In the darkness of the night, a bonfire was ablaze inside the camp. Garen was roasting the edible insect meat that Adams had allocated to them. The sizzling sound of oil made the few people who had remained in the camp and were starving, salivate.
“Please, I beg you, give us a bite! It doesn’t matter even if it’s not cooked. We’ve been famished for a long time!”
The sallow-skinned men knelt in front of the bonfire, staring at the roasted meat like hungry wolves as they pleaded with Garen.
Garen waved at Colin and gestured for him to bring a plate over. Then, he cut a few pieces of roasted meat and said with a smile, “Of course I can give you some to eat, but you have to promise that you’ll keep your mouths shut after eating the meat. Don’t mention what happened today to anyone!”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. You’ve given us food, so you’re our saviors. We won’t utter a word about what happened today!”
“Yes, yes. Anthony treated us like pigs and dogs. You were the ones who gave us fruits and roasted meat. We will remember this kindness for the rest of our lives!”
The few of them kneeling in front of the bonfire pleaded.
“Alright, since you’ve said so, then you can eat the meat!” Garen smiled faintly and handed the plate in his hand to Colin, asking him to distribute the roasted meat to everyone. Then, he turned around and walked to another bonfire and sat down together with the other members of the Glorious Association.
“Garen, are you worrying too much? Look at how much torrture these people have been through. How could they possibly betray us?”
Bob, who was more of a straight shooter, couldn’t quite bear to watch Garen any further and said this to him while roasting the meat.
Garen chuckled and looked at Angus.
Angus, who was also born in the slums and was used to seeing the ugliness of human nature, spoke up for Garen, “That’s because you don’t know the evilness of human hearts. We are a group of people who have no ability to protect ourselves. If other people find out that we are carrying a lot of resources or that Big Brother has already become a cultivator, all of us will not be able to live for more than a month after we get back!
“This is also the reason why Big Brother said that he’s a Mage in front of everyone. He doesn’t trust those outsiders and doesn’t want to reveal his true trump card. As Big Brother’s close friends, we have to help him do things more thoroughly!”
At the side, Andre, whose arms were bulging with firm muscles, said in disdain, “I feel that your considerations are a little redundant. Since I was young, I’ve only believed in one principle, and that is, if your fists are big enough, others will be afraid of you. So long as they’re afraid, they wouldn’t dare to utter a single word about Big Brother’s secret!”
“If you are really worried about them, you can rope them into the Glorious Association. I will personally watch over them. There won’t be any possibility of the secret leaking out. There is no need to threaten them with food like what you did!”
Garen shook his head and chuckled as he said to Andre, “Your family does slave trading, and you’ve lived a good life since you were young, so you’re used to being domineering! But have you ever thought about whether your family is more powerful or if the Wester family is more powerful? Big Brother was the one who killed Anthony. Do you think the Wester family won’t investigate?”
“Me roasting meat for them and warning them to shut up is known as the carrot-and-stick approach. It’s strategy and tactics! I hope that you guys can also learn this, because in the future, it’ll be on us to expand the Glorious Association. However, you must only rope in trustworthy people and not cause any trouble for Big Brother!”
Angus chimed in, “Garen is right. Big Brother isn’t strong enough to fight against a powerful family yet, so the members of the Glorious Association have to strive for excellence. All of us were saved by Big Brother when we were on the brink of death, and he has given us bright prospects. No one else is going to receive this kind of kindness. Thus, we can’t rashly accept people into the Glorious Association right now. Do you understand?”
Under Garen’s and Angus’ earnest persuasion, everyone finally nodded in agreement. However, Andre still looked unconvinced.
Anthony’s tent was as bright as day due to the illumination from several oil lamps. Seated across from each other, Vivian and Adams looked at the map on the table.
“Anthony’s corpse as well as the female corpse in the tent, have all been moved to the trap outside the campsite. I’ve also arranged for Garen to bring men with him to bury them, so that they can rest in peace!” Vivian said with a slightly dejected expression.
Adams nodded and lamented, “It’s just that with Anthony being buried with the people who died because of him, I don’t know if those people will be able to rest in peace in the underworld. But I suppose this gives them a chance to settle scores with Anthony. We have done our part!”
Vivian was unwilling to bring up Anthony again, so she changed the topic and said, “Colin has brought along all the books and maps from the base. I picked this map according to your request, but what’s the use of it?”
Adams’ brows were tightly knitted and he said with great hesitation, “I can’t trust the people who have been staying in the camp the way I trust Garen and the others. But my strength has been revealed, so I have no choice but to prepare a way to protect myself!”
“What way?” Vivian asked softly whilst looking at Adams nervously. She was afraid that Adams would be like Anthony and decide to kill the people outside. She did not wish to see the leader she approved of become completely inhumane.
Adams suddenly smiled in embarrassment and said, “I want to borrow the power of the Kevin Family, and I need your cooperation. I was wondering if you are willing to help?”
“What? My Family?”
Vivian was stunned. She looked at Adams in confusion and delight.
She was delighted because Adams did not choose to kill those people, but she was confused because she did not know what Adams needed to borrow the power of the Kevin Family for.
Then, Vivian said helplessly, “Adams, compared to my Family, of course I would be more willing to help you. But my status in the Family isn’t high. It’s extremely difficult to convince my Family to go against the Wester family for you. Instead of that, I’d rather find a way to get those people outside to not say anything!”
“Garen and the others are watching the people outside, so we don’t need to worry about them. However, there’s no such thing as an absolute secret in this world. I have to be fully prepared, but I’m not asking you to beg the Kevin Family to protect me. Rather, I want them to beg you to come find me!” Adams said confidently.
Hearing this, Vivian hurriedly said, “If there’s such a way, of course I’m willing to help you. Tell me, what should I do?”
Adams stood up and looked down at the map on the table. He gave it some deep thought and said, “There are only a few days left until the teleportation array is activated. We need to use the remaining time to create a map that will drive the Kevin Family crazy!”
Vivian instantly understood what Adams meant. She took out a pen from her quantum ring and said to Adams, “In that case, you can talk and I’ll do the drawing!”