Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Before nightfall, Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers arrived at the encampment of the Central Army, led by Kiera Walsh.

A long defensive line had been erected on the plains several dozen kilometers from Norgate, a joint effort by Earth Ability Users and Wood Element Superpower Users. In addition to defensive walls and mutated plants, garrisoned troops patrolled day and night. The rear camp was also heavily guarded, with patrols dispatched in shifts, maintaining a constant state of combat readiness.

Seeing the situation, the two couldn’t help their expressions turning serious.

However, Marcus Monroe’s identity proved to be quite useful. After he announced who he was, someone quickly came to greet them.

The man who came to meet them was middle-aged and had a very cordial attitude. He first instructed someone to take good care of Sweetie outside before leading them into a tent. ”Please, come in,” he said. ”I am Adjutant Hector Quillan. The General is still in a meeting but will be here in about fifteen minutes. Please have a seat for now.”

Paige Summers offered a faint smile, glancing into the distance before she entered.

Unfortunately, despite her excellent eyesight, she could only see the Central Army’s defensive wall from here. Seeing the city walls of Norgate was impossible.

Since Kiera Walsh wouldn’t be arriving for a little while, Hector Quillan took on the duty of hosting them.

Of course, the first thing he wanted to know was the purpose of their visit.

Marcus Monroe got straight to the point. ”We heard the Zombies in Norgate have mutated and become very strong, which we found strange. The last time we were here, we didn’t see a single Zombie. We came to see what’s going on.”

Hector Quillan was naturally aware that Sheldon Reid and the Mercenaries had been here previously, so he wasn’t surprised by Marcus Monroe’s words.

”Yes, we were caught completely off guard this time.” Hector Quillan paused, then his tone turned resolute. ”But there’s no need for you to worry. This is merely a temporary setback. With the General leading us, we will definitely take Norgate!”

”Of course,” Marcus Monroe chimed in.

Paige Summers, however, could tell his words held no sincerity.

’In fact, it really was hard to believe.’

’The Central Army had failed to take Norgate before. Even if, as Hector Quillan claimed, it was because they were unprepared, that fact alone demonstrated their poor response capabilities. To say something like that now, after suffering such heavy losses... who knew if he was trying to fool them or just himself.’

’Yet the man seemed to believe it without a doubt.’

Paige Summers was left with only one impression.

’Perhaps that General Walsh’s personal charisma really is something else...’

After a bit more idle chitchat, the man they were waiting for finally arrived.

”General!”

The moment Kiera Walsh entered, Hector Quillan shot to his feet and saluted.

Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers rose to their feet as well.

Kiera Walsh nodded at them. ”No need for formalities. Please, sit.”

He was in full military attire with distinguished features, and he cut a rather spirited figure. If not for the profound exhaustion in his eyes, Paige might have believed that he truly wasn’t troubled by the situation in Norgate. But clearly, the opposite was true.

Kiera Walsh quickly dismissed Hector Quillan, leaving him alone to face them.

”I assume you’ve heard?”

Marcus Monroe nodded. ”We ran into Division Commander Kane’s troops on our way here.”

Kiera Walsh showed a flicker of surprise. ”So you didn’t return to Central City?” Seeing Marcus Monroe’s questioning look, he quickly explained, ”I’ve been in contact with Black S. I was planning to borrow a few people from Jovitas. I assumed you had already made arrangements, but I didn’t expect you to come straight here.” He then looked relieved. ”Still, this is even better. Otherwise, we would’ve had to wait longer.”

”And you’re borrowing people to...?”

Kiera Walsh fell silent for a moment before saying in a hoarse voice, ”To rescue my adjutant, Seth Howell.”

In that instant, Paige saw the weariness of age in the man’s downcast eyes.

’It seems he doesn’t know Shawn Monroe’s true identity,’ she thought. ’He still believes Shawn is his son, which must be why he’s resorting to outside help now that his own army is powerless.’

’It wasn’t that he wasn’t pitiable.’

’However, the old saying was right: the pitiable always have their hateful side.’

’His deceased son had hated his guts; despite knowing who his father was, he never considered asking him for help. It was clear Kiera Walsh had been a failure as a father. And as a soldier... although he’d snatched the general’s position from Sheldon Reid, his command in the battle for Norgate was enough to show he was hardly successful or competent.’

As Paige was lost in these rather detached thoughts, Kiera Walsh had begun to frankly describe Shawn Monroe’s situation.

Just as Kent Kane had described, Shawn was hung on the wall every day. He wasn’t killed, merely left covered in wounds—a truly gruesome sight.

This wasn’t just torture for Shawn Monroe himself.

’At first, such a brutal act might have filled the Central Army’s soldiers with indignation, uniting them against a common enemy. But as time dragged on and they remained unable to rescue him, completely helpless against Norgate itself, the only thing they could accomplish was preventing the enemy from advancing toward Central City...’