Chapter 41: Neighbors Shouting Slogans

As soon as the new group chat was formed, a wave of panic and indignation swept through the owners and tenants of the building. The messages flew fast and furiously:

"Alexander has turned into a monster! He's robbed three apartments already. Those young men in 301 tried to stand up to him, but he shot them dead."

"302 and 401 just handed over their supplies without a fight. Without food or water, they're as good as dead."

"We can't let this continue. We must band together against a bully like Alexander!"

The chat was ablaze with calls for unity. Some residents were ready to take him down:

"Come on, we've got numbers on our side. He's only got a few cronies!"

"But he's got a gun," someone pointed out.

"What about it? He can't have unlimited bullets. We just need to rush him together!"

"I'll give him a left hook and a right kick. That'll put him down!"

But the bravado waned when someone asked, "So, when do we act?" Silence followed. The reality was, nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of a bullet. They had talked a good talk, but action was another story.

"Well, brute force isn't the only way. We need to outsmart him," someone suggested, backpedaling.

Phoenix watched this play out with a smirk. All that talk of storming Alexander's stronghold with kicks and punches, and now they were talking about being 'smart'?

Then Uncle Isaac, the building's security guard and a war veteran, chimed in, his words cutting through the chatter:

"We can't let Alexander continue his rampage. I'll lead the charge if necessary."

The group erupted in support for Uncle Isaac.

"Uncle Isaac is the man! He's got the guts we need!"

"Need a weapon? Take my kitchen knife!"

"I've got a sword you can use!"

But for all their cheerleading, no one volunteered to join him. Uncle Isaac wasn't fooled.

"It's not enough for me to go alone. I need backup," he insisted.

The chat grew quiet, especially from the households with able-bodied men. The women, on the other hand, became fervent:

"Us women can't face him; it's up to the men to protect us!"

"Show your bravery, men of building 25!"

But the men were not amused. They called out the hypocrisy:

"What happened to equality? Now you want us to be the cannon fodder!"

"Unless it's my family, I'm not risking my life."

The argument escalated, turning into a battle of the sexes. The women accused the men of cowardice, and the men resented being treated as disposable heroes.

This was the same scenario Phoenix had witnessed in his previous life. When Alexander had terrorized the building, killing indiscriminately, no one had the courage to stand up to him. And now, history was repeating itself, with everyone arguing instead of taking action.

Uncle Isaac, desperate to break the cycle of fear and inaction, pleaded with the group to focus on the real threat. But Mary, a fiery young woman, fanned the flames, attacking anyone who hesitated, including Uncle Isaac.

"Why are you acting like a hero now? You men should be on the front lines!"

Her words were divisive, even suggesting that women were more important in society and that men's sole purpose was to serve them.

Phoenix observed all this with detached bemusement. The building was in chaos, consumed by fear and infighting. It was clear why Alexander had been able to rule with an iron fist in Phoenix's previous life. People were too scared, too selfish, or too confused to mount any real resistance.

And now, amidst the turmoil, Phoenix sat back, a solitary observer in a world gone mad. He had no intention of becoming a martyr. His focus was survival—nothing more, nothing less.