บททั้งหมดของ The Apocalypse Hoarder: บทที่ 181 - บทที่ 190

Cyrus let out a quiet laugh. "That's the kind of woman who can really bite. Ruthless enough to cut off her own family if needed. You never let your guard down with someone like that."Zoey nodded. "I never had a good impression of her either. We hadn't spoken in ages, then out of nowhere she contacts me today and asks me to pass a message.""That's not surprising. Word already spread that I have a snowmobile and can go out for supplies." Cyrus shrugged. "Everyone in this complex envies me. Who wouldn't want that snowmobile?"Zoey lowered her voice. "Since you know that, do you still plan to talk to her?"Cyrus rested his hand under his chin and thought for several minutes. "Let's hear what she wants. I'm curious what the other buildings plan to do anyway. And I can't corner all 29 buildings at once. It won't be fun if they decide to turn on me together."If he hid in his apartment forever, he'd have nothing to fear from them. But Cyrus already understood that the world outside hel

"Cyrus, you're a smart man. You know what happens when someone flaunts treasure. Thousands of people live in this neighborhood. Most can only sit inside their apartments while hunger closes in."Only you can ride that snowmobile to search for food. If you were in their place, would you not feel jealous? Would you not resent yourself?"No one has moved against you yet because they still weigh the risks. That hesitation will fade, and someone will act. My request is simple. If you guarantee a basic amount of food for our building, we will not move against you."Cyrus narrowed his eyes. At its core, this was a threat."Oh? So if I refuse, Building 9 will attack Building 25. Is that right?" His voice turned icy, edged with violence.…Even through the screen, Lyla shuddered. She forced herself to answer with rigid resolve. "I believe you will not choose that path. Making us your enemy gains you nothing, even if you win."She dared to speak with such certainty because Building 9 sat

But what would happen once they faced an attack from the outside?Those people, used to comfort and predictable order, would crumble the moment they met someone like the Titan Gang or Jack Brogan. They would end up slaughtered.Ancient civilizations had collapsed for the same reason. Without force to protect order, peace was an illusion.Cyrus: [If I refuse your proposal, then what will you do?]Brandon stayed silent for a long time before he replied.Brandon: [We extend this invitation in a spirit of cooperation. If you decline, I will feel regret, but that does not mean your stance will never change. I will still look forward to possible collaboration.]Cyrus chuckled. That polished corporate tone always read so well.Cyrus: [So, you will not attack Building 25? Or join in if other buildings decide to attack me?]Brandon: [Our armed force exists for self-defense. We will not attack anyone first. It is not a matter of lacking strength. Pointless internal conflict would only le

"Even so, asking one person to supply 30 apartment buildings puts an enormous strain on anyone," Zoey remarked.Cyrus nodded with a faint smile. "Exactly. Which is why I need to remove that strain. One option is to kill them all. That path takes time and gets messy. It carries some risk too, since I would need to step outside and face them out there."He rubbed his temples. "So tell me, is there a way to avoid slaughtering everyone while still clearing the problem?"Zoey lowered her head and thought with real focus.Cyrus slid an arm around her waist, though his thoughts had already run ahead.After a long pause, Zoey sighed in defeat. "There is no solution. They see you as their only hope. If you refuse to help, they will try to kill you."She hesitated, then said, "There is a theoretical idea, but it falls apart in practice."Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "What idea?"Zoey grinned. "Running away might look shameful, but it works. If you leave this compound and settle somewhere els

Cyrus: [Searching for supplies is extremely difficult. It depends almost entirely on luck. There are over 1,000 people outside. If we hand food over to them, all of you will have nothing left to eat.]Cyrus: [I don't wish to offend them either, and my own stores can last me a few more days. So I will leave the decision to you. Keep the food for yourselves or give it away in exchange for temporary peace. You decide.]The choice he presented was no choice at all. It felt like pressing a gun to someone's head and asking whether he wanted to live or die.The neighbors understood that retreat meant starvation. They would die either way.Fighting still offered a small chance at survival.[I get it. Then we fight!][This food is ours. Why should we hand it over?][They can go to hell!][Exactly. They have no ability to gather food, so they think they can rob us. Shameless.][I, Larry Smith, hate people like that the most. Disgusting.]Cyrus noticed the shift in their mood and struck