Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 56: A Chat (III)

Leo’s hand trembled on the pistol, his mind racing.

Think, think, think.

He glanced at Rita, hoping for some kind of silent understanding, some plan. But she looked just as lost as he felt, her wide eyes darting between Simon and the gun in Leo’s hand.

Simon’s patience was clearly wearing thin. "Last chance," he said, his tone icy, every word laced with quiet menace. "Talk."

Rita’s mind flashed back to the message. Trust no one. It had been her mantra, her lifeline in a world that had turned upside down.

But could she really keep quiet? Could she risk provoking Simon any further? Her hands shook as she wrestled with the decision, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her chest.

Simon took another step forward, his presence looming over them like a stormcloud, and the tension snapped.

"Stop!" Leo shouted, pulling the pistol from his pocket and aiming it at Simon. His hands were unsteady, the barrel quivering, but his resolve was firm. "Stay back! I swear I’ll—"

Simon moved faster than either of them thought possible. In a blur, he closed the distance between them, his hand striking Leo’s wrist with surgical precision.

The pistol clattered to the ground, its metallic clink echoing ominously in the quiet room. Simon’s other hand shot out, gripping Leo’s collar and lifting him off the ground effortlessly.

"You’re brave," Simon said, his voice low and dangerous, like the rumble of distant thunder. "But bravery doesn’t mean much if it gets you killed."

"Let him go!" Rita shouted, raising her own gun. Her hands were trembling, but she held her ground, her finger hovering over the trigger.

Simon glanced at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed as if he might say something, offer some cutting remark, but instead, he let out a quiet sigh.

With a deliberate motion, he released Leo, letting him drop to the ground in a crumpled heap.

Leo gasped for air, his hand cradling his wrist as he stared up at Simon with a mixture of fear and defiance. Simon, meanwhile, turned his attention to the pistol on the floor.

He bent down slowly, picking it up with a calm, practiced ease that sent a chill down Rita’s spine. The weapon looked almost comically small in his hand, a toy rather than a threat.

"W-What are you planning to do with that?" Rita asked, her voice shaky but defiant.

She took a half-step forward, her gun still raised, though the trembling in her hands betrayed her fear.

Simon didn’t answer immediately. He turned the pistol over in his hand, inspecting it as if it were a curiosity, before leveling it at Leo. The sudden shift made Rita’s heart lurch.

"If the life of your comrade really matters to you," Simon said, his tone cool and measured, "then you’ll have no problem telling me what I want to know."

It wasn’t a question. It was a threat, plain and simple. He didn’t shout, didn’t bluster, but the weight of his words was crushing.

He was in control, and he knew it. Rita’s knuckles turned white around the grip of her gun, but she didn’t move.

"Don’t do this," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted to Leo, who was sprawled on the floor, his face pale but determined. "Please. We don’t know anything."

Simon’s gaze flicked to her, sharp and assessing. "That’s a shame," he said softly. His finger hovered over the trigger.

Rita’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced, searching desperately for a way out.

She could shoot him, she realized. The thought was like ice water in her veins. She could end this right now, put a bullet in Simon before he could hurt Leo — before he could hurt her. But... could she? Could she actually pull the trigger?

Simon seemed to sense her hesitation. His lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "Go ahead," he said, as if reading her thoughts. "Take the shot. Let’s see how far your bravery gets you."

The words hit her like a slap. Her hands shook harder, the weight of the gun suddenly unbearable.

She couldn’t do it. She knew she couldn’t. And Simon knew it too.

Her grip faltered, and with a muffled cry, the gun slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor.

Rita fell to her knees, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at the ground, shame and fear warring within her.

Simon’s expression didn’t change. He lowered the pistol slightly, his eyes still fixed on her. "Smart choice," he said quietly. He took a step back, giving them just enough space to breathe but not enough to feel safe.

Leo struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse but steady. "You don’t have to do this," he said, his words laced with a desperation he couldn’t hide. "We... we’re not your enemies." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Simon let out a soft chuckle, a sound that was more chilling than any shout. "Enemies? Friends? Does it even matter anymore?" He gestured vaguely to the world around them.

"Out here, everyone’s just a means to an end. You’d do the same in my position."

"No," Rita said suddenly, her voice breaking but resolute. She looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with a defiance she hadn’t known she possessed.

"We wouldn’t. We’re not like you."

For the first time, Simon’s expression faltered. It was fleeting, barely a flicker of something — regret? Doubt? But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual mask of cold indifference.

"Maybe not," he said, almost to himself. He lowered the pistol completely, letting his arm fall to his side. "But that’s why you’ll never survive."

"Now I want to know about Adrian... his base too," Simon said, "With the way you tensed up, you guys must be heading there, so if you don’t mind - I’d like the location too,"

At this moment, he controlled it all and Simon knew it as well... he knew he was going to be the one that was going to gain the Location and he wouldn’t lie if he didn’t say it excited him.