11: Chapter 11 The Self-Cultivation of a Lackey

"Move your damn asses! Quit dawdling! Haven't you eaten?!"

Zhang Hao's roar echoed over the construction site on the east side of the Fortress. He clutched his signature, barbed, bone-white whip, scanning every survivor carrying building materials and reinforcing the walls like a vicious wolf patrolling its territory.

Since being taken in as Lin Chen's "lackey"—especially after seeing through Qin Weiwei's true colors (though his master told him to stay put for now)—Zhang Hao's loyalty and desire to perform had exploded. He understood deeply that in this Fortress, everything else was hollow; only by being absolutely useful to his master, Lin Chen, could he live comfortably and maintain status.

The way to demonstrate value was to share the master's burdens, handle every assigned task perfectly, and at the same time, nip any potential threats or instabilities in the bud!

"You! Yes, you! Old Wang!" Zhang Hao pointed his whip at a middle-aged man who was moving a bit slowly. The man used to be the boss of a small company and had some wealth, but now he was covered in dirt and grime, hauling bricks. "Didn't you receive your nether talismans this morning? No strength? Do you want me to use this whip to give you some encouragement?!"

That Boss Wang shuddered, nearly dropping the bricks in his arms. He bowed and scraped hurriedly, "Brother Zhang, I'll be fast, I'll be fast!" He pushed himself to the limit to speed up, his face turning beet red from the effort.

Zhang Hao gave a cold snort, watching with satisfaction as the construction site's efficiency increased by at least thirty percent under his "spur." He enjoyed this feeling of controlling the lives and deaths of others, of making people fear him. This was much more satisfying than his previous life, where he had acted arrogantly just because his family had some money! This was true power!

"Listen up, everyone!" Zhang Hao jumped onto a pile of sandbags, hands on his hips, his voice carrying across the site. "The Master is merciful. He gives you work, food, and nether talismans to spend! If anyone dares to slack off, work without effort, or harbor any improper thoughts..." He suddenly cracked his whip against the empty ground, creating a piercing sonic boom, "I'll throw them out to feed the ghosts! Do I make myself clear?!"

"Understood!" A ragged, fearful echo rose from the construction site.

Zhang Hao nodded smugly, his gaze sweeping through the crowd. He precisely caught several individuals with flickering eyes or those whispering complaints, silently noting them down. These were the targets who needed "special care."

Just then, he saw Su Qingyu, who was responsible for distributing drinking water, walking over. Zhang Hao's face changed instantly; from a ferocious foreman, he switched to a slightly fawning smile and jumped down from the sandbags.

"Miss Su, what brings you here? There's a lot of dust on the site; don't let it dirty your clothes." His tone was respectful, a complete contrast to his previous demeanor. He knew Su Qingyu's status in the Master's heart (even if it was a status of being "useful"), so he naturally didn't dare be negligent.

Su Qingyu was somewhat speechless at the sight of his rapidly changing face, but she was used to it. She handed over a waterskin. "Hard work. Drink some water. How is the progress?"

"Don't worry! It will definitely be completed on time, if not early!" Zhang Hao patted his chest in assurance. He took the waterskin but didn't drink, instead handing it back to Su Qingyu attentively. "Miss Su, you drink first."

Su Qingyu waved it off. "I've already had some. Keep an eye on things, but don't go too far. If people actually die of exhaustion, it's a loss of labor."

"Understood! I know what I'm doing!" Zhang Hao nodded repeatedly, then lowered his voice, his face showing a hint of shrewdness and ruthlessness. "Miss Su, I happen to have something to report to the Master. I've found a few troublemakers who aren't active in their work and are always whispering together in private. I suspect they might have some crooked intentions?"

Su Qingyu frowned slightly. "Is there evidence?"

"None for now, but I've got my eyes glued on them!" A fierce light flashed in Zhang Hao's eyes. "As soon as they show their tails, I'll drag them out immediately! I won't let any hidden danger threaten the safety of the Fortress or the Master!"

His loyalty was built upon absolute fear and dependence on Lin Chen's power, and as a result, he had become exceptionally sensitive and extreme. To him, any slight rustle in the wind was magnified into a potential threat.

