May Peace Grace Us

Chapter 43: Her base

On the tenth day of the apocalypse, they finally arrived at the vicinity of the property of Justines. After some hiccups here and there, something in them has changed fundamentally and they are more or less adapted to the changed world. Something Aila was more than thankful for.

The whole property was walled after she had hired an outside company to do the construction. During the time Aila was not allowed by her parents to get out, she spent the time strengthening the defense of their base as much as she could. Now the whole area is like a huge fortress complete with watch towers and the likes.

Aila initially did not plan to make it fortress-like. But a single pile or something for a wall does not assure her. Lavishly using her wealth, she demanded the company she contracted to finish the construction in four months. To make it possible, she did not hesitate to add the budget to add more manpower for them to catch up with the schedule.

Though part of the walls were in fact already under construction during the third month of her return, the construction company was clever enough to incorporate the already done wall with the design they had on hand. Aila did not know the principles they used, but she was satisfied with the results. The issue of its durability was not in her mind as she had plans on how to fortify it later.

“You've outdone yourself this time around.” Albert whistled as they disembarked from the RVs. “Though we did give designs, we actually did not think you could make it possible.”

“I strive to deliver.” Aila cheekily smiled as she said that.

Cindy, the one who let them into the property, was already waiting for Aila to convey her instructions. Her army of servants were by her side, ready for whatever they were commanded with. Though the stronger servants went to close the gates.

“Young miss,” Cindy addressed her, as she motioned Aila to one side.

Aila nodded at her and told her parents and friends to head first to the villa. She has something to deal with first. Telling them that she will be there after she is done.

“Were the unruly ones properly detained?” Aila said as she followed Cindy’s lead to the area she had specially told to be a detention area. The troublemakers during the time they were travelling were placed there as instructed.

The troublemakers were 18 in total, all around 15-26 in age. Young people who have too many brain cells to waste, in Aila’s opinion. Though some of them are already way past their twenties, it does not change Aila labelling them as youngsters, what reasonable adults go and do the uncertain before weighing the pros and cons. She does not doubt them trying to own this place because of the pits in their heads. After all, young people are relatively known to be so imaginative, while the man-children were all just waiting for something to let loose all their fantasies. Seeing how hostile the world has become, they impulsively let out their darker thoughts.

“Yes miss this way” Cindy said as she opened the door where the people were detained. “They are all resistant to confinement, but they are all subdued using the method you told us. Especially those who want to gain control of us during the time of chaos.”

Aila only hummed in agreement and did not speak more. The people inside the detention have finally noticed her existence and they began screaming at her for illegally detaining them. How it is a crime and how they will sue her for doing so. Funny enough, their tone was unpleasant enough that suggested that everything was in their favor.

“Are you all done?” Aila said as their excitement was starting to calm down. “Seeing how you ended up here, you should be aware that the world is no longer as it was. All these threats you spew are useless. And if I kill you, no human rights organization can criticize me nor is there any judicial system willing to take your case.”

The people in question felt cold as they heard it. They were originally fierce and became ambitious when some of them had unexplainably gained a supernatural power. Not to mention they have especially seen zombies among them. Stories and movies they had read and seen came to mind and the idea of making this place as this base took root.

At first, they did not act and only observed the situation. They were originally just people brought over by the people who originally worked in this place. In-laws’ children who were brought over out of the good will of others. So they did not know who the owner of this place was and were cautious in the early days.

But when they heard that the owner was not around and was delayed on the road. Their hands became itchy and their hearts pumped with dark blood. In just one night, they tried to take over the whole place.

Only that they did not expect the servants of this place to be so capable. Swift like thunder, they easily subdued them. Especially from the female servant who came this time, using her ability with the wind, temporarily taking away an element in the wind, she made the majority of them faint in just one movement.

For days now they are here in this isolated place without any contact with the people outside. They thought about threatening whoever the owner was using words, hearing that they were only just a young adult. These people are more or less easy to manipulate, just like the youths who got dragged into this plot.

