Harem Legion: Queens of the Apocalypse-Chapter 125 Meat, Manipulation, and Surrender

By around five in the afternoon, Evan rolled up to the Ice Regiment camp with fifty armed troops and an infantry car.

That was his full force - showing all his cards just to raise his value at the table. In truth, it was all bluff and bravado.

The soldiers lined up in perfect formation. Evan walked out with six others; Chloe greeted them and led them straight into the RV’s lounge.

Liana had already set out chairs, not willing to let outsiders use the sofa.

As Evan entered the RV, he paused with a frown before finally sitting down, his face dark.

Their lieutenants stayed behind. Only Magnus, Emily, Sophia, and Charlotte remained in the RV, all seated on the couch, eyeing Evan and his crew.

Magnus stood up, lit a smoke, and tossed the pack over. Evan caught it in one swift motion.

"What’s your deal?" Evan shot him a cold glare. "Trying to talk us into surrendering?"

"We’re talking cooperation," Magnus responded evenly. "We just want the underground granary. Everything else stays with you."

"The granary?" Evan shot to his feet, voice rising. "If we give that up, what the hell do we eat? You call that cooperation?"

"That’s exactly what it is," Magnus said calmly. "You camp in Ashbrook Town. We’ll supply your rations for free. But you follow our rules - and help us when needed."

"Bullshit!" one of Evan’s soldiers burst out. "The granary was ours to begin with! Now you want to steal it and order us around? Dream on!"

"Yeah! If it’s war you want, you got it!" another man chimed in, fists clenched.

Magnus didn’t move. Let them yell, let the fire burn out. Then he spoke again.

"You won’t be able to hold that granary forever. Eventually, someone stronger’ll take it. Working with us is your best shot."

"Damn it!" Evan cursed. "You think anyone but your bandit crew has a shot at taking what’s mine? Cut the sweet talk. Only way you’re getting that granary is over my dead body!"

"Evan!" Sophia slammed the table, standing up to point at him, eyes blazing. "Who the hell are you calling a bunch of lady bandits? I was swinging a rifle while you punk kids were still wearing little red scarves!"

"You - " Evan looked stunned. "You were in the military?"

Charlotte stepped closer, her voice cold. "Northern Reaches Command, Third Army Group, Female Special Forces Unit. I was the Political Officer. She was the Company Commander."

"You’re Special Forces?" Evan sounded shaken.

"What, don’t believe it?" Sophia glared, fire in her eyes. "Want me to show you what real training looks like? I’ve been through more battle lines than you’ve seen maps."

After a moment of silence, Evan turned to Magnus. "Fine, even if your crew’s all ex-Sovereign Vanguard, you can’t just take whatever you want, can you? We found the underground grain depot first! You think a few smooth words are enough, and we’re supposed to hand it over and work for you like it’s nothing? That ain’t right."

"I said it before - you won’t be able to keep that depot," Magnus cut in flatly. "The location’s not exactly a secret. Not just the military, even regular folks know about it. Sooner or later, Seventh Vanguard’s coming. We’re here to talk cooperation."

Silence again. Evan and his men didn’t speak. They’d thought of this too, which was why they’d been scrambling to recruit and grow stronger.

"And one more thing," Charlotte added, picking up the thread. "If we hold the depot, you’ll still have something to eat. But if Cliff takes it, you’ll be starving."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Evan asked, face dark.

"What do you think?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "You’re deserters, aren’t you? You really think Cliff is gonna use people like you?"

"We’re not deserters!" Simon Kingsley snapped. "Our 17th Battalion left because - "

"Save it," Charlotte cut him off, impatient. "Doesn’t matter what you tell me - it’s Cliff you gotta convince. And let’s say he does believe you. What then? You’ll just get absorbed into their ranks, doing dirty work, leading every charge. Cannon fodder - that sound about right?"

Simon let out a cold snort. "And you people think you can stand against Cliff? You’re good at pushing us around, but against him? I bet you’d be the first to run!"

"Heh..." Sophia sneered. "You think we can’t face Cliff? Then how do you think such a big convoy made it out of Springvale City and all the way here? You think he let us pass out of kindness? Or maybe he just didn’t notice us?"

Evan and the others were speechless again.

Giving them space to think, Magnus continued, "You’ve heard our terms. You’ve got one hour to decide. War or peace - your choice."

He dropped into a chair and said no more. Evan’s group gave him one last hard look before filing out and heading back to their vehicles.

Once they left, Liana asked, curious, "Do you think they’ll agree?"

"If they’ve got any brains, they won’t say no," Magnus replied, eyes following the direction they’d gone.

Emily chimed in, "So what now? We gonna take them in?"

"Nope," Magnus said. "They’re their own unit. At most, they’ll be our outer circle. We’ve got nothing binding us."

Three hours and fifteen minutes later, darkness had fully settled. Evan and six others returned to the RV. The Ice Regiment had already finished dinner; these guys clearly hadn’t eaten yet.

Magnus’s crew had instant noodles for dinner. As soon as Evan’s group stepped inside, the savory scent hit them hard. In one corner of the RV, a gas tank sat beside a big iron pot. Liana stood over it, lifting the lid - inside was a full pot of boiling noodles.

With a smile, she brought it over and placed it in front of the seven.

"Let’s eat first. We can talk after," she said warmly.

Instant noodles weren’t rare, and Evan was about to refuse, but Simon tugged on his sleeve, leaned close, and whispered, "Captain... look at that pot..."