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墨書 Inktalez
"Sister! I have twelve Essence Fruits here. Can you exchange them for food? I want rice, thank you, sister!" The emaciated boy raised his backpack, nearly tipping it over his head with all the Essence Fruits he had collected.
It wasn't that the girl in front of him was particularly tall; it was the longing in his eyes, a desperate desire to have a full meal, a yearning to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.
"Alright, that's a total of one pound and two ounces of rice. Remember to honor our leader, Leader Zheng Yifan. Keep that respect in your heart and worship alongside those around you as you continue to strive. Life is tough in this world; we should cherish every opportunity to obtain food."
Beside them, Nono watched the girl's actions with curiosity. Such strange behavior was rare; if one wanted to win people's hearts, simply placing food in front of them and shaking the bag would attract many followers seeking to survive. But true reverence? Creating a personal myth?
It had even reached a maddening level; post-apocalyptic cults couldn't be much different from this. She didn't understand it, but Zheng Yifan had already taken note. Perhaps this was part of his method for achieving success with his superpower.
Modern minds are complex and no longer capable of the simple adoration seen in the First Vitality Era when people viewed their tribal leaders as deities due to their innocence and newly awakened intellect.
Now things were different. People had endured thousands of years of civilization, developing significant judgment and a strong sense of pragmatism. If someone were to ally with Zheng Yifan purely out of self-interest, the Faith Power and Fortune he offered would only be a small part of it.
Only genuine worship could yield substantial Fortune. Strengthening one's abilities through sincere belief was the most reliable path. It was akin to the powers left behind by Huangdi before the apocalypse in medieval Europe—only fanatics possessed such unwavering faith, willing to sacrifice everything for their beliefs without any hesitation over millennia.
The boy followed the others in performing the worship ritual, which felt quite ordinary yet carried a hint of religious fervor. Zheng Yifan allowed her antics to unfold.
Subtly, this approach helped survivors accept him as their savior—a wise choice indeed.
This would further enhance his Fortune; he could already feel droplets of Fortune beginning to accumulate around him. Though fragile, the power of faith was like a lifeline grasped by these people.
Feeling the changing gazes directed at him, Zheng Yifan felt somewhat uneasy. However, this was his way of enhancing his superpower; only with sufficient Faith Power could he strengthen his Fortune, which would naturally influence and elevate his superpower level.
Everything would fall into place effortlessly.
The roasted Leg of Lamb was gone, and there were plenty of grains buried in the ruins, many of which could no longer be retrieved. Zheng Yifan didn't want them for himself. Naturally, he would pass them on to others—those who had already provided him with Faith Power would have the opportunity during the second sale of Essence Fruits. Collecting the grains buried in the ruins, thousands of pounds of food, would belong to them as long as they could dig it out. Zheng Yifan didn’t care. He didn’t want it; digging through the ruins was time-consuming and labor-intensive. It was much easier to buy directly from the real world.
The girl was clearly an outstanding charlatan; those she had converted wore a subtly devout expression, a feeling that took root and sprouted in their hearts.
"I have nine Essence Fruits here. Also, I’d like to ask if you’re hiring? I only need meals provided. I’m a psychologist in the Post-Apocalypse, and I suppose I can be considered an expert in that field," the old man said, rubbing his face vigorously to make himself look more like his Post-Apocalypse self.
Unfortunately, his face had almost completely turned into a skeleton; his cheeks were sunken, and only upon closer inspection could one vaguely discern a hint of his former appearance.
"That’s... really familiar!" the girl stammered, her eyes widening after a long pause.
"Are you Professor Luo Yuliang? I’ve heard your lectures in Sun City; your unique insights on Waking Hypnosis truly opened my eyes." The girl was evidently excited, even causing a bit of chaos in the current situation.
Connections were what the Survivors feared most, worried that this group would disrupt the market rules.
One Essence Fruit equated to a couple of pounds of food for them, practically free. However, if a large number of connected individuals crowded in, they could monopolize all resources and even drive prices up several times.
They were afraid; Zheng Yifan noticed this trend as well. The girl was still too young and needed more experience in this regard.
"Come over to report; our leader has agreed to your request. By the way, find a place to wash up afterward; you smell terrible," Ten Thousand Steps said as he waddled over with his layers of fat.
