Hearing this, Hendrix pulled Scarlet into his arms and gave her two big kisses on the cheek.Â
“Scarlet, you’re amazing. When the time comes, we’ll secretly take out that space–powered human at Bluehaven Base, and you can grab every last bit of loot he drops,” said Hendrix.Â
Scarlet wriggled in Hendrix’s arms. “Sure, you’re the boss.”Â
The two of them were all over each other, acting like their teammates didn’t even exist.Â
A man dressed in thick camo frowned, his voice low and rumbling as he spoke, “Captain, I heard the space–powered girl at Bluehaven Base is called Elise, and she’s the base chief’s daughter. Are we sure this won’t land us in hot water?”Â
Scarlet shot him a sharp look and then snuggled coquettishly in Hendrix’s arms, turning him on.Â
“You little vixen, can’t even go a day without getting your fix, huh?” Hendrix teased.Â
Scarlet pouted. “Hmph. I’m just scared you’ll see those beauties at Bluehaven Base and forget all about me.”Â
He laughed, tapping her nose. “Is there any little vixen out there more beautiful or charming than you?”Â
While they were busy flirting, the round–faced guy from earlier looked clearly annoyed and repeated his question, a bit louder this time.Â
Scarlet’s tone instantly went cold.Â
She shot the guy a deadly glare. “Why don’t you mind your own damn business? Hendrix just hit level four. Do you even know what that means?”Â
One of the lackeys jumped in, throwing shade at the round–faced guy.Â
He teased, “Don’t you ever listen to the radio? Even the toughest mutants and power users out there are only at Level 3.Â
“Our captain just hit level four. That’s the top of the pyramid. Who could possibly scare him now?”Â
The round–faced guy could hear everyone singing Hendrix’s praises, so he sulked and shut his mouth, not daring to argueÂ
anymore.Â
But in his head, he was muttering, ‘Level four, my ass. When those Level 2 mutant zombies were chasing us, he was so scared.‘Â
Of course, he only dared to think it. No way he’d ever say that out loud.Â
At Bluehaven Base, the refugees had been stirring up trouble lately.Â
Now that the base chief was out of the picture, the powered humans were back to struggling just to get by.Â
They had to cough up forty percent of whatever loot they managed to find, couldn’t just kill refugees whenever they felt like it, and now everyone was supposed to be equal.Â
They grumbled to themselves, ‘Seriously, what’s the point of living through the apocalypse if it’s gonna be like this?Â
Why should those damn refugees get to enjoy the supplies we risked our necks for?‘Â
They were burning with frustration, nowhere to let it out, and started wondering if it was time to ditch this place.Â
With no one holding them back anymore, the refugees started acting out, getting more brazen and wild by the day.Â
Chapter 183Â
They took kindness for granted.Â
Arguments had erupted more than once at theÂ
soupÂ
kitchen.Â
Among the crowd, a couple who’d just arrived at Bluehaven Base got handed a packet of cookies and a bowl of soup. Instantly, their faces twisted in annoyance.Â
Disgusted, they threw both items to the ground and started shouting at the person serving food.Â
“What the hell is this? We dragged ourselves all the way to Bluehaven Base, tired and starving, and you gave us a bowl of watery soup? That tiny bit isn’t even enough for a mouthful,” the woman snapped.Â
The man stuck out his neck, pissed off. “You expect us to eat this crap? Do you even know who my old man is?”Â
The person handing out food tried to explain quietly, but the couple just raised their voices even more.Â
“What are you even saying? We’re just ordinary people who came all this way to join your base, and this is what we get?” the woman snapped.Â
“That’s right. We’re civilians. We’re suffering now, so you soldiers have to feed us and give us a place to stay,” the man said, sounding totally entitled.Â
They said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.Â
The woman was practically foaming at the mouth, jabbing her finger right in the soldier’s face. She was so close that she might as well have poked him in the forehead.Â
“Let everyone else eat this trash, but not us. Do you even know who we are? Where’s your boss? Go get your boss. I want to talk to someone in charge,” she snapped.Â
She strutted around like she owned the place, acting as if she was the base chief herself.Â
Most of the refugees here never had enough to eat, but they were too lazy to work and always wanted more.Â
Out of the hundreds of thousands packed into the base, fewer than twenty thousand were actually willing to risk going out for supplies. The rest were like leeches stuck to the bone, draining the military for everything they could get.Â
As long as someone kept the food coming, even if it was just a bowl of watery soup a day, they were fine with it. Not starving was good enough for them.Â
It was crazy dangerous out there. Only fools would risk their lives hunting for supplies.Â
Back when the base chief’s Awakened Group kept everyone in check, the refugees actually thought the military was surprisingly humane and kind. They even gave out free soup.Â
But with no one else to compare to now, they started getting dissatisfied, and their sense of entitlement just exploded.Â
They were always griping that the army was too stingy and didn’t care if people lived or died.Â
They kept insisting that one measly bowl of soup a day wasn’t enough. They wanted it turned into three meals a day.Â
There had been riots more than once, but every time, the military crushed them with overwhelming force.Â
With so many people involved, there was no way to punish everyone, so in the end, it all just fizzled out and nobody got punished.Â
Seeing the couple start it, the other refugees were ready to jump in and eager to stir things up even more.Â
Chloe walked past in a blazing red dress, her striking look grabbing the attention of every refugee in sight.Â
14:47 Fri, Jan 9 GÂ
Chapter 183Â
They all knew who she was. Just three days ago, Graham had held a big assembly to announce that Chloe was now the deputy leader of the base.Â
Her face had even been broadcast on the base’s one and only massive outdoorÂ
nobody could miss her.Â
69Â
The moment she appeared, every eye in the crowd was locked on her.Â
But the first thing everyone noticed about her wasn’t her strength but her beauty.Â
She was absolutely stunning. In a world where everyone else was grimy and desperate, risking their lives just for a bite to eat, she was the total opposite. She was always well–fed, dressed to the nines, and spotless from head to toe.Â
The moment her image flashed on the big screen, the crowd.Â
I was like tossing a drop of water into a hot pan. Chaos erupted amongÂ
To them, Chloe was nothing but a seductive vixen who’d bewitched Graham.Â
32Â
“A woman as deputy leader? There’s gotta be something shady going on,” scoffed a middle–aged woman with sharp, narrowÂ
eyes.Â
She spat on the ground right there in the crowd, her face twisted with contempt.Â
The woman sneered to herself, ‘Strong and powerful? She’s probably just hooking up with Graham.Â
‘Seriously, what kind of strength could a woman possibly have?Â
The man beside her instantly clamped his hand over her mouth, glaring at her fiercely.Â
“Are you crazy? You trying to get us killed?” he snapped, panic in his voice.Â
The middle–aged woman glared daggers at him and stomped on his foot with all her might.Â
She ripped his filthy hand off her mouth and spat right in his face.Â
“Pah. Every last one of you guys is trash.” She spun on her heel and stormed off.Â
Chloe didn’t even bat an eye at the refugees‘ muttering, gliding straight toward the couple.Â
Her cool attitude just fired up the crowd even more, and people started questioning her authority as deputy leader louder than ever.Â
The soldier handing out soup stood up straight and gave Chloe a salute, his face still red from being chewed out by that couple.Â
ADÂ