Apocalypse Supermarket: My Four Overpowered Husbands Wontstop Hoarding

Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Interview with Luna II

By the time Astrid finally finished eating—or rather, by the time he managed to clear the ridiculous heap of food that had been placed before him—Rowan, Adrian, and Miles had already finished most of the cleaning. Ethan had followed them shortly afterward, and now all of them were making their way toward the dining table to finally get something to eat themselves. But the moment they arrived, everyone stopped. They simply stared.

Astrid was still eating. The guy was gulping down the food as if this were his last day on earth and someone had warned him that the next meal would never come. Luna’s mouth fell open as she watched him tear a piece of bread apart like the poor thing had personally offended him before dipping it into the soup. Then he scooped up a handful of meat and shoved everything into his mouth at once, chewing so aggressively that Luna couldn’t stop staring.

Behind her, Kai leaned closer and whispered, "Leave him around humans for long enough and I think he might start eating them too." Luna slowly turned her head. Kai’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at Astrid. "Wait. Are you sure he wouldn’t eat us?"

"Stop with those ridiculous ideas," Luna rolled her eyes. "Who even puts these things in your head? That’s bizarre."

Kai shrugged. "I was just asking."

"Don’t."

"Okay."

Luna turned back toward Astrid. Despite her impatience, she waited. The young man finally emptied his last bowl of soup, placed the container down, and leaned back in his chair with a deep, satisfied groan. "That was so good." He looked around. "Who made it?"

Ethan, who was standing nearby slicing an onion with tears streaming down his face, pointed toward Luna. Astrid’s eyes widened. "You?"

Luna nodded. "Well, not exactly me. Miles did most of the cooking." Miles, who was standing in the kitchen, lifted a hand. "You’re welcome." Astrid looked toward him. "Thank you too." Miles smiled before returning to his cooking.

Astrid then looked back toward Luna. "Miss, thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking me in and giving me food." He hesitated before his expression became more serious. "But I have one question. Aren’t you going to deal with the things outside?"

She glanced toward the monitor. The enormous winged creature was still roaming around the front grounds. Its head kept moving from side to side as it sniffed the air, searching for something it couldn’t seem to locate. Its powerful nose dragged it around the property, but every time it came close to the hidden mansion, it stopped and looked around in confusion.

"They’re going to attract the government," Astrid continued. "If the military isn’t already here." Luna’s expression remained neutral as she rested one hand against her jaw while studying him. Astrid was trying to maintain eye contact, but there was still a shy nervousness in his expression.

Interesting. Luna had already listened to his conversation with Kai through her system. That was how she learned that Astrid’s original ability had been telekinesis—a normal telekinetic ability, useful certainly, but nowhere near something that should suddenly transform into an SSS-Rank ability capable of controlling blood. That was what bothered her. Astrid was a mystery, and Luna hated mysteries she couldn’t solve.

"Being betrayed by the government," she began, "did you feel angry?" Astrid’s expression changed. "Or did you feel hurt after realizing they abandoned you and your friends?" The question made him pause. Luna wasn’t asking out of sympathy—she wanted to understand him. If he was unstable, if Blood Sovereign was somehow connected to his emotional state, then keeping him inside her base could become a serious problem. She already had enough to worry about—the creatures were evolving, the dungeons were appearing, flying monsters were roaming the skies, and now the government had started moving their military forces around the area. She didn’t need an SSS-Rank ticking time bomb inside her house.

Astrid lowered his eyes. "I wouldn’t say I felt betrayed." His voice was quieter. "I joined the awakened because I wanted to serve my country. I thought I was going to help people and maybe save the world." His fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "But being used as bait wasn’t what I signed up for." He swallowed. "We aren’t food. We aren’t fishing hooks that you throw out just to see what bites."

Luna’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So you don’t regret leaving?" "No." Astrid shook his head. "I don’t think those authorities are genuine anymore. They never were."

Luna nodded slowly. Then she asked the question that immediately made Astrid stiffen. "The red mark on your neck." His face went pale. "What was that?"

Kai, who had been standing nearby, frowned. Red mark? He looked at Astrid’s neck. What was Luna talking about? Astrid instinctively touched the back of his neck. "I don’t have a mark." His voice sounded strained. "Anything you’re seeing is probably just a birthmark."

Luna laughed softly. "Oh, Astrid." Her gaze remained fixed on him. "I’ve never seen a birthmark that looked so round, red, fresh, and suspicious." Astrid shifted backward. "It’s nothing." "Sure." Luna leaned back. "We’ll leave that silly conversation for another time." Astrid relaxed slightly.

Then Luna dropped the next question. "So how did you change from telekinesis to Blood Sovereign?"

Astrid immediately turned toward Kai. "You told her?" Kai’s eyes widened. "What?" "I knew it." Astrid’s breathing quickened. "I told you something because I thought you were helping me, and you just went around telling everyone?"

Kai looked genuinely offended. "Dude, I didn’t tell her anything!"

"I knew you people weren’t real!" Astrid pushed his chair backward. "This is an experiment, isn’t it?" Luna’s expression changed. "Astrid—" "I’m still inside the government facility!" He dragged both hands through his purple hair. "They’re trying to control me. They’re studying how my brain develops. That’s what all this is, isn’t it?"

