Chapter 460: What if there are, though?

Shrimpy and Mist perked up the moment they heard that.

“What’s going on?”

“Humans showed up,” Big Ears replied. “And they said there’s no powerful Zombie King in the city!”

Shrimpy thought for a second. “Sounds like they don’t know we’re here.”

“Exactly. We need to wipe them out,” Big Ears said, making the call.

The other three zombies’ eyes gleamed with a vicious light. Their faces twisted with excitement, a violent aura radiating off them.

“Let’s go. We need to report this to the boss—now.”

…

Clint led a group of Awakeners into what used to be a luxury neighborhood. The place was full of standalone villas, each with its own pool—though now the pools were bone-dry, filled with trash and scattered with a few sun-bleached skeletons. The whole area reeked of decay and abandonment.

“Let’s search this place.”

They were all from poor backgrounds, so the chance to poke around in rich people’s homes was more than just a supply run—it was a peek into a world they’d never known. A chance to see how the other half used to live.

The others were just as hyped, nodding eagerly.

They decided to split up to cover more ground. The dozen or so of them broke into small groups of two or three and headed into different villas.

The area was dead quiet. No signs of life, no movement. It felt safe, so they let their guard down a bit.

What they didn’t know was that on the roof of one of the central villas, a figure stood motionless. Tall, silent, expressionless—like a ghost waiting to strike. His eyes were cold, watching them without a sound.

Ethan had activated his stealth mode. A few of them even walked right past him, completely unaware.

“Are these people from out of town?” he wondered.

“Looks like Genesis Biotech’s already put a plan in motion…” Ethan’s mind was racing. He could kill them all in a heartbeat if he wanted to—literally. But that wouldn’t accomplish much. What he really needed was intel. Understanding Genesis Biotech’s strategy was the only way to counter it.

Meanwhile, a young man and woman had wandered into a garage. Parked inside was a Ferrari, surprisingly well-preserved. Its sleek, aerodynamic body gleamed even under layers of dust—every guy’s dream ride.

“Kara, check out this car. It’s sick,” the guy said, clearly impressed.

But the girl beside him didn’t even glance at it. She didn’t recognize the logo, didn’t care.

“What’s so great about it? The chassis is so low, it probably can’t even get out of here.”

“You don’t get it. If I could only have one car in my life, it’d be a Ferrari,” he said, rubbing his hands together like a kid in a candy store.

“Okay, you stay here and drool over your car. I’m gonna check out the house,” Kara said, heading through a side door into the villa.

The guy circled the Ferrari, admiring it from every angle. Then he opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat, soaking in the feel of luxury.

As he ran his hand between the seat cushions, he felt something. He pulled it out—and blinked.

It was a black stocking. And not a new one, either. It had definitely been worn.

“What the hell is this doing in here?”

He frowned, puzzled. But after a moment, he shrugged and pocketed it.

Maybe Kara could wear it. Help with circulation or something…

He rummaged around a bit more but didn’t find anything else useful—just a tin of chewing gum. It was nine months past its expiration date, but still edible.

He popped a few pieces into his mouth. The sugary taste melted on his tongue—a rare treat in the apocalypse.

He opened the car door and stepped out, ready to keep scavenging.

But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something strange—someone standing nearby who hadn’t been there a second ago.

His heart skipped a beat. He spun around—and let out a breath.

It was Kara.

“Jesus, you scared the crap outta me. Didn’t you go inside the house? What are you doing back already?”

“I… I got scared. Didn’t feel safe alone,” she said softly.

That threw him off. Kara was usually bold, loud, fearless. What was up with her now?

“There aren’t even any zombies around. What are you scared of?”

“What if there are, though?”

“Come on, what are the odds? Whatever. Fine, just stick with me,” he said, waving her over.

The girl’s figure slowly walked toward him.

“Grayson,” she said softly, “do you think we can really beat the zombies this time?”

“Of course we can,” the young man replied with confidence. “Richard’s pulled in top fighters from every branch to hold back the Zombie Horde. They’re building the strongest defense line ever. No way we lose.”

“The strongest defense line… sounds powerful…” the girl murmured, almost to herself.

Grayson frowned. “Kara? You okay? You’re acting kinda… off.”

“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice distant. “I was just wondering… can that ‘strongest defense line’ stop the Zombie King?”

“Didn’t Richard say they’ve got a whole plan for that? Something called the ‘Perfect Team’—got full approval from HQ too.”

“What kind of plan?” she asked, lifting her eyes to meet his.

“That’s top-level stuff. Way above our pay grade. We just follow orders, right? Let the higher-ups do the thinking.”

“Whatever it is, it’s gotta be huge. Even if we run into the L.A. Zombie King, it’s no big deal. They’ll wipe him out in minutes,” Grayson said, puffing up with pride, completely buying into the hype. He was practically spitting as he talked.

But the girl’s gaze suddenly turned ice-cold, her eyes sharp and chilling.

“You don’t know a damn thing… which means there’s no reason for you to stay alive.”

“What?” Grayson froze, staring at her. His expression shifted from confusion to alarm. Something was very, very wrong.

She looked like Kara. Same face, same voice. But the way she was looking at him now—it was like staring into the eyes of a stranger.

“No… you’re not my cousin at all!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the illusion shattered.

The girl’s body began to fade, her form dimming like smoke in the wind. She wasn’t real—just a psychic projection, conjured by Ethan. Within seconds, she dissolved into a scatter of glowing particles and vanished.

And then, Ethan appeared.

He stood exactly where the illusion had been, dressed in a crisp white shirt, his face expressionless, eyes cold and unreadable.

Grayson’s blood ran cold. His eyes went wide, bulging in disbelief. He looked like he’d just seen a ghost—no, something worse.

Because this face… this figure… was infamous.

Everyone at Genesis Biotech knew it.

This was the one from the classified files. The SS-class zombie overlord.

The Zombie King of Los Angeles.

“This… this can’t be real…!”

Grayson’s mind reeled. His whole body trembled like a leaf in a storm. Even his soul felt like it was shaking. Just moments ago, he’d been talking shit about the Zombie King—saying he’d be taken out in minutes.

And now, here he was. Standing right in front of him.

“No… this has to be a hallucination. I’m still in the illusion. I have to be…”

He clung to that thought like a lifeline, desperate to believe it wasn’t real.

But Ethan had already decided—this guy was useless. No intel, no value. The only thing left was his nutritional worth.

In a blur, Ethan moved.

A flash of white. A gust of wind.

He passed by Grayson in an instant.

And the young man’s terrified expression froze on his face—forever.

…