The Apocalypse Took Everything, This Time I Hoard It All First

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Shameless

He leaned out and jumped off the vehicle, grabbing the hummingbird’s body with one hand. Wielding his machete with his left hand, he slashed down hard, decapitating the bird.

Seeing the troublesome mutated bird finally slain, the suffocating gloom weighing on everyone’s hearts dissipated a little.

The squad steadily maintained their combat rhythm. The glow of their superpowers intertwined with the muzzle flashes to form a lethal net, methodically clearing out the remaining mutated birds.

Over half an hour later, the last mutated bird was struck by submachine gun fire, plummeting straight to the ground...

The battle was finally over. Luke Locke panted heavily as he leaned against the off-road vehicle. Looking at the ground littered with mutated bird corpses, cold sweat continuously trickled down his temples.

The team members slumped to the ground. Every single one of them had fought fiercely through the night without a proper rest, only to throw themselves into this high-intensity slaughter. Now, with their adrenaline completely fading, extreme exhaustion washed over them like a tidal wave.

Having caught his breath, Saul Eaton furiously kicked a bird corpse beside him and cursed, "Fuck it all! Brother Drake died just to protect this trash!"

Luke Locke gripped his machete so tightly that it gave a sharp CREAK. He walked over to Sean Palmer’s corpse. As he squatted down, his shoulders trembled, yet his movements were incredibly gentle. His fingertips brushed against Sean Palmer’s cold cheek. The bloodshot veins in his eyes grew denser. He didn’t say a single word, but his silence was more heartbreaking than any furious roar.

Luke Locke took a moment to compose himself before issuing orders over the walkie-talkie. His voice was tinged with exhaustion but remained as steady as ever.

"Inventory the ammo, treat your wounds, and bury our comrade!"

However, the icy glare in his eyes was even colder than when he was fighting the mutated hummingbird. The way he glared at the RV made it look as though he wanted to burn a hole right through its door. With that said, he pulled out the medical kit from the car, disinfecting and bandaging wounds with peerless proficiency.

Afterward, he and the rest of the team gathered Sean Palmer’s remains. A Fire Ability User ignited the fuel. The moment the flames flared up, the entire squad fell completely silent, bowing their heads in a moment of mourning.

They had experienced this kind of scene countless times since the apocalypse began, and every single time, the pain was excruciatingly bone-deep!

Saul Eaton’s eyes were particularly red. He stared fiercely at the RV as if trying to drill a hole into Susan Vaughn with his gaze, muttering curses under his breath. "Bitch. You’ll get your karma sooner or later." Following his lead, the entire squad of over a dozen people all spat in the direction of the RV.

While they were sorting out the post-battle affairs, Susan Vaughn soundlessly opened her door, hunched over, and scurried back into the RV.

She looked as if she had been dragged out of a pool of blood. The moment she got on board, she immediately shut the door tight and threw herself into Ron Rivers’s arms, whimpering piteously.

The exhausted team rested for nearly an hour. They collected their comrade’s ashes, scooped up snow from the tree branches, and rubbed it vigorously over their faces. Shaking their heads hard to stay awake, they climbed into their respective driver’s seats.

No one wanted to spare the RV another glance. Every time they looked at it, they were reminded of how Sean Palmer had died with his eyes wide open in unfulfilled grievance, which only added fuel to their simmering fury.

Just as they were preparing to depart, the two people inside the RV came out.

Susan Vaughn seemed unable to put any strength into her legs, leaning against Ron Rivers as she stepped down. For some reason, her eyes were even more swollen than before. With tear stains still marking her face, she put on a fragile, innocent act.

"I’m sorry. Did I cause trouble again?"

Her voice choked with sobs. She kept her head down, looking seemingly guilty, but out of the corner of her eye, she secretly peeked at the team, quietly observing their expressions.

Saul Eaton rolled his eyes so hard they nearly reached the heavens, exploding on the spot. "Damn it, you know it and you still come out here to run your mouth? Brother Drake died because of you, and you think a simple ’I caused trouble’ makes it all go away? Why don’t you go to hell!"

He was about to charge forward as he spoke, but Warren Wallace firmly held him back. Warren Wallace’s face was pale, yet his gaze was freezing cold. "Don’t dirty your hands. We are on a mission!"

Their sense of duty as soldiers didn’t allow them to act on hot-blooded impulses.

