207: Chapter 207 Control, Zhao Tianhao felt he was in control again!

Eastern outskirts of Jiang City, the perimeter of the meteorite impact zone.

Inside an underground base surrounded by ruins.

Zhao Tianhao sat upon a makeshift 'throne', looking down at a group of people kneeling before him.

After three days of frenzied 'recruitment', he had finally grasped the limits of his SSS-rank Desire Manipulation Ability—

He could control a maximum of only 100 people!

This number filled him with both excitement and disappointment.

The excitement came from the fact that 100 subordinates were enough to establish a significant force.

The disappointment stemmed from how this limit constrained his ambitions.

"Damn it, how awesome would it be if I could control a thousand, or even ten thousand..."

Zhao Tianhao licked his thick lips, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly let it go.

After all, he was no longer that useless waste who could only hide in a hole!

Looking at the subordinates kneeling below, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction surged within him.

The composition of these 100 people was quite interesting.

92 male Ability Users, with strengths ranging from D-rank to A-rank.

8 female Ability Users, all rather plain-looking, with only one who could be considered a minor beauty.

"Hahaha, what can you do? Beauties are just too scarce these days,"

Zhao Tianhao laughed self-deprecatingly.

In the mid-Apocalypse, beautiful women had become a resource even more precious than food.

Finding 8 female Ability Users was already quite good, let alone one minor beauty.

As for those truly peerless beauties?

They were basically all tightly guarded by the leaders of major factions, far beyond the reach of a newcomer like him.

"Li Si, come report the situation,"

Zhao Tianhao said lazily.

A B-rank Esper immediately stood up from the crowd, respectfully walked before him, and knelt down:

"Master, the personnel we currently control are as follows:"

"92 males, including 3 A-rank, 15 B-rank, 32 C-rank, and 42 D-rank."

"8 females, including 1 B-rank, 3 C-rank, and 4 D-rank."

Hearing these figures, Zhao Tianhao nodded with satisfaction.

This lineup, in the Apocalypse, could already be considered a force not to be underestimated.

More importantly, all these people were completely subdued by his Desire Manipulation Ability, with 100% loyalty!

"Good,"

Zhao Tianhao stood up, his obese body swaying beneath loose clothing:

"Now, let me demonstrate my Superpower for you, so you understand resistance is futile."

His gaze fell upon a newly captured C-rank Esper.

This person was not yet fully controlled, a trace of clarity still lingering in his eyes.

"You, come here."

Zhao Tianhao pointed at the man.

"I... I don't want to..."

The man shook his head, trembling. He had already seen the fate of the others who were controlled.

"Don't want to?"

Zhao Tianhao sneered coldly:

"You have no choice!"

An invisible wave of mental energy emanated from Zhao Tianhao, directly assaulting the man's mind!

"Ahhhh——!"

The man screamed in agony, clutching his head.

He felt something deep within his heart being amplified infinitely—

The desire for power!

The desire to survive!

The desire for women!

All the desires originally suppressed by reason erupted completely at this moment!

"I... I want power... I want to live... I want women..."

The man's eyes began to turn wild, his mouth constantly repeating these words.

Soon, all clarity vanished from his gaze, replaced by emptiness and submission.

"Master... please bestow your favor upon me..."

He knelt on the ground, kowtowing respectfully to Zhao Tianhao.

"Hahaha! See that?"

Zhao Tianhao said loudly to his other subordinates:

"This is my power! Anyone's desires will be infinitely amplified before me!"

"What do you want? Power? Money? Women?"

"As long as you follow me, you'll have it all!"

The subordinates shouted in unison:

"Long live the Master!"

"The Master is invincible!"

Their voices shook the heavens, filled with fanatical worship.

This was the terror of Desire Manipulation—it wasn't simple Mind Control, but fundamentally amplifying and manipulating the target's desires.

The controlled would believe their actions were to satisfy their innermost cravings, willingly submitting.

"Good!"

Zhao Tianhao was very pleased:

"Now, let's talk about the reality we face."

His expression turned serious:

"You all know, it's the mid-Apocalypse now, and beautiful women have become the scarcest resource."

"Those truly peerless beauties are monopolized by the leaders of major factions."

"For example, the leaders of those big factions in Jiang City, they all have many beauties in their hands."

"And us..."

He glanced at the 8 plain-looking female subordinates and shook his head:

"We only have goods of this caliber."

Hearing this, the eight women lowered their heads, a glint of humiliation flashing in their eyes.

But under the effect of Desire Manipulation, they dared not resist.

"But it doesn't matter."

Zhao Tianhao changed his tone:

"Beauties are scarce, but they're not nonexistent!"

"I refuse to believe..."

A fanatical light flashed in his eyes:

"That the leaders of those big Shelters don't have peerless beauties hidden away!"

"Ice-cold beauties, gentle maidens, aloof CEOs..."

"I'm going to conquer them all! Make them kneel at my feet begging for mercy!"

Hearing this, the male subordinates grew excited.

"Master, are you planning to target those large Shelters?"

An A-Rank Esper asked.

"Of course!"

Zhao Tianhao licked his lips:

"Didn't I obtain this SSS-rank Superpower to live a life above others?"

"Why should those beauties be monopolized by those leaders alone?"

"I'm going to make them all kneel at my feet!"

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the only minor beauty.

She was a girl who looked under twenty, with delicate features, a petite figure, and an innocent, girl-next-door feel.

Though not a peerless beauty, in this era of scarcity, she was considered quite good.

"Xiaoxue, come here."

Zhao Tianhao beckoned to her.

The girl named Xiaoxue obediently walked over, her eyes empty and submissive.

She had been completely subdued by Desire Manipulation, her heart filled only with worship and obedience towards her master.

"Good, you'll continue serving me tonight."

Zhao Tianhao extended a fat hand, stroking the girl's face:

"Remember, you must satisfy me."

"Yes... yes, Master..."

Xiaoxue nodded obediently, but deep in her eyes, a flicker of pain flashed.

A sliver of her rationality remained, aware of what she was enduring.

But Desire Manipulation made it impossible for her to resist. She could only watch herself become this fat pig's plaything.

Seeing this, the other subordinates revealed expressions of envy.

But they dared not voice any dissent.

Under Zhao Tianhao's rule, Xiaoxue was his exclusive property; others couldn't even touch her.

"Alright, now to serious matters."

Zhao Tianhao sat back on his throne:

"I want you to gather intelligence, focusing particularly on the situations at the major Shelters."

"Especially the beauties around those leaders. I want their detailed information!"

"Appearance, figure, strength, personality—the more detailed, the better!"

"Yes!"

The subordinates answered in unison.

"And also..."

A sinister glint flashed in Zhao Tianhao's eyes:

"Go find out about the movements of other factions."

"Since everyone wants those heavenly treasures, let them fight it out first."

"We'll reap the benefits from behind!"

This was his plan—

Let these factions fight amongst themselves first. When they're all weakened, he would step in to harvest!

By then, all those beauties would be his!

"Master is wise!"

The subordinates flattered.

Zhao Tianhao nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Xiaoxue:

"Let's go, time to rest."

He pulled the girl's hand, heading deeper into the underground base.

There, he had a luxurious room specially prepared for himself.

Xiaoxue was forced to follow him, that sliver of clarity in her eyes struggling.

But in the end, it was suppressed by the Desire Manipulation.

Watching their departing figures, complex emotions flashed in the eyes of the other subordinates.

Envy, jealousy, fear...

But none dared to show it.

They all knew that in this Apocalypse, following a powerful individual was the only way to survive.

Even if that powerful individual was a pervert...