"Are we done talking? Then let me get back to what I was doing," Justin said, ignoring the tattooed man as he reached for the door handle of the Roman-style building.
"Hey, wait! You bastard...!" the tattooed man shouted, but his attempts to grab Justin were futile. His hands flailed through the air, blocked by the system's protective measures. Justin couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh as he opened the door.
"Ding ! Main Quest 'Secure a Home' completed."
"Ding ! You have been granted ownership of this residence and entry control rights."
"Ding ! You can expel or prevent others from entering your property through commands."
Justin's eyes lit up at the system notification. The building's old-fashioned exterior aside, the functionality was fantastic. It was the perfect personal space where no unwanted guests could intrude. In a world where privacy was practically extinct, it was hard to think of a more useful reward.
As Justin marveled at his new home, the tattooed man gritted his teeth and approached.
"You son of a—! Didn't I tell you not to go in there!?" the man yelled angrily.
"Expel," Justin said calmly, testing the command.
Flash
"...!?"
In an instant, the tattooed man found himself outside the building, bewildered by what had just happened. Taking advantage of the moment, Justin issued another command.
"Block entry for that pig."
"You son of a—!" the tattooed man charged at the house, but—
Thud
"Oof!"
He smacked into an invisible barrier, the force of the impact knocking him backward onto the ground. Dazed and unable to process what had just happened, the man struggled to regain his composure.
"Wow, this system is really something," Justin remarked with a satisfied grin, closing the door.
A moment later, he could hear the tattooed man shouting outside, but his voice sounded distant and muffled, as though he were far away. Apparently, the system also included a soundproofing feature, which Justin found quite convenient.
With his new home secured, Justin decided to take a proper look around the house.
"Not bad, actually," Justin thought as he explored the Romanesque building. It was in much better condition than he had expected. The bed and blankets even seemed nicer than the ones he had back in his one-room apartment. Considering that water and electricity were no longer available, this place was a huge step up.
While Justin was inspecting the house, more survivors began arriving outside.
"Finally made it through all that hell!" one person exclaimed.
"Is this the right place? It looks like a safe zone," another muttered.
The reactions of the survivors entering the safe zone varied widely. Some were utterly exhausted, while others seemed more composed. A few of them seemed unfamiliar with navigating the status window, fumbling with the interface.
"They're not all beta testers," Justin noted.
In fact, it seemed like the majority weren't beta testers. If they were, they would have arrived with much more confidence. Only three people, including Justin, appeared to have the kind of experience that came with being a beta tester. Most of the newcomers seemed to have chosen their classes on the spot, starting at level 1.
As more survivors entered, the tattooed man started causing trouble again.
"Hold it! This place is for my friends!" he barked at each new arrival.
"What are you talking about? Get out of my way," one person snapped.
"Stop! If you go in, I'll kill you!" the tattooed man threatened.
"Why don't you stop, before I stop you?" someone else retorted.
"If you don't back off, I'll...!" the tattooed man continued, but—
"What are you gonna do, tough guy? Want to throw down?" another survivor challenged him.
None of the five survivors took his threats seriously. They either ignored him or laughed as they walked past. One of them even drew a weapon and made an attempt to kill him, though the system prevented it from happening.
"These bastards think I'm a joke...!" the tattooed man growled in frustration.
"Calm down, pig. You're going to roast yourself if you get too worked up," Justin quipped from his doorway.
"Shut up! You'll be dead soon enough!" the man spat back.
"You're the one who should shut up. Do you really think anyone here is scared of you?" Justin said, his voice dripping with mockery as he watched the tattooed man seethe in anger.
"All those people you're threatening? They just fought their way here, smashing goblin skulls along the way. They're fighters. So, tell me, what makes you think you can scare them?"
"Screw you! You think I haven't killed anyone? You think I can't stab someone?" the man retorted, trying to save face.
"Oh, so you've got two fighters now? What are you gonna do, stab each other to death? No one here is going to back down just because you're running your mouth," Justin said, watching as the man slowly began to grasp the reality of the situation.
The tattooed man fell silent, realizing the truth in Justin's words. Just getting here proved that everyone was now accustomed to violence and killing. The moral compass of this new world had shifted, and they were confident in their ability to fight.
But trying to intimidate people who had already proven themselves in battle? That was a foolish move.
"These people have weapons, and they've been through hell already. Do you really think a few threats are going to make them submit?" Justin continued, his voice full of disdain.
"...."
"On top of that, these are people with grievances. They've seen the unfairness of the old world, lost loved ones to this sudden chaos, and don't know what the future holds. You think you can threaten them? You're just advertising yourself as a target."
The tattooed man clenched his fists in frustration but had no response. He was slowly realizing that this new world didn't work the way he thought it would.
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More Golden Tickets = Mass Release
More Power Stones = Mass Release
More Comments = Mass Release
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