Chapter 139 Strength Makes the Rules


    People were everywhere-exactly what Theresa had hoped for.


    She had no intention of bringing in just anyone. Her loosely formed strategy prioritized individuals with technical skills or specialized knowledge. Researchers were at the top of her wish list.


    Up ahead, something was happening-and she noticed it immediately.


    “Useless fools! You’re too slow!”


    “There’s no point in continuing-leave now!”


    At the construction site ahead, eight skinny men were being pushed aside. Their ages clustered around the thirties, with the eldest-a gray-haired man-probably in his sixties.


    A sudden kick from a worker sent the old man flying. He hit the ground hard, stumbling as his face turned deathly pale.


    “Professor!”


    “What are you doing?”


    “He’s old! How could you just kick him like that?”


    “Heh, respect for the old? That died with the world. This is the apocalypse now-strength makes the rules. We’ve had enough of you. What’re you going to do about it?”


    ‘You’re mad! A bunch of heartless b*stards!” the youngest growled, rage thick in his voice.


    “You called us b*stards? Well, we’ll show you just how ruthless b*stards can be! Hit them!”


    “Let’s teach them a lesson!”


    The group of burly men advanced.


    They were all workers tasked with building the camp. Those targeted were physically weak and slow, failing to contribute effectively to the team.


    Whereas the more capable workers built three meters of protective wall each day, the weaker ones struggled to manage less than two. The disparity was significant.


    Still, contribution points were awarded equally-so long as no one cked off, ording to rules set by the higher-ups.


    How could they stand for it?


    They’d reached their limit. Today, they were determined to give these freeloaders a brutal lesson—and


    banish them from the team forever.


    “Get rid of them!”


    “Stop it!”


    On the verge of violence, a casual female voice echoed, halting the surge of aggression.


    All eyes shifted to a striking young woman approaching them. Dressed in a fullbat suit, her high ponytail swayed as she walked, a sword slung across her back.


    She stood out among the ragged crowd-her fair, unblemished skin untouched by hardship, and her sharp and clear, like twin daggers.


    She came forward, steady and alone, but her presence roared louder than an army-like a predator entering a pen of prey.


    “Who are you?” asked the leader of the bulky men, watching her cautiously.


    eyes


    Theresa casually reached into her pocket and pulled out the ID Graham had given her. The workers froze the instant they saw it, tension humming between them.


    “Officer! We weren’t fighting!”


    “Yeah, we didn’t do anything! They walked out on their own!”


    “Exactly! They just decided to leave! We didn’t force anything!”


    “Liar!” the young man from the other group yelled. “You’re the ones trying to force us out!”


    “Let it be,” the old man murmured, holding him back. “We’re leaving.”


    “But Professor-”


    “Let it be. There’s no sense in causing problems for the officer,” the old man advised, eyes distant with understanding. He saw further than the rest.


    The rift between them ran too deep for words to mend. The officer had offered temporary protection, but once she was gone, those men would only be more dangerous.


    There was nowhere left for them here.


    Just as the workers said, this was a world ruled by strength. The apocalypse had stripped away their former lives as researchers; their knowledge no longer gave them any advantage.


    Pushed out from the safer construction teams, they faced the harshest work left-hunting zombies and scavenging for resources.


    Just then, a voice drifted in beside the old man.


    “What was your profession before?”


    He raised his gaze to see the young woman who had just ended the fight.


    “We were researchers at an institute,” a young man replied quickly. “This is Professor Wagner. He’s a


    respected name with numerous published works.”


    “What was your area of expertise?” she inquired.


    “Polymers.”


    Theresa’s eyes flickered with excitement. Polymers were integral to numerous industries such as


    agriculture, construction, transportation, electronics, and beyond.