Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1200: Tier 6 and Tier 7… Working the Fields

After lingering in conversation with Ethan and the crew, it finally dawned on Miles that five hundred people were still left in the cold outside.

“Good lord, I almost left those folks hanging,” Miles muttered, looking a bit sheepish. “Bring them in.”

“You’ve got it!” Jaxon beamed, his face devoid of any frustration as he quickly nodded his consent.

Shortly after, Jaxon stepped into the meeting hall accompanied by the woman and his scout.

Inside, Ethan occupied the head chair, while Miles sat directly across the table. The remaining members of the Fallen Star Squad lounged wherever they pleased.

Jaxon’s group, meanwhile, remained standing by the entrance, looking awkward and rigid.

The scout had already muttered another warning: there were ten individuals present, and he couldn’t decipher a single one of their Tiers.

Which implied that everyone in the room held at least a Tier 10 ranking.

Jaxon and his cohorts immediately shifted their demeanor—becoming silent as mice, too terrified to even draw a loud breath.

“Where did you lot come from?” Miles inquired.

“We… we managed to flee Harrison City,” Jaxon replied cautiously.

“Fled?” Miles arched an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, expectations were quite high for Harrison City’s compound. Did something occur?”

It was clear Miles had done his research on the status of Harrison City beforehand.

“It did,” Jaxon explained, adopting a look of profound sincerity that hid his previous ambitions to seize the compound for himself. “A Tier 10 zombie emerged in Harrison City. It commanded an army of eight hundred thousand, shattering the compound in a single assault. Survivors either perished or scattered. We barely escaped and found our way here. Seeing your fortification, we hoped to find sanctuary.”

“A Tier 10 zombie?” Ethan remarked, smiling as if he had just heard plans for an entertaining outing. “Looks like we have some business to attend to.”

“Captain, are you planning to take this on yourself?” Miles asked, glancing from Ethan to the group.

“Since we’ve crossed paths with the news, we might as well stretch our limbs,” Ethan remarked casually. “It has been quite a while since the last time we performed a service for the compound.”

Miles chuckled, “If you’re intervening, the matter becomes significantly simpler.”

He leaned forward, his gaze intensifying. “Actually, the timing is brilliant. I had been planning a push toward Harrison City, but I held back because their base of operations was still standing. If it has been wiped off the map, there is nothing to fear anymore.”

“Mm,” Ethan nodded. “Manage it however you see fit.”

Handling the internal affairs of Fallen Star City was Miles's responsibility, and Ethan had no desire to micromanage. If there existed an opportunity to practice laziness, he would certainly seize it.

Jaxon swallowed hard, then forced a hopeful expression. “Um… Base Commander, Deputy Commander. We were hoping to join forces with Fallen Star City. I was curious if…”

He was no fool. Observing the sheer might of Fallen Star City, he understood that aligning with this powerhouse was the only logical play.

As for his earlier fantasies of usurping the compound for his own gain?

Those had been discarded entirely.

Miles scanned the group briefly and nodded. “We’re currently understaffed at the southern fields—we need hands for land reclamation and farming. Head over there and lend a hand.”

Jaxon and his companions stood frozen, as if blindsided by a stun grenade.

“U-uh, Deputy Commander,” the woman interjected, struggling to maintain a courteous tone. “Are you certain there isn't a misunderstanding? Our captain is a Tier 8 Enhanced, and I am Tier 7. We have numerous Tier 6s and 7s within our ranks. Sending us to… toil in the dirt, that seems…”

“We require laborers for clearing and cultivation right now,” Miles cut her off coldly. “If you aren’t interested, you are free to return where you came from.”

The woman started to protest—

Jaxon clamped a hand over her mouth immediately, forcing a smile. “We are more than willing. Absolutely! We shall head out at once!”

He practically dragged the two out of the hall as quickly as possible.

Ethan watched their retreat and offered a small laugh. “Miles, your tact is improving every day.”

Miles rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit bashful. “Haha, I suppose managing things for too long will do that to a man.”

His face hardened once more.

“We have no idea who these strangers are,” he noted. “Who knows what their true motives might be? Let them work the fields so we can observe them for a time.”

