Chapter 104 Insatiable Greed
Dennis's attempt to silence the complainers backfired spectacularly. A chubby guy with glasses sneered, "Dennis, you're around Steven's age. Really gonna accept him as your master? Can't you see he's just using us all as cannon fodder?"
The term "cannon fodder" sent a wave of unease through the crowd. The other neighbors' expressions shifted, darkening with realization. They had lost over a dozen comrades in their skirmishes against the Rapids and the Crazy Wolf—what if that was their fate too?
Dennis pointed at him and cursed, "Don't talk nonsense! At the very least, we can eat now, and that's all thanks to Steven."
The chubby guy, named Nathaniel Ross, let out a contemptuous laugh. "Yeah, he feeds us. At first, I was touched, too. But then, it became clear—he's only pushing us into the fire. Why should we fight others? We could just stay in our building, keep safe, and let Steven find food for us every day. He's the one causing trouble, offending people from other buildings. If he pushes them to the limit, what will we do if they come to attack us?."
The crowd started to murmur in agreement. The concept was simple: they should ensure their safety and let Steven handle the risks.
Nathaniel's voice rose as he dropped another bombshell. "And from my observation, Steven never eats the food he brings us. He must be keeping the good stuff for himself and giving us the scraps! There are plenty of places to find food out there. Do you honestly believe it’s that hard to gather supplies? He’s treating us like fools!"
These words struck a chord. Many had assumed their role was merely to defend Building 25 while Steven brought them sustenance. But now they were being dragged into conflicts they hadn't signed up for. They didn’t want to die—why should they?
From the crowd, a woman muttered, "Steven is indeed wrong. We don't need to be sacrificed needlessly."
Nathaniel's sentiment grew louder and more contagious. One by one, they started voicing their discontent. "We risk our lives daily, and he just fetches some food. He's got that snowmobile; his job isn't harder than ours. If I had his vehicle, I could find food too."
Dennis's grip on the shovel slackened. He snapped, "Enough! If Steven hears any of this, he’ll kill the lot of you!"
A wave of fear silenced them. But Nathaniel, emboldened, stepped closer, eyes locked on Dennis. "We've all said it. Are you going to snitch and get us all killed by Steven?"
All eyes were on Dennis. If he betrayed them, they would kill him before he could.
Feeling the icy grip of dread, Dennis swallowed hard. "I didn't mean that. We're all neighbors. And if you die, do you think I can survive? Don't worry, I won't snitch."
Nathaniel finally smiled, "That's more like it! We're just venting our frustrations, nothing more."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. "Yeah, why so serious?"
"We used to complain about our bosses all the time. Didn't mean we stopped working, right?"
Everyone wore smiles, but something had changed in their eyes. Too many had died in recent days, and now, whispered doubts and personal grievances simmered beneath the surface.
Not long after, Steven and Henry returned, bearing two large bags of junk food. After learning about the latest situation, Steven put on a show of comforting everyone, even producing two pizzas to reward Walter and Dennis. The other neighbors also received more than their usual ration of food, but Steven couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. A subtle shift had taken place—their eyes held a thinly veiled defiance.
Steven sneered inwardly. They were beginning to doubt him. But what of it? These neighbors were ambitious but spineless; they had cowered before Andrew’s gun. Even if they had grown wary of being used as cannon fodder, Steven could still control them with a gun and a moldy piece of bread, bending them to his will. He didn't need to view these lowly people as anything more than pawns.
Meanwhile, Henry was busy presenting Cara with the clothes he had gathered. Her eyes lit up as she gratefully accepted the brand-name garments Henry had painstakingly found, even asking Steven for fashion advice.
Cara, who had never worn such expensive clothes before, beamed with joy. Hugging Henry's arm, she gushed, "Henry, you're so good!"
Jealousy flickered in the eyes of neighboring onlookers as they took in the sight of Cara’s new winter wardrobe. Seizing the moment, Nathaniel mustered his courage and approached Steven. "Steven, next time you go out, can you bring us some clothes too? Preferably down jackets, or..." His eyes lingered on Steven’s professional-grade cold-weather gear, and he swallowed before pointing at it greedily. "Like the one you're wearing. You should be able to find it, right?"
The difference in quality was palpable. While the neighbors shivered outside in their threadbare clothes, Steven's attire kept him warm and composed."Steven, if Henry can find good clothes, can you bring some back for us next time?" Their eyes burned with longing.
Steven frowned slightly, sneering inwardly. They really were insatiable. Didn't they realize how many people were struggling just to find food? Now they wanted luxury clothes too?
But he smiled and nodded. "If I get the chance, I'll definitely bring some back for you. But my vehicle is small and doesn't hold much. How about I stop bringing food and look for clothes instead?"
The reaction was immediate. "No way! We still have clothes, even if they're not the warmest. But without food, we'll starve!"
Steven nodded slowly, hiding his contempt with a practiced smile. "Then I'll keep prioritizing food. If I get the chance, I'll find some warm clothes for you too. So you won't feel cold anymore!" His smile was radiant.
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