[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-king-of-zombies":3,"chapter-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-533":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},696601,930,"Chapter 533: Maybe stupidity really is a survival trait...","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-533",533,"\u003Cp>Chapter 533: Maybe stupidity really is a survival trait…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frail old man with silver hair stepped into view, wearing a slightly worn-out server’s uniform. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, and when he spoke, it was with a clear American accent—smooth and natural, like someone born and raised in the States.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome,” he said with a raspy but warm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris’s face lit up. He leaned forward, clearly excited. “Hey, we’re from the Uni—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem.” Brandon cleared his throat softly, cutting him off mid-sentence. He shot Chris a quick look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris froze, his smile faltering as he caught the warning. He swallowed the rest of his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man didn’t seem to notice—or maybe he just didn’t care. He kept smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling even more. “You folks take a seat. Anywhere you like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks…” Chris chuckled awkwardly and nodded. The group picked a table tucked away in a corner and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they flipped through the menus, they subtly scanned the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place was surprisingly full. People of all races and backgrounds sat at the tables, but the atmosphere was oddly quiet. No one was talking—except for the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris leaned in and whispered, “That old guy… you think he’s human or…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan didn’t even look up. “Vampire,” he said flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shit…” Chris muttered under his breath, a chill running down his spine. He’d almost spilled the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it wasn’t just the delicate-looking women they had to watch out for—even the harmless-looking old folks might not be what they seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced back at the old man, then sighed and held the menu up to cover his face. “End of the world, man… no safe place left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m starving. I’m getting food,” Sean said, grabbing a tray and heading toward the steaming buffet line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a classic American BBQ buffet joint. Customers lined up, loaded their trays with whatever they wanted, and paid by weight or item type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… is this stuff even safe to eat?” Chris asked, eyeing the food suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan scanned the room. All the diners were human. Vampires, after all, fed on raw meat and fresh blood—they wouldn’t be caught dead eating here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the payment system? No cash. People were using Neurocores or crystal cores instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Sean came back with a tray piled high with food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His plate was stacked with thick slices of smoked brisket and tender baby back ribs, a few chunks of pulled pork, and a juicy grilled sausage. The smell was mouthwatering, the meat glistening with just the right amount of fat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the side, he had scooped up creamy mac & cheese, baked beans, and a colorful heap of coleslaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d also grabbed two pieces of cornbread—golden, fluffy, and still steaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s eat!” Sean said, then immediately dug in like a man possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris stared at him, practically drooling. But the thought of the restaurant being run by vampires made him hesitate. What if the food was contaminated? What if they got infected?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Brandon, Elara, and the others started eating too—without hesitation. They’d clearly already analyzed the situation and deemed the food safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all the convincing Chris needed. He gave in and started shoveling food into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, this is good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their behavior blended right in with the rest of the diners. Nothing suspicious. Just a group of hungry travelers enjoying a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ethan stayed alert, eyes scanning the room. The old man and the other staff? Definitely vampires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The customers? All human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vampire-run restaurant serving humans. Weird as hell, but… maybe this was what coexistence looked like now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the staircase leading to the second floor, people were coming and going. The first floor was the dining area, while the second floor offered lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, a girl came down the stairs. She had flowing brown hair, porcelain skin, and pale blue eyes that sparkled under the lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” She paused when she saw Ethan’s group. Her expression shifted slightly, eyes lingering on Chris as he devoured his plate of fully cooked food. Her gaze sharpened with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced around, checking to see if anyone was watching her. Then, after a brief moment of thought, she started walking toward their table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t say a word. As she walked, she pulled out a small notepad and began scribbling something down with a pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris was halfway through stuffing his face when a sudden, sweet scent drifted past him—not the smoky aroma of BBQ, but something softer, more intoxicating. A woman’s scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, mouth still full, grease glistening on his lips and a grain of rice stuck to his cheek. He looked up—and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stunning girl was walking toward him. She moved with casual grace, like she wasn’t trying to draw attention, but every step seemed choreographed to do just that. Without a word, she slipped a small folded note onto the edge of their table, then turned and walked away without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh???” Chris blinked, completely thrown off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity got the better of him. He grabbed the note and unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrawled in neat handwriting were just a few words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to Room 203 upstairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris stared at it, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this had happened before the world went to hell, he’d be grinning ear to ear, convinced his charm had finally paid off. A beautiful girl, slipping him her room number? Classic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now? He looked at her retreating figure—slim waist, long legs, hips swaying just enough to tempt—and all he could think was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Demon. Definitely a demon. Wants my body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I can’t tell a trap when I see one? Please. I wasn’t born yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat there, muttering to himself, eyes narrowed suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon and the others had noticed the whole thing, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Chris,” Brandon said with a smirk, “did that girl just pass you a note?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yup.” Chris’s eyes darted around, scheming. Brandon had been roasting him nonstop ever since the parasite incident. Maybe it was time to turn the tables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey Brandon,” Chris said, voice casual. “You think that girl was hot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon shrugged. “Yeah, she was cute. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris grinned and handed him the note. “Then I’ll let you have this one. Consider it a peace offering. No more teasing me after this, deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon raised an eyebrow, unfolded the note, and read it. His expression shifted into something thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris leaned in, grinning like a devil. “Go on, man. She’s practically holding the door open for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon hesitated for half a second, then stood up. “Alright. I’ll check it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He headed toward the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris blinked. “Wait… he’s actually going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Brandon disappear up the steps, then leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… even if she’s a vampire, Brandon can handle himself. Let the kid learn a lesson. Maybe next time he’ll think twice before mocking me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little while later, the group had cleaned their plates. Not a scrap of food was left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean leaned back in his chair, belly bulging, picking his teeth with a satisfied groan. “Damn, that hit the spot… urp!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mia shot him a look. In a world where most people were starving, Sean had somehow managed to gain weight. Despite the constant travel and fighting, the guy never missed a meal. His face had definitely gotten rounder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe stupidity really is a survival trait…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the old man from earlier shuffled over, still wearing that same eerie smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, folks,” he said, voice gravelly but polite. “Time to settle the bill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris and the others turned to look at him. Up close, his face was even more skeletal, the deep wrinkles casting shadows that made him look like something out of a horror movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they all knew—this guy wasn’t human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan asked casually, “How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s smile didn’t waver. “Not much. Just one A-grade crystal core for the whole meal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The table went dead silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Chris practically jumped out of his seat. “One A-grade core?! For this food?! Do you even know what an A-grade core is worth?! Why don’t you just rob us at gunpoint?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know exactly what it’s worth,” the old man said calmly, as if he’d been expecting this reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the current state of the world, an S-grade core could make you a regional warlord. A-grade cores were still incredibly rare and valuable—used to power high-tier weapons, tech, or even enhance abilities. Trading one for a plate of ribs and mac & cheese? Insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s the price here,” the old man continued, still smiling. “If you don’t want to pay… I can always call the town guards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1464,"2026-06-02T09:29:23.605Z",1,"novelbin.me","9dd5f45e602fc26735b926933c6b0a853bce067dc8ef4d455284f3082e78a5a3","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-534","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-532",1329,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-king-of-zombies-cover.jpg"]