Apocalypse: King of Zombies

They made small talk in the mansion, on and off.

The two women kept coming around—offering fruit, tea, drinks—always attentive, always smiling.

Ethan and Skinny Pete didn’t touch any of it.

Leonard could only sit there feeling increasingly helpless.

At first, he’d only meant for his people to probe their strength a little.

He hadn’t expected these two to be so domineering that they’d straight-up kill Conrad.

As Provost Marshal, Conrad’s status in the compound was extremely high—one of Leonard’s most capable right-hand men.

Having him killed at Leonard’s own gate… that wasn’t just an insult. It was total humiliation.

If it had been anyone else—even a Tier 9 Enhanced—Leonard would’ve made them regret it.

But damn it… this was Tier 10.

That kind of strength was enough to crush his temper flat.

He’d seen how young they were and tried to take a different approach, but he hadn’t expected them to be this cautious.

Still, as long as they were in Goldcrest City, there would be chances.

A few minutes later, footsteps sounded outside. Lucas returned, leading a middle-aged couple—both in their forties—into the mansion.

Skinny Pete snapped to attention, excitement flashing across his face as he looked toward the door.

But the moment he saw them, that excitement froze on his features.

Ethan looked at the couple, then at Skinny Pete, and asked in a low voice, ”These aren’t them?”

”They’re not.” Skinny Pete shook his head.

Ethan’s expression turned cold.

Leonard stood and pointed at the couple, smiling at Ethan and Skinny Pete. ”Ethan, these two are the people you asked us to find.”

”You’re sure it’s them?” Ethan asked.

”Of course,” Leonard said. ”I followed the information General Cross provided. Their age and names match. With the network down after the apocalypse, we couldn’t send photos, so I don’t know exactly what they look like—but it shouldn’t be wrong.”

Ethan frowned, staring hard at Leonard.

But Leonard’s face gave nothing away.

Did we get it wrong from the start?

No way. Ethan’s mind raced.

One person with the same name would be one thing. But two people—same first and last names, married, both in Goldcrest City? The odds are basically zero.

Unless…

One possibility: Leonard never found them, and he’d grabbed a random couple to fake it—stalling on purpose for that Tier 8 crystal core. That felt very plausible.

Another possibility: Leonard did find them, but for some reason he didn’t want to hand them over—or at least, not yet.

Leonard tilted his head, playing confused. ”What, did we make a mistake?”

”They aren’t who we’re looking for,” Ethan said flatly.

”They aren’t?” Leonard looked genuinely surprised. ”Does that kind of coincidence really exist?”

”Whether it’s coincidence, Colonel Hale… you should know better than anyone,” Ethan said calmly.

Leonard spread his hands. ”I honestly don’t understand what you’re implying, Ethan.”

”You don’t understand?” Ethan chuckled, no humor in it. Then he turned his head slightly. ”Skinny Pete. Take those two over there and have a talk.”

”Okay.” Skinny Pete nodded and immediately walked toward Lucas.

”Hand them over.”

Lucas glanced at Leonard.

Leonard laughed awkwardly. ”If these two aren’t the ones you need, then like this—I’ll have people keep looking right away. Maybe there really is another couple with the same names.”

”No need,” Ethan said. ”Skinny Pete can ask them right here.”

”Fine,” Skinny Pete said.

He walked straight up to the middle-aged man, met his eyes, and asked, ”What’s your name?”

”I…” The man had just started to speak when Skinny Pete activated [Enthrallment].

The man’s eyes quickly went vacant.

”My name is Michael Peterson.”

”Oh, so you dared lie to me. Looking for death!” Lucas exploded, cocking his fist and smashing it toward the middle-aged man’s head.

But Skinny Pete was ready.

He reached out and caught Lucas’s punch. With a slight squeeze, Lucas’s fist crunched—bones breaking under the pressure.

”Aaah!” Lucas screamed and stumbled back, face turning ashen as he glared at Skinny Pete. ”What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”

”What’s it supposed to mean?” Skinny Pete snapped. ”I should be asking you that. Since when do you get to butt in while I’m asking questions?”

”I—I was just pissed,” Lucas said, clutching his ruined hand. ”This guy told me his name was Joseph Turner. Now he’s saying Michael Peterson. He lied to me.”

”Whether he lied to you or not—we’ll know after I’m done.” Skinny Pete turned back, ready to continue.

And then—

Bang. Bang.

Two gunshots cracked through the room.

The couple’s foreheads bloomed with nearly identical blood holes. Their eyes went wide, and they toppled slowly to the floor.

”…”

Skinny Pete whipped around, fury twisting his face. ”You—!”

Leonard, gun still up, wore a righteous, furious look. ”These two dared to deceive us—made me waste time and search the wrong direction. They deserved it!”

He lowered the gun and spoke like a man doing Ethan a favor. ”Don’t worry. I’ll immediately send people to keep looking for the ones you want.”

Ethan looked at him with a half-smile. ”Colonel Hale, you’re pretty practiced at ’killing the witness.’”

”Overthinking it,” Leonard said smoothly. ”I didn’t expect anyone to impersonate them either. It’s on me—I was too eager to help you quickly, offered a generous reward, and that tempted people to take risks.”

Ethan’s smile thinned. ”Colonel Hale, do you think we’re idiots? Or do you think once they’re dead, there’s no proof?”

Leonard’s eyes chilled. ”Heh. Forgot to mention—I do things by instinct. I don’t need proof.”

”Since you won’t tell the truth,” Ethan said, voice dropping, ”I’ll ask you myself.”

He moved.

One second Leonard was across the room—then Ethan was right in front of him, his hand reaching for Leonard’s throat.

In the same instant, a black energy shield snapped into place around Leonard.

And Leonard’s bodyguard moved too—his hand forming a dagger made of black energy as he lunged, stabbing straight for Ethan’s neck.

”Nice reaction,” Ethan said, almost approving.

He flicked his hand.

The marble coffee table beside them lifted off the floor as if grabbed by an invisible giant and smashed into the bodyguard.

Boom—!

Marble exploded. The bodyguard was sent flying, slamming hard into the wall.

Leonard finally fully reacted, jerking backward. Lightning flashed in his palm, and a bolt ripped toward Ethan.

But just before it hit—

Ethan vanished.

When he reappeared, he was behind Leonard.

He drove one punch into the shield, shattering it, then clamped a hand around Leonard’s throat and lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing.

”Uncle!” Lucas blurted, shocked out of his skin. The two bikini-clad women flinched too, faces draining.

”Someone! Get help!” Lucas yelled.

”Shut up.” Skinny Pete backhanded him so hard Lucas spun in midair and crashed to the floor, instantly—and successfully—silenced.

The two women clapped hands over their mouths, terrified, eyes wide as they stared at Ethan and Skinny Pete.

Were these two insane?

This was Goldcrest City, and they were laying hands on Colonel Hale.

They had guts. Or they had a death wish.