18:05 Mon, Jan 5 

Chapter 272 Bad News 

Chapter 272 Bad News 

Charlie’s expression gradually turned grave. 

Watching him from the side, Gary knew this call was anything but ordinary. 

So, he stayed quiet and waited patiently for him to finish. 

Before long, the call ended again. 

“Gary.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Do you remember Dominic Anderson, the town leader from that hill town?” 

Gary paused, then pictured a man in his 50s. 

“When we went to pick up Alice, he was the one who guided us. 

“He was really chatty.” 

Gary rarely praised anyone, but Dominic had left him with a great impression. 

A 

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“He seemed so simple and genuine. We tried to give him some money for the trouble, but he wouldn’t take it, no matter what.” 

Charlie’s face darkened further. 

“The call just now said …. he’s dead.” 

Gary froze too, unable to believe what he’d just heard. 

By the time Alice got the news, it was already the next day. 

Emma used to live in that hill town. Even after moving out, she still cared about the place. 

After her parents heard the news, they went back to the town to help. 

She wanted to take leave today and go back, too. 

Because she was Alice’s student–and a core member of the lab team. 

If she went back to the town now, the research project would have to pause for a few days. 

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Chapter 272 Bad News 

Naturally, she needed to inform Alice. 

“My parents said he was murdered. His head was almost cut off… It was awful.” 

Emma’s voice trembled as she said it. 

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Alice had been taken up the mountain by her mentor when she was very young, so she barely remembered the townspeople. 

But Dominic had been a kind man. 

Sometimes when it snowed or rained, the mountain paths were hard to navigate. 

Worried she and her mentor wouldn’t have food or water, he’d bring strong townspeople up to deliver supplies. 

Every time, it was enough for her and her mentor to live on for a long while. 

It was the only bright spot in those dull, monotonous days. 

Her voice sank. 

“I’m going back, too.” 

Emma was a little surprised. “Ms. Spencer, are you going right now?” 

“No. This afternoon.” 

Alice sighed softly. “Did you report it to the police?” 

Emma sounded a little down over the phone. 

“We did, but there’s no news.” 

Having once benefited from Dominic’s kindness, Alice planned to pay her respects on the day of the funeral. 

“You go back first.” 

Someone beside Emma said something, and she suddenly sounded embarrassed. 

“Clayton is taking me back.” 

Ever since Linda had smeared him, Clayton had become the internet’s favorite “wronged baby.” 

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Chapter 272 Bad News 

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Netizens were great at making memes—they turned his stunned expression into stickers that spread everywhere. 

A lot of lawyers even suggested he sue for misuse of his image. 

But Clayton was generous about it, saying it was fine as long as it wasn’t hateful or abusive. 

That instantly won people over. 

His X account shot up to a million followers overnight. 

He was still willing to keep his head down and do research–and even accompany a friend to the town to mourn. That showed he hadn’t changed much. 

That was a good thing. 

A faint smile brushed Alice’s lips. “Alright. Be careful on the road.” 

After she hung up, Janice knocked and came in. 

“Ms. Spencer, the board issued a punishment for Ms. Randall.” 

Alice didn’t even look up. “I doubt it’s anything serious.” 

Janice handed her the official document. 

“It says Ms. Randall is temporarily suspended. Everything she was handling is being handed over to you.” 

Alice never believed in freebies falling from the sky. 

“Where’s the trap?” 

Janice was honestly impressed. 

“Ms. Spencer, how did you know it wasn’t that simple?” 

Alice rolled her eyes internally. 

Ruby’s scheming practically leaps off her face. Who would be dumb enough to miss it? 

“Go on.” 

Janice dropped the teasing and reported quickly. 

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Chapter 272 Bad News 

“Ms. Randall has an urgent project on her hands–developing a hill town. 

“It’s government–led, with Nolan Group as the primary contractor.” 

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Back when Alice was called into board meetings, shareholders often grumbled about money being dumped into projects. 

This had to be the one. 

Any project partnered with the government had higher profit potential than ordinary ones. 

With government credibility behind it, many things became much easier. 

It cut out a lot of steps–and reduced costs. 

Lower costs meant higher profits. 

“They’re planning switchback roads and a hill–town resort hotel. 

“After that, they’ll build a themed village.” 

Alice frowned. “So this hill town is near Mapleford?” 

People in Mapleford weren’t all rich. 

But the pace of life there was fast, and everyone was anxious. 

So, they tended to prefer hill–town culture–some peace to decompress. 

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