Chapter 111 Elinor's Massage Techniques
None of the other building managers anticipated Steven's audacious defiance. After all, Steven had been foraging for supplies daily during this period, leading them to naturally assume he survived solely through scavenging. But now, Steven was completely transparent about his strategy.
They wanted to challenge him? Fine, he would just bunker down in his house and see what they could do.
While everyone was feeling conflicted, it was Chase who broke the deadlock. [I think negotiation is the best course of action. It's better than remaining adversaries. If it's about negotiation, I can show up.]
Steven smiled and said, [Mr. Gray, I appreciate your attitude. Even back at the company, I always thought you were the most sensible. Come on over and talk. I always feel more at ease with you. You're nothing like those sneaky bastards who prefer ambushes!]
Addressing Chase as "Mr. Gray" signaled to everyone else that Steven had a certain familiarity with him. It also served to subtly belittle Owen and Samuel, stirring discord within their temporary alliance.
Though these 29 building managers had united against Steven, their alliance was far from harmonious. Without the common enemy, they would've likely been at odds themselves.
As anticipated, Steven's words had their intended effect. Samuel sneered, [Chase, you can't represent us all.]
Owen also said sinisterly, [I can't let you go talk to him alone!]
Caitlin chimed in, [Then I want to join too.]
Everyone feared that others might cut a secret deal with Steven, leading them all to demand a seat at the negotiation table. As the momentum built, even the hesitant ones couldn't hold back, each insisting on their presence.
A flash of murderous intent appeared in Steven's eyes. 'I'm not afraid of you coming, I'm afraid you won't come!'
[Alright then, tomorrow at 2:30 PM, I'll be waiting for you all at Building 25. Don't be late!]
Steven left this message, not giving them any room to bargain, and quickly exited the group chat.
If things went as planned, tomorrow would see the demise of all 29 building managers! While this would undoubtedly incite fury among their subordinates, leaderless chaos would prevent them from rallying effectively. Then Steven would exploit this disarray, picking them off one by one.
His unshakeable confidence stemmed from his formidable firepower and impregnable stronghold. With superior offense and defense, he feared no adversary.
The footbath water had gone cold. Steven glanced at Elinor, "Alright, dry my feet."
Elinor nodded, using a towel to carefully dry his feet. After pouring out the water in the bathroom, she returned to give him a massage.
Steven, with half-closed eyes, turned to the beautiful Elinor and reached out suddenly. "Don’t use your phone for the next few days. I’ll hold onto it."
With the looming confrontation, he needed to ensure full preparedness, eliminating any potential risks.
Elinor hesitated briefly before handing over her phone. "Are you going to fight them?" she asked softly.
Steven's reply was calm, "Maybe. But I need to prepare thoroughly. This time, the number of opponents is significantly greater than before."
"Okay, I understand." Elinor nodded, continuing to massage Steven without further questions.
Over time, she had become attuned to Steven's temperament. When he was in a jovial mood, she could joke and chat with him freely. However, during moments of seriousness, it was best to remain silent and refrain from inquisitiveness.
Observing Steven's stern expression and the occasional sharp glint in his eyes, Elinor recognized he was deeply engrossed in strategizing. She couldn't offer any tactical insights, so she focused on fulfilling her role in a supportive capacity.
With that thought, Elinor moved behind Steven, her soft hands resting lightly on his shoulders before beginning to knead with just the right amount of pressure.
"What's this?" Steven murmured, his eyes half-closed in bliss.
Elinor’s massage skills were unexpectedly exquisite, her fingers pressing into his scalp bringing delightful tingles. “Comfortable,” Steven remarked, almost involuntarily.
Elinor blushed with pleasure, “I’m glad you like it. I just learned it recently.”
Steven leaned back on the sofa, the advanced massage technique significantly easing his tension, allowing his thoughts to crystallize. With his eyes closed, he contemplated his next move.
The meeting with the building managers was crucial. If all 29 showed up, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate them en masse. This would plunge their subordinates into disarray, perfect for him to pick them off one by one.
However, not all of them were fools. Some might adopt a wait-and-see approach. If fewer than half appeared, killing anyone would only alert the rest, complicating future actions.
Immersed in tumultuous thoughts, Steven made a decision. Should fewer than expected managers arrive, he would feign agreement to their demands, hiding his true strength and lulling them into complacency. He would then use a series of tactics to incite internal discord among them, weakening their unity and combat power.
Time was on Steven's side. In terms of raw force, as long as he refrained from actively invading other buildings, he could systematically dismantle his opposition. 'I must not rush. Rushing leads to mistakes, and mistakes threaten my position. I need to be a patient hunter, setting traps methodically, and let the prey walk into my snare.'
Steven concluded, his thoughts now clear and precise. This newfound clarity might have been thanks to Elinor's adept massage.
Pondering his preparations for tomorrow's negotiation, Steven concluded that he needed reliable allies to maintain the façade. The first person to come to mind was Henry.
Picking up his phone, Steven sent a concise message explaining the situation to Henry. Henry’s response was immediate, [Just tell me what you need me to do. I’ll follow your orders!]
During recent times, Steven had strategically shown small favors to Henry, alongside displaying excellent marksmanship in several skirmishes, which had secured Henry’s unwavering loyalty. Now Henry was devoted, ready to execute Steven’s orders without hesitation.
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