CHAPTER 84: NEW MISSION

With a bright smile and a refreshed face, I walked toward the car where my men were already gathered, prepared to begin a new day and a new mission.

The sunlight was unusually soft this morning, brushing over the metal of the vehicles, turning everything into a quiet gold.

Even the cold wind felt lighter than usual... or perhaps it was simply my mood.

"Ohh, look—Boss seems really happy again today."

"I bet it’s because of the Boss’s lady."

"Right? Ever since she arrived, Boss changed from a terrifying demon into an angel who smiles all day."

Their whispers floated through the air like bothersome insects.

I heard every word, but I didn’t bother responding.

Their chatter could never reach me—not today, not when my entire mind, my entire attention, was wrapped around one fragile, precious thing:

The gentle, obedient girl sleeping in my arms.

Her warmth still lingered on my skin, clinging to me like a quiet, intoxicating fragrance.

Even now, the memory of her soft breathing against my chest made my heart tighten with a dangerous tenderness.

I won’t lie—I hesitated to leave that warm bed this morning.

The weight of her body against mine, the trust with which she curled up and held onto me... it almost broke the last fragments of restraint I still clung to.

And I won’t deny that I may have been a little... impulsive last night.

More possessive.

More desperate.

Just remembering her tear-stained cheeks, the way she clung to me with trembling fingers, the way her silent pleas made her eyes shimmer under the dim light...

My heart softened instantly.

It hurt.

It soothed.

It consumed me all at once.

Rosalia.

Rosalia.

Her name echoed in my mind like a chant, a vow, a prayer I never knew I needed until now.

At last, this girl... she is mine.

My beloved.

Even if I haven’t truly claimed her yet.

Not in the way I crave, not in the way that constantly threatens to break through my self-control.

A dark, heated look fell upon the girl curled up in my lap.

Her delicate shoulders, the fall of her blonde hair, the faint marks I had left along her collarbone—

My smile faded, replaced by a cold, almost irritated expression that had nothing to do with her and everything to do with myself.

No one—not even Rosalia herself—understands the amount of willpower it takes not to take her completely

Not to pull her into my arms and lose myself in her, to mark her in ways only I would ever see.

To make her mine without restraint.

"Move. Let’s go."

My voice was deep but quiet, a tone I only used when Rosalia was asleep in my arms.

I didn’t want the slightest noise to disturb her rest.

She hadn’t slept properly until sunrise... because of me.

The moment my order came out, the men straightened and moved with a silent urgency.

Their eyes flicked nervously between the girl nestled against my chest and me, as if frightened of the contrast—my gentleness toward her and the raw violence simmering beneath my calm.

Honestly, I wasn’t stable recently.

Not even close.

How could I be, when I was like a starving beast forced to watch a lavish feast and forbidden to touch it?

That was part of why I clung to Rosalia every single day.

Why did my jealousy flare at the smallest glance thrown her way?

Why did I leave those frightening bite marks all over her pale skin, claiming her in the only ways I could allow myself?

Not yet.

Not fully.

Not until I could give her a grand wedding—one she could proudly look back on for the rest of her life.

Grand, beautiful, perfect.

Even in the apocalypse, I would not fail her.

Even in this decaying world, I would give her the best treatment, the best life, the best ceremony.

Everything beautiful that remained in this ruined earth—I would place it in her hands.

To make that happen, I must secure full control over this base. And soon.

My current strength and authority are not enough.

Simply... not enough.

For my future with Rosalia.

For her happiness.

For a life where she never has to fear, never has to cry, never has to feel unsafe again.

I must climb higher.

Higher—and even higher.

---

This was our newest mission, and because it was a dangerous one, I brought almost the entire team.

Everyone was present—even little Alex and the triplets.

The triplets... those three brats still amazed me.

In only a few months, their powers had grown at an astonishing rate, enough to rival those of fully developed ability users.

And even the healer girl—she had improved so much that she managed to pull her father out of his coma.

I never saw that scene myself, but the story spread throughout the base like wildfire.

I could imagine it though—

The father opened his eyes for the first time, realizing the woman he searched for through nightmare after nightmare... was gone forever.

