne.
This was Teresa's ultimate loyalty as a "faithful dog"!
At this moment, facing the intense questioning from numerous third-class family members, Teresa remained calm. "I don't know how the base commander died."
"I've said many times that the resources were a reward from completing a hidden mission."
The second-class players who had become Sterl's subordinates under a contract looked bitter. "We did participate in the hidden mission with Miss Teresa, and the reason she has so much equipment is because we handed over part of our rewards for her to distribute."
Their statements were full of holes. Why would they listen to Teresa? Why would they give her the equipment? Didn't this just prove that there was indeed a mysterious entity behind Teresa controlling them?
At this point, the family heads and guild leaders didn't even need to speak again. The players below were already in an uproar.
They could easily spot the inconsistencies in Sterl's subordinates' words, and their minds filled in the gaps...
It was true!
Teresa and Daphne, these two popular beauties in nearby advanced bases, really had betrayed them!
The players' expressions changed!
The Earth human race had always emphasized education from the moment players were first born, ensuring that everyone lived in a fervor to sacrifice everything for their race.
While most players, as they grew stronger, were unwilling to give their lives for the so-called race, they at least still loved their community!
Only someone like Sterl, who had inherent memories, could be immune to such brainwashing.
At this moment, the players looked at Teresa and the others with intense hatred. "So you really did kill the base commander!"
"Are you insane? If the base loses its commander and gets destroyed, you will be the criminals!"
"Do you know how many ordinary people live in the base?"
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
The players shouted fervently, filled with rage!
Many even pulled out potions and items from their inventories and threw them forward! Fortunately, the Expansion Hall had protective measures against attacks, with AI automatically shielding against toxic and explosive substances.
Nevertheless, with the dark green toxic smoke and bursts of firelight, Teresa, Daphne, and Sterl's subordinates looked increasingly pale and desperate.
Seeing everyone's extreme anger, the third-class players above them shouted, "Teresa, Daphne, confess the truth!!"
This command was imbued with skill effects, carrying a soul-stirring power.
Anyone with a weak mind would likely fall into a daze and spill everything when interrogated this way.
However, Teresa covered Daphne's mouth with one hand and shouted loudly, "I told you, I don't know anything!"