I Am the Protagonist 09

Fang Zhiyi kept his word, handing over the supplies to the two individuals in front of everyone. He noticed the expressions of regret on some faces.

"Now you see? Violence only makes people submit out of fear. But when you control the resources, they'll make the right choice themselves," Fang Zhiyi remarked casually.

Li Si watched his retreating figure, feeling a renewed sense of dread in his heart.

Back in his office, someone was already waiting.

Qin Weiwei stared at Fang Zhiyi—this supposedly simple and honest man she had "picked up" had now become the de facto ruler of the base!

"Before you speak, think carefully. One wrong word, and you're finished," Fang Zhiyi warned.

Qin Weiwei opened her mouth but closed it again. She hadn't eaten in three days, surviving only on scraps of leftover snacks. Hunger constantly reminded her that the base had changed.

"I... I want food," Qin Weiwei finally said. "Don’t forget, I was the one who brought you here."

"Fourth Brother, show her out," Fang Zhiyi ordered.

Without a word, Li Si stepped forward to push Qin Weiwei toward the door.

"Fang Zhiyi!" she snapped, unable to hold back. "How dare you treat me like this!"

Fang Zhiyi looked at her. "Fourth Brother, don’t be gentle. This is the apocalypse—no need for courtesy."

A flicker of flame sparked in Qin Weiwei’s hand as she tried to summon fire, but only a feeble wisp emerged.

"What’s this? Cosplaying a lighter?" Fang Zhiyi mocked.

Li Si shoved her out roughly.

Five days passed. Some tried to escape but returned soon after—the surrounding area had been stripped bare, vehicles were useless, and without food or water, they had no choice. But escape attempts meant punishment.

The fugitives felt the malice of their former comrades.

That night, violence erupted—two escapees were beaten half to death.

The food distributors continued to withhold rations from the superpowered individuals. They had realized that without enough food, these once-powerful figures were nothing. Previously, the superhumans had at least been fed enough to function, but now they barely had enough to stave off hunger, leaving them weak and powerless.

Qin Weiwei sought out Fang Zhiyi again, this time with her head bowed low.

Pleased, Fang Zhiyi made her Li Si’s assistant, offering terms that excited her.

"From today onward, your sister, Qin Xue, and Wang Wei’s work and rations are under your control."

As time passed, the base transformed completely. Ordinary people, now granted authority by Fang Zhiyi, reveled in their newfound privileges—some even took revenge on old enemies.

Fang Zhiyi didn’t intervene. He pretended not to see.

Lu Jingxiao was dragged out to labor, while Qin Xue, under Qin Weiwei’s watchful eye, was forced into menial tasks. Even Wang Wei, with his broken leg, was hauled out by Qin Weiwei. Qin Xue kept preaching morality and propriety to her sister.

For the first time, Qin Weiwei slapped her—twice. No one stopped her. No one even glanced their way.

Qin Xue’s eyes filled with disbelief, but Qin Weiwei trembled with exhilaration. Was this the thrill of power? Her mindset twisted further.

Li Si was in awe of Fang Zhiyi. Against all odds, Fang Zhiyi had seized complete control of the base simply by monopolizing the supplies.

But tensions simmered, divisions growing clearer.

Some betrayed former comrades for scraps of food, while others, now part of the privileged class, oppressed the weak. The once-mighty superhumans had become the underclass.

Even Lu Jingxiao faced betrayal.

When he tried to escape, someone reported him. The patrol burst in, beat him savagely, and threw him into confinement.

As they dragged him away, he saw his former right-hand man receiving supplies from Fang Zhiyi. Their eyes met—the man looked uneasy but hurried off.

Despair filled Lu Jingxiao. Were these really his allies?

The base functioned in a bizarre, self-sustaining chaos. Fang Zhiyi didn’t interfere, instead delegating power to Qin Weiwei and the other overseers, who grew bolder with each test of their authority.

Then, one night, Fang Zhiyi suddenly called Li Si and left.

Before departing, he handed Qin Weiwei a stash of supplies, putting her in temporary charge.

She nodded eagerly, eyes alight with excitement.

"I have a feeling you’re not coming back," Li Si said as they stepped outside.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him. "Fourth Brother, you’re finally catching on." He summoned a car from his spatial storage.

"But the base—"

"That dump? Let someone else deal with it."

The oppressed masses saw a glimmer of hope—the walking time bomb was gone! But reality quickly doused their optimism. Fang Zhiyi had left, yet nothing changed.

Under Qin Weiwei’s leadership, the overseers maintained the same brutal system—worse, even. Stupid and selfish by nature, Qin Weiwei now indulged in royal treatment.

When Qin Xue saw Fang Zhiyi leave, she tried reasoning with her sister again. "Weiwei, you can’t keep doing this. If we unite now, we can take back the base—"

Qin Weiwei, nibbling on chocolate, shot her a sidelong glare.

Qin Xue pressed on. "Release Jingxiao. You can’t just think of yourself—"

"Guards! Drag her out and beat her mouth!"

Qin Xue froze, staring in disbelief.

Qin Weiwei met her gaze. "You think you can order me around? Drop the big-sister act. Remember—we don’t share the same father."

As Qin Xue was hauled away, she couldn’t understand what had twisted her sister so badly. The sound of strikes outside only made Qin Weiwei’s grin grow more deranged.

Later, Qin Weiwei strolled into Lu Jingxiao’s cell, hands clasped behind her back. Gazing at the man she once admired, she felt a perverse satisfaction.

"Now you belong to me completely."

After Fang Zhiyi’s departure, the base descended into further chaos. The overseers grew harsher, beating subordinates at will. Rations dwindled. To secure her position, Qin Weiwei even executed several superhumans who defied her.

Finally, rebellion erupted. With Fang Zhiyi’s stockpile nearly exhausted, the overseers cut off the lower ranks’ rations to feed themselves. The starving masses revolted—outnumbered but desperate.