The Meeting Room fell silent for a few seconds.
Pei Su leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest twice before he spoke. “Miss Su...”
“From the moment Terminal Station appeared until now, in just over a month, it has already gathered more than three thousand people.”
“That is three thousand people, not three thousand ants.”
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze meeting Su Wan’s directly as he let out a faint smile.
“An organization that can rapidly gather thousands of people on the edge of the Ruin Zone, a shelter that remains intact under artillery fire and suffers zero casualties during a Death Tide, a place that makes vagrants swarm and pariahs scramble to get in...”
“Miss Su, what do you think such an existence means for the political power and stability of Panshi City?”
Su Wan did not speak, simply watching him quietly.
Pei Su continued, his voice growing deeper.
“The City Lord of Panshi City has long been restless.”
“Anyone would feel panic seeing an uncontrolled, ungoverned, and ever-growing power emerge within their domain.”
He shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness.
“The series of measures the City Defense Force took against Terminal Station...”
“...are the normal reactions any regime would make when facing a potential threat.”
After listening, Su Wan nodded nonchalantly and then spoke.
“But Commander Pei, I have only provided shelter to some vagrants.”
“Those vagrants were struggling to survive in the Ruin Zone, with no residency, no identity, and no rights.”
“They lived by rummaging through trash and picking through scraps in the ruins just to linger on.”
She looked at Pei Su, her gaze calm and open.
“The existence of Terminal Station merely gives them a place where they can live.”
“How is that a threat?”
Pei Su’s brow furrowed slightly, but he did not speak.
Su Wan continued, “I have no ill will toward Panshi City, nor any intention of subverting the government or challenging authority.”
“I simply could not bear to watch those vagrants die and wanted to protect them.”
“Is that not a good thing?”
Pei Su’s gaze rested on Su Wan’s face, complex emotions churning in those eyes that commanded respect without anger.
Then, he smiled.
The smile was light and faint, carrying the gentleness of an elder looking at a junior.
“Miss Su, you have a point.”
Pei Su leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the table, his voice slowing down a fraction.
“But Panshi City has the rules of Panshi City.”
“Any power that wishes to survive and develop on this land must accept the jurisdiction of the City Defense Force.”
“Terminal Station is no exception.”
Su Wan’s brow twitched slightly, but she remained silent.
Pei Su continued, his voice growing more gentle and persuasive.
“Miss Su, how about this—”
“Incorporate Terminal Station Shelter into the City Defense Force as an agency under our banner.”
“In this way, Terminal Station becomes a part of Panshi City, and we become family...”
“The City Defense Force, along with all the factions in Panshi City, will no longer act against Terminal Station.”
“Not only will we not interfere with Terminal Station’s development, but we will also provide resources and assign capable subordinates to assist you in managing and growing the station...”
He paused, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Of course, no matter how Terminal Station develops, you will always be its master.”
“If you are willing, I can make you the third Vice Commander of the Panshi City Defense Force.”
“Your status would be equal to Zhuang Heng’s.”
He reached out and pointed toward Zhuang Heng.
Zhuang Heng stood solemnly, his face expressionless.
Pei Su withdrew his hand, his gaze landing on Su Wan’s face. “Miss Su, what do you think?”
The Meeting Room fell into a hush.
Su Wan was not surprised by Pei Su’s words.
Before coming here, she had already considered this possibility.
Faced with an uncontrollable power, the City Defense Force would either eliminate it entirely or bring it under their wing.
If elimination was too difficult, then recruitment was the only path left.
However, Su Wan was somewhat puzzled; she knew Pei Su could not be a fool.
He had to know that even if she agreed, it would likely be duplicitous or a temporary compromise to stabilize the City Defense Force.
He couldn't have failed to consider the consequences if she wasn't truly loyal.
A Level 4 Ability User with ulterior motives who also held a certain amount of power would be a ticking time bomb within the City Defense Force.
It could explode at any time, potentially blowing the entire City Defense Force headquarters to the sky.
Pei Su would not take that risk.
So what exactly was the source of his confidence that he could make her obey him?
What made him think he could control an Ability User of the same rank?
Su Wan’s gaze lingered on the middle-aged woman for a moment before withdrawing.
She looked at Pei Su and smiled faintly. “Commander Pei, your proposal sounds quite good.”
Pei Su’s brow moved slightly, a faint light flashing in his eyes.
“But...” Su Wan changed the subject. “I have one small condition.”
“Please, speak.”
Su Wan leaned back in her chair, looking Pei Su directly in the eye, her voice calm.
“I want control of the Outer City.”
“From this day forward, the entire Outer City belongs to my jurisdiction.”
The air in the Meeting Room froze in that instant.
Zhuang Heng’s pupils constricted violently, a look of disbelief flashing across his face.
If the Outer City was given to Su Wan, then what about him?
He opened his mouth to say something but was stopped by Pei Su raising a hand.
Pei Su turned his head, gave Zhuang Heng a cool look, and waved his hand slightly, signaling for him to leave first.
Zhuang Heng’s expression changed. “Commander Pei...”
“Get out,” Pei Su interrupted Zhuang Heng, his voice cold.
Zhuang Heng’s face flushed red, but in the end, he did not dare say more. He turned and walked out of the Reception Room.
Pei Su turned back and gave Su Wan a slight smile. “Miss Su, please continue.”
Su Wan nodded and went on. “Everything within the entire Outer City must be decided by me.”
She paused and added, “Of course, the City Defense Force’s garrison in the Outer City can remain, but they must also follow my deployment.”
“The commander of the garrison will be appointed by me.”
“The taxes of the Outer City will be collected by me.”
“The security of the Outer City will be managed by me.”
“The judiciary of the Outer City will be decided by me.”
As she finished speaking word by word, the Meeting Room fell into a deathly silence.
Pei Su leaned back, his fingers having stopped their tapping. He was as still as a stone statue.
After a long silence, Pei Su finally spoke, his voice raspy.
“Miss Su, do you know that the Cold Wave is arriving in three or four hours?”
Su Wan did not speak, only watching him quietly.
Pei Su continued, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
“Many of the pariahs in the Outer City have not yet been able to enter the public shelters, nor have they stored enough supplies.”
“Right now, it is the busiest and most chaotic time.”
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