Su Qingyu nodded. "Mhm, keep a close watch. The Master should be... free now. Go and report."

"Right away!" Zhang Hao acted as if he had received an imperial decree. He tucked the bone whip behind his waist and jogged toward the Fortress's core control room.

...

Inside the control room, Lin Chen had just finished listening to a report from the Yin Soldiers about the increasingly frequent movements of external enemy forces. He was pondering how to make this "welcoming ceremony" more "lively" when Zhang Hao came running in eagerly.

"Master! Master!" Zhang Hao had the excitement of someone seeking a reward. "The construction progress is going smoothly. I guarantee that before the enemy attacks, we'll have thickened the outer walls by another three layers!"

"Mhm," Lin Chen responded indifferently, his gaze remaining on the nether light screen displaying the external map.

Seeing his master's flat reaction, Zhang Hao immediately brought out what he considered a "bombshell" of news. "Also, Master! I've been watching for several days and found a suspicious group of survivors! About five or six people. They used to be management in some company. They're always huddling together and whispering, and their eyes aren't right! I suspect they've been bought off by some outside force or are planning an internal revolt!"

He embellished his observations and suspicions, his tone firm as if he already held conclusive evidence.

Lin Chen finally moved his gaze from the light screen to the "loyal and courageous" Zhang Hao.

"A suspicious group?" The corner of Lin Chen's mouth seemed to twitch slightly. "What do you think?"

Encouraged, Zhang Hao immediately straightened his back and said viciously, "If you ask me, it's better to kill the wrong people than let them go! Arrest them and interrogate them under torture! If all else fails, throw them all out to fend for themselves to eliminate the future trouble!"

His method was simple, crude, and full of the survival philosophy of a petty man in the apocalypse.

Lin Chen looked at him without speaking. Only the faint hum of the light screen's energy flow remained in the control room.

Zhang Hao became a bit flustered by the silence, thinking he had said something wrong. He quickly tried to fix it, "Of course... everything is up to the Master's decision! I just feel that any hidden danger that might threaten the Master cannot be left alone!"

After a moment, Lin Chen spoke slowly, his tone unreadable. "Watch them. If they really make a move, you know what to do."

He didn't adopt Zhang Hao's suggestion to "kill rather than let go," but he did default to his surveillance. This was a form of permission, as well as a test.

Zhang Hao instantly understood, as if injected with adrenaline. "Understood! Rest assured, Master! I guarantee I'll watch them like a hawk! Not even a fly will get past them to ruin things!"

He felt he had gained the Master's trust and was being put to important use. This feeling of being granted the power over life and death (even if it was just surveillance) made him tremble with excitement.

"Go then," Lin Chen waved his hand.

Zhang Hao bowed and backed out of the control room, his back straight. He felt his life's value had reached an unprecedented height. What was wrong with being a lackey? To be a lackey for a big shot like Lin Chen was a blessing many people couldn't get even if they begged for it!

He returned to the construction site, seeing everyone as a potential mole. He supervised even more vigorously, his bone whip whistling through the air amidst a storm of curses. Under his high-pressure rule, the people on the site dared not speak up, only working desperately.

What Zhang Hao didn't know was that after he left, Lin Chen pulled up the surveillance records of those so-called "suspicious elements" and simple background information purchased through the "Greedy Ghost." The results showed that those people were merely dissatisfied with Zhang Hao's tyranny and were complaining privately, perhaps harboring small thoughts about hiding some extra goods, but they had absolutely no connection to external forces.

Lin Chen closed the information, his face expressionless.

A vicious dog like Zhang Hao was handy to use, but he also needed to be beaten down occasionally to prevent him from biting the wrong person, or... biting back.

However, for now, his "self-cultivation as a lackey" was considered qualified. At least this eagerness to claim credit and clear out hidden dangers would save Lin Chen a lot of worry before the impending great battle.

"Report!" The phantom of a Yin Soldier Centurion materialized in the control room, its voice hoarse and low. "A suspicious group of survivors has been discovered operating in a ruin five kilometers southwest of the Fortress. Their behavior is secretive, and they seem to be... preparing some kind of ritual."

Lin Chen's gaze narrowed as he looked at the new location marked by the Yin Soldier on the light screen.

It seemed the real bait was about to be taken.