Chapter 232 The Currency of Power
Though themander of the zing Sun Alliance was a woman, no one in their right mind would call
her soft.
When Theresa rose to speak, silence fell like a dropped curtain. Her voice, calm and cold, cut <b>straight </b>through the heavy air.
“We agreed to meet with you because we’re all human. That’s it.
“You need help. Fine. Helping means I give you a hand and <i>you </i>climb up on your own. That’s help<b>. </b><b>But </b><b>if </b>you expect me to carry you for free like some charity case, you can forget it.
“If I wanted to run a charity, I’d let evolution take its course and let the dead weight get eliminated. <b>What’s </b>the point of keeping around a bunch of fools waiting to be spoon–fed?”
Everyone froze, stunned into silence.
And then it hit them. That was the voice behind the zing Sun Alliance’s signature opening statement.
It had always been her. Theresa.
“Theresa,” Bennie spoke up, hesitant but firm. “I’m willing to consider joining the zing Sun Alliance- but I have a condition.”
Theresa turned her head slowly to look at him, her expression nk.
“You’ve got a condition? Then get lost. No one here’s interested in your conditions.”
Bennie’s mouth fell open, but no sound came.
She wasn’t done.
“Same goes for the rest of you. From now on, ányone who wants to join the zing Sun Alliance stays. Everyone else, leave. I’m not negotiating. I don’t care what your terms are.”
Again, silence.
<i>So</i><i>, </i><i>this </i><i>is </i>what <i>real </i><i>authority </i><i>looks </i>like, they all thought. <i>This </i><i>is capital</i>. <i>This </i><i>is </i><i>dominance</i>.
Their eyes drifted to the two men seated at Theresa’s sides–Lucas on her left, from KI Camp, calm as a mountain, and Theron on her right, leader of Ember Camp, with a rare look of approval on his face.
Neither of them interrupted. That said everything.
Theresa was Lucas‘ voice. He was too kind to say anything this ruthless himself. And Theron–if he’d been the one doing the talking, half the room would already be dead. Neither of them were right for this
moment.
But Theresa was perfect. Unflinching. Ruthless. Brutally clear.
One by one, the leaders of the smaller camps began weighing their options. Silence stretched as long as the decision did.
Chapter <b>282 </b>The Currency of Power
“I need to think it over,” said one leader, stepping out of the meeting.
More followed behind him, unwilling tomit.
In the end, only five camps remained.
“Providence Camp is in.”
“Lucky Camp’s joining.”
“Victory Camp too.”
“Seaborne Camp is with you.”
Then came Bennie, once again, representing Hope Camp.
“Hope Camp will join, but I still have one condition,” he said atst.
Theresa red. “Say it, then.”
“We’re all scientists. We want to focus only on research and provide technical support for your operations. Nobat.”
“Get lost,” she replied without hesitation.
“I know where the weapons depot is.”
She stopped. For the first time, she really looked at him.
“Let Hope Camp in. Let us stay out of the fighting. In exchange, I’ll tell you where the depot is.”
Theresa nced toward Lucas and Theron. The three huddled briefly in a whispered conference. When they broke, Theresa turned back.
“Fine. You can join. But if you don’t contribute, your camp gets nothing.”
Bennie raised an eyebrow. “Define ‘contribute.”
“One weapons depot earns you one thousand points. Any major research breakthroughs, once verified by us, can also earn points. No contribution, no supplies.”
Theresa had him–hooked on a point–based economy, her own system of control.
Bennie fell silent, thinking hard. Five minutester, he nodded.
“Hope Camp applies to join.”
That day, the zing Sun Alliance absorbed five camps.
In the aftermath, Theresa met with Lucas, Theron, and Den. Together, they formalized the alliance’s
structure.
thos From that point on, all captured resources would be pooled and distributed through the alliance’s central supply system, not handed out directly. Camps would earn points based on their contributions, <b>and </b>thq
<b>15.49 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>14 <b>AUD </b>CO
Chapter 232 The Currency of Power
points could be used to trade for supplies.
Even more significantly, Theresa’s camp’s internal currency would be pegged directly <b>to </b>the <b>alliances </b>point system.
Which meant one thing: Theresa’s camp had gained mary dominance.
Their currency could now be used anywhere within the alliance. But no one else’s could be used in <b>return</b><b>. </b>Her points became the gold standard, the medium of exchange across every camp.
Because her resources–especially the Evoloid she produced–were real. Solid. Unmatched.
That alone was enough to secure the currency throne.