20: The dominant force in the entire region, but the small group splits.

spaceship Day 8.

Bridge.

On the massive holographic screen, Gu Pingsheng's name was radiating a dazzling golden light.

It was the only golden ID in the district.

It represented the supreme glory of "First Kill: Interstellar Pirates," and also represented absolute power and authority in this cruel apocalypse.

The private message box icon had been flashing crazily, the red number having long since surpassed 999+.

"Big Shot, please carry me! I can shout 666!"

"God Gu! I'm the class beauty from the next class over. As long as you let me board the ship, I can do any position!"

"Brother, let's team up? I've got some skills, let's combine our strengths..."

Gu Pingsheng leaned back in his command chair, holding a steaming cup of black tea in his hand.

He watched the constantly scrolling private messages, his eyes as calm as a stagnant pool.

No replies.

Not a single one.

He extended a finger and lightly swiped through the void.

"Clear everything."

"Yes, Master."

Alice's voice was crisp and pleasant.

The screen instantly became clean.

Those humble pleas, hypocritical flattery, and ill-intentioned probes all turned into dust within the data stream.

Gu Pingsheng took a sip of tea.

In this world, the wails of the weak are the cheapest form of noise.

He didn't need hangers-on, nor did he need so-called allies.

He only needed submission.

Or, death.

...

Lower deck, civilian area.

The air was filled with a subtle sense of restlessness.

Although Gu Pingsheng had established a points system, giving everyone a path to move up, people, as a species, fear comparison more than anything.

Some people worked desperately, saving points to trade for bread, even dreaming of one day being able to live on the upper deck.

For example, Wen Wan.

She was a top student in the biology department and had awakened the B-grade talent 【Biological Affinity】.

Although not as heaven-defying as S-grade, it gave her unique advantages in planting and breeding.

At this moment, she was squatting in the newly established small hydroponic farm, carefully tending to the precious seedlings.

This was the lifeline of the spaceship.

Every plant represented future food and oxygen.

"They're growing so well..."

Wen Wan looked at a tomato seedling that had just sprouted, her eyes full of tenderness.

She reached out, wanting to touch the tender green leaves.

However.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch them, her movements froze.

Her pupils contracted sharply.

At the base of the tomato seedling, there was a distinct crease.

It looked as if someone had pinched it off hard with their fingernails.

It wasn't just this one.

The lettuce and cucumber seedlings nearby also had varying degrees of damage.

Some had been pulled up by the roots and left to rot in the nutrient solution.

Some leaves had been torn to shreds and scattered on the ground.

There was also a pungent smell.

Wen Wan leaned in to sniff it.

It was low-quality detergent.

Someone had poured detergent into the nutrient solution!

"Who... who did this?!"

Wen Wan's voice was trembling.

This was food!

This was everyone's hope for survival!

How could someone be so wicked? So stupid?

She stood up abruptly and looked around.

The farm was in a corner of the lower deck, and people rarely came here.

At this moment, a few girls were gathered not far away, pretending to wipe the railing while stealing glances over here.

Seeing Wen Wan stand up, they immediately turned their heads, pretending to be nonchalant.

But that schadenfreude look couldn't be hidden.

"Yo, what's wrong with our 'great agronomist'? Why is your face so ugly?"

A girl with yellow hair said sarcastically.

"Don't tell me you killed the seedlings?"

"Oh my, that's terrible. Sister Gu Nian said that damaging public property requires ten times the compensation."

Another girl chimed in, her eyes filled with malicious glee.

Wen Wan was trembling with anger.

She recognized these people.

They were the "troublemakers" who usually slacked off, refused to work, and only gathered to complain about Gu Pingsheng's dictatorship and unfair distribution.

They were jealous that Wen Wan could take on farm tasks and get high points.

So, they destroyed it all.

"You... how could you do this!"

Wen Wan's eyes were red as she pointed at the dead seedlings.

