Chapter 282: Chapter 270: Drunk
Little Bee’s hive was nestled within the lush cluster of flowers. Vert also liked to lie on top of the pavilion, turning its body a vibrant green to catch and eat mutated insects drawn by the wisteria’s fragrance.
If they encountered a mutated insect that was too agile, Little Bee would lead a swarm of worker bees to surround and attack it. Afterward, the spoils were divided according to their contributions: Vert received the Crystal Core from within the insect, the mutated wisteria wrapped up the corpse to digest and absorb it, and Little Bee’s workers collected the wisteria pollen to make honey.
Their division of labor was clear, and they worked in perfect harmony.
Flora Bloom had also moved some of the small earthworms from her space into the outside soil, leaving them to populate the land.
She had seen ants near the wisteria trellis several times. Although a single ant was tiny, the destructive power of an entire colony was immense.
After all, the saying "a thousand-mile dike can be brought down by an anthill" was a very real truth. She wanted to turn this villa complex into the safest zone in the apocalypse, which meant defending it carefully not just on the surface, but also from below and from the sky.
The courtyard connecting the three villas was massive; three large tables occupied only a small fraction of the open space.
After Monkey One awakened, not only did a third, previously closed eye appear on its forehead, but Three-Eyes had also become its subordinate. Monkey One sat frolicking in the courtyard’s banana tree, while Three-Eyes stood motionless below like an obedient attendant, its three eyes staring fixedly up at the monkey. The sounds of Monkey One leaping about were jarringly loud in the villa’s courtyard.
Ethan Monroe, Maeve Preston, and Jade had spent hours busily preparing three tables of food. One table was for the men: Caleb Bloom, Joel Bloom, Sherman Lynch, Irvin Holden, Ethan Monroe, Neal Wallace, Mark Sterling, and Falken.
Flora Bloom, Jade, Maeve Preston, Selina, Shelly, Cynthia Grant, Shauna Wallace, Lisa, and Caleb made up the table of women and children. Lex Cross and his twelve special forces soldiers sat at the third.
After this period of training, Joel Bloom had joined Sherman Lynch’s team, following him to train from before dawn until after dusk each day. His physique had become much more solid, but he still hadn’t awakened a superpower.
Flora Bloom had mixed feelings about Joel Bloom awakening a superpower. She was anxious because if he never awakened one, she would never stop worrying about him facing the dangers of the outside world.
On the other hand, she wasn’t anxious because even though Morhaven Base was filled with a complex mix of people, the three-villa area she occupied was completely under her control.
Barring any threats from the air, she had essentially eliminated all security risks on land and underground.
Of course, nothing was ever certain. If a High-level zombie or some other High-level evolved creature were to show up now—say, a big, tough brute like Three-Eyes with its incredibly formidable attack and defensive power—she wouldn’t be able to do a thing.
The meal was not as cheerful as one might have expected, simply because Caleb Bloom had called Lex Cross over halfway through. The two of them drank cup after cup of the Daughter’s Red wine Flora Bloom had retrieved from her space, finishing off an entire jar between them.
Caleb Bloom stared at the jar of Daughter’s Red, his face flushed from the alcohol. He patted Lex Cross’s shoulder, his voice heavy with emotion.
"Kid! I... I... HIC! You’re shameless! HIC! My... my daughter... she’s our family’s treasure... and you just... you just came and snatched her away!"
Lex Cross was also flushed from the alcohol, but his expression remained as indifferent as ever. He poured himself one cup of Daughter’s Red after another, and kept refilling Caleb Bloom’s as well.
Flora Bloom couldn’t bear to watch any longer. "Dad, you two should drink less! Lex Cross has to head out tomorrow!"
Caleb Bloom slammed his hand on the table. "Shoo, shoo! Adults are talking, children shouldn’t interrupt! Cynthia, take Flora back to bed!"
Cynthia Grant started to pull at Flora’s arm, but shrank back under her glare. "Lex Cross, you talk to my dad! Tell him not to drink so much!"
Caleb Bloom caressed the jar of Daughter’s Red, an unreadable emotion on his face. "This wine... it was buried the year Flora was born. It was supposed to be for her wedding day, to share with all our friends and family."
Seeing her father’s eyes suddenly turn red, Flora felt a tug at her own heartstrings.
All three tables fell silent. The only sounds were the rustle of leaves on the trees and vegetable plants in the courtyard, and the WHOOSHING of Monkey One leaping about in the banana tree.
"Lex Cross, you bastard! How could you just... HIC! But... it’s also thanks to you. Still... Belle... why did Belle do it?"
Flora Bloom glanced at her mother. ’So Mom must have told Dad about how Belle Bloom drugged me.’
"Dad, what’s past is past. Don’t dwell on it. You’ve had too much to drink. Let Lex and the others take you back to rest."
Caleb Bloom shot to his feet again. "Flora, if I’d known your sister... HIC... no, she’s not your sister! If I’d known she would do this to you, we never should have adopted her! She’s an animal! What a terrible mistake!"
Jade slammed her hand on the table with a CRACK and stood up. She strode over to Caleb Bloom and grabbed his arm. "You’re drunk, you should talk less! Don’t let Lex and his men laugh at you!"
Caleb Bloom’s dazed, unfocused eyes glared. "Hmm? He... no matter how capable Lex Cross is, he’s still my son-in-law. What’s there to be scared of!" Caleb Bloom turned to look at the crowd. "We’re all on the same side here, HIC, all family!"
Sherman Lynch drained his own cup. "It’s all right, Jade! Let Caleb vent a little. Who knows when days like these will ever end!"
Flora lowered her eyes and sighed. She reached for the wine, wanting a taste, but Lex Cross moved in a flash, snatching the cup and downing it himself.
"You’re pregnant. Why are you drinking?"
Flora wrinkled her nose. "Just one sip would be fine. I have a superpower, I’m not that fragile!"
Lex Cross frowned and slapped her hand away from the wine jar. "Behave. How can I leave you here with any peace of mind if you act like this?"
Flora frowned, glaring at him. "Then I’ll go with you."
Lex Cross shook his head. "You stay put and be good. Wait for me to come home."
Flora sat back down in a huff and chugged a mouthful of milk. "Hmph. Who’d even want to go with you, anyway?"
Lex Cross looked toward a figure standing under the wisteria trellis outside the courtyard. "That person’s pretty strong."
Flora turned her head, her gaze landing on a spot beneath the wisteria trellis.
"Yuemao, why don’t you come in and eat with us?" As Flora spoke, Lex Cross raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping under the wisteria trellis once more.
Yuemao looked at Lex Cross, his heart still pounding with fear, and gave a sheepish laugh. "No, no! I’ve already eaten. I just heard all the commotion and came over to see what was happening."
’This monster, Lex Cross, is usually nowhere to be found during the day. Why is he back so early?’
He had been following Flora invisibly every day to protect her, without taking part in any of her team’s operations. He didn’t know if the other two stealth users, The Crown Prince and Limao, were still lurking in the shadows. But if he wanted to join Flora’s team, he didn’t know what else he could do besides protect her.
"Is that Yuemao? Hurry and come eat with us! Your Mr. Monroe made plenty of delicious food, so come on over!" Jade called out as soon as Yuemao’s figure appeared. She knew he had been lurking in the shadows recently, seemingly protecting her daughter.
