Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

After Bloodfall United City was established, Claire Chapman finally laid down the burden of being Base Chief.

He was blunt with Marcus Monroe. “I know you all still want me to be the City Lord. That proves I’m capable, and I’m happy about it. But count me out. I don’t want such a heavy responsibility. It’s exhausting, and it’s completely different from what I originally imagined. I like taking the boys out on missions, but I can’t stand being constrained by this title anymore, feeling like I have to second-guess every single move I make. Give me a break!”

A vein throbbed on Marcus Monroe’s forehead as he nodded, but he immediately countered, “Deputy City Lord!”

Claire Chapman closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, haggling, “How about captain of the exploration team?”

Marcus Monroe stared at him for a moment, then his tone suddenly softened as he said playfully, “Actually, it’s not impossible for you to get out of it. As long as we can find a replacement. What we’re missing most right now is someone to specifically manage supplies and equipment. Deputy City Lord, minister… you can pick your position.”

Claire Chapman stared back at him, then after a long moment, he rolled his eyes.

“I knew you were up to no good. So you were waiting to spring this on me, huh!”

Marcus Monroe spread his hands. “Or, you could just do it yourself. I really don’t mind.”

Claire Chapman let out a long breath and was silent for a good while.

Then… he turned and walked away…

Marcus Monroe curled his lip and leaned back in his chair.

‘If Maisie Joyce wasn’t truly a master at managing supplies, he wouldn’t even bother.’

‘Besides, Southreach is already a thorn in our side, a problem that has to be solved sooner or later. And sooner is better than later. If they don’t sort things out now, while they haven’t been separated long and haven’t yet grown to resent each other, when will they do it! The kid is never this wishy-washy with anything else, but he’s handled this one thing so badly!’

Claire Chapman, who had stormed out, had no idea about Marcus’s inner complaints. Otherwise, he definitely would have blown a fuse.

So, for now, he was just annoyed.

‘When I first came back, it felt so liberating.’

‘That whole business between men and women… it truly felt like a burden. And when it gets tangled up with personal interests, it’s even more frustrating.’

‘I never had those old-fashioned ideas that when two people get together, one of them has to make sacrifices, compromise, or become the weaker party.’

‘Just look at Paige Summers. She’s just as violent now that she’s married!’

‘No, maybe even more violent!’

‘Even though she often subconsciously pretends to be a harmless little bunny. Hmph!’

‘Anyway, because I don’t think that way, I didn’t mind staying in Southreach to help Maisie Joyce. But her? She actually suspected me, tested me, afraid that if I had too much power, I’d be plotting on behalf of Bloodfall!’

‘I know myself. Maybe I was a bit too harsh.’

‘She only tested me a little, and I flew off the handle.’

‘But has she never once considered why I would react that way?’

Paige Summers, after hearing what happened, once teased him that he and Maisie Joyce were just in a standoff, seeing who would back down first. But he knew that wasn’t it.

‘It wasn’t the first time she’d tested me like that.’

‘Before, she would unconsciously put me in a position where I had to choose, trying to get me to promise who was more important: Bloodfall or her.’

‘I could only smile and say nothing.’

‘Because I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted to hear.’

‘Of course I admired her, liked her, wanted to be with her, and maybe was even slowly falling in love with her. But Bloodfall… that’s different.’

‘That year, after leaving Glimmerlake Base, I went to Central City with Paige Summers and the others. Times were tough back then. We were always on the move, getting looked down on everywhere, even threatened.’

‘We relied on the things Paige made just to live decently, and it was through everyone’s efforts that we founded Bloodfall… Later, Paige opened Summers Armaments, and under my leadership, Bloodfall grew larger and larger…’

‘You could say that every step we took was built on countless moments of blood, sweat, and tears, and innumerable life-or-death situations.’

‘In Bloodfall, there’s the girl I once admired who’s now my friend; there’s the man I initially saw as an enemy, who I still can’t stand but have to admit is incredibly strong; there’s a huge band of brothers I can truly trust with my life, with whom I’ve faced life and death!’

‘These people… I will never abandon them as long as I live.’

‘Not even in death!’

‘But Maisie Joyce doesn’t understand any of that.’

‘She’s different from me.’

‘She’s had too few people in her life she could trust, and no friends she could completely rely on. So, on the surface, she looks like a hedgehog, but in reality, she really is one.’

‘I think she might never be able to place her complete trust in another person, not even me.’

‘It was precisely because I realized this that I came back.’

‘It’s not that I wasn’t disappointed, not that I wasn’t sad.’

‘But Bloodfall is here.’

‘Bloodfall can soothe my wounds.’

‘But Bloodfall can’t take away all my troubles.’

‘I still miss her.’

‘When I heard Southreach was in trouble, the thought of helping her again did cross my mind.’

‘I want her to live a good life.’

‘Marcus Monroe probably saw right through me… my hidden feelings… That’s why he arranged things this way…’

Claire Chapman ran halfway up the mountain in one go. He sat on the mountainside, looking down.

Bloodfall United City was already taking shape. The half-finished walls and the protective nets developed by Paige Summers and her apprentices looked incredible! He could almost imagine what a glorious mark a city like this would leave on human history once it was established!

Farther in the distance, beyond his line of sight, was Southreach.

‘She’s probably losing sleep over this right now.’

‘I heard that Southreach has been sending people out recently, contacting the Base Chiefs of various bases, trying to persuade them to side with Southreach…’

‘Paige Summers and Marcus Monroe just helped them with the Vortex disaster, yet this is how she acts.’

Claire Chapman shook his head helplessly.

After debating it internally, Claire Chapman accepted Marcus Monroe’s mission the next day: to persuade the City Lord of Southreach to merge with the united city.

“Act within your means. If they’re stubbornly resistant, or if they try anything funny, then retreat… You know what I mean.”

Claire Chapman nodded.

‘Of course I knew what he meant.’

‘If Southreach insists on going its own way, Marcus definitely won’t waste time attacking the city. He has plenty of ways to make the people inside actively defect, turning it into an empty city. However, if Maisie Joyce crosses the final line and resorts to high-pressure tactics, then Marcus will undoubtedly strike without mercy.’

‘In short, Southreach merging with Bloodfall United City is inevitable!’

‘Honestly, in this respect, Paige and I could never be like Marcus. We don’t have that “thrive with me, perish against me” kind of aura. That’s why no one is better suited to be City Lord than Marcus Monroe.’

‘Because in an era like this, only that kind of aura can build this city to its greatest potential!’

‘Well, maybe that’s why Paige and I are friends. As for Marcus… I’ll probably never truly like the guy. I just… have to admit… he really is powerful…’

After accepting the mission, he didn’t take anyone with him. He got into his car, alone, and left Bloodfall, heading for Southreach.

He didn’t know what Maisie Joyce would ultimately choose.

But he hoped she knew that figuring out how to survive and live a better life was what everyone in this era should be thinking about most!