[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-king-of-zombies":3,"chapter-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-1232":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Apocalypse: King of Zombies",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},697329,930,"Chapter 1232: What Right Does a Squad Captain Have?","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-1232",1232,"\u003Cp>Capítulo 1232: What Right Does a Squad Captain Have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell finally let out a quiet breath when he saw Ethan arrive. “Alright. Since everyone’s here, let’s begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.” A man sitting across from Ethan spoke up. “General Kane—aren’t you going to introduce this… gentleman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was Rowan Pierce, representing Nova City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nova City was the most important city in the federation after the capital itself. And Rowan Pierce, as a top government figure, knew pretty much every powerful person in the Atlas Federation’s upper ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he’d never seen the man in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also understood something else: if Maxwell had placed him in that seat, the man was definitely not ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell hesitated, visibly a little awkward. “Uh… this is Ethan. Captain of Fallen Star Squad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to Ethan, Maxwell honestly didn’t know what the “right” introduction even was. He couldn’t exactly announce, This is a Tier 12 powerhouse, could he? Setting aside whether anyone would believe it, Maxwell didn’t dare reveal Ethan’s strength without permission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snort came from below, and then the mockery followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve gotta be kidding. I thought it was some big shot. So he’s just a squad captain?” The speaker laughed. “What were you people in Atlas City thinking, putting a squad captain in the top seat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room instantly got noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the top powers, aside from General Cross and Goldcrest City’s newly appointed leader Damien Caldwell, the other major-compound reps all frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ethan were a major compound’s leader, they could’ve swallowed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a mere squad captain sitting above them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That felt awful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, nobody at the top immediately spoke. They were sharp enough to know Maxwell wouldn’t do this without a reason. A man placed there was almost certainly dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, not everyone in the room was that sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man stood up. “General Kane, this arrangement doesn’t seem appropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell’s gaze cut to him. “And why isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What right does a squad captain have to sit up there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether Ethan is qualified isn’t for you to judge,” Maxwell said coldly. “If I placed him there, I have my reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think Ethan sitting there is perfectly fine,” General Cross said, standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien Caldwell followed immediately. “Agreed. I don’t see a problem with Ethan being seated there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two major-compound leaders backing him in public shut a lot of mouths on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other major-compound reps looked surprised. Then, one by one, they studied Ethan more carefully—like they were burning his face into their memories, already planning to have someone investigate him afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the crowd, a powerfully built woman with an unexpectedly sweet face watched the exchange, her expression twisted into something both shocked and complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d thought that with her strong ability, her competence, and a bit of luck, she’d surely surpassed him by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing him again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap looked even bigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seat reserved closer to the head of the table than the five major compounds. Two major-compound leaders openly taking his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious Ethan’s status now was on a level she couldn’t touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she knew exactly who he was—a student from Starlight State University, no absurd background, no god-tier family connections. Which meant there was only one explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d carved that position out with his own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for what kind of strength could make Atlas City—and the major compounds—treat him like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She only knew she was still far, far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it’s true, Vivian thought, bitter and stunned at the same time. That whole bunch… they really are monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Off to the side, a tall, beautiful woman also watched with surprise written plainly on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…He’s already reached this level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through all the questioning and side-eyes, Ethan never once bothered to respond. He just sat there, relaxed, as if the whole argument had nothing to do with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speculate all you want, he thought. I’m sitting here either way. If you don’t like it—what’s that got to do with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell cleared his throat, bringing the room back under control. “Alright. Since there are no further objections to the seating arrangement, the summit will now officially begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked over the room, voice steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone here should understand this: we’re living through a disaster unlike anything in recorded history…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell talked for a full two-plus hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core message was simple: if humanity wanted to survive what was coming, they had to stand together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also pushed for small compounds in remote cities—especially the ones that didn’t feel confident they could hold—to merge into nearby mid-sized and large compounds, boosting their odds of making it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listed a long string of compounds that had already been wiped out by zombie hordes, though how many people actually let it sink in was anyone’s guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lot of people had come in worried the government would use this summit to pull every compound under centralized control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that never happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell made it clear he was willing to let compounds remain independent, and you could feel the tension in the room ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, most compound leaders were kings of their own turf. Nobody wanted to give that up—government Safe Zones included.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maxwell had probably realized that. So he didn’t force unification at the meeting. As for whether that would change later… who knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the meeting ended, Maxwell announced that delegates from each region could head to the crystal core exchange center to trade for higher-Tier cores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what everyone had been waiting for, so the moment he finished speaking, people practically poured out the back like a dam had broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ethan,” Rowan Pierce of Nova City said with a smile as he passed, “I’m heading out. If you get the chance, come visit Nova City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, sure,” Ethan said easily. “Sounds good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few people who actually knew Ethan glanced at Rowan with weird looks, silently thinking, If he really visits Nova City, you won’t be smiling then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the other major-compound leaders filed out, they also offered polite greetings to Ethan on the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still hadn’t figured out exactly who this young man really was, but that didn’t stop them from trying to get on his good side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, there used to be only four major compounds besides Atlas City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after recent expansion, Ironhaven City compound absorbed several nearby city compounds and finally hit the population threshold to qualify as a major compound too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, besides Atlas City, Clearford City, Nova City, Goldcrest City, Silverlake City, and Ironhaven City were all considered major compounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ethan,” General Cross said, getting to his feet as well, “I’m going to exchange some crystal cores first. How about we grab a drink tonight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure,” Ethan said with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then it’s settled.” Cross nodded. “I’ll come by where you’re staying tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Cross left the conference room too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when a young man from the lower seats walked up to Ethan, smiling as he offered his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrett Knox, manager of Riverton City compound. Mind if I get acquainted with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan didn’t take the hand. He just looked at him blandly. “I know you. You’re the guy who said I wasn’t qualified to sit here, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…” Garrett awkwardly pulled his hand back, smile stiffening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat. “So… you’re definitely more than just a squad captain, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.” Ethan lifted his chin a little, not hiding his pride. “I’m also the Commander of Fallen Star City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…” Garrett blinked, then forced enthusiasm back onto his face. “That explains it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated, then asked, “Where is Fallen Star City? I don’t think I’ve heard of a place like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I named it,” Ethan said matter-of-factly. “Of course you haven’t heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garrett’s eyes flicked, quickly recalculating. “Naming your own city—Ethan, that’s bold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried again, testing the waters. “From the way you talk about it, Fallen Star City must be pretty big, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is,” Ethan said, nodding seriously. “Over fifty thousand people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“F—fifty thousand?” Garrett’s eyes bugged out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he frowned, like he was sure he’d misheard. “You mean five hundred thousand, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Ethan said honestly. “Just fifty thousand. If it were five hundred thousand, I couldn’t afford to feed them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1390,"2026-06-02T09:29:46.187Z",1,"novelbin.me","cd687938fd1738f3511259ad7a32944b674264d60a69b54683312e580b4cf604","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-1233","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-1231",1329,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-king-of-zombies-cover.jpg"]