NOVEL NEXT Chapter 843: Caged Beasts
Lu Dahai had only asked a simple question.
Yet what he received in response was a vicious knee strike from the Muay Thai fighter Yamate.
Though Lu Dahai was physically strong, taking such a brutal hit from a professional fighter instantly bent him over like a shrimp, collapsing to the ground with agonized moans.
Zagu walked over, casually grabbing a stack of metal trays before smashing them down hard on Lu Dahai's head!
"BANG! CLANG!"
The impact split Lu Dahai's scalp open. Stars exploded before his eyes, his ears rang violently, and he nearly lost consciousness.
Zagu didn't stop, continuing to hammer down on his head with the trays!
There was no restraint in his actions - this was clearly attempted murder!
Hearing the commotion, Rong Lei and Yu Gang rushed out. Seeing Lu Dahai being beaten, they cursed loudly and charged forward.
But Ailuo De and Yamate intercepted them, immediately engaging in a fight.
Though the fishermen were physically capable, they were no match for professional fighters.
Especially when the stowaways' other allies joined in, fists and kicks raining down like a storm.
Soon all three brothers lay battered on the ground like beaten dogs, covered in injuries.
"Stop... stop this fighting!"
Someone finally gathered the courage to intervene.
"If this continues, you'll alert the upper decks!"
Only then did Zagu pause his assault.
He casually tossed the bloodied trays aside and spat on Lu Dahai's head.
Then, hands on hips, he arrogantly declared to the entire room:
"From today onward, new rules govern this deck."
"I'm in charge now. When food arrives, we eat first."
"Remember this - it's the law!"
Everyone had been thoroughly intimidated by the stowaways' violence.
Though furious inside, no one dared speak up against them now.
Zagu signaled to his men, who greedily seized two buckets of the best food.
One onlooker, intoxicated by this display of power, felt excitement bubbling within him - as if he too could now dominate everyone here.
He stepped forward to take more food for himself.
But Zagu shot him a cold warning glance, making him retreat sheepishly.
Still, they'd already seized twice their usual food share - enough for a full meal at last!
Zagu stepped over Lu Dahai's prone form and swaggered back to their room.
Not one of the hundred-plus people from surrounding cabins dared utter a word.
Only after the stowaways disappeared down the hallway did eyes turn to the remaining food.
Already scarce provisions had been further depleted by the stowaways' theft - there wouldn't be enough to go around now!
Previously, an unspoken agreement had prevented food hoarding.
But the rules had changed today - it was every man for himself now.
No one knew who moved first, but suddenly everyone surged toward the remaining food.
Roars, wails and violence flooded the corridor.
Lu Dahai and his brothers lay half-conscious until fellow fishermen risked their lives dragging them from the stampede.
Too afraid to challenge Zagu's gang, the refugees instead turned on each other in a vicious food brawl.
...
The Stowaway Gang.
None had expected today's operation to go so smoothly.
Twenty-some men had cowed over a hundred people!
They'd taken the best food, beaten resisters, and faced zero opposition!
Zagu sat on his bunk, eating heartily while his men enjoyed their first full meal in ages.
Their trust in Zagu deepened, solidifying their loyalty.
Ailuo De approached with his bowl, fawning: "Mr. Zagu, you were magnificent! Just your presence paralyzed them with fear."
Zagu smirked arrogantly:
"They're sheep! Show enough cruelty and they'll never resist."
He raised a fist. "In this world, survival depends on ferocity and brains! Even the largest sheep herd flees from a single lion."
"Then they graze happily after, just grateful it wasn't them getting eaten today."
The men nodded sagely.
The logic was simple, but how many could actually implement it?
The underling who'd tried taking extra food earlier asked:
"If we've already intimidated them, why leave any food behind?"
Zagu studied his men. Some seemed to understand, but most still clutched their stomachs - one meal couldn't erase months of starvation.
Hunger demanded more.
Zagu explained: "Never corner your prey completely. Even gangs leave escape routes."
"Because even sheep become unpredictable when desperate."
Then his expression turned cunning: "But leave them just enough hope... and they'll never dare challenge us!"
The men's faces lit up with realization.
"Mr. Zagu, you're a genius!"
"With you leading, we'll never go hungry again!"
"How fortunate we have such a wise leader!"
Zagu sat cross-legged, basking in their praise.
"But we can't get careless yet," he cautioned, gaze drifting upward as if seeing through the ceiling.
"The armed forces above remain beyond our reach for now."
"Avoid unnecessary deaths and major incidents."
"That way we'll survive until reaching our destination!"
Everything he did was a gamble.
Betting that Zhang Yi wouldn't interfere with minor lower-deck conflicts.
And Zagu was an excellent judge of character.
Zhang Yi had always maintained an indifferent attitude toward the ship's refugees.
Unless things escalated enough to annoy him, he clearly didn't care about lower-deck lives.
"Our fate lies in destiny's hands. For now, we must appear ruthless enough to command fear!"
Author's Note