Chapter 101: Who Agrees? Who Opposes?

In the meeting room, the crowd anxiously looked toward Lin An at the highest seat.

Zhang Tie and Jing Tian stood side by side on the flanks, while Mo Ling, Wen Ya, Liu Shiming, and Gao Tian sat in a row before the meeting room.

Seeing everyone present, Lin An slightly nodded to signal.

With about twenty-two hours left until the spiritual energy core's construction is complete, he decided to avoid wasting time and, starting today, begin reforming the institute's system.

"I don't like wasting words."

As everyone watched Lin An speak in a clear, cold tone, they instinctively leaned in to listen; Huang Zheng and others even pulled out notebooks to record what he would say.

"First, the institute's original council system is abolished; from today, the safe zone can have only one voice!"

"My will is the will of the safe zone!"

It's not that Lin An loves power; in the Doomsday Game, a system of endless debate merely wastes time, and half‑day arguments yield no result.

In my past life, many universities and some safe zones adopted voting and discussion; the result was only delayed operations, endless bickering, and utter uselessness.

Moreover, people tend to consider their own interests, leading to decisions that are short‑sighted.

Hearing Lin An speak this way, those present were not particularly surprised.

After all, they had already braced themselves for this.

"Second, effective immediately we institute martial control. All supplies will be distributed as needed, and everyone must turn in all food for unified distribution."

Upon saying this, quite a few people became dissatisfied,

but, awed by Lin An's authority, they dared only to whisper their complaints, not daring to show them too openly.

Some stronger Awakened Ones, during this period, gathered considerable supplies when they went out.

Feeling these things were theirs, many would privately trade with other students—exchanging a can of food or water for a night with a female student was not uncommon.

In the face of hunger, former restraint had been completely cast aside.

Some even worse would deliberately withhold food, coercing the girls they liked into voluntarily offering themselves.

Ordinary students lacked the ability to go out foraging, and the institute's cafeteria had long been picked clean.

This situation is not yet severe, but if it continues, Awakened Ones could hoard large amounts of supplies while ordinary people starve to death.

Although in the apocalypse the strong reign, being unable to survive starvation is also survival of the fittest.

But for Lin An, having learned the bloody lessons of past‑life safe zones, he wishes even more to build a system where everyone is a soldier.

Ordinary people can likewise become Awakened Ones.

Seeing the crowd's displeasure, Lin An unhesitatingly released his psychic power; a mighty mental pressure, like a sickle, pressed upon everyone's hearts.

"The deadline for turning in food is three days; after three days, if anyone is found hoarding and refusing to turn it in,"

"Kill without pardon."

"Iron‑blooded, ruthless."

"There's no lesser penalty—it's a one‑step sentence: fail to turn it in, and you die."

Upon hearing this, even the dissatisfied Awakened Ones could only abandon the thought of private hoarding.

Lin An nodded at the sight; he had no time and was too lazy to reason with or persuade them.

Food is the foundation of the safe zone's existence; it must be wholly controlled and grasped in his hands.

In the second row of the meeting room, Huang Zheng, seeing a gap, suddenly rose to speak:

"Please don't hold any grudge against Lord Lin An over this matter."

"I also know that this food and supplies were desperately wrested from the mouths of zombies by all of us."

"But I can tell you this: not long ago, Lord Lin An placed his unit's supplies into the academy's warehouse."

"Among them: 3,717 cans of luncheon meat, 992 individual combat rations..."

As the numbers kept being revealed, the players on site were stunned.

Compared to their little hoards, the amount of food Lin An gave the institute equals or exceeds their total combined!

Combining favor and authority, Lin An also had no intention of hoarding supplies.

After all, the entire safe zone is his; putting it anywhere makes no difference.

The pace quickened; Lin An signaled Jing Tian to step forward and arrange the next provision.

"Third, Linjiang Academy will be renamed Long'an Base, and all Awakened Ones will be divided into three departments."

"The Patrol Department: responsible for base security and internal safety tasks, with four Awakened Ones each coordinating twenty ordinary students. The department totals eighty people, and I will serve as Patrol Squad Leader."

"The Combat Department: responsible for external operations, clearing zombies and completing combat missions, with twenty Awakened Ones each leading one hundred ordinary students. The department totals two thousand people, and Zhang Tie will serve as Combat Squad Leader."

Before Jing Tian could finish, several Awakened Ones couldn't help but voice their doubts:

"Um, Squad Leader Jing Tian. By that calculation, our academy has only over two thousand people—doesn't that mean female students must also join the Combat Department?"

"They're just ordinary people, many from the arts college and dance department. Isn't that arrangement a bit inappropriate?"