"This is everyone's food! If you destroy it, you'll starve to death too!"

"Tch, don't try to suppress us with big principles."

The yellow-haired girl rolled her eyes, looking indifferent.

"Anyway, we can't eat these good things. In the end, doesn't it all go into the mouths of those people above?"

"Exactly. Since we can't eat it, no one else should either."

"Everyone can just rot in the mud together."

That righteous shamelessness made Wen Wan feel a wave of suffocation.

Is this human nature?

If they can't live well, they won't let others live well either.

They would rather perish together than see others better off than themselves.

"I... I'm going to tell the captain!"

Wen Wan gritted her teeth and turned to run towards the upper deck.

"Go ahead! Go ahead and tattle!"

The laughter of those girls came from behind.

"You really think that cold-blooded animal will care about such a small matter?"

"Maybe he'll even think it's because you didn't watch them properly and punish you along with them!"

Wen Wan didn't look back.

She ran fast, tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn't believe it.

She didn't believe Gu Pingsheng would let such people run wild.

...

Upper deck, Captains Quarters.

Gu Pingsheng looked at Wen Wan, who was kneeling on the ground, crying with pear blossoms in the rain, and then looked at the surveillance footage Alice had just sent.

In the video, those girls took advantage of the lack of people, snuck into the farm, pinched the seedlings, and poured in detergent.

Their movements were practiced, their expressions malicious.

"Captain... I'm sorry... It's my fault for not watching..."

Wen Wan lowered her head, her voice choked.

She was truly afraid.

Afraid of Gu Pingsheng's blame, and even more afraid that those seedlings wouldn't survive.

Gu Pingsheng didn't speak.

He just quietly watched the screen, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

"Da, da, da."

The rhythmic tapping sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Each tap felt like it was striking Wen Wan's heart.

After a long time.

Gu Pingsheng spoke slowly.

"You did well."

Wen Wan looked up abruptly, looking at him in disbelief.

"Discovered it in time, reported it in time."

"This is not your fault."

Gu Pingsheng's voice was very calm, devoid of joy or anger.

But those who were familiar with him knew that beneath this calmness, the most terrifying storm was often brewing.

"Alice."

"Yes, Master."

"Pull up the profiles of those people."

The screen image changed.

Several photos and detailed personal information appeared.

【Zhang Yan, F-grade talent · Manicurist, Current points: -50 (deducted due to multiple violations)】

【Li Ting, No talent, Current points: -30】

【Wang Lu, E-grade talent · Loud Voice, Current points: -40】

...

All negative assets.

All trash.

Gu Pingsheng looked at this data, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold sneer.

"It seems my benevolence has been mistaken for weakness by some."

"I gave them a way to survive, yet they want to sink the ship."

He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the busy figures on the lower deck.

Most people were trying hard to live.

But there were always a few rat droppings that wanted to ruin the whole pot of porridge.

"Since they don't want to live, then don't live."

Gu Pingsheng turned around, his eyes as cold as a blade.

"Notify them."

"Ten minutes later, core meeting room."

"Lin Qinghan, Su Ruan, Chen Chuxia, Gu Nian."

"Everyone present."

...

Ten minutes later.

Core meeting room.

The long conference table was made of polished obsidian, emitting a cold luster.

Gu Pingsheng sat in the main seat.

On his left were Lin Qinghan and Su Ruan.

On his right were Gu Nian and Chen Chuxia.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Everyone felt the low pressure coming from Gu Pingsheng.

Even Su Ruan, who usually loved to act spoiled, was hugging her rabbit doll obediently, not daring to make a sound.

"I called you here today for one thing only."

Gu Pingsheng got straight to the point.

He projected the surveillance footage onto the table.

Watching the evil deeds of those girls in the video, everyone's expressions changed.

"Seeking death."

Lin Qinghan spat out the two words coldly, her hand already resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Oh my, so bad~"

Su Ruan tilted her head, excitement flashing in her eyes.

