Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1182: A Smile That Hid a Blade

Shortly thereafter, Ethan, Lucas, and Skinny Pete made their way to an enormous estate situated at the heart of the base.

Lucas advanced and rapped on the door.

"Enter!"

A powerful, echoing voice responded from within.

Lucas swung the door wide and guided Ethan and Skinny Pete inside the grand residence.

The interior screamed extravagance. Amid the end times, such opulence revealed to Ethan precisely what he needed to grasp—Leonard knew how to indulge himself thoroughly.

Inside the spacious lounge, a man in his forties dressed in a dark suit lounged on the couch. A younger fellow resembling a protector positioned himself behind the seated figure.

Ethan assessed them at once—both reached Tier 9 status. Moreover, that supposed "protector" qualified as a Tier 9 Enhanced.

His power resembled Miles’s in nature: a barrier of energy variety. He had the capability to extend it over others. In truth, it suited the role of a close defender ideally.

The presence of two Tier 9s in Goldcrest City failed to astonish Ethan greatly. The world post-apocalypse evolved constantly, and over ten days had passed since Ethan's initial entry into Clearford City.

Should anyone visit Clearford City at present, they might encounter Tier 9 Enhanced individuals there as well.

Simply put, Ethan's presence had bestowed upon Clearford City an enormous boon—sufficient to generate over thirty Tier 9 Enhanced, far surpassing other settlements.

Leonard rose upon their arrival, approached with a broad grin, and extended his hand in greeting.

"Welcome to Goldcrest City. I’m Colonel Leonard Graves. And who might you be?"

Ethan returned the smile, clasped his hand firmly, and replied, "Colonel Hale, your reputation precedes you. I’m Ethan Cole. This is Skinny Pete. And, Colonel Hale... your reception was somewhat unusual."

Leonard’s grin remained fixed. "My subordinates at the gate overstepped. I’ll ensure they face consequences. However, you appeared and eliminated Lieutenant Colonel Hayes from my team. That strikes me as... over the top."

"Did it?" Ethan opened his palms innocently. "They blocked access to you, forcing me to resort to force."

"..."

"Lieutenant Colonel Hayes served as my Provost Marshal," Leonard stated, his tone growing chillier. "He played a vital role in this outpost. Now he lies dead because of you. If I overlook that... I simply can’t."

"That’s an issue for you," Ethan responded coolly. "How does it become mine?"

"..."

Leonard’s gaze tightened just a bit. "So, Ethan—do you intend to leverage your power to act freely?"

"That wasn’t my intention," Ethan clarified. "We’re here to retrieve someone. Your folks refused entry, so I took them out. Colonel Hale—where is the individual we seek?"

Leonard’s brow furrowed. The warning in Ethan’s words rang crystal clear to him.

As the third son of the Hale lineage—formerly the assistant base leader, and currently the top authority—Leonard rarely endured such direct speech.

Anger simmered beneath his composed exterior, yet he concealed it well. Instead, he flashed another smile.

"Calm down. The one you want is within the base. I’ll summon them soon."

He motioned gracefully, as if entertaining longtime acquaintances. "You’ve journeyed far. Allow me to arrange a fine feast in your honor."

"Unnecessary," Ethan declined. "Time is short for us. As soon as we secure our party, we depart."

"It’s past midday already," Leonard pointed out. "Setting off now means camping outdoors tonight. The old days are gone. Even your prowess won’t shield you fully from the perils of night."

He inclined closer, his manner shifting to warm and almost generous.

"Why not rest in Goldcrest City overnight and head out at dawn? I’ll provide whatever you desire. No sense having General Cross return claiming I skimped on hospitality."

Suddenly, Leonard’s grin sharpened with another layer.

"What about Goldcrest City’s ladies?" he suggested. "The finest around. Should you wish, I can select a couple to entertain you this evening. Plenty of women here would jump at the chance to join you."

He opened his arms like presenting a treasure.

"Goldcrest City pampers its allies. In all respects."

Ethan fixed his stare on the man, brows lifting in disbelief.

Was this the sort of offer a colonel delivered so earnestly?

"Enough, enough." Ethan chuckled wryly. "You’re working overtime to convince me to linger."

"And phrased that way, I truly must decline..."

"I just took down your Provost Marshal, yet you’re going all out to detain me." Ethan regarded Leonard with a cool, mirthless smirk. "Nobody would buy that you lack ulterior motives."

Leonard’s face stayed neutral.

"Certainly, Goldcrest City’s beauties intrigue me," Ethan continued, "but first, produce the people we came for. Without sighting them, I’m not inclined to consider other matters."

"Ahem... reasonable," Leonard conceded.

Then he inquired offhandedly, "If I may—who exactly are you retrieving? What’s their connection to you?"

Skinny Pete parted his lips, but Ethan’s sharp glance silenced him promptly.

"General Cross dispatched us for a mission," Ethan explained with a relaxed grin.

"Really?" Leonard’s eyes glinted subtly. "Given your abilities, you hardly need to heed General Cross’s commands."

"It wasn’t a command," Ethan corrected. "Merely lending a hand. The distance is vast—few can undertake it."

"Hmm. I see." Leonard inclined his head, then addressed Lucas. "Fetch them now."

"Understood, sir."

Lucas exited the estate without delay.

Soon after, a pair of gorgeous women entered, bearing a platter of fresh fruits and beverages.

They donned skimpy, revealing swimsuits—barely more than scraps of material. Their bodies and features ranked supreme. Even Ethan and Skinny Pete found themselves glancing over.

They placed the refreshments on the low table and bowed slightly.

"Please, partake."

Their tops featured open designs, and as they leaned forward, the alluring swells dangled temptingly close.

Skinny Pete, for one, struggled to avert his gaze.

Ethan managed better. If curiosity struck, [True Sight] allowed him to view anyone nearby from any vantage, stripped bare. His resistance proved stronger.

Yet what truly caught him off guard was another detail.

Though these women appeared fragile and alluring, they packed real power—Tier 8 Enhanced.

"Help yourselves," Leonard invited with courteous flair. "Sample our latest grown produce."

"This ripened in the post-apocalypse era," he elaborated. "Its flavor surpasses anything from before. Such delicacies elude most folks."

"Indeed?" Ethan scanned the spread—particularly the cherry-like orbs as large as oranges—and betrayed a hint of astonishment.

Evidently, fruits underwent mutations as well.

With such immense size and that deep, near-ebon crimson hue... undoubtedly, they promised exquisite taste.

Ethan glanced at Skinny Pete. "Care to sample?"

"Sure," Skinny Pete replied, his directness unchanged. "Though I suspect poison."

Leonard’s cheerful expression faltered. "You jest. I wouldn’t stoop to that."

"Hard to say," Skinny Pete retorted. "You seem the sort who might."

"..."

Leonard’s attention shifted to Ethan. "Ethan... do you share concerns about the fruit being tainted?"

"Skinny Pete makes a point," Ethan acknowledged with a casual lift of his shoulders and faint smile. "Caution serves well far from base."

Leonard’s facade held firm. Ethan couldn’t confirm the safety of the offering.

And should Ethan occupy Leonard’s shoes—should raw might fall short—he’d undoubtedly employ subtler tactics.

Thus, Ethan chose to go along for the moment.

Once Skinny Pete’s folks appeared in view and proved unharmed... no further acting would be required.