Chapter 096: Camp Riot?

Novak's eyes shot open in excitement.

He heard a faint rustling sound.

Looking down, he exhaled deeply and asked, "Where's Line?"

"Mm…*squelch*...sleeping?" came Lea's muffled response.

Novak nodded. "You're not cut out for fighting, so just stay at the gathering place and handle civilian duties."

"*Suck*...yes..." Lea responded, her voice trailing off.

Novak's smile widened as he tightened his grip on her bun, picking up the pace. "But you still need to level up. Once the secret realm cooldown finishes, I'll let Daphne send a team to escort you through it to boost your level. All your free attribute points should go into your Constitution."

He continued, "Increasing your Constitution will slow down the aging process and give you more stamina."

"Mm...woo..." Lea whimpered.

Releasing her, Novak looked at her rolling eyes and chuckled. "See? That's why improving your Constitution is important."

Lea, catching her breath, gave him a playful look and muttered, "Yeah, yeah, I know..."

Novak stood up, frowning slightly as he glanced toward the door. "What's going on out there? Why all the noise?"

Lea wiped her mouth, swallowing the last bit before answering, "Sister Daphne mentioned yesterday that everyone entering Ocean Blue area needs to pay a daily protection fee of one copper coin. Some people are causing a scene over it."

The protection fee was Novak's idea, part of his long-term plan to build a city. It was a common practice in post-apocalyptic cities.

Novak frowned. "What are they complaining about? Do they really think they can just sit around doing nothing while others risk their lives in this gathering place? Rice bugs, the lot of them!"

In the apocalypse gathering place, you only have two choices: Work, or Pay!

"And what are the evolutionary guards doing? Letting these fools cause trouble? If they don't pay, kick them out."

Lea shrugged. "Ordinary people would've been kicked out by now. But apparently, some of these guys claim to be your classmates..."

Novak raised an eyebrow, a cold smile forming on his lips. Classmates?

Without another word, he got up and walked out of the villa. Outside, there were shouts, followed by the occasional scolding from the guards.

"We want to see Novak!" someone yelled.

"Yeah! Novak said this place would protect us, but he never mentioned having to pay!"

"That's right! Copper coins are expensive—each one is worth two packs of compressed biscuits and two bottles of water. I've been eating nothing but biscuits for two days and I'm constipated! Now we're being charged more?!"

"Let Novak explain this! We're classmates! Why does he get to live in a villa, eating and drinking well, surrounded by women, while we struggle..."

Before the man could finish, the courtyard gate swung open.

The evolutionary guards breathed a collective sigh of relief. They hadn't dared to act against these people, worried about what might happen if Novak found out they were his classmates.

But now, Novak had emerged.

Instantly, the crowd fell silent. All eyes were on him as he stepped out.

Novak scanned the faces in front of him. Indeed, there were familiar faces from his University. But the camaraderie of old classmates had long vanished—now they were merely opponents.

His gaze landed on the ones who had been shouting the loudest.

"Novak! We came here following your instructions. Why are we being charged money now?" one of them demanded.

"Yeah, explain yourself!" another chimed in.

The crowd around the villa grew restless again, but Novak ignored their complaints. Instead, he turned to a familiar guard nearby.

"Where's Daphne?" he asked.

"Sir, Madam personally led a team to clear out zombies. She hasn't returned yet," the guard replied.

Novak nodded.

Hearing it, the troublemakers at the front hesitated, unsure whether to push further. They knew better than to provoke Song Daphne.

After all, Daphne had been in a position of power for many years. Her commanding presence wasn't something the average student could challenge.

But what they didn't realize was that Novak was even more fearsome.

Novak asked calmly, "What did Daphne say?"

The guard responded, "Madam said that everyone has to pay one copper coin per day to stay in the gathering place. If they've already paid, they don't have to pay again after entering the city. But if they refuse, they'll be kicked out."

The guard, clearly fed up with the students' complaints, added with a sneer, "Madam also said, anyone who resists will either be expelled or shot dead!"

The mention of these last four words sent a wave of fear through the crowd. The students' expressions shifted from defiance to terror.

This was no longer the world they once knew. The apocalypse had torn down the courts and government at a staggering pace. In such chaotic times, harsh measures were necessary.

Novak smiled coldly, then casually reached out, gripping the faces of two familiar students. His movements were so swift, the entire villa's entrance fell deathly silent. The two students, paralyzed by fear, couldn't utter a sound as they stared into Novak's indifferent eyes.

With a sudden, sharp twist, their necks snapped.

Black-red tendrils of fungal matter crawled over Novak's hands. The writhing fungus added an eerie effect, making the scene more terrifying for the students watching. Those who had banked on their so-called classmate status to gain special favors were now trembling in fear.

Within moments, the two bodies vanished without a trace.

A playful smile appeared on Novak's lips as he began calling out names: "Brut, Lujas, Sherwe, Dronn..."

With each name, someone in the crowd flinched violently.

Novak glanced at them before turning to the guards. "Arrest all of them. Execute them, and hang their heads on both sides of the mountain road leading to the camp. As for anyone else who dares to stir up trouble, kill them as well. If they refuse or are unable to pay the copper coin fee, they must take on the tasks assigned to them. If not, they're out."

His eyes swept across the group one final time. He had no interest in wasting more words.

He had offered them a way to survive, but some dared to conspire and incite chaos? They lacked the courage to face the dangers of hunting zombies, yet were quick to stir up trouble internally. Unfortunately for them, Novak had no patience for such behavior.

Little did they know, his devouring ability allowed him to access their memories clearly. He knew exactly who was plotting what.

Compared to the punishments in White Demon City from his previous life, Novak was being merciful. Back then, he would have ordered his subordinates to break the troublemakers' limbs, seal their abilities, and toss them into a horde of zombies. Or he would've strung them up on flagpoles to lure in rotting crows and mutated insect swarms.

But here? He didn't need to resort to such measures—yet.

In chaotic times, harsh punishments were necessary. As the ancients said, there was no room for leniency when ruling a country. Novak had learned that firsthand.

Yet, balancing fear with reward was the true path to leadership.

Novak exhaled, turned, and walked back to the villa. The survivors and evolutionists at the Ocean Blue gathering place would soon understand why their base could demand such a price.

Conveniently, the ditches outside Concave City had nearly been completed, and soon the construction of the "Meat Wall" would begin.

With the foundation of the gathering place about to be laid, it marked the dawn of what would one day become White Emperor City!