The reception hall buzzed with murmurs as everyone in Julian's stronghold assembled, their faces etched with the telltale signs of hunger and fear.
Connor's eyes swept over the crowd, noting the gaunt cheeks and hollow eyes. They had been surviving on the bare minimum, rationing their limited food supply to mere sustenance.
Clearing his throat, Connor addressed them with a stern expression. "You all know that soon, you will be forced to leave this cage you've trapped yourselves in, right?" His voice echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of every person present.
A heavy silence followed his question. "You have no other option but to confront the horror outside these walls. So, who is prepared to risk their lives for everyone here?"
Connor's eyes scanned the crowd, hoping for at least a few brave souls to step forward.
Yet, not a single person moved.
He sighed, glancing at the small group of fighters they had. Only around twenty men and women stood ready, a pitiful number compared to the four hundred people huddled together in fear.
Each combat unit would need to protect at least twenty civilians, a daunting and likely impossible task.
Connor's mind raced with potential scenarios. What if, during the chaos, some turned into the fallen? The already slim chances of survival would plummet further.
The more he thought, the more flaws he saw in their plan to escape in batches. The idea seemed increasingly unfeasible.
Taking a deep breath, Connor addressed them again, his tone colder this time. "Alright then, if nobody wants to fight, what can you offer me instead?" His indifferent gaze swept the room, challenging them.
The responses were immediate and disheartening. Men offered empty promises, while some women, with downcast eyes, offered their bodies.
Connor felt a wave of disgust and anger. Was this the worth of their humanity?
He turned to Silvia, who stood with her head bowed in shame. His eyes silently questioned her, 'Is this the people you wish to protect and die for?'
Silvia, sensing his unspoken words, felt a surge of shame and desperation. She knew the harsh reality: people would do anything to survive.
Stepping forward, she spoke for the group. "If you decide to help them, all these people, including me, will offer our lives to you. Our dedication, loyalty—whatever you ask, we will do it."
Connor's lips twisted into a smirk. "Really? Whatever I ask, you'll do it?" His voice dripped with skepticism as he decided to test their resolve.
A man in the crowd, driven by fear and desperation, shouted passionately, "Just say the word, Boss!"
Connor's eyes locked onto the man, and he released a wave of his aura. The man crumpled to his knees under the pressure, gasping for breath.
"It is I who will command you. Don't tell me what to do. Now... rub your head on the ground, you vermin."
Without hesitation, the man obeyed, scratching his head against the rough floor in a frantic, desperate motion.
Even as his skin broke and blood smeared the ground, he continued, driven by a primal need to survive.
Silvia watched the scene in shock but knew she could not refute Connor. She was doing all this out of kindness for the people and a desire to change Connor into a better man.
But right now, she didn't even have the right to stop him. She knew her worth well enough and how far she could push things with him. That was why she stayed silent.
Elena, standing a few feet away, watched with contempt. She understood the man was acting purely out of fear and survival instinct, and she felt a pang of disgust not only at the sight but also at Connor for abusing these helpless people.
Her fists clenched at her sides as she fought the urge to intervene, knowing any action against Connor would likely lead to more suffering for everyone.
Connor's eyes scanned the room, a predatory glint in them as he sought his next target. He ordered a girl to bring him a chair. She complied immediately, her legs trembling as she neared him. After she placed the chair down, Connor waved her away, and she quickly retreated into the crowd.
Connor's next commands were a series of random tasks: bringing him their food and other supplies. When Julian stepped forward to protest, Connor silenced him with a brutal blow to the head, leaving him crumpled on the floor.
Satisfied, Connor turned his attention to Silvia, deciding to test her resolve. His eyes locked onto hers as he spoke in a cold, commanding tone. "Silvia, sit on my lap and feed me."
Silvia's heart pounded in her chest. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her. Swallowing her pride and pushing down her disgust, she stepped forward. She knew that if she resisted, the situation could escalate further, and she couldn't risk that.
Silvia approached Connor, her steps slow and deliberate. She sat on his lap, feeling his cold, calculating gaze on her. With trembling hands, she picked up a piece of bread and held it to his lips.
Meanwhile, Furina watched the scene unfold with growing unease. Doubts began to creep into her mind. Was she right to trust and follow Connor? Wasn't this cruelty no different from how Julian treated them? She came to conclude that it was actually worse, since he was openly humiliating them.
Connor smirked, sensing Silvia's reluctance. He took a bite, his eyes never leaving hers. "Good," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Remember this moment, etch it in your memories. This is what you are all worth now, no different than slaves to the strong."
His gaze hardened as he addressed Silvia directly.
"You too, Silvia. Remember this humiliation well. If you don't want to sit on someone's lap like a mistress, be better. Be better than you are now and continue to improve. Make a name for yourself, build your own influence and strength so that you won't have to spread your legs to gain favor from someone stronger."
Turning to the crowd, Connor's voice rose with fury. "Unless you have the will and resolve to change, you will forever be trampled on by the strong. We must change. We must adapt to this new orderless world—not only to survive but to live with pride."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Don't sell yourselves to others. Sell your services by proving your worth."
He pointed to the man who had been rubbing his head on the ground and asked, "You, what were you doing before this apocalypse started?"
"I am a computer engineer, sir," the man replied, his voice trembling.
"So you worked in IT or networking. Can you build a new telecommunication network for my camp if I find more people with your qualifications? What are the requirements and investments you need?"
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed Connor's question. With the fall of Earth, all network towers and satellite communications had gone down, leading to a loss of information and communication, which had been crucial in their age.
Elena, Furina, and Julian stared at Connor, their previous thoughts about his actions shifting. His words and vision for rebuilding struck a chord.
Even Megan and Silvia, who were the wise ones, were also taken aback by Connor's sudden display of strategic foresight and practical leadership
A new image of Connor began to form in their minds—one of a leader with a plan, someone who saw beyond the immediate survival to a future where they could reclaim their dignity and strength.
The computer engineer, now seeing a glimmer of hope and purpose, nodded. "Yes, sir. I can do that. I'll need equipment, resources, and a team. But it's possible."
Connor's stern expression softened slightly. "Good. That is better than needlessly rubbing your head on the ground. If you do well, you will get paid with extra food and other benefits in the future, like protection for you and your family."
The man felt a surge of delight and excitement at the opportunity given to him, realizing that his skills could secure a better future for himself and his loved ones.
Connor proceeded to ask the same questions to others he had commanded, learning each person's specialty and extending them offers to work for him.
Then he turned to the crowd with his usual captivating smile. "See, you don't have to be a fighter if you're a coward. Even a coward can change and adapt to the new rules. But the way you are all acting is worse than a coward. I'd rather raise a chicken that gives an egg or butcher and eat the one that does not give anything to me other than its shit, which I have no use for."
As the gravity of Connor's words sank in, the room began to buzz with a new energy. People who had felt hopeless and powerless now saw a path forward.
Connor's harsh methods and cruel demeanor were still fresh in their minds, but his vision for a better future was undeniable.
The seeds of change had been planted, and a new resolve began to take root among the survivors.
"But we still need to escape from here first before you start planning your future, genius," Julian spoiled the growing fervor and excitement with a few words, snapping everyone back to reality.
Connor looked at Julian with a smirk as he replied, "You don't have to worry about it now that I am in charge."
His smirk and gaze conveyed to Julian that he considered himself a superior leader. Julian could only swallow any retort he had, realizing that all along Connor had been the one taking control of the situation while he played a background role.