Jing Tian's face remained expressionless as he spoke in a low voice:

"First, you should thank the speaker for being me. If it were Squad Leader Lin speaking, you'd already be dead for obstructing the meeting."

"I've made myself perfectly clear; you need not raise any objections—just focus on carrying out your duties well!"

"Second, what about women? As long as they're human, they're players. Starting today, everyone will undergo militarized training, guaranteeing that each person possesses combat ability!"

"The safe zone will support no useless person! Except that the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled who cannot move may be considered case‑by‑case."

The meeting room fell silent; everyone realized that the academy... would undergo a transformation from today onward.

The Awakened Ones who had earlier questioned now fell silent at once, merely feeling a hint of disdain inside.

No matter how much ordinary people train, they're still just cannon fodder; Lin An's idea is merely a waste of effort.

Even if everyone became special forces, what then?

Without Awakened Ones surpassing human physical limits, once more than ten zombies surround you, even a war king must kneel!

Jing Tian paid no heed to those people's thoughts; the specific details had already been discussed with Lin An.

The last department is the Logistics Management Department, headed by Wen Ya as team leader, mainly responsible for material distribution, arrangement of non-combat personnel, base construction, etc. All survivors not belonging to the first two major departments are merged into this department.

The original school management were shocked upon hearing this; it seemed Lin An intended to suppress them all and concentrate power completely.

However, as ordinary people, they didn't dare say anything.

Lin An not settling scores with them afterward was already the best news; merely thinking that he would later become like the students made him inevitably feel a bit disappointed.

"That's all for the academy personnel assignments; next..."

Inside the Meeting Room, a rarely seen First Level Awakened One, who appeared to be a player from the Institute of Technology, suddenly raised their hand.

Having learned from past mistakes, this time they didn't dare interrupt the meeting proceedings.

"Lord Jing Tian, we have something to say."

An Jing Tian furrowed his brow slightly and nodded to indicate.

"I want to ask, in the future, will the heads of all departments of Long'an Base all be from your squad?"

"Do our people have no management authority at all? This isn't appropriate, is it?"

Fang Lin, a First Level Awakened One, voiced some dissatisfaction, and the Awakened Ones from the Institute of Technology behind them also couldn't help but echo.

In their view, it's understandable that the Combat Department is monopolized by members of Lin An's squad, after all, they are the strongest.

But when it comes to other positions,

These are all real-power departments, full of benefits!

"Yeah, I used to be the Logistics Department head; if we keep going like this, we'll end up like privates."

"You can't possibly have all the positions in your hands, can you?!"

As the college with the most Awakened Ones survivors, seven Awakened Ones immediately raised doubts.

Other Awakened Ones, seeing them act as the whistleblowers, couldn't help but join in as their thoughts shifted.

This isn't considered disobeying orders; how could it not be a reasonable request? After all, when An Jing Tian first discussed cooperation, he had said they would share management.

"Oh?"

"You? Us?"

The voice was abrupt and icy.

Lin An calmly looked at the crowd that had spoken out, his mental power locking onto Fang Lin as he asked softly.

"Who.."

"Is it you?"

Like a cold blade piercing the back.

Fang Lin struggled to move his throat; although Lin An appeared calm, he felt as if facing a prehistoric beast, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

What did I say wrong?

Fang Lin felt he was not wrong; thinking of the privileges he once enjoyed at the college about to be lost, he couldn't help but feel resentful.

If he had no authority at all, who below would still serve him, fetching whatever he wanted?

Thinking of the girl who had been sent up by his subordinates a few days ago, a strong sense of unwillingness welled up in his heart.

Why should we all be privates? This is our college! Besides, I am at least a First Level Awakened One.

Even if I can't match Zhang Tie, my strength certainly wouldn't be worse than An Jing Tian, who hasn't made a move yet.

I thought I would be heavily relied upon, after all, the two Awakened Ones who had once suppressed me, Li Hua and Deng Lian, are already dead.

But I never expected to gain nothing at all.

The taste of power is like inhaling drugs.

Without time to think, he stiffened his neck and forced himself to answer.

"What I meant by 'you' refers to your squad..."

"Bang!"

Long-absent fireworks exploded, staining the just-cleaned ceiling with a splash of red and white.

Large splatters of exploded blood sprayed onto the faces of nearby Awakened Ones, who dared not wipe it away.

Lin An casually lowered his right hand, his tone calm.

"Without you."

"Only us."

"Today's meeting ends here."

"Who agrees?"

"Who opposes?"

The entire venue fell silent.

In an instant, everyone recalled the fear Lin An's first strike had instilled in them.