Chapter 35: Derek’s Way of Having Fun

Ron—one of Dragon Kingdom's War Gods and known as the "Hunter War God"—had once led a mercenary team that fought relentlessly in war‐torn regions before the apocalypse, reporting directly to Derek's family. A master of close‑quarters combat and expert at commanding his mercenaries to pursue targets, Ron became one of Alexander's greatest enemies after his entire Hunter Mercenary Team failed to capture Alexander. He repeatedly drove Alexander into desperate situations. In fact, among all of Alexander's foes, Ron was one of the most loathed; for across the world, only Alexander had ever managed to escape Ron's grasp—shattering Ron's hunting myth.

As soon as Alexander caught sight of Ron, his eyes turned ice‑cold. Yet he quickly stowed away his binoculars and melted back into the darkness.

…

While Ron was busy briefing his mercenary team on defensive positions, he suddenly tensed. Goosebumps and sweat sprang all over him in an instant. In that split second, he caught the unmistakable scent of death. But just as quickly as it came, the feeling vanished—leaving Ron to wonder if he'd merely imagined it.

"Phew, that was a close one," Alexander murmured as he exhaled deeply. Being an old rival, Alexander knew all too well that Ron was extremely sensitive to threats and killing aura. So the moment Ron reappeared, Alexander promptly put away his binoculars and stilled every bit of his inner qi. Still, Alexander couldn't help but feel his old blood boiling—this old adversary, this worthy rival, ignited a fierce desire to prove his own might. In his mind, Ron's death was inevitable—and with Ron gone, one of Derek's key pillars would fall.

Determined not to let such a golden opportunity slip by, Alexander lowered himself into silent concealment. Methodically, he sorted through his cards and supplies, ensuring that every resource he might soon need was accounted for. Only when every detail of his plan was in place did he settle in to wait for nightfall. Patience was key if he were to strike at precisely the right moment.

…

Time ticked by as the light faded. The Li Estate's formidable security measures shifted continually. When the clock struck midnight, the estate burst into light.

"Ron, can I go to sleep already? It's midnight, and outside the zombies are so active—why would anyone dare come and kill me?" Derek complained, his voice tinged with exasperation.

"Young Master, caution is paramount. My instincts tell me we're definitely under surveillance," Ron replied calmly, unfazed by Derek's complaint. Years of battle had honed Ron's terrifying combat intuition—even if Alexander left no trace, Ron would sense danger.

"I don't care—I'm bored to death. For a loser who won't even show his face, I'm forced to stay up with him all night," Derek fumed.

"Perhaps if you're bored, you should find some entertainment," Edgar—the silver‑haired butler—reminded him.

"Yeah, I need to have some fun!" Derek suddenly brightened, as if a light bulb had gone off. Ron, though tempted to retort, glanced at Edgar and ultimately held his tongue.

"By the way, Ron, I heard you caught a zombie today—right?" Derek asked after a pause.

"Indeed, Young Master. We captured one with the intent to study it," Ron answered.

"Zombies are everywhere—let me have some fun with it," Derek declared.

"Young Master, you can play with it if you like, but I'm mainly worried it might hurt you," Ron cautioned. In Ron's eyes, if a zombie could keep Young Master safe by distracting enemies, it was a fair trade.

"Don't worry, I guarantee this method won't harm me," Derek laughed heartily.

Before long, a zombie—its hands, feet, and mouth clamped in metal restraints—was paraded into the grand hall. The zombie's rippling muscles attested to its formidable physique as it struggled violently, yet the restraints rendered it immobile. Its blood‑red eyes glared at everyone around.

"Go get my big iron cage," Derek shouted excitedly upon seeing the zombie, his voice thick with anticipation. Soon, a twenty‑square‑meter iron cage was pushed into the center of the hall by a dozen bodyguards. Inside the cage were a group of women—each stunningly beautiful, yet now vacant of soul. Heavy iron chains bound around their necks.

As the cage was moved, the women sat unmoving as if they'd given up any hope of escape. Derek then took a small bell and jingled it a few times. At once, the women stirred. They surged toward Derek—but the cage blocked their way. The bizarre scene sent shivers down everyone's spine, as one could only imagine the unspeakable torture these women had endured to reach such a state.

Derek, however, was unimpressed. "This is too boring—if these people play around for months, they'll get sick of it." After a moment, his expression shifted from discontent to mischievous glee. "But no matter—I'll let these dogs have their final contribution," he declared, rising and waving his arms wildly. "You, get those zombies thrown in! And take off all the handcuffs and shackles!" he commanded.

"Come on, I want to see the zombie feast on them!" Derek's excitement grew to the point that he slapped his hands together.The onlookers—aside from Edgar and Ron's mercenary team—appeared uneasy, as the idea of letting a savage zombie attack these women was unthinkable.