Since his arrival in Alverton, Shawn had likely struck a deal with Kayla. Otherwise, his brazenness was inexplicable. This deal undoubtedly targeted Felicia. His arrival, however, was fortuitous. Shawn probably believed murdering Felicia and burying secrets would be easy in Alverton's rundown state. Coincidentally, Felicia harbored a similar thought.
She chuckled softly, concealing the flicker of murderous intent as she told Lucas, "Okay, I got it. Thank you for the message!" Lucas, his task complete, bounced away happily, clutching his sweet potato.
The afternoon's training program was delayed. Learning of the Alverton situation, the vice principal found himself in a dilemma. The college's donation and assistance trip to impoverished elementary schools had been misrepresented. Alverton's school was bright and imposing, hardly indicative of poverty. The village needed no assistance or donations.
This presented a difficult situation. Charles smiled warmly. "Our village doesn't require donations. We appreciate the offer, but other places need them more. Why not donate the supplies there?"
The vice principal quickly asked, "Are there other villages nearby?"
"Yes. Behind our mountain lies Hillfort. It has only sixteen households and is quite poor. Hope Elementary School has one teacher for twenty-two students of varying ages. However, it's on the mountain, accessible only by a difficult road. If you're willing to go, our strong young men can guide you and help carry the supplies!"
As Charles finished speaking, the vice principal eagerly agreed. "That sounds great! Please arrange manpower. We have two large trucks of donated materials, and twenty of us can't carry them all. Thank you so much!"
"No need to mention it," Charles replied, waving his hands. "You're doing good deeds; that makes you good people! We're just lending a small hand." Despite Charles's modesty, the vice principal expressed his gratitude repeatedly.
Though initially intending to help Alverton, they ultimately failed. Now, they needed to transport the donated goods to Hillfort, relying on the villagers' help. The students would also stay with the villagers overnight. Essentially, they were not only giving nothing to Alverton but also taking advantage of their hospitality. The vice principal felt embarrassed and suggested paying for accommodations, but Charles declined.
"Oh, we villagers aren't so complicated. We pride ourselves on our hospitality! Please don't mention money—it makes us uncomfortable!" The arrangements were finalized.
At 2:00 p.m., the students and the sturdy villagers of Alverton unloaded the two large trucks. Then, laden with supplies, they set off towards Hillfort in a grand procession. From the mountaintop, they resembled a column of ants working together. Felicia, carrying two heavy bags of clothing, was at the rear, her arms aching from the long walk. She knew Shawn was close behind, waiting to see if he dared to act.