Chapter 312: Quarrel and Choice

When Lin Yifan approached, the two arguing people stopped immediately.

They looked at him with a mix of shame and anticipation.

Although they knew clearly that their current actions could easily anger Lin Yifan.

Lin Yifan said nothing, merely fixing his cold gaze on the two.

Soon, one of the yellow‑haired youths, unable to hold it in any longer, shouted with a grievance‑filled face:

"Boss, this armor came from a chest I opened, so it rightfully belongs to me, but this guy insists on snatching it!"

The other was a middle‑aged man wearing glasses, looking refined, but now his face flushed with excitement as he shouted angrily:

"He's talking nonsense! Although this armor came from him, we had agreed earlier that I'd trade a black‑iron weapon for it, and now he's back‑tracking!"

The yellow‑haired youth sprang up instantly, his face also flushed as he shouted:

"What do you mean I'm back‑tracking? This armor is the one I obtained myself; I wouldn't exchange it with you even if I could. Besides, it's already mine. If I want to trade, I'll trade; if not, I won't."

"But you already promised earlier," the other retorted without relenting. "I trusted you so much before, thought you were someone I could confide in, only to find you're so untrustworthy."

"Either you honor the agreement and give me the armor, or you give me some compensation; otherwise I will never settle peacefully."

After speaking, he turned to Lin Yifan, shouting with an indignant face:

"Boss, please judge this. He's back‑tracking, and I want some compensation. Isn't that a reasonable request?"

For a moment, the two exchanged words back and forth, arguing so fiercely it became chaotic.

Everyone's gaze converged on Lin Yifan, awaiting his judgment. In that moment, he truly felt the weight of leadership.

Moreover, the solution to the matter at hand was obviously simple, yet everyone just watched, letting the two argue like this.

Is it that no one can resolve it?

Of course not; it's simply because everyone wants to enjoy the spectacle.

When there is no survival crisis, human hearts become this bored.

At this moment, Lin Yifan understood the nature of "human heart" even more deeply.

However, the farce cannot continue, or it will only become harder to resolve.

Lin Yifan inhaled deeply, reached to rub his temples, and coldly interrupted:

"Enough. It's just this small matter; what's there to argue about?"

He then turned to the back‑tracking yellow‑haired one, saying irritably:

"Since you promised them and now back‑track, this is entirely your fault. A simple apology would suffice; what's there to make a fuss about?"

The yellow‑haired man honestly softened at once upon hearing this, apologizing to the other:

"Fine! I admit my word was unreliable, but I truly cannot trade this armor to you; it's too vital for survival."

However, the middle‑aged man persisted, "Is a single apology enough? You deceived my feelings; this cannot just be settled like that."

"Let those who can be forgiven be forgiven!" Lin Yifan, looking at the stubborn middle‑aged man, said coolly with a hint of impatience:

"Your agreement was merely verbal—no deposit, no contract. Now you demand compensation; that's being unreasonable, isn't it?"

Though that may seem unfair to the middle‑aged man, the fact remains as such.

He gave no deposit, signed no contract, and never enlisted a third party as witness; his being reneged upon is entirely his own fault.

Naturally, the middle‑aged man was indignant, his face instantly turning angry as he roared at Lin Yifan:

"Lin Yifan, I still thought you were a decent person; how can you defend someone so untrustworthy?"

"Yes, I didn't give a deposit, but a verbal agreement is still an agreement, right? How can it be dismissed..."

"Then you two fight it out!"

Lin Yifan waved his hand and said coldly:

"This world is inherently a law of the jungle; strength of the fist is the hard truth. The best way to resolve a dispute is to fight."

"If you both harbor such resentment toward each other, then have a proper fight. Once it's done, this issue will be entirely over, agreed?"

At these words, everyone's face showed astonishment.

Although they'd been in this world for half a month, the habits ingrained from living under a rule-of-law society cannot be altered in just a day or two.

Lin Yifan's suggestion to settle it with fists was, in fact, the best solution for the current situation.

However, both the yellow‑haired man and the middle‑aged man, after a brief daze, promptly stood up dejectedly and squeezed back into the crowd, showing no intention of a physical fight.

That made Lin Yifan stare in disbelief, furrowing his brows as he said:

"Weren't you both just fighting for your lives a moment ago? How come you now seem unwilling?"

But the two remained silent, while the onlookers burst into laughter, clearly having predicted this outcome.

Lin Yifan, helpless, could only raise his voice:

"We are united, yet when it comes to interests, everyone harbors their own scheming; even I am no different."

"But petty thoughts aside, when genuine danger looms, we cannot afford such divisions; we must unite to survive."

"Therefore, I set a rule here today: whenever we gather in the future, we must obey this rule. What do you all think?"

The crowd, hearing this, responded in chorus:

"Of course no problem; without rules there is no order, and we should have rules from the start."

"Lin Yifan, the boss, is our acknowledged leader; I am willing to follow the boss."

"Without rules, chaos will only grow, and perhaps one day we'll fall apart; so I also agree to establish rules."

Although a small fraction remained silent, the majority maintained a positive attitude.

This made Lin Yifan feel gratified; he slowly rose, speaking clearly and firmly:

"Very well! Since everyone agrees, I will now announce a few basic rules."

Lin Yifan looked around at the crowd, his voice steady and strong—

"First, all supplies obtained jointly by the groups shall be turned over to the team for unified distribution, but the items you take out of your personal box are mainly for you to handle yourself; you may resell, trade, or exchange them, but you must absolutely not loot, otherwise death without mercy."