Luo Yuliang's eyes lit up as he followed Ten Thousand Steps toward the back. Regardless of whether it was a mountain of knives or Inferno, having something to eat was all that mattered. Those starving madmen couldn’t care less about such things; how many had been deceived into human meat workshops?
In the apocalypse, lives were worth little more than nothing. Moreover, he had already demonstrated his value. Although it was just a name from the Post-Apocalypse, based on everything they showed, he could tell that those before him needed something akin to religion to win hearts or required a group of true believers or even fanatics.
In the post-apocalyptic world, how do people govern their subjects? What kind of divine authority do they use to protect their own interests? He could only manage his own belly, which had been scraped clean of any fat.
His once slightly plump figure had now become nothing but skin and bones. He longed for two large bowls of braised pork, a dish he dared not eat while trying to lose weight in this harsh reality.
Ahead of him, Zheng Yifan had fallen into deep thought. Should she take the girl back with her? Seeing how well the girl thrived here, able to cultivate her own fortune among the Survivors, Zheng Yifan felt reluctant to abandon such a method of gathering power.
In just a short while, at least a hundred people began to worship her, offering their energy. Though their contributions were minimal—less than one-tenth or even one-hundredth of what the girl possessed—it was still a promising sign. How many people were there now? Ancheng had a population of several hundred thousand, filled with those desperate to survive and many on the brink of death. They struggled for breath, ready to grasp any last lifeline offered to them, regardless of whether it would lead them to ruin.
"Leader, I want to stay!" Huang Brothers declared before Zheng Yifan could finish her contemplation.
Though he had not followed Zheng Yifan for long, he had extensive management experience from his time at the Telecom Building. Whether through intimidation or authority, he had overseen the lives of hundreds.
His decision to stay stemmed from recognizing Zheng Yifan's hesitation. He knew she had another Gathering Place in the south—safer and larger. He understood that if he went there, he would blend in with the masses and be just like everyone else.
Although he was two individuals, after consuming Essence Fruit, they functioned as one. Both minds agreed to remain with the girl—not for any other reason but for the faith that their leader valued, a faith akin to religion.
Spreading faith requires psychological expertise and a genuine religious framework. He would strive in this area to provide Zheng Yifan with a northern base—one that might not be as significant as the southern base but would have its own unique characteristics that could assist their leader.
With these prerequisites established, his status within the Gathering Place would be entirely different; he would no longer be just another face in the crowd but would at least hold the identity of a half-leader in his own right.
Few people are entirely indifferent to fame and fortune; life demands many things from us, and he desired even more.
"You need to think carefully. If you stay, you'll only be a pioneer. I can't provide you with military support; I can only offer a large supply of food and logistical support for stability. Everything related to combat must be arranged and developed by you. You don't even have a Third-Stage Esper, and many enemies are beyond your ability to defeat." Zheng Yifan expressed his true concerns. What worried him most was the lack of pure strength; in this world where power was paramount, that would not suffice.
"Chief, don't worry. Isn't it just about strength? Even without superpowers, we still have a Third Stage auxiliary Superpowered Individual. He has been quietly working with me, and as long as he is given resources, he can even create weapons that would terrify Third-Stage Espers. The Design Blueprints for combat from the Inscription Master are already in his greasy head, with dozens waiting to be developed," Huang Brothers ruthlessly sold out Ten Thousand Steps.
He had witnessed the capabilities of that Fellow's weapons; an ordinary teacup could take down those thugs, and a broken door panel in his hands could become a lethal weapon.
Moreover, weapons specifically designed for war could easily take down a Third-Stage Esper if given to them, even a Machine Gun used by a Superpowered Individual. This was no exaggeration; it was the true power of an Inscription Master, unlike the crude mechanical inscriptions made by Formation Masters.
Zheng Yifan could see that this rotund Fellow would soon elevate his superpower level again. Once he reached Fourth-Stage Esper, he would begin to accumulate strength to challenge Fifth Level.
If an auxiliary Superpowered Individual became a Fifth Level powerhouse, their power could sway the outcome of a battle.
There is always wisdom in ancient proverbs.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools.
What Ten Thousand Steps produced was indeed a tool.
With this confidence, Zheng Yifan dared to seriously consider keeping these few foundations to establish a new Gathering Place and provide abundant faith resources. It would also leave some Fortune for humanity. (To be continued...)
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