Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 648: Spies or traders.

Back at Fortress Four, the sky grew darker as the sun slowly vanished bit by bit behind a thick wall of clouds. The air carried the quiet warning of an approaching disaster, but Hades paid it no mind.

He pushed open the door to the prison reception office and stepped inside. His gaze swept across the room with calm precision until it finally settled on Carson and Dominic.

"Mr. Quinn, is there something we can help you with?" Mayor Townsend was quick to approach him, with a smile too eager to please.

"Not you Townsend." He replied.

Townsend stepped away. "Please let me know just in case you need anything." Warden Townsend smiled before shutting the door as he left.

"Did Greg give up the moles yet?" Hades asked, his voice low and impatient.

Carson didn’t just smile; he let out a full, mocking laugh. "The moles? Hades, the moment Dominic touched his head. The man turned into a leaky faucet. He spilled every single secret he had. It was almost pathetic. It took away from the satisfaction of the job."

Hades raised his eyebrows. He was familiar with Carson’s version of satisfaction. Blood needed to be spilled.

Carson shook his head, leaning against a concrete wall. "The only good news is that Greg was still in the ’recruiting’ phase. Nobody was actually stupid enough to join him just yet. I guess Howard Shaw’s fate was still a little too fresh in their memories."

Dominic let out a short, heavy sigh, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. "The Walden’s," he muttered, his jaw tight. "They own that small territory nearby. They sent their mercenaries into our land like they own the place. The sooner we crush them, the better. What are we waiting for to roll on them? It’s not as if they can take us on directly." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Hades rubbed his face, "Arrogance is the quickest way to get killed in an apocalypse. You never know what kind of abnormal super humans they have. The list of our enemies just keeps growing. Now we’ve got the Burton’s on it too."

"At least Heath Burton is still far from his goal," Carson added, trying to find a silver lining. "He has to gather people to join him. Not like the Waldens, who are already at our front door. Also, Dominic and I got Sunshine’s permission to talk to Paula and see if she is being truthful or playing pretend."

Hades did not have an issue with that. "As long as Paula does not know that her mind has been messed with, it’s all good. But that would be impossible. In my opinion, we watch her carefully first. I don’t trust her story either. Heath Burton is her father. People don’t usually give up on family that easily."

Just then, Hades’ phone buzzed. It was Father Nicodemus. The priest’s voice came through sharp and clear: "Dr. Roy Fassbender has been spotted in the Westbrook market. He’s not alone. I’ve seen and trained enough with Carson to know one when I see them."

"We have spies on ground." Hades said. He didn’t waste a second. He rushed out and jumped into the truck, the engine roaring to life before the door was even shut.

Carson and Dominic scrambled in after him. They tore down the road toward Westbrook, the dust trailing behind them like a storm. They found the priest tucked away near the edge of the market, his eyes fixed on a specific group.

"There they are," Father Nicodemus whispered, nodding toward them.

The group was pretending to window shop, but they weren’t looking at the fruit or the clothes. Their eyes were locked on the weapon stalls. They were checking the weight of the guns, the sharpness of the blades_ acting in a very suspicious manner.

Hades gave the Father a quick, appreciative nod. He didn’t wait for a plan. He stepped out and walked straight toward Fassbender, his hand resting near his belt.

"Nice day for a shopping trip, Doctor. What is the president’s private doctor doing all the way here? Also, do you mind introducing us to your friends?" He said, his voice cutting through the market noise like a knife.

Fassbender froze, his hand still hovering over a rifle on the display. The man next to him_ the spy_ stiffened instantly, his hand twitching toward his jacket.

"I wouldn’t," Hades warned, his eyes narrowing. "Unless you want this market to become your final resting place."

Dr. Roy told the man to calm down. "This is Hades Quinn and we are in Quinn territory. So do not do anything stupid."

Hades flashed him a smile. In the old world, he would have been impressed to be introduce to someone like Roy. In the new world, not so much. Dr. Roy Fassbender didn’t look like a master of espionage. In the dull light of the Westbrook market, he just looked like a man who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He forced a weak, apologetic smile and held up his hands.

"Mr. Quinn," Roy said, his voice smooth but slightly trembling. "We’re just here to look at goods. Nothing more, I swear. We’re looking for supplies, just like everyone else."

"He’s lying."

The voice was sharp and female, cutting through the market chatter from behind a nearby stall. A woman stepped out, her eyes bright and defiant. It was Janet Kailani, she had been tailing the group for miles, silent as a ghost, waiting for the perfect moment to find a new ship to board. She saw Fortress Four as her golden ticket, and Dr. Roy was the currency she was going to use to pay for it.

Hades narrowed his eyes, his hand drifting closer to his holster. "And who are you supposed to be?"

Dominic and Carson exchanged a look. They knew almost everyone in the region. They made it a point to do so. This face was new.

"I’m from Eden too," Janet said, walking closer with a confident stride. "Just like the good doctor here and his little pals. Only I’m not interested in playing their games."

Hades tilted his head. "Finch’s Eden?"

Janet scoffed, crossing her arms. "The very same. Finch sent them here to scout you out. Stories about this Fortress have traveled so far that many people are looking to move here.

Finch does not want to move; he wants to control and assert his authority. He’s weak, pathetic and greedy, sir. Those selfish privileged people back at Eden, they don’t want to trade. They want to take this fortress for themselves."

"That is not true!" Elise cried out, stepping forward from Roy’s group. Her face was pale. She had seen the security at Fortress Four; she knew that if a fight started, they would be turned into dust in minutes. "This isn’t even our usual hunting ground! We aren’t here to fight! Kill this bitch for trying to sow discord here."