Chapter 123 Watching from the Sidelines
Steven didn't need to complicate things just yet. His daily routine was simple: go out, pretend to collect food, and distribute it among the neighbors. The real entertainment was yet to come: watching the chaos unfold within the neighboring apartment buildings. After all, internal conflict was always the quickest way to defeat an enemy.
Upon returning home, as usual, Steven checked the house through his phone's surveillance system. Confirming everything was in order and Elinor was in her room, he finally opened the door and stepped inside.
A long, hot shower was the perfect antidote to the day's chill. Although his winter coat had protected him from frostbite, the biting cold still reached his skin, causing his pores to contract.
Under the cascade of hot water, he felt his muscles loosen, the tension of the day melting away. Steven vigorously washed his face, a grin stretching across his lips. 'This phase won't last long,' he thought. 'Once I get rid of these pests, I'll find somewhere better to start over.'
A month had passed since his rebirth, and Steven had already taken care of most of the people who had been responsible for his death in his previous life. His vengeance was far harsher than their original transgressions.
Now, he aimed to cleanse the entire community, starting with his neighbors. Once that was done, he intended to dismantle the safe house and relocate it.
The safe house's shell, crafted from sturdy aerospace metal, could withstand almost anything—including the intense friction of re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Steven's plan was to gather enough explosives to demolish the entire building, storing other valuables in his extradimensional space. The shell could then be left to rest in the snow, unharmed.
'It won't take long to deal with these guys.' he mused, a pleasant smile spreading across his face. Soon, he would bury his hatred and pain, starting anew elsewhere.
After his shower, Steven wrapped a towel around his waist and went to open Elinor's door. She was sitting on the bed at the moment, her face flushed, legs tightly clenched, obviously struggling with something.
The moment Steven opened the door, she bolted past him, head down, and rushed to the bathroom. He watched her go, perplexed.
‘What's that about?’ he wondered aloud. Then, realization dawned on him. ‘Oh, I locked her in all day; she must have been holding her pee!’
A mischievous smile crept across his face. 'She must be quite the lady. Even desperate, she wouldn't use a water bottle!'
Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Elinor emerged shortly after, her face still tinged with embarrassment and a hint of exhaustion from her ordeal.
Steven sauntered over, slipping an arm around Elinor's slender waist while grasping her wrist with his other hand.
"Are you really that weak?" he taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.
Elinor rolled her eyes. "Why don't you try it next time?"
Steven shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not that fussy. If I can't hold it in, I'll find a bottle."
Feeling a rumble in his stomach, he realized how ravenous he had become now that he was in the warm comfort of his home. "Let's make some food. Add more meat; I've been burning a lot of energy lately."
Elinor’s face brightened. "Alright, I'll make fried chicken for you today!" she chirped, dashing to the kitchen, moving with the grace and eagerness of a devoted wife.
While Steven luxuriated in the comforts of home, the building managers of other apartments inspected their newly delivered food supplies. Each manager's reaction differed, but many wore expressions of mixed disappointment and relief. One plastic bag brimming with supplies could feed ten people—barely enough to scrape by.
At the Crazy Wolf Gang headquarters, Samuel wasted no time tearing into the plastic bag. He rummaged through its contents with growing anticipation until he unearthed a pack of Kool cigarettes. His eyes gleamed with adoration for the treasure in his hands.
Around him, his underlings gazed longingly, eyes wide and mouths watering. The apocalypse had turned their month-long deprivation into sheer agony; they were desperate for a smoke.
The second in command, Aaron, couldn't contain his thirst any longer. "Boss, can I have one of those cigarettes?" he asked, his voice edged with desperation.
Others chimed in, emboldened by Aaron's request. "Boss, can we get one too?"
"We're losing our minds here, boss. A smoke might save us from going completely nuts!" one of them pleaded.
Samuel's brow furrowed, and his usual stern demeanor darkened. He had been accustomed to a pack a day, and this precious pack was just enough to sustain him. But as he took in the bloodshot eyes and frazzled nerves of his men, he relented.
"These cigarettes weren’t easy to get,” Samuel began, looking for leverage. “I had to strong-arm Steven to bring them!" He sighed, adopting a more magnanimous tone. "You guys are my brothers, so I’ll let you share. But remember to pull your weight from now on."
His followers barely registered his words, too fixated on the treasure he held. They’d do anything for a smoke, their loyalty inextricably tied to their desires.
Samuel gritted his teeth, distributing the cigarettes with a trembling hand, each one like a thorn to his pride, yet a balm to his burdened heart.
The Wolves eagerly snatched the smokes, lighting up with fervor that only a fellow heavy smoker would comprehend. Their eyes brimmed with unspoken gratitude, akin to a long-widowed woman encountering a robust young man for the first time in ages. For that fleeting moment, their world was tinged with joy.
However, the bliss was mercilessly brief. The cigarettes vanished almost as swiftly as they appeared. Samuel, ever the pragmatist, had squirreled away the remaining half-pack for himself.
Noting the envious glances from his comrades, he masterfully feigned ignorance. "Let's divvy up the grub now!" he announced, his voice echoing an unearned benevolence.
He unraveled the plastic bag, revealing an assortment of low-grade bread, biscuits, and other sundries. Yet to him, these were rarities, a cornucopia of rare delicacies. After endless days of charred meats, they longed for anything that resembled real food.He swallowed hard, his hunger gnawing at his insides, but restrained himself. Calling over one of his underlings, his face exuded an unexpected warmth.
The underling, puzzled, approached Samuel, who selected a piece of bread and handed it over with a smile that could almost be mistaken for camaraderie. "Doug, you're the weakest. You eat first!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