He continued, “Truthfully, several other high-Tier Enhanced perform menial labor within the walls—folks we brought back from elsewhere. Until their loyalty is verified, they are treated as standard laborers.”

Ethan nodded in agreement. “You’ve got the right idea.”

Miles’s mood brightened instantly. “Right then—come along. I want to show you your new quarters. You’ll definitely be pleased.”

He grinned. “I also happened to find a few truly master chefs within the compound. Tonight, I’ve asked them to prepare a feast for everyone. We can have a drink and celebrate.”

“That sounds perfect,” Ethan remarked, clearly pleased. “Finally, I’m off the hook for cooking.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “As if you’ve actually been cooking lately.”

Ethan gave an awkward cough, scratching his head. “Uh… point taken.”

“But having talented chefs is a massive plus,” Ethan added quickly. “You two can finally relax—just sit back and wait to be served.”

Mia nodded, feeling slightly mollified. “That much is true.”

“Let’s get moving!” Chris and the others shouted, their enthusiasm showing on their faces.

Miles led them deep into the residential zone, heading toward the rear.

Shortly, a set of five opulent mansions came into view.

They were arranged in a semi-circle around a vast, pristine lawn. The grounds included a pond, a rock garden, and a gazebo. It looked remarkably elegant.

While the compound was massive, the population consisted of only fifty thousand people, leaving plenty of space for everyone. As Base Commander, Ethan’s living quarters were particularly grand.

Each mansion featured an expertly designed open layout, high-end furniture, and most notably…

Every rooftop had been converted into an open-air deck, each equipped with oversized lounge chairs.

Everyone caught on to the purpose of that design immediately.

Upon seeing the houses, their eyes brightened.

“Haha, Miles—you really do understand us,” Chris said laughingly, clapping Miles on the shoulder.

“Glad you like it,” Miles chuckled. “From this point on, these are the quarters for the Fallen Star Squad. They’re spacious—two people per house. Help yourselves.”

“Hahaha, fine, I won’t hesitate,” Chris said, pointing to the leftmost mansion. “I’m taking that one. Ethan, let’s be housemates.”

“Sure, whatever,” Ethan shrugged. “They’re so massive we could fit everyone in one and still have room to spare. It’s not like we spend much time here anyway.”

“Fair enough, but I still think pairing up feels right.”

“Whatever floats your boat,” Ethan replied. “We’ll take one together.”

“Mia, let’s take that one,” said Emily, pointing to the house adjacent to Ethan’s.

“Mm-hm!” Emily agreed promptly.

The choices settled, the group happily rushed to claim their new homes.

Meanwhile, across the complex…

Jaxon and his scouts marched south toward the farmland.

Not a single one of them looked satisfied.

Back in Harrison City, their group had been the most formidable unit outside of the government circle. They had been treated with respect everywhere they turned. To be sent to farm here was a bitter pill to swallow.

It was humiliating for anyone to endure.

“Captain, they are deliberately disrespecting us,” complained the woman, frowning. “They made us wait for ages, and now they expect us to work the fields. They never intended to integrate us.”

“Exactly,” added another Tier 7. “Captain, we should just walk away. With our power, we could thrive anywhere. We could start our own compound.”

Jaxon glared at them both with icy intensity.

“Do you honestly believe you can waltz in and out of this place whenever you please?”

He hissed in a low voice, “I promise you—the moment we step past those gates, we will be crushed into oblivion within moments.”

“…”

The duo went ghostly pale.

Only then did the reality settle in: this wasn't a standard government facility. These individuals answered to no one and worried nothing for regulations, reputation, or public perception.

“T-then… Captain, what should we do?”

“We follow their orders,” Jaxon stated bluntly. “We work the fields.”

He clenched his jaw. “I suspect this is a test. If we prove our value, given our strength, they will eventually move us into combat units.”

“…Yeah.”

“C-Captain,” the scout suddenly stammered, his voice trembling. “I fear you may be wrong about that.”

Jaxon frowned. “Explain?”

The scout pointed toward the fields, where the laborers were currently at work. “Those workers… they are all Tier 6… and I see at least a couple of Tier 7s among them.”

“…”

Jaxon’s expression froze.

Tier 6s and 7s… performing manual labor?

That was simply beyond reasoning.