Chapter 1182: A Smile That Hid a Blade

Not long after, the three of them arrived at a huge mansion in the center of the compound.

Lucas stepped forward and knocked.

"Come in!"

A strong, resonant voice answered from inside.

Lucas pushed the door open and led Ethan and Skinny Pete into the mansion.

The place was ridiculously luxurious. In the middle of the apocalypse, being able to live like this told Ethan everything he needed to know—Leonard was very good at enjoying himself.

In the living room, a middle-aged man in a black suit sat on the sofa. A younger man who looked like a bodyguard stood behind him.

Ethan clocked it immediately—both were Tier 9. And that "bodyguard" was a Tier 9 Enhanced.

His ability felt similar to Miles’s: an energy-shield type. He could project it onto other people. Honestly, it was perfect for a personal guard.

Goldcrest City having two Tier 9s didn’t surprise Ethan much. The apocalypse changed day by day, and it had been more than ten days since Ethan first arrived in Clearford City.

If someone went to Clearford City right now, they’d probably find Tier 9 Enhanced there too.

It was just that Ethan’s arrival had brought Clearford City a massive stroke of luck—enough to produce more than thirty Tier 9 Enhanced, leaving other compounds in the dust.

Leonard stood when they entered, then walked over with a wide smile and offered his hand.

"Welcome to Goldcrest City. I’m Colonel Leonard Graves. And you are?"

Ethan smiled back, shook his hand, and said, "Colonel Hale, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Ethan Cole. This is Skinny Pete. And, Colonel Hale... your welcome party was a little unique."

Leonard’s smile didn’t move. "My people downstairs were out of line. I’ll make sure they’re disciplined. But you showed up and killed Lieutenant Colonel Hayes from my compound. That seems... excessive."

"Was it?" Ethan spread his hands. "They wouldn’t let me see you, so I had to use force."

"..."

"Lieutenant Colonel Hayes was my Provost Marshal," Leonard said, voice cooling. "He was critical to this base. Now he’s dead by your hand. If I just let that slide... I can’t."

"That’s your problem," Ethan said blandly. "Why is it mine?"

"..."

Leonard’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So, Ethan—are you planning to rely on your strength to do whatever you want?"

"Wasn’t the plan," Ethan said. "We came to pick someone up. Your people wouldn’t let us in, so I killed them. Colonel Hale—where’s the person we’re here for?"

Leonard frowned. He heard the threat in Ethan’s tone loud and clear.

As the Hale family’s third son—once the Deputy Base Commander, and now the man in charge—Leonard wasn’t used to being spoken to like this.

Fury churned under his skin, but he didn’t show it. He smiled instead.

"Relax. The person you’re here for is inside the compound. I’ll have them brought here shortly."

He gestured smoothly, like he was hosting old friends. "You two traveled a long way. Let me have a proper meal prepared to welcome you."

"No need," Ethan said. "We’re on a tight schedule. Once we have our people, we’re heading back."

"It’s already afternoon," Leonard said. "If you leave today, you’ll end up spending the night outside. This isn’t the old world anymore. Even with your strength, nighttime out there is dangerous."

He leaned in a little, voice turning cordial—almost indulgent.

"Why not stay in Goldcrest City for one night and leave tomorrow morning? I can have anything you want brought to you. No point letting General Cross go back and say I was stingy."

Then Leonard’s smile took on a different edge.

"And Goldcrest City’s women?" he said. "The best. If you’re interested, I can arrange a few to keep you company tonight. There are plenty of women here who’d be eager to spend time with you."

He spread his hands as if offering a gift.

"Goldcrest City takes care of its friends. In every way."

Ethan stared at the man, eyes wide.

This was the kind of thing a

Deputy Base Commander

said with a straight face?

"Alright, alright." Ethan let out a dry laugh. "You’re trying

really

hard to make me stay."

"And if you’re putting it like that, then I really can’t stay..."

"I just killed your Provost Marshal, and you’re still bending over backward to keep me here." Ethan looked at Leonard with a half-smile that didn’t carry any warmth. "No one would believe you don’t have an angle."

Leonard’s expression didn’t change.

"Sure, I’m interested in Goldcrest City’s beauties," Ethan went on, "but I think you should bring the people we’re here for first. If I don’t see them, I’m not in the mood to think about anything else."

"Ahem... fair enough," Leonard said.

Then he asked, almost casually, "May I ask—who are you here to pick up? What are they to you?"

Skinny Pete opened his mouth, but Ethan shot him a look. Skinny Pete immediately shut it.

"General Cross asked us to come handle a task," Ethan said with an easy smile.

"Is that so?" Leonard’s eyes sharpened a fraction. "With your strength, you shouldn’t need to follow General Cross’s orders."

"It wasn’t an order," Ethan said. "Just helping out. It’s a long way—most people can’t make the trip."

"Mm. I understand." Leonard nodded, then turned to Lucas. "Go bring them here."

"Yes, sir."

Lucas quickly left the mansion.

A moment later, two stunning women walked in carrying a tray of fruit and a few drinks.

They were wearing revealing, cut-out bikinis—more like strips of fabric than clothing. Both their figures and faces were top-tier. Even Ethan and Skinny Pete couldn’t help looking twice.

They set the fruit and drinks on the table, then dipped their heads.

"Enjoy."

The front of their bikinis was hollowed out, and when they bent over, the deep curves swayed right in your face.

Skinny Pete, at least, couldn’t look away.

Ethan was... fine. If he really wanted to see,

[True Sight]

basically meant anyone in front of him could be "cut-out" from any angle. His tolerance was higher.

What actually surprised him was something else.

These two women looked soft and delicate, but they were the real deal—Tier 8 Enhanced.

"Go ahead," Leonard said, gesturing politely. "Try some of our newly cultivated fruit."

"This was grown and matured after the apocalypse," he added. "It tastes far better than pre-apocalypse fruit. Most people don’t get a chance to eat things like this."

"Is that right?" Ethan eyed the table—especially the cherries the size of oranges—and couldn’t hide a flicker of surprise.

So fruit was mutating too.

With cherries that big, and that dark, almost-black red color... yeah. No way they tasted bad.

Ethan turned to Skinny Pete. "You wanna try some?"

"Yeah," Skinny Pete said, still blunt as ever. "But I’m worried it’s poisoned."

Leonard’s smile stiffened. "You joke. I’m not going to do something like that."

"Who knows," Skinny Pete shot back. "You kind of look like the type."

"..."

Leonard’s gaze slid to Ethan. "Ethan... are you also worried the fruit is poisoned?"

"Skinny Pete’s not wrong," Ethan said with a mild shrug and a light smile. "When you’re away from home, it pays to be careful."

Leonard’s mask was too good. Ethan couldn’t be sure whether the fruit was safe.

And if Ethan were in Leonard’s position—if brute force wasn’t enough—he’d absolutely try something clever.

So for now, Ethan decided to play along.

Once Skinny Pete’s parents were in his sight and confirmed safe... he wouldn’t need to pretend anymore.