The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 73: Ch : The Government’s Desperation - Part 3

No one listened to the government official when he asked the people to calm down. Both Valeria and Ethan continued to look at each other, their eyes fighting to gain dominance over the other.

The knife sailed past Valeria, embedding itself deep into the polished wood paneling behind her. And even though she had calmed down, the displeasure was clear on her face.

The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the soft hum of the overhead lights.

Valeria straightened, a single lock of ash-blonde hair slipping out of place, but her expression remained calm—if not a touch more predatory.

Ethan’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

"That’s a rude welcome,"

He said, his voice light but undercut with steel. Ethan also seemed uninterested to let the matter pass.

Ethan’s posture remained relaxed, but his fingers twitched, ready to intercept the next attack if needed. freewebnσvel.cøm

Valeria’s eyes narrowed, a glint of interest sparking in her steely gaze.

"A test."

She said, her voice smooth.

"A test?"

The official parroted Valeria’s words, almost as if he was testing it out and not liking what he heard.

But Valeria just shrugged and decided to explain herself.

"To see if the government’s supposed secret weapon was worth anything. It’s rare for the Vale family to work with such low-quality choices, after all. But if we are going to do it anyway, I need to make sure we have someone decent."

She rolled her shoulders back, brushing off invisible dust.

Her words cut through the room, and the government officials flinched visibly.

The lead official, a man with a perpetually furrowed brow and a thinning hairline, looked like he wanted to crawl under the table.

His hands clenched the stack of documents in front of him, the paper crumpling under his grip.

Before the mounting tension could reach a breaking point, Selene moved forward, the heels of her boots clicking softly against the tiled floor.

She slid into the vacant seat at the head of the table, crossing one leg over the other with casual confidence.

Ethan took his place behind her, his presence a solid, unmoving wall of protection.

The officials exhaled a collective sigh of relief. The lead official cleared his throat, his voice tight.

"W-Welcome, Ms. Shadow. And Ms. Clinton. We’re all on the same side here. Let’s not let... misunderstandings get in the way of our cooperation."

Selene’s head tilted slightly.

"Miss Shadow? Is that a new name for me?"

The official winced but nodded.

Since you never provided a name, we, uh, had to call you something. I hope you do not mind it. We can change what we call you if you would like us to."

Selene shrugged, appearing indifferent.

"Call me whatever you like."

Valeria’s lips curled into a half-smile, and Selene could almost hear the gears turning in her mind.

"Well then, Shadow. Shall we begin?"

She said, her voice dripping with condescension. Valeria seemed to be making fun of Selene, but the yo

The lead official fumbled with a remote, and the lights dimmed. A projector whirred to life, casting a pale blue glow as images of the "Plentiful Collections" dungeon splashed across the screen.

"As you all know, this C+ dungeon is unique. Unlike standard dungeons, this one is rumored to contain rare resources, both material and medicinal, which could greatly benefit our current infrastructure."

The official began, his voice trembling slightly. No one here wanted the officials to share the loot of this dungeon with the Vale family, but the government did not seem to have a choice either.

He flipped through a few slides, showcasing satellite images, heat maps, and blurred photos taken by drones.

The dungeon itself was an ominous tear in reality, its dark entrance exuding a faint mist.

Valeria held up a manicured hand, and the official froze mid-sentence.

"And how, exactly, did you obtain this information? Did you ever disclose this?"

Silence.

The officials exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to answer.

The air in the room thickened, and Selene remained still, her expression hidden beneath the shadow of her hood.

She didn’t volunteer any information, and the officials seemed too wary to involve her directly. After all, saying anything here would make her a target of the Vale family and the others.

The lead official swallowed hard, understanding that Selene did not want to reveal herself in front of the others.

"Our reconnaissance teams have been observing anomalies and—"

"Spare me the excuses,"

Valeria cut in, her tone sharp.

The official faltered, nodding quickly.

"Of course. We assure you the intel is solid."

Valeria’s fingers drummed against the table, her nails tapping a soft rhythm.

"It better be. I would hate to see our efforts squandered due to incompetence."

Selene sat quietly, observing the exchange. Ethan’s presence behind her was a reminder to everyone in the room of who held the real power.

Valeria’s bravado might work on the government lackeys, but it was clear that she was wary of Ethan’s strength—and by extension, Selene’s influence over him.

The meeting continued, with discussions on entry strategies, team compositions, and emergency protocols.

Valeria interjected often, pushing for more control and more oversight from the Vale family.

Selene countered each suggestion with calm logic, proposing independent oversight and resource distribution.

By the end of the meeting, the room felt like a battlefield.

The government officials were drained, their attempts to mediate between the two forces leaving them pale and sweating.

As the meeting adjourned, Valeria rose gracefully, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her designer suit.

She offered Selene a smile, all teeth and no warmth.

"I look forward to seeing if your intuition holds up, Shadow. Try not to die too quickly."

Selene remained seated, her expression unchanging.

"Likewise. It would be a shame if you proved all those rumors about the Vale family’s competence wrong."

Valeria’s smile faltered, but she turned and left without another word, her entourage trailing behind her like shadows.

However, Selene knew that this was not the end. And Selene did not intent these words to last either.