"Should we make them into dolls? Ruan Ruan happens to need a few new toys~"

Chen Chuxia covered her mouth, looking shocked.

"They... why would they do this? What good does this do for them?"

"Because they are stupid."

Gu Nian pushed up her glasses, hitting the nail on the head.

"Typical bottom-tier mutual destruction mindset. If they can't climb up, they pull those who did down."

"People like this are a hidden danger if left alone."

Gu Pingsheng nodded.

"Correct."

"The spaceship doesn't feed idlers, much less enemies."

"Although we have more resources now, we can't afford this kind of internal friction."

"So, I have decided to implement a new system."

He tapped on the desktop.

A line of blood-red text appeared.

【spaceship Bottom-Rank Elimination System】

"From today on, everyone's points will be ranked."

"Settled once a week."

"The bottom three in the ranking, and those with negative points."

"Directly expelled from the spaceship."

"Life or death is up to them."

Dead silence.

The meeting room went quiet instantly.

Expelled from the spaceship.

In the vast space, this was equivalent to a death sentence.

And it was the most desperate, most painful way to die.

"This... won't it be too cruel?"

Chen Chuxia said softly, her eyes showing some reluctance.

"After all, everyone is a classmate..."

"Cruel?"

Gu Pingsheng looked at her, his gaze sharp.

"If I don't deal with them today, tomorrow they will destroy more food, or even sabotage the spaceship's propulsion system."

"By then, everyone will die."

"Do you think it's better to be cruel to a few people, or cruel to everyone?"

Chen Chuxia opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.

She knew Gu Pingsheng was right.

In this apocalypse, a saintly heart is the deadliest poison.

"I agree."

Lin Qinghan was the first to express her stance.

"In the army, there is a rule that deserters must be killed. These kinds of black sheep cannot be kept."

"I also agree."

Gu Nian analyzed calmly.

"From a financial perspective, these people's output is negative, while their consumption is not small. Clearing them out can optimize resource allocation and improve overall efficiency."

"Hee hee, I agree too~"

Su Ruan raised her little hand.

"Whatever Brother says, Ruan Ruan agrees~"

Unanimous approval.

Gu Pingsheng stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Very good."

"Since no one has any objections, then execute it."

"The next stop is when we clean up the trash."

He walked to the window, looking at the dark, deep universe outside.

There, countless stars were twinkling.

Beautiful, yet cruel.

"Remember."

"On this ship, there are only two kinds of people."

"One kind is people of value."

"The other kind is dead people."

...

Lower deck.

The broadcast sounded again.

This time, it wasn't a mission release, nor was it a pirate alert.

It was that cold "Bottom-Rank Elimination System" announcement.

【Notice: In view of the recent malicious sabotage incidents, the Bottom-Rank Elimination System is implemented from today...】

【The bottom three rankings this week are as follows: Zhang Yan, Li Ting, Wang Lu.】

【Handling result: Forced expulsion at the next stop.】

Boom!

The entire lower deck exploded.

Everyone looked at that list in horror.

Those three names were like death warrants, bright red and piercing.

In the corner.

Those girls who had been arrogant and domineering just a moment ago were now limp on the ground, their faces ashen.

"No... impossible..."

"How could he dare... how could he really drive us away..."

"I was joking... I just wanted to vent..."

"Help! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

Cries and pleas for mercy rang throughout the lower deck.

But this time.

No one sympathized with them.

No one even dared to look at them.

Everyone silently lowered their heads or scrubbed the parts in their hands even harder.

Fearing that the next name would be their own.

Fear.

This was the best management tool.

Gu Pingsheng stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the upper deck, looking at the crowd below, panicked like ants.

He held the cup of black tea that had gone cold in his hand.

He drank it all in one gulp.

Bitter.

But very refreshing.

"The spaceship doesn't need parasites."

He put down the cup, his voice low and cold.

"The next stop is when we clean up the trash."