NOVEL NEXT Chapter 832: Panic Among the People
As soon as Li Zongyu entered the room, he spoke with mixed emotions:
"Mr. Zhang's methods were too harsh. Now I'm starting to question whether seeking help from the Jiangnan Region was the right decision."
He sat on the edge of the bed with a complicated expression.
Zhang Weiwei approached and hugged him from behind to comfort him. "This isn't your fault. If we'd stayed on that island, we wouldn't have survived another month."
Meanwhile, Ma Wenzheng stood with his arms crossed and calmly stated:
"Although his methods are quite severe, I don't believe he's a bad person."
Hearing their spiritual leader speak, everyone in the room looked up at him.
Ma Wenzheng shrugged and seriously analyzed for the group:
"Actually, the world beyond Rockflow Island is even crueler. People have to pay a much higher price just to survive."
"In such an environment, those who manage to live can't afford to be soft-hearted."
"As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. His strict management isn't unreasonable. At least he's provided us with food and decent living conditions."
After Ma Wenzheng's analysis, everyone nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved.
However, Zhang Weiwei held a different opinion.
Frowning, she said, "But I still think taking personal grudges out on an entire group went too far."
"Yamada Masami committed serious crimes, so his punishment was justified. But the other two were truly innocent."
Ma Wenzheng shook his head helplessly.
"In an avalanche, no single snowflake is innocent. Everything follows the cycle of karma and retribution."
"Though I couldn't do it myself, I can understand his actions."
Ma Wenzheng's meaning was clear.
Those two were pitiful, but what about the billions who died in the apocalypse?
What about the tens of thousands of Huaxu Kingdom citizens who survived the apocalypse only to be killed by the Moon of Corrosion?
In chaotic times, compassion requires strength as its foundation.
...
In the room where White Mo and others stayed.
This room mainly housed foreigners, including several overseas Chinese.
White Mo had fainted from fear when confronted by Zhang Yi and was carried back by others.
After waking up, he kept muttering: "Oh, my God!"
Terrified, he feared he might end up like Yamada Masami - thrown into the sea to become an ice statue.
"This is too horrible, everything is too horrible!" White Mo groaned, clutching his head.
Eisenmann, sleeping opposite him, quickly made a silencing gesture, then glanced meaningfully at the others and the door.
White Mo suddenly realized.
After Che Haicheng betrayed the two Neon Pirates from the Rockflow Group, fear spread among the ship's foreigners.
Showing dissatisfaction with Zhang Yi or the crew might get reported.
He hastily covered his mouth, then after a long pause, deliberately declared loudly:
"Mr. Zhang's actions were completely justified! Actually, I've always hated Neon Pirates - they deserved to die long ago!"
Eisenmann chimed in: "We firmly support all decisions made by our captain!"
Once these two spoke up, the others quickly followed suit, each trying to outdo the others in proclaiming loyalty.
Because Che Haicheng might be eavesdropping outside.
Or anyone in this room could report them.
Che Haicheng chose this moment to push the door open, his face full of mockery at the scene before him.
"My, my, when did you all become so ideologically enlightened?"
"Too bad," he closed the door behind him, "they're not here to hear your declarations."
His fleshy face wore a smirk as his cold gaze swept across them.
"From now on, I am Mr. Zhang's representative. I suggest you refrain from inappropriate remarks, especially about him or the other officers."
An icy chill ran down everyone's spine, making them shrink instinctively.
...
After Yamada Masami and the two other Neon Pirates were thrown overboard, Che Haicheng came running to see Zhang Yi the next day.
Those from lower decks needed permission from guards to go upstairs.
Given Che Haicheng's previous meritorious reporting, the guard agreed to notify Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi opened the door and asked what the guard wanted.
The guard said: "That New Rohan guy wants to see you. Looks like he's hoping to curry favor by reporting someone again!"
A mocking smile appeared on Zhang Yi's lips.
This dog was quite skilled at biting his own people.
"And that's not all. Since last night, several people have secretly come to report on others."
"Captain, they seem to have strong opinions about you behind your back. Should we... deal with them?"
The guard made a cutting gesture.
Zhang Yi glanced at him indifferently.
"Back when I had an office job, colleagues would curse management daily, threatening to quit."
"Yet five years later, the same people were still there, greeting bosses like devoted sons."
"People's words behind backs are always the worst. Even best friends talk trash about each other, let alone strangers!"
Crossing his arms, Zhang Yi said coolly: "I hate this culture. Tell them not to bother me with trivial matters."
The guard nodded thoughtfully.
"Then... what counts as important matters?"
"Hmm..."
Zhang Yi actually chuckled at the question.
Truthfully, nothing really qualified as "important" to him anymore.
With absolute power, ordinary people's actions were just amusing spectacles.
"You decide."
Zhang Yi waved him off.
The guard scratched his head and left, only partially understanding.
The failed informant Che Haicheng was frustrated.
He'd hoped to gain Zhang Yi's trust through reporting, climbing the ship's hierarchy to become a privileged figure.
This tactic had served him well among New Rohan's elite.
Unfortunately, the Golden Edge's supreme ruler didn't appreciate such methods.
By suppressing this culture of mutual reporting, Zhang Yi actually improved his image among people like Ma Wenzheng and Li Zongyu.
Regardless of their views on his previous actions, this incident showed Zhang Yi wasn't one to play power games or manipulate hearts.
Author's Note