Kai stepped forward. "Calm down." "No!" Astrid’s voice cracked. "You brought me here and ever since then you’ve been asking me question after question. What do you want from me?" His eyes were beginning to water. "I’ve already lost everything!" The room became silent. "My friends are gone." His voice broke. "I don’t have parents. I’m an orphan." He looked toward Luna. "And the people I thought were my family left me to die!" His fingers curled into fists. "So what else do you want?" He laughed bitterly. "My life? Come on. Take it too!"

Luna remained completely still. Then she shrugged. "Maybe you’re an accomplice." Astrid stared at her. "Maybe you were sent here to infiltrate this base. Maybe you’re supposed to gain our trust, collect information about us, and stab us in the back when you get the opportunity." Her eyes sharpened. "I know your type."

"Luna!" Kai finally snapped. He had been pacing around the room, but now he stopped. "Can you think about what you’re saying?" Luna turned toward him. Kai pointed at Astrid. "No matter what you think about me being naive or dumb or too trusting, would someone really allow the government to kill him like that if he was working for them?" He gestured toward Astrid. "Look at him!" Astrid was breathing heavily, desperately trying not to cry. "He’s suffered enough. You saw what happened outside. They left him there as bait." Kai shook his head. "I don’t believe a normal person would willingly die like that for the government."

Luna laughed—it wasn’t a happy laugh, but almost disbelief. "After everything you’ve seen, you still don’t understand survival?" Kai’s expression hardened. "You don’t understand humans." Luna pointed toward the monitor. "Those creatures are monsters, yes. But humans can be worse." She looked directly at Astrid. "You can’t predict what people will do when survival is involved." Her voice became colder. "Maybe the government caused this entire situation. Maybe they made it worse. Maybe they’re planning something far more dangerous." She turned away. "And you’re standing here defending someone who could eventually get you killed."

Kai looked at Astrid, then back at Luna. "I don’t care." He walked over and wrapped an arm around Astrid’s shoulders. "I’m vouching for him." Luna’s eyes narrowed. "If he does something wrong, blame me." Kai’s voice softened. "But for now, let him stay. He’s suffered enough."

Luna stared at him for several seconds. She couldn’t understand why Kai was willing to put his trust in a stranger—especially one who had almost crushed Rowan’s neck with his blood. Yet there was something genuine about the way Kai spoke. He wasn’t pretending.

Adrian stood in the middle of the panic room, completely confused. Didn’t they say Luna had deliberately created the escape route for Astrid? So why was she now treating him like a potential enemy? Luna Hart was impossible to understand—one moment she was helping someone, the next she was threatening them, and somehow, both sides seemed genuine.

Kai turned toward Astrid. "It’s okay. I’m here." He smiled. "Let me be your friend." Astrid nodded slowly. "I’m Kai Blackwood." He paused dramatically. "Also known as the Ice King." Astrid blinked. Kai pointed toward himself proudly. "Don’t mind the last part. I gave myself that title." Luna rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. Of course. This was exactly what she was talking about—Kai was already getting Astrid’s trust, one person at a time. She wasn’t going to allow herself to become careless.

Then—BOOM! The entire mansion shook. Everyone froze. A massive shadow passed across the concealed windows of the panic room. Adrian’s head snapped upward. "What the hell was that?" Another explosion erupted outside. Luna immediately turned toward the monitor.

The military had arrived. A massive aircraft was flying above the mountain. A military banner was displayed across its side, and mounted beneath it was an enormous weapon that looked disturbingly similar to something Luna had seen inside her own space. The weapon fired—a concentrated blast tore through the air and struck one of the abominations roaming around the property. The creature exploded. Its flesh peeled apart under the force of the attack, chunks of its body scattering across the ground. Then dozens of huge, pale maggots began crawling out of the remains.

Astrid’s face turned pale. "What the..." The military aircraft fired again. Another creature was hit. Another explosion.

Luna’s expression went completely cold. They couldn’t even rest for one day. Apparently, the government had decided that bringing an entire military force to her doorstep was a good idea. Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table. "They’re here."

Kai stared at the screen. "Are those military forces?" "Yes." Astrid’s breathing became shallow. "They came for us." Luna looked at him. "I guess your friends have come looking for you." Astrid lowered his eyes. "My friends are dead." "Then they’re here for something else." Luna stood, her eyes remaining fixed on the aircraft. "They’re not crossing my border."

Everyone went silent. Even Miles stopped cooking. Adrian slowly moved closer to the monitor. Rowan stood beside him, staring at the massive aircraft with a grim expression. Ethan jaw dropped why Kai swallowed nervously.

Luna’s voice was calm. Far too calm. "I guess we’ll have to say hello." She smiled faintly.

"Kidding." Her expression hardened. "If they cross my border, they’re all going to die."

A deafening silence followed. Outside, the military aircraft began circling the mansion. Another weapon slowly rotated beneath its body. The soldiers had no idea what was waiting for them. And inside the panic room, Luna Hart was already preparing to make sure they found out.