"A bunch of useless trash! You actually let the mutated birds get into my car!" Ron Rivers snorted coldly. He wanted to continue his tirade, but Susan Vaughn pressed down on the back of his hand to stop him.

"I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault. Once I become capable in the future, I will definitely make it up to everyone."

Having said that, she looked at Byron Bell, who was closest to her. With wide, watery eyes, she gave him a delicate smile, her voice still laced with sobs.

Damn, that woman’s smile was truly beautiful. The grief in Byron Bell’s heart completely vanished without a trace the moment he saw it!

But this fleeting thought startled him. He quickly grabbed another handful of snow and shoved his face hard into it to snap himself awake!

The young soldier who had cremated Sean Palmer frowned, turning his face away with disgust as if he had just seen something filthy. He cursed inwardly, "What the fuck are you smiling at! Brother Drake was killed by you. Do you even deserve to smile?"

As if completely oblivious to the crowd’s hostility, Ron Rivers actually pushed his luck even further. "How many Crystal Cores did you guys dig out just now? Give a few to Susan. She’s a Water Ability User. Once she ranks up and gets stronger in the future, she can provide purified water for everyone too."

His words carried a hint of command, so self-righteous that it was sickening.

The moment he said this, the team members who had just boarded slammed their doors shut with a loud BANG. The force was so great that it made the vehicles shudder.

Warren Wallace, who was usually a man of few words, was so shocked by this that he stepped out of his vehicle. Glaring at Ron Rivers with icy eyes, he enunciated every word clearly. "Young Master Rivers, have you forgotten how Brother Drake died?"

"Young Master Rivers, you actually want to freeload! And you want to use the Crystal Cores that Brother Drake exchanged his life for, just to give them to the woman who killed him?" Saul Eaton’s sarcastic voice rang out loudly, the mockery and hatred in his eyes practically overflowing. "You are truly shameless!"

"What do you mean freeloading?! Watch your damn mouth!" Ron Rivers tried to defend himself, his face flushed bright red.

"When we accepted this mission from you, Chief Rivers already agreed that all Crystal Cores obtained during the round trip would belong to the squad." Saul Eaton wore an expression that screamed, ’You don’t even listen to your own father,’ and added, "These Crystal Cores were paid for with Brother Drake’s life! Do you even deserve them?!"

Ron Rivers glared at him furiously. "Susan will be my wife in the future, and you are my dad’s soldiers! What’s wrong with giving the Crystal Cores to her?"

"Holy shit, that’s truly an eye-opener!" Hugh Palmer was equally in disbelief. Pointing at Susan Vaughn, he cursed, "You want to take the Crystal Cores we risked our lives for and give them to her? Did you get your head caught in a door?!"

Speechless and outraged, the men all pinned their gazes on Susan Vaughn. Their stares looked as though they wanted to swallow her alive.

Susan Vaughn felt her skin crawl under their scrutiny, and she subconsciously hid behind Ron Rivers.

"If you want Crystal Cores, rely on your own abilities to kill for them. If you don’t have the skills, then don’t upgrade! Get in the cars!" Luke Locke spoke coldly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.

He stared at Susan Vaughn, his eyes completely devoid of warmth. "And another thing. Don’t let me hear you mention Crystal Cores ever again, or else I can’t guarantee you’ll keep your life."

His words were a naked threat. Had they not been on a mission, he would have dealt with Susan Vaughn long ago.

"In the future, Susan will also be a strong combatant!" Ron Rivers still wanted to argue, his tone as stubborn as ever.

Refusing to listen to his nonsense any longer, the rest of the squad simply got into their vehicles.

As if his brain had been scrubbed awake by the white snow, Byron Bell frowned and asked, his tone laced with impatience, "Are we leaving or not?"

Ron Rivers wanted to continue arguing, but seeing that her demands were hopeless, Susan Vaughn grabbed his hand. "Forget it, I’m fine. Let’s just go."

Then, opening the only eye where her eyelashes could still be seen, she looked at Byron Bell. "Brother Leon, we’ll be troubling you from here on out. I know none of you like me."

Without waiting for Byron Bell to reply, she turned around and ran back into the RV crying. Ron Rivers cursed under his breath and hurried aboard to comfort her.

Byron Bell didn’t say a word. He silently climbed into the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, and drove toward the base. He never once glanced at the rearview mirror to check on the RV for the rest of the trip.

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