Apocalypse : Transmigrated With Milf System-Chapter 9: Meetup

The group shuffled down the corridor, their earlier bickering subsiding into a tired silence.

Boss Chen, his heavy footsteps echoing in the dim light, turned to Ruel, a gruff question in his voice. "Anything worthwhile on the lower floors? You were down there long enough."

Ruel shrugged, his gaze distant. "Nothing but dust and ghosts." His tone was flat, devoid of any enthusiasm. "Didn't find a damn thing."

Chen grunted, a skeptical look on his face. "Didn't even try, probably." He paused, then his eyes narrowed, a hint of concern entering his gruff demeanor. "Where's Mei Feng? Didn't see her with you."

Ruel's expression remained impassive, though a subtle shift, almost imperceptible, flickered in his eyes. "The Last I saw, she was cleaning her room." He gestured vaguely back the way they came. "Said she wanted to get the dust out. Place was starting to stink."

Nina snickered, muttering under her breath, "Probably found something more interesting to clean." Nina shot him a sharp glare, silencing his crude remark.

Chen's gaze remained fixed on Ruel, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "And you didn't see her after that? Didn't she come with you?"

Ruel met his gaze, his own unwavering. "Went out searching after that. Didn't hear any noise from her room, so I figured she was still at it. Mei Feng can be thorough when she wants to be." freeweɓnovel.cøm

He offered a small, almost dismissive shrug, trying to convey an air of nonchalance. "Figured she was fine." But the slight tightness around his jaw betrayed a hint of something more beneath the surface.

-

The group continued their descent, the dim stairwell amplifying the sounds of their weary footsteps and hushed voices.

Boss Chen, his initial suspicion towards Ruel seemingly abated for the moment, grumbled about their meager findings.

"This haul is shit. Barely enough to last us two days." He kicked a loose piece of concrete down the steps, the clatter echoing below.

Nina sighed, her hand gripping the railing tightly. "We did our best, Chen. The good stuff's gone. You know that." Her voice held a note of tired resignation.

Skinny, ever the opportunist, piped up, "Maybe Mei Feng found something good down stairs? She's got a knack for finding hidden stuff." He glanced towards the lower floors with a hopeful expression.

Ruel remained silent, his gaze fixed on the steps ahead, his earlier nonchalance replaced by a guarded neutrality.

He didn't comment on Skinny's remark, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

Big Ben lumbered down heavily, his breathing loud. "Hope she didn't eat it all herself." A low chuckle rumbled in his chest.

Chen shot Ben a warning glare. "Lay off it, Ben. If she found something, she'll share." He paused on the landing, looking back at Ruel. "You think she's still down there? Maybe someone should check on her." A hint of lingering concern laced his gruff tone.

Ruel finally spoke, his voice casual. "She's a big girl, Chen. Can handle herself. Probably just taking her time." He started down the next flight of stairs, trying to steer the conversation away from Mei Feng.

"Let's just get back to the common room. I'm starving." His attempt to sound nonchalant didn't quite mask the underlying tension in the air.

-

Nina planted her feet, her gaze unwavering on Ruel. Her voice, though not raised, carried a sharp edge of suspicion.

"The common room? Since when did that become your destination? Let's be clear, mister – we just met you today. You tagged along after that mess with the scavengers."

Her eyes narrowed, her arms crossing firmly over her chest. "You don't get to just peel off like you're one of us. You go your way, we go ours."

Big Ben grunted in agreement, his hand still resting on his weapon. He gave a curt nod, his usual scowl deepening. "She's right. We don't know you from Ruel. You go solo."

Skinny, ever eager to align himself with the stronger members, bobbed his head vigorously. "Yeah, what she said. Find your own crew, buddy." He avoided Ruel's gaze, a nervous energy radiating off him.

Boss Chen simply gave a slow, deliberate nod, his massive frame a silent but imposing affirmation of Nina's words. His eyes, usually vacant, held a hint of warning as he looked at Ruel.

A tense silence descended upon the stairwell. Ruel's initial nonchalance had vanished, replaced by a flicker of annoyance and something unreadable in his eyes.

He glanced from Nina's determined face to Chen's hard stare, then to the silent agreement of Skinny and Ben.

But who was he ?He is Ruel. A Madafucker, who doesn't give anyone a horse shit.

A harsh scoff escaped Ruel's lips, his earlier unguadedness replaced by a sudden, chilling arrogance.

He fixed Nina with a cold stare, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Leave? Funny. Last I checked, this whole damn building was mine long before your sorry asses stumbled in." He gestured dismissively around the dilapidated stairwell.

His words hung in the air, a stark challenge to their established, albeit fragile, hierarchy.

Boss Chen's scowl deepened, his hand tightening on his weapon. Nina's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of anger and shock flashing across her face.

Ruel continued, his voice laced with a nonchalant superiority. "So, if anyone's packing their bags and finding a new haunt, it won't be me." He gave a dismissive flick of his wrist. "Think about that while you decide which way you're heading."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped past Nina, his movements carrying a newfound confidence, a silent assertion of dominance.

He started down the stairs, leaving the stunned group behind, the weight of his unexpected claim hanging heavy in the tense silence.

Skinny and Big Ben exchanged nervous glances, while Boss Chen's face was a mask of simmering fury.

Nina stared after Ruel, her mouth slightly agape, the established order of their small world suddenly and violently upended.