Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 27 – From Enemy to Friend

Since Richard knew his enemy was too strong, he was forced to try a different approach. 

“Get what?”

Naturally, the Monkey worked out that it was a lie. He had a special ability to read people’s minds. With this skill, he could, in a very short time, predict how things would turn out. This had saved his life many times in the military and in life, serving him well. Unfortunately, he had not been able to foresee what happened to his wife and son. 

“Not long from now, a new kind of virus will spread all over the world and the government has already invented a new vaccine to stop the pandemic. I know where the vaccines are being stored. Will you come and steal them with me?”

A lie with some truth to it is always more convincing than a total lie. Without an element of truth, the Monkey would not be deceived. Richard knew this, so he decided to elaborate.

“Virus? Vaccines? You want to make money from a pandemic disaster?”

The Monkey looked at Richard first with curiosity, then disgust, and finally a cold ambivalence. As for killing the cops, the Monkey couldn’t blame Richard for that; he knew how Lora and the other two women set up the situation. And they were bad men anyway. But the vaccines…  

Then again… I vowed to protect justice and fairness with my life. And how did this country pay me back? With the dead bodies of my wife and son, and me sentenced to death after I avenged them. Since the whole world means nothing to me, what he does is none of my business. All I need to do is make sure that he can pay John back the 5 million dollars, then the Smith family and I are even.

“Where are the vaccines?”

“The Washington DC Central Hospital. If there’s enough time, we should get other medical supplies too, the more the better.”

The Monkey took out his phone and sent a quick message. Of course, he couldn’t know for certain but Richard guessed he was sending someone the information he had just given. After all, the Monkey clearly didn’t trust him. If the message was on its way to John Smith… this could spell trouble. Richard thought back to when he had deceived John to get the 5 million dollars. It felt like things were slipping out of his control little by little. 

“You wait here. I will deliver those vaccines to you tomorrow afternoon. John will come too. You’d better explain everything to him. Otherwise, the way you’re treating those women in your basement, John will do the same and more to your wife.”

At that moment, the baby’s crying sounded from his cot, followed by Mary comforting him, “Oh, Steven, baby don’t cry. Don’t cry, baby. Daddy is here, Daddy is here.”

“Steven? Your boy’s name is Steven?” The Monkey’s expression softened for just a second. Without thinking, he said out loud, “My Steven would be able to walk by now if he were alive. Steven Miles, my boy… your father, Anthony, misses you very much.”  

“Steven Miles? Did he say, Steven Miles?” 

Richard was shocked. That name was very familiar. 

When doomsday came, the first batch of mutant humans appeared after being hit by three rounds of Radiation D. The most famous and terrifying mutant was called Anthony Miles, he was nicknamed ‘King of the Shooters’ by the survivors. He could shoot any target from almost any distance; he was unstoppable. Mutant creatures, mutant walkers, even the pro-gods could not survive his shots. It was said that he had killed nearly 10,000 people. This was not a man Richard wanted to mess with.

This memory also reminded him that John Smith had been an important figure too. He was the leader of a survivor base that not only had lots of resources, but also the power to decide who would live or die. In that life, Richard knew he would never have had the chance to meet those two powerful men.  

Considering what he had just remembered, Richard decided that Anthony’s value could even be equal to the activation potions. The big problem of course was that Anthony didn’t appear to like him. To bring him closer, Richard had to think of something else. 

Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. He turned to Anthony and said, “Your boy was also called Steven? If you like, you can take my boy as your adopted son.”

“What?!”

Mary was so surprised she couldn’t help speaking out. What was Richard doing?!

“Really?”

Anthony sounded disbelieving but he couldn’t hide his interest. From his point of view, Steven was very much like his son, and he loved this baby the moment he laid eyes on him. 

“Of course. Your boy was called Steven and so is mine. There’s a connection here. If you like, you can be his adopted father. Come here, Mary, let our son meet his new papa.”

Richard repeated it again, ignoring Mary’s expression. It was clear in his mind that Anthony, while a cold-blooded killer, was powerful and loyal; someone who would never even consider a betrayal. A man with these traits was hard to find. For Richard, it was worth it to make a big investment in this man.  

Anthony was not a wolf, but a lion, who could help keep Steven safe in the troubled times ahead.

“This is… incredible! I have a son again, hahaha, I have a son again!”

Holding the baby’s soft body, Anthony’s eyes filled with tears.