Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Victim Card Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Victim Card Meaning the rules of the apocalypse still apply everywhere.
The rules of the apocalypse…gold was at most a useful metal or worthless jewelry.
She traded many things during her time in the military and hence she knew what was right and what was wrong.
Especially when it comes to gold.
The woman with the sour expression, who had been emboldened earlier, shifted uncomfortably.
Her bravado melted under Su Jiyai’s unwavering stare.
“And if you choose to leave,” Su Jiyai continued, “you will not be allowed back.
Once you’ve walked out of these gates, that’s it.
The choice is yours, but the consequences are permanent.” The room fell into an oppressive silence.
The protesters exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of their situation sinking in.
The tall man with the beard was no longer shouting; instead, he looked down at the floor.
Yuan Xin, who had been standing quietly by, finally spoke up, his voice cold but steady.
“You all came here because you knew what was out there.
You came to this base because you wanted protection, resources, and a chance to survive.
Boss Su provides that, and she asks for nothing in return but fair trade.
Yet here you are, trying to force her hand, demanding more than what’s reasonable.
You’re biting the hand that feeds you.” The shorter man, who had been one of the loudest earlier, now looked uncertain.
Finally, he couldn’t bear the pressure and knelt down, “Boss Su, I am not greedy, but…but I can’t bring myself to sell the gold.
Yet at the same time, my dire situation is forcing me to sell the gold my grandfather and grandmother worked hard to buy.
How can I be willing to sell it for 10,000 points?” Su Jiyai’s smile was cold and unwavering as she gazed at the kneeling man.
“You are not alone in that sentiment,” she said softly, her voice devoid of sympathy but not without understanding.
“Many of us have lost things we cherish, things that hold sentimental value.
The apocalypse doesn’t care about your grandparents’ gold, just as it doesn’t care about my past or anyone else’s.
In this world, survival trumps sentimentality.” The man kept his head bowed, his hands trembling slightly.
it’s all I have left of them.” Su Jiyai’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes softened slightly.
But holding on to relics of the past will not feed you, will not keep you warm, and will not save you from the dangers that lurk outside this base.
You can either keep your gold and starve or trade it for points that will allow you to survive another day.” The room was silent.
Everyone was watching, waiting to see what Su Jiyai would do next.
The shorter man looked up, his eyes filled with desperation.
I understand, Boss Su.
I was wrong,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
From a normal person’s perspective, the shorter man looked a little pitiful.
It was as if…Su Jiyai was taking advantage of him.
Some of the passersby couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him.
If Boss Su was truly kind why can’t he increase the a price little?
Some even started to wonder, whether Boss Su was truly a kind person.
“However…” Su Jiyai interrupted him, “If you don’t want to…you can keep your gold.
The reason why I even announced the exchange in the first place, when I have the option to buy gold from outsiders who are ready to lower the price just so they can survive, is…because I consider you all as my people.
You are my tenants, and I give a benefit to you all that others won’t receive.
Do you think the outside world cares about your gold or your history?
If you think I’m hard on you, try bartering with those scavengers, and see how long you last.” The weight of her words hung in the air.
The shorter man’s lip quivered as he absorbed the reality she laid bare.
It was a cold truth that in this world, sentimental attachments were a luxury most couldn’t afford.
A murmur rippled through the onlookers, but no one dared speak against her now.
The passersby who had initially felt sympathy for the man were starting to waver.
Her reasoning was brutal but undeniably fair.
They all knew how ruthless the world outside the base could be.
Yuan Xin, observing the shifting mood of the crowd, spoke up, his tone steady.
“Boss Su doesn’t owe you anything.
The fact that you’re here, alive and well, is because of her generosity and the order she’s established in this base.
If you can’t see the value in that, then maybe you don’t belong here.” Su Jiyai’s gaze remained fixed on the crowd, unwavering and stern.
“This is the apocalypse.
You have to decide what’s more important—your pride, your sentimentality, or your survival.
I offer you a choice, not charity.
If you want to stay here, to live and be protected under my roof, then you must understand the rules.
If that’s too much for you, then leave.
But once you leave, you will not come back.” Her voice was cold, but her message was clear.
She was not a tyrant, but she was not a pushover either.
In this world, strength and fairness were often the only things keeping chaos at bay.
The shorter man, still on his knees, bowed his head lower.
I will sell the gold, Boss Su.
Thank you for the opportunity.” Su Jiyai gave a short nod.
Make the trade and use the points wisely.
That’s how you survive.” Slowly, the protesters began to disperse.
The incident may seem small, but it gave those people in the base a reality check.
Su Jiyai was generous…but not a pushover.
[Host weren’t you too harsh on them?] “Hm?
If I backed down, today even a bit, some of the evil-minded people would have the idea of playing a victim card in front of me.”