Capítulo 34: Chapter 34: Charles' Response
Before their arrival, they had already inquired about the people in the vicinity.
Charles indeed was the overlord of this area. However, they really had no evidence that Charles had guns, or rather, most people who knew he had guns were already dead.
And Charles' subordinates, having benefited from their guns, would never be insane enough to tell the military that they had guns and had committed many illegal acts.
After moving his base to this building, Charles seldom went out 'hunting', so even though people outside knew of Charles' considerable influence, only a few could assert that Charles had guns.
The man in military uniform brought just over twenty subordinates, not enough to suppress the local thugs. So, he patted Charles on the shoulder, "In these times, we indeed can't be as strict as before, but..."
"I think everyone should still trust the government, trust the military. If you have dangerous contraband, you can hand it over. Whatever was done during that brief period, we can overlook it now."
Such a statement might have been believed two months ago.
But now, it wouldn't work. The people who had survived to this day, who hadn't gone through deceit and countless betrayals?
They trust no one but themselves!
This rhetoric is no longer popular now.
Because people want to hold their sense of security in their own hands. And what is security?
Guns are security!
So Charles just smiled and said, "Of course, whether before or after the disaster, I've always been a law-abiding citizen. I would never engage in collecting contraband."
"That's for the best."
The man in military uniform glanced at the sealed door, smiled, and then descended the stairs.
Charles escorted him out of the building, and then he and his squad of soldiers left.
"Commander, are we just leaving like this?"
One of his soldiers, somewhat reluctant, said, "This building clearly has issues. There are too many survivors, and... they don't seem like normal citizens."
To say they were not normal citizens was an understatement; they were obviously a gang of the underworld!
One can tell what kind of person someone is by their eyes, and in the eyes of those in the building, each one had a fierce look. They were desperate thugs!
"Do you think I don't know that?" the man in military uniform chuckled. "They're not residents of this building at all."
"Ah?"
"They barged in from outside. Not just Charles, but everyone else too."
"Then, what about the original residents..."
"Don't think too much about it. Maybe they starved to death." The man in military uniform glanced back at the building and saw Charles still standing at the door. He waved his hand, and Charles waved back.
The man in uniform turned around, "Their weapons are probably stored behind that sealed door."
"Hmm, they must have some secret passage to get in," the previously speaking soldier said gravely. "They've completely sealed the door to prevent us from inspecting!"
The man in uniform thought for a moment and said, "Charles is a capable man. He managed to organize everything amidst such a huge disaster and kept those thugs from rebelling against him. He's a formidable guy."
"So..." the soldier looked at the man in uniform with a fierce expression.
"With just this few of us?" the man in uniform looked at him disdainfully. "Don't think he's afraid of us just because he seems to be yielding now."
"He dares to rebel?!"
"Nowadays, what wouldn't these people dare? They've all gone mad." The man in uniform sneered. "There might be some hesitation at first, but once a gun is fired, all previous fears shatter. If they can shoot at residents during the disaster, they can certainly shoot at us."
"So, notify the commander, and we'll take them down when the main force arrives."
"That makes sense. Now that the weather is warming up, and order is being restored, it's not too late to deal with these people later."
They slowly left, and Charles stood at the entrance until they had left the complex.
The outside world was indeed much warmer than before. Wearing a big cotton jacket, Charles hardly felt too cold.
According to David, today's highest temperature might reach zero degrees.
Compared to the previous terrifying disaster, zero degrees was a pleasant number.
"Are we just letting them go like that?"
A man's voice came from behind him, sounding somewhat frustrated, "What if they bring more people?"
"You think killing them will prevent more from coming?" Charles glanced coldly at the man.
The man, named Jacob, had been with him even before the disaster broke out.
Charles indeed wasn't a law-abiding citizen before. He had gained a lot of money through illegal trades, then whitewashed and ventured into business. But it was impossible to completely sever ties with his dark past, and having a bunch of followers also had its advantages.
Jacob had been his enforcer before the apocalypse and held a significant position in his gang after it.
Charles took out a cigarette from his clothes, lit it, and took a puff. He slowly said, "The world is about to change. Killing them will only bring desperate retaliation from their side."
"Sending them away like this, they might think they can come back. But they can't."
"Ah?" Jacob sounded puzzled. "Why?"
"The disaster won't end." Charles patted Jacob's shoulder with a serious tone and then walked back into the building through the window.
"Tomorrow, these hailstones should melt, and the city's drainage system is already broken. So, when the hail melts, it will turn into a river flooding the city."
"Who knows what will fall from the sky then. Those people can only return to where they were before to seek refuge. Even if they can come by boat, they won't be able to fight us."
"So don't worry about people. Just prepare for the coming disaster. That's our real enemy."
If the extreme heat apocalypse really comes, the government naturally won't focus on maintaining order or clearing them.
If the weather gets as hot as seventy or eighty degrees, and fireballs fall from the sky, everyone should first worry about whether they can survive.
"What about those guys who fought us just now?" Jacob's tone grew fiercer, "This isn't the first time. They killed and injured more than a dozen of our brothers before!"
"They... heh, don't rush." Charles said softly, "Just a bunch of barking stray dogs. When the extreme heat apocalypse comes, they'll be easy to deal with."
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