Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

Chapter 139 139

Maxwell, who had been silently listening to the conversation, finally understood the gravity of the situation. His face turned pale with fear. Justin let out an exaggerated sigh, his tone growing cold as he spoke.

"That's enough. I've decided not to accept you as citizens. Take your immigrants and leave."

"W-what!?"

"My lord!"

Both Elliot and Maxwell sprang to their feet in panic. Before they could speak further, Fafnir raised his head and let out a deafening roar.

"Kyahhh!"

"Ding! The Black Dragon 'Fafnir' has used the skill [Dragon Fear]."

The sound was so powerful that Elliot and Maxwell froze in place, unable to move. As Fafnir seemed ready to unleash his fury, Justin gently stroked the dragon's scales, calming him down as he muttered.

"Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps I can accept you."

"...?"

"How about I accept half of your people and drive the other half out? Or maybe I should just banish the two of you alone."

"...Are you mocking us?" Maxwell managed to say, his face still pale from fear.

Though his mental fortitude was commendable, having endured the effects of Dragon Fear and still responding, mental strength alone couldn't change reality.

"And if I am?"

"Pardon?"

"I

am

mocking you. I've been toying with you this entire time, making empty promises, changing my words on a whim, and using my power to intimidate you. So, what are you going to do about it?"

"...."

"Go ahead, try anything. But be prepared to face the consequences of your actions."

Maxwell opened his mouth, as if to say something, but quickly lowered his head in defeat. Justin spoke to him, watching as the man bit his lip in frustration.

"This is the relationship between pioneers and citizens."

"Those two, yes. But the rest of the immigrants didn't."

Just because their leaders had submitted didn't mean everyone would follow. Sometimes, the leader who had surrendered could be discarded, and a new one would rise in their place. Rachel's concern was rooted in that possibility.

"What if they form a new group and start making demands again? It might not be hard to suppress them, but still...."

"That won't happen."

Justin dismissed her worries lightly.

"They'll figure out the reality soon enough just by living among our citizens for a few days. Once they start talking, they'll quickly learn what everyone else here has gone through."

To be honest, even the two men who had just left would come to understand the situation without much intervention. Justin had only summoned them for that long lecture because they served as focal points for the immigrants.

"If I had left them alone, they would've rallied their grievances and brought them to me, driven by ambition or responsibility as leaders."

"And now?"

"Now, they know it's useless. They might even step aside and let someone else take the lead, but they won't try to rise again themselves."

Forming a new center of power would take time. By the time the immigrants appointed a new leader, they would have a clear understanding of how things worked in this world. At that point, their demands—if any—would likely fade away. They'd come to realize that making demands in this world wasn't going to get them anywhere.

"And if anyone still insists on making demands... well, we'll teach them the reality with force."

Justin doubted any would be that foolish, but if there were, he had no intention of keeping them as citizens. He had given enough warnings; if someone still pushed their luck, they were beyond help.

'These immigrants are placing far too much hope in this world,' Justin thought with a frown. 'If they keep this up, it's going to be troublesome.'

At first, Justin had thought they'd be willing to accept life under the pioneers after enduring hardship on Earth. But instead, they were holding onto unreasonable expectations, hoping for better treatment after their suffering. Even those who had lived under tyranny clung to the idea that they deserved more now.

For a ruler, that mindset was a headache to deal with.

'Do I need to push the blame onto another leader again? After they've suffered enough, they'll stop making such demands. But then I'd have to go through the trouble of retrieving my citizens later.'

As Justin pondered over which approach would be better, a sudden notification flashed before his eyes.

"Ding! Five days have passed since the Main Quest 'The First Great Migration' began."

"Ding! In ten days, the Main Quest 'The First Great Migration' will end, and the temporary safe zones will be deactivated."

"Ding! The Main Quest 'Green Skin Wave' will begin immediately after the end of 'The First Great Migration.'"

"Ding! All immigrants must choose a city to reside in before the monster wave occurs."

At the system's warning of the upcoming second monster wave, Justin's eyes lit up.