Apocalypse Hunter

**Chapter 6: Pushed Too Far**

After an arduous and grueling journey, Arthur and Susan finally returned to their base of operations.

The S187 Military Base served as a hub for hunters embarking on missions. It offered water, food, and an abundance of both men and women.

At the heart of S187 was a bustling district of neon lights and endless indulgence. Most hunters, except for those with unique preferences, sought solace and entertainment here after the physical and mental toll of their missions. Naturally, the women catering to the hunters were plentiful and varied, providing their services to soothe weary minds and bodies.

Rusted barbed wire encased the base, isolating it from the endless darkness beyond. Towering skyscrapers, the central administrative buildings of S187, loomed high into the heavens, serving as both offices and residences for the higher-ups.

Surrounding the central tower was a sprawl of structures housing bars, motels, and grimy bathhouses. Further out lay the soldiers’ quarters, which served to defend the base.

A cold wind swept through the streets littered with broken power lines and collapsed electrical towers. A piece of blackened paper fluttered in the breeze, landing in front of a gate bathed in red and green lights.

The iron gates stood ajar. To the left, a banner displayed a woman with pale thighs and an alluring curve, her arm raised to tease her hair into a seductive pose. The bar’s star hostess, she didn’t mind spending intimate nights with customers for the right price.

The open gates emitted the mingling scents of sweat, alcohol, and the occasional shrill laughter of women.

Inside, a group of hostesses gathered around the bar, chatting excitedly about men’s anatomy and price tags, while a solitary man sat stiffly nearby, as motionless as a statue.

His immaculate tie and perfectly pressed suit betrayed his wealth, a rare sight in this era where electricity was rationed according to social status. Those with higher ranks enjoyed greater allocations of power.

His polished appearance turned many heads, particularly among the flirtatious women. However, a closer look revealed a man of average looks, his slanted iron-gray eyes exuding cunning and pettiness. A sharp aquiline nose and impeccably clean lips added to his snake-like demeanor.

With every sip of wine, he wiped his lips with a pristine white handkerchief, leaving red stains as sharp as razor blades.

His slicked-back hair shone with oil, and his very presence caused both men and women to keep their distance. Those wise enough to survive in S187 knew better than to provoke him. Yet, cultivating his friendship could lead to boundless wealth.

He was none other than Marshall, the financial manager of S187—a man both loathed and feared, like a venomous serpent lurking in the shadows.

Few dared to defy him. Arthur, however, was one of the rare exceptions.

“Hey, buddy! How about buying us a drink?” A lanky, scruffy man with grimy hands patted Marshall’s pristine suit, oblivious to the gravity of his actions.

Several women who had been loitering around the bar smirked, eager to see the spectacle unfold.

“I’ve told you countless times not to touch my suit!” Marshall snapped, turning to glare at Arthur with disdain. “You’re always so careless, completely disregarding my status. I am not like you—a savage hunter who spends his days scouring the desert. Oh no, my dear Arthur, you’re practically a caveman!”

Arthur remained unfazed. Though he detested Marshall’s arrogance, he found it too tiresome to argue with someone so deluded.

“Minister Marshall,” Susan interjected coldly, her frosty tone matching her icy expression. “Gentlemanly etiquette hardly fits in a place like this. But if you insist on acting like a gentleman, could you at least commit to it fully?”

Marshall sipped his blood-red wine and dabbed his lips with his handkerchief, completely ignoring Susan’s scathing remark.

“I’ve completed your mission,” Arthur said calmly as he took a seat. “However, your intelligence was flawed. I sustained injuries because of your error. I was chased for miles by mad corpses. I believe you owe me a bonus—not the mere ten thousand gold coins you promised.”

Arthur signaled the scantily clad bartender for a glass of wine. Holding the elegant glass, he handed it to Susan with a small nod.

Despite his tattered appearance, Arthur’s wounds had mostly healed. The bleeding had stopped, and by tomorrow, the missing flesh would likely regenerate fully.

“I’m sorry, but there will be no bonus. In fact, I’m deducting half your payment as compensation for the dirt your filthy hands left on my suit!” Marshall’s iron-gray eyes gleamed with a cold, mocking light. He turned to Arthur with a sneer, his posture oozing authority.

Arthur remained calm, though the golden light in his right eye began to flicker, growing brighter than the lights above the strip stage.

“Explain yourself, or I’ll break your legs,” Arthur said in a chillingly composed voice, his words dripping with menace.

“Regrettably, my dear Arthur,” Marshall replied with an icy smile, “you won’t receive a single coin. Moreover, I could accuse you of threatening a superior officer and have you expelled from S187!”

Marshall’s demeanor was as frigid as the air itself, his face impassive as he gazed at the scantily clad bartender.

“You—you’ve gone too far!” Arthur’s voice trembled with fury. The infamous parasite of S187 had finally crossed the line, making Arthur realize why so many hunters had abandoned this place—not because of low pay, but to escape Marshall’s venomous grip.

Arthur’s face darkened as he straightened, his hand instinctively reaching for the black Desert Eagle on his thigh, only to remember it had been lost in battle. His revolver was also gone.

Without hesitation, he drew the katana from his back in a blur of motion.

Screams erupted from the bartender as the dancing patrons froze mid-step, their bewildered eyes turning toward the unfolding drama.

Several hunters drew their weapons, readying themselves for a fight.

Marshall, however, remained unfazed. He didn’t flinch, his cold smile unbroken. He seemed as though nothing could shake him.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!” A squad of armored soldiers stormed in, their silver helmets and black combat gear gleaming under the dim lights. Armed with laser weapons, they surrounded Arthur and Susan with military precision.

Green laser sights settled on Arthur and Susan’s foreheads, ready to turn them into minced meat at the slightest movement. Their remains would likely feed the desert wolves.

“Don’t push me too far!” Arthur roared, his fury igniting his golden eye like a blazing spotlight. Susan’s hand tightened on the solid black iron rod strapped to her back.

“Damn it,” Susan muttered through clenched teeth, her beautiful face twisted in frustration. “Looks like our plans for tonight just went up in smoke!”