Chapter 119 Open Conspiracy
Steven's decisive speech had moved his neighbors to tears, prompting them to return to their tasks, still dabbing their eyes. Only Henry lingered, his gaze fixed on Steven with an expression of puzzled scrutiny, as though he were encountering a stranger.
Steven noticed Henry's lingering stare and broke the silence with a grin. "Something on my face, Henry?"
Henry shifted awkwardly, shaking his head. "No, it's not that. It’s just... you’re acting different today, not your usual self."
Steven, anticipating Henry's thoughts, offered a slight smile and half-closed his eyes. "Are you wondering why I struck that cooperation deal with them?"
Henry nodded slowly. "Yeah, it comes across as a compromise. That’s never been your style."
Three hundred meals a day—a considerable burden. With only Steven's snowmobile for transport, sourcing food for such a multitude seemed an arduous and near-impossible task. It didn't align with the Steven he knew: a man who wasn’t easily swayed or overly compassionate.
Steven, taking his time, glanced towards the door before speaking. "Is there anyone outside?" he asked.
Henry immediately moved to check. After ensuring the coast was clear, he returned, confirming, "No one out there."
Steven nodded. The conversation to follow was not for prying ears—it would annul the carefully constructed façade he'd presented to their neighbors.
"My cooperation with them is a strategic ploy," Steven began. "Initially, my plan was to gather all those managers here and eliminate them in one fell swoop. That would plunge their buildings into leaderless chaos, making them vulnerable to a gradual takeover."
He paused, observing Henry’s reaction. "But today, only five of the most powerful showed up. Killing them wouldn’t be sufficient, given that the others have already allied themselves. I had to stifle my inclinations, appear weak, and let them think I was cowed into submission."
Henry’s eyes gleamed with understanding, a slow smile forming on his lips. "Ah, now I get it! That makes much more sense."
Steven nodded. "Exactly. I needed to let them think I’d capitulated, to lull them into a false sense of security. Once they let down their guard, that's when I'll strike."
"I've also laid a couple of traps for them," Steven added, a devilish grin spreading across his face.
Henry, intrigued, leaned in. "What kind of traps?"
Steven gestured towards the door again. "Check again, make sure we're alone."
Assuming Steven had noticed something, Henry dutifully went to look. After a thorough scan, he returned, shaking his head. "Nobody out there."
"The first trap I've laid for them is limiting their supplies. Each building receives a mere ten portions. This way, their provisions will inevitably fall short. As they say, 'It's not about the size of the pie, but how it's sliced.' When I distribute the food, it's all laid out for everyone to see. But once the building managers take the food back, they won't share it equally with everyone. And then what do you think happens in each building?"
"Before, when no one had food, starving together had a certain grim fairness. Even if some died first, the others couldn't avoid freezing or starving to death eventually." A wider grin spread across Steven's face. "But once they realize that ten people in each building have a steady supply of food and can survive long term, do you think their mindset will remain unchanged?"
Henry pondered this, feeling a chill run down his spine. Steven’s method of manipulating people’s emotions was nothing short of ruthless. First, he instilled hope, only to snatch it away completely.
A universal death sentence seemed fair when shared by all, but when some people used others' sacrifices to snatch a chance at survival, the resulting sense of injustice and discrimination could drive people to madness.
Steven glanced out the window as the five building managers departed, watching as the crowds from the other buildings slowly dispersed.
"People in the depths of despair will forget their fear of death. Before they die, they'll want to drag someone down with them," he continued with a smile. "Soon, savage fights and struggles will erupt within each building."
Henry observed Steven's calm demeanor with a blend of admiration and fear. He was immensely relieved he wasn't on the opposing side. "Steven, you're incredibly smart and terrifying!" Henry exclaimed.
Steven shook his head, his eyes cold and distant like the snow outside. "No, I wouldn't say I'm a genius manipulator. I'm just more level-headed than they are. I'm well-fed, warmly dressed, and can sleep soundly at night. I don’t worry about my next meal or keeping warm. I have significant firepower, the confidence to face them head-on. I have a stronghold that makes me impervious to their threats. When you meet all these conditions, you don’t experience fear or confusion. Instead, they’re the ones who hesitate and can't think clearly."
Steven then made a light-hearted comment to Henry. "Even a world-class boxing champion would lose to me in the ring after starving for thirty days, right?"
Henry was stunned for a moment. "Starving for thirty days? That would be a dead person!"
Steven said confidently, "Exactly! How could a dead person beat me?"
Initially, Henry thought this was mere sophistry, but after thinking it over, he realized Steven spoke a profound truth.
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