The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 224

When Wallace heard that, the friendly smile on his face stiffened.

Liam was no fool

The old system was gone, and the entire world had entered the era of base rule.

In this short, chaotic age where every base acted like its own kingdom, no one had any responsibility to support anyone else for free.

Every base was just trying to survive in a zombie-filled world and keep going one more day.

Even Liam, who had once worked for the military, no longer represented anything official after turning his group into Base K1. His priority was now simple: protect Base K1. That meant protecting it at all costs.

He could take in survivors out of kindness. He could try to look after smaller bases during joint operations. He could help when he had room to.

However, everything had to be built on one foundation: Base Ki came first.

There was no way Liam would let his own people go hungry or freeze just because Wallace had sweet-talked him for a few minutes.

Not a chance.

“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn,” Wallace said quickly, regaining his composure.

His smile returned, warm and gentle.

“Everyone’s struggling these days. This isn’t like before, when the government handled everything. I just always thought Base K1 was sort of the official successor, the big guy that would look out for smaller bases like ours.”

Liam’s expression grew colder. “Captain Goodwin, are you still living in the past?”

“He’s not living in the past,” a clear female voice cut in. “He’s trying to wave the old government around to squeeze resources out of you.”

A girl in combat gear hopped out of one of the cars and walked over with a grin on her face.

“Captain Goodwin is pretty clever. First, he flatters you by calling you the leader and the big guy. If you don’t help him, you look heartless. If you do help him, well, that’s just your duty. Either way, he wins. Of course, he has to play dumps.”

Wallace’s face changed instantly. He stared at the girl, whose smooth skin and healthy glow made her look nothing like someone who had survived in the apocalypse for half a year.

“That’s not what I meant at all,” he retorted.

“Oh, that’s even better!”

Hayley stepped closer.

“If you want a ‘leader’ to protect you and hand out supplies, then stop talking and show some loyalty. Why don’t you do as Captain Caldwell said and let him take your people? Hand over control of your base

“Turn in all your supplies for unified distribution and register all your people. From now on, everyone, including you, answers to

Base K1.

“Then you can get free supplies every day. Isn’t that exactly what you want?”

Wallace’s expression twisted. “I-I really didn’t mean it like that…”

+15 Bonus

“You keep saying that So what, you just want to hold out your hand and take everything from Captain Caldwell for free? Wow, look at you? You’re not looking for a leader. You just want a fool you can use.”

The smile was finally wiped off Wallace’s face. After Hayley tore into frim, he couldn’t find a single word to respond.

Liam looked at Hayley, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

Only Hayley would say it like that. She had just volsed everything he had been thinking.

That was Hayley, sharp, clean, and brutal.

Watching her deal with people was always a joy. And damn, did it feel good.

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