14: Chapter 14 Barbecue Party in the Apocalypse

Night fell, and the light of the blood moon filtered through the energy barrier above the Fortress, casting an ominous dark red glow. Outside the Fortress, the roars of Bizarre Monsters rose and fell in succession, sounding like a never-ending symphony of death.

However, within the core living area of the Fortress, wisps of... enticing roasted meat aroma wafted through the air.

"Sizzle—!"

Skewers of marbled meat glistened with oil as they roasted over glowing red charcoal. The scent of cumin and chili powder blended with the aroma of the meat, dominantly invading everyone's nostrils. Several long tables pushed together were laden with foods that were considered absolute luxuries in the apocalypse: cases of canned goods, dehydrated vegetables, and even several plates of impossibly fresh fruit! Stacked nearby were cases of beer and soda.

This was the barbecue party Lin Chen had ordered to be held.

The newly joined survivors looked at everything before them with eyes full of disbelief and trepidation. Their hands trembled as they held the meat skewers and beer they had been given. They ate as if they wanted to lick the skewers clean, yet their eyes darted around constantly, filled with vigilance, as if a Bizarre Monster might pounce from the shadows at any second, or Lin Chen might suddenly change his mind and throw them out to feed the monsters.

The atmosphere was as stiff as a funeral.

In contrast, the group of "old employees" led by Zhang Hao presented an entirely different scene.

"Hahaha! Refreshing! How long has it been since I've tasted this stuff!" Zhang Hao took a huge swig of beer directly from the bottle, wiped his mouth, and grabbed several meat skewers, eating until his face was covered in grease, completely disregarding his image. He even patted the shoulder of a nervous newcomer with his greasy hand. "Relax! Brother! In the Master's territory, it's safe as can be! Eat! Everyone fucking eat! If you don't eat your fill, how will you have the strength to work? How will you have the strength to kill those sons of bitches Bizarre Monsters!"

His shout, combined with his reckless demeanor, finally loosened the rigid atmosphere of the scene slightly.

Su Qingyu did not join the revelry. Holding a glass of plain water, she sat quietly in a slightly distant corner, observing the scene. The food in front of her was simple, but she ate with composure. After the shocks and reflections of the day, she seemed to have quickly adapted to the survival laws of the Fortress. She noticed several newcomers secretly and carefully hiding unfinished meat skewers in their clothes. She only glanced at them and did not speak up to stop them. As long as they didn't violate the core rules, she could tolerate such small actions.

Lin Chen sat in the main seat. He hadn't touched much of the food in front of him, instead slowly sipping from a can of beer. He looked at the clearly divided groups of people below, his eyes carrying a detached observation and a hint of amusement.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

He used extreme luxury and relaxation to wash away the fear brought by his display of authority during the day. Simultaneously, within this relaxation, he further solidified the social hierarchy, letting the newcomers see clearly who the core members were and who needed to work hard to fit in.

"Mas... Master!" Zhang Hao was clearly drunk. He wobbled over to Lin Chen, his face flushed and neck red. With a thud, he dropped to one knee and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "I, Zhang Hao! My life was given by you! From now on, if you point east, I'll never go west! If you tell me to bite someone, I'll fucking bite them to death! If I even blink an eye, I, Zhang Hao, am a son of a bitch!"

His sudden declaration of loyalty caused the noisy scene to fall silent instantly. Everyone turned to look.

Lin Chen looked down at him, swirled the beer can in his hand, and said in a flat tone, "Remember what you said."

"I must remember it! Carve it into my bones!" Zhang Hao thumped his chest repeatedly. Then, as if remembering something, he snapped his head around and glared viciously at the newcomers. "You all better fucking listen up! In the Fortress, the Master is the heavens! If anyone dares to have second thoughts, the Master won't even need to lift a finger—I, Zhang Hao, will be the first to tear them apart alive!"

As his fierce gaze swept over them, the newcomers lowered their heads in fear, and the meat skewers in their hands no longer tasted as good.

"That's enough," Lin Chen waved his hand. "Continue."

Only then did Zhang Hao scramble up with a silly grin and rush back into the crowd to resume his gluttony.

Under the influence of alcohol and food, the party atmosphere finally grew warmer. Seeing that the "old employees" were truly relaxed and that the Yin Soldiers were merely patrolling quietly in the distance with no signs of trouble, the newcomers gradually lowered some of their guard. They began to talk in low voices, and some even showed the smiles of those who had survived a disaster.

Qin Weiwei was also mingled in the crowd, eating small bites of food with a perfectly measured smile of someone fitting into the collective. However, from the corner of her eye, she constantly glanced toward Lin Chen, as well as the silent Yin Soldiers and the Fortress's defensive facilities further away.

She was sneering in her heart. Revelry? It was nothing more than a last supper before death. Once the Cult's army arrived, everything here would be reduced to scorched earth! She even saw some newcomers getting drunk and starting to throw their arms around each other's shoulders like brothers, which filled her heart with even more contempt. Stupid swine, they don't even realize death is imminent.

Just then, from the perimeter of the Fortress, an extremely sharp and high-pitched screech of a Bizarre Monster suddenly rang out! The sound seemed to resonate directly on a soulful level, carrying a strong mental pollution that caused several drinking newcomers to grab their ears and crouch down in pain.

The joyful atmosphere froze instantly!

Fear appeared on everyone's faces. Their gazes shot toward the source of the sound, then instinctively looked toward Lin Chen.

Even Zhang Hao put down his beer bottle, his eyes becoming alert.

Only Lin Chen didn't even lift an eyelid. He simply picked up a walkie-talkie (an apocalyptic version exchanged from the system) and said calmly, "Too noisy. Deal with it."

After a moment of silence.

"BOOM!!!"

A violent explosion suddenly erupted in the distance outside the Fortress, accompanied by a tooth-grinding sound of something being torn apart. That sharp screeching stopped abruptly.

Everything returned to "silence," leaving only the occasional crackle of the charcoal fire.

Outside the control room, the phantom of a Yin Soldier Centurion slowly materialized, bowed slightly toward Lin Chen's direction, and then dissipated.

Only then did Lin Chen look up at the stunned crowd below and raise his beer can.

"Continue."

Two understated words, yet they carried more impact than any grand speech.

Looking at Lin Chen, the fear in the newcomers' eyes was gradually replaced by a more complex emotion—it was shock, it was awe, and even... a hint of fanaticism!

In such an apocalypse, how fortunate it was to follow a powerhouse who could make a formidable Bizarre Monster vanish into thin air while chatting and laughing!

The party atmosphere resumed once more, becoming even more heated and... more reassuring than before.

Su Qingyu watched this scene and took a small sip of water.

She understood completely now.

Lin Chen didn't need anyone's sympathy or understanding.

He only needed absolute obedience and... usefulness.

And she would work hard to become the latter.