Then realizing what his children had endured while he was helpless.

A man’s grief can be a frightening thing.

But life was cruel.

It never paused, never waited, never offered soft landings.

Life moved on.

And somehow... this little family found peace again. Happiness, even.

After learning about his ability, the father joined our mission squad without hesitation.

He came along with his children this time, standing among us with a new light in his eyes.

---

We weren’t a huge group, but with four vehicles packed and ready, the entire villa became eerily quiet and empty after we left.

The sound of our engines echoed through the secure base as we headed toward the main road.

Cars inside the base were strictly reserved for ability-users—supply teams, hunting squads, anyone strong enough to fight the monsters outside.

Thanks to my cooperation with General Zan, I now have full permission to use them.

Although I rejected the cars they offered.

I preferred my old jeeps.

"Boss." Henry’s voice cut through the hum of the engine.

"I heard the three Generals submitted a request to merge their teams with ours for this mission. Should we cooperate with them?"

I gently laid Rosalia on the reclined seat so she could sleep comfortably, adjusting her hair, covering her with a light blanket.

Only when she settled did I turn toward Henry.

His expression was tight, his jaw clenched with irritation.

He looked like he wanted to shout at me—he usually did these days—but he lowered his voice as he continued:

"This mission is difficult and extremely important. We must rescue renowned scientists from a secret state laboratory, secure the machines, and retrieve the research equipment. If it were just us, I wouldn’t hesitate. But if we’re forced to go with the others..." He exhaled sharply.

"I’m afraid trouble will happen along the way."

Even though Henry had been avoiding me recently—probably annoyed by how clingy I’d become with Rosalia—he was still responsible.

Still fiercely loyal.

Still annoyingly competent.

And what he said was true.

Our team had risen too quickly. Too strong, too fast.

After the competition, every eye in the base was fixed on us—some curious, some jealous, many resentful.

And now, these greedy old men suddenly decided their teams should "assist" us?

Please.

They were practically screaming their intentions.

Especially considering the mission’s difficulty: The laboratory was located in the far south—deep in an area crawling with zombies, mutated beasts, and unknown dangers.

Even highly trained ability-users would need over a month just to reach it.

The return trip, while escorting fragile equipment and exhausted scientists, would be even worse.

At first, I had no intention of accepting this suicidal task. It was obviously assigned to eliminate us.

But then—

I remembered.

What happened in my previous life in that city...

What existed in that laboratory...

What appeared around this exact time of the apocalypse...

And immediately, I accepted.

This mission was my golden opportunity.

A chance to obtain that thing.

I should thank those scheming fools.

They had no idea they were handing me a treasure.

A miracle.

A golden egg—no, a golden hen.

A mocking smile curled my lips.

’They want me to fall?

Then I will rise to a height they can’t even dream of reaching.’

Stronger.

Better.

Untouchable—like a deity walking among mortals.

Only then could I guarantee Rosalia’s safety.

Only then could I ensure her happiness, her peace, her freedom.

Henry stopped talking, studying my expression with wide eyes.

"It’s fine," I said calmly. "Let’s focus on our mission and ignore everyone else. Of course, if someone comes looking for trouble—"

I smiled faintly.

Henry finally cracked a grin—his first real smile in days. A sharp, fox-like smile, cold and deadly.

"Then they’re more than welcome."

"Mmm."

A soft, sleepy sound drifted from the seat beside me.

We both froze.

Rosalia shifted uneasily, her small hands clutching at the blanket. She seemed uncomfortable, as if something was bothering her even in her dreams.

Without hesitation, I leaned forward and lifted her gently.

The moment I pulled her into my arms again, she relaxed.

Her breathing steadied. She buried her face against my chest and fell asleep with a soft sigh.

I stroked her back slowly, tenderness overflowing in every movement.

Henry turned forward in his seat and didn’t look back again.

Our four vehicles rolled toward the base gate, where we would meet the three other teams.

Behind that gate awaited a long, ruthless journey—and a mission that would shape all our futures.

And I would make sure Rosalia’s future was the brightest of all.