But the girl—the owner of this place, who was barely an adult, was calmly refuting their well-crafted threats -- had poked the tiny veil of superiority they had. This girl is not a fool and is a person born to be above others. How else could she have gained the loyalty of the people here without any capital? Excellent people are picky about who they follow after all.

“Cat got your tongue?” Aila swept her eyes at them. “If I was less generous and benevolent, you all would have died the first time you attempted something like this, you know? I think at least Cindy has told you that we were delayed on the road? The outside is such a hell that people like you were the first to die.”

Aila said all this in a singsong manner. Years of living aimlessly in the chaotic world had taught her not to have mercy towards those who tried to threaten what was hers. Logically, she could kill these people to stop herself from troubling herself in the future, but she has to take into consideration the future of their base.

They are severely lacking in manpower. And it would take years before they can rejuvenate their population if they do not want to be mixed with unstable factors. So she cannot easily let these people go when she could exploit them.

These people will be free cattle to use until they will become obedient to her rules.

“Did you know those who have powers are easy to be disposed of if they get out of here?” Aila inspected the dodging eyes of her prisoners. “You might have thought you could be using your abilities as a capital. Using this newly-found power to be a king of a territory and be the law itself. But the reality was that if you took this place under you, what awaits you is not as you imagine. Like I said, the kind of people you are are the first to die in the changed world. Occupying this place will only turn you into a fat sheep waiting for wolves.” Aila was not kidding as she said this. Things like this have happened so many times in her past life that she is more or less aware of the twists and turns involved in these scenarios.

“If we turn into a sheep as you say, how can you say that you will not be as you describe as to be?” One of them said with hatred. “We admit we did try to do the unthinkable. But you are telling us how unpromising the world is outside. There is no guarantee you will do anything better than us.”

“I can do much better than you.” Aila smiled as she let out her bloodlust. Cindy, who was with her, was startled and looked at her master waringly, but controlled herself well as to not show how she was not prepared or aware of this side of Aila.

What Cindy is feeling is not as intense as those who were directed to Aila’s full attention. Some people felt so suffocated, some were on the verge of fainting and some were just too terrified to even respond. Fear rose deep within them that they knew this girl in front of them was not someone they could cross.

“Believe it or not, along the way here me and my companions have killed a few people,” Aila off-handedly said. “I know better how cruel people can be and what should be done to protect myself and those I care about. Not to mention my family is not the most normal family there is. Creating my own paradise in hell is something not hard for me at all.”

Setting a base, keeping it running, letting it be sufficient…. etc. Just relying on her family name even in her past life could support it. Everything can be done as long as she upholds the values of the clan. Only that the ‘her’ of her past life was too passive to even think straight at all. Missing the opportunity to give her friends a good life in the trying times.

“Have visions as well as the ability to get them all done. How about you, can you do the same?” Aila took a step forward and held the chin of the one who had the courage to ask her. “In fact, even if you succeed in usurping this place, the moment we arrive is the moment you and your cronies will cease to exist in this world.”

Letting go of the chin she was holding, Aila continued smiling. “I wanted to kill you all. But I cannot let go of a source of manpower. So I will not harm any of you unless you are foolish still.”

The people found themselves breathing hard as Aila said that. They don't know if they should feel fortunate that they were not immediately killed or be scared of what lies beyond their future. But keeping their lives at the moment is a great thing. They are not yet too foolish to not think this was the biggest grace this scary girl can give to them.

“I will set some rules for you to follow.” Aila is not an i***t to fully utilize them without precautions. She has made a deal with the world on how she will handle these people and the future rebels, as well as on how to increase the security of her base. As long as they do not do anything that will breed demons, these people can live well on their own basis.

“Tomorrow and in the days afterwards you can leave this place as long as you follow them. But the moment you do some tricks, believe it or not, you will not know how you died.”