Nicol's family meeting attracted people from the entire base, and the conference hall was packed with people inside and outside. The person who presided over the meeting was Elder Russell, who was also the most trusted person in the entire base.
Hughes also "attended" the meeting. His hands were tied tightly. Of course, his hands were tied only to prevent him from taking off his clothes again. Lina, with red and swollen eyes, stood beside him and held his restless hands. All members of the Nicol family were present.
There is a huge round table in the conference hall. Those who can sit at the round table to attend the meeting have always been key figures. The rest of the people can only sit around the round table or even stand.
Only Su Jin and Lu Hao from the Xinyu team came to attend the meeting. They were seated next to Qiao and were also members of the round table.
Originally, Qiao invited all members of the Xinyu Team to participate, but they were rejected by the family. Since they couldn't understand, they just listened to Su Jin's retelling.
Many people came with the intention of watching a good show. What they were most curious about was how the Nicholl family would deal with the scandal within the family. The gazes they cast on Hughes gradually changed from curiosity to amusement, and even mixed with some ridicule.
Everyone in the Nicol family bowed their heads deeply. The family's reputation was so important, especially for a big family like theirs. Now, all of it was lost by Zeus overnight.
"Everyone, today is the Nicol family meeting. Thank you all for coming. As the two-term elder of the Nicol family, I am honored to preside over this meeting today."
As soon as Elder Russell opened his mouth, the originally chaotic scene became quiet. This older elder seemed to have a kind of prestige and dignity that made everyone present couldn't help but respect him.
"We all feel very unfortunate about what happened last night. Patriarch Xius has worked day and night for the base and made various contributions to it, yet something like this happened. Now, as an elder, I very reluctantly want to offer my own suggestion. I am willing to propose in front of everyone in the base that the Nicol family replace their patriarch!"
Russell exclaimed.
"I disagree! Patriarch Xius must have been framed by someone to become like this. Doesn't everyone find it strange?!"
In the crowd, Sally, a branch of the Nicol family, suddenly stood up and objected.
"Sally, we also found it strange before, but the investigation report issued by the investigation team also shows that there was nothing unusual in Hughes's house at the time of the incident, and no one else entered."
Elder Russell threw out a stack of photos and documents and asked everyone present to pass them around and look through them.
When Su Jin looked at the documents, he couldn't help but admire that Russell and his team had prepared all of this in such a short time, and even collected confessions from all the guards near the mansion.
"If you still don't believe me, I have a surveillance video of the Hughes residence. It shows that, aside from a car entering the residence after returning from outside, there are no other signs of intrusion. The staff at the gate can also prove that Hughes also sent that car in..."
Russell explained clearly that the investigation report even contained the alibis of everyone in the Nickel family, including Joe's.
Sally, who raised the question, frowned and read the reports without saying anything. The reports were written very rigorously, and he had indeed been investigated by the investigation team for his alibi the night before.
"Elder Russell, we believe what you said, but has the candidate to replace the patriarch been decided?"
Guard Captain Finney asked after flipping through the reports.
"That's why I'm calling a public meeting today. I implore everyone in the base to vote and help the Nicholl family choose a fair and just candidate!"
As soon as Russell said this, the whole audience became excited.
Can everyone vote?
That's really fair!
While people were discussing, some people in uniform were distributing uniform paper and pens. In order to save time, the counting of votes actually started when someone first started to hand in their ballot.
Looking at the person collecting votes and writing down the nominees in public on the blackboard not far away, Su Jin, as a bystander, felt that Russell had played a good hand.
The names submitted by those who voted first were like templates, including several members of Nicol's side line who had no special abilities, and even Lina's name was on the list.
The appearance of Joe's name would not seem so abrupt, but comparing these names together can also provide a reference for those who are still hesitant.
In comparison, it is obvious that Joe, who just led the Xinyu team to eliminate zombie cockroaches across the country, is more outstanding!
So it was no surprise that Joe won the position of head of the Nickel family with 96% of the votes.
But the first words Joe said after being elected shocked everyone in the audience.
"I'm very happy that everyone trusts me so much. I used to have no interest in this supreme position, but after seeing and understanding more recently, I have my own ideas."
"Since the end of the world, each of us has been trapped in purgatory. Only one thousandth of the original population of Country Y has been reduced to. They have been eaten by zombies, insects, and even rats. Among them are strong men, weak children, and even mothers still pregnant. The gods have abandoned us. Every one of us left in Country Y is a warrior who has survived in the cracks!"
"So, in this environment, what do you think we're missing? Is it the ancient and pedantic Nicholl family? Are they the rules that remain unchanged from before the apocalypse to after? Are they the oath of allegiance that each of you recited before the Nicholl family?"
"I think all this is bullshit! It can't save anyone right now, nor can it help any of us here. In fact, we all know in our hearts that if it weren't for the help of the Xinyu Team, our last remaining base in Country Y would have been doomed to collapse. Our family, its rules, and its oaths can't save us..."
The meeting room suddenly became quiet inside and outside, and many people lowered their heads. Every word Joe said was the true situation since the end of the world.
Their God has abandoned them, and their so-called faith has long since collapsed into pieces. Otherwise, how could they swear allegiance to the Nicol family, which has nothing to do with them?
But even if what he said was true, so what?
"So I declare that I will disband the Nicol Family today!"
Joe exclaimed.
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