Chapter 183: Ch 183: The new guests
"Hey system, I have a question. Why are you so invested in my well-being? As far as I know, you have no reason to choose me or stick this close to me, right?"
Rin asked, not expecting an answer. But the system surprised him by opening a message a few minutes later.
[This senior feels wronged! Has the system made Rookie feel like he’s not special? The system chose you because you were the best candidate to help fulfill the higher-ups’ KPI. There is no need to doubt the system’s choice.]
Rin had a feeling that the system was not lying to him. But it was not telling him the whole truth either.
The system likely had its own reasons for wanting to help Rin and for choosing him, and he would have to keep probing into the system’s business to learn more about it.
...
Unfortunately, Rin did not get much time to question the system after that. He was buried in work as more and more people headed toward his settlement.
Most of the actual work was handled by Collin and the other people in charge, but Rin still had enough on his plate that he could not relax.
By the time the last batch settled in, Rin felt exhausted and was about to head inside. But then he noticed another group of people heading their way.
He was about to leave this to his butler when he sensed a familiar presence and straightened his back.
That made Rin decide to stay behind and wait for the group to come closer.
The first person he noticed was a flashy old lady sitting in a high chair. She looked familiar, and Rin immediately recognized her as the boss of Serena’s group.
’What is she doing here? If she’s here, then does that mean Serena is here as well? I don’t think I see her.’
Rin looked around for the familiar girl, but the old lady coughed to get his attention immediately.
"Hey lad, I am here to tell you that my settlement will be merging with yours as well. This does not mean we are inferior to you or anything. I am just too old to lead these people, and no one else is ready to take responsibility."
The old lady spoke in an authoritative voice. She looked down at him from her elevated seat while making her demands.
Rin did not feel threatened, nor did he feel annoyed or humiliated. But the others in his settlement did not seem to appreciate the old lady’s behavior.
Collin, in particular, had an especially blank expression as he looked at the old lady. His usual smile was nowhere to be seen, and he looked tense.
"Please come down and show respect to our young master if you want him to consider your request. Otherwise, we have no obligation to allow you into our settlement."
Collin was drawing a line with the old lady, but it only served to annoy her. She opened her mouth to curse him out before pausing and squinting at him.
"Wait a minute...! I know you! Aren’t you that little brat my sister used to drag around everywhere with her? So you ended up becoming a butler and serving a spoiled young master? What a fitting fate."
The old lady spoke in a curious voice before letting out a laugh. She seemed to find the situation amusing, but no one else shared her sense of humor.
Collin looked especially annoyed by her laughter, which made the old lady pause and compose herself.
"Anyway, brat, I am not here to talk to you. I want to talk to your boss... So, kid, have you made your decision? Will you take us in?"
She turned to look at Rin and ignored Collin. It was clear that she was trying to assert her authority and maintain her influence.
It was her way of telling the others that even if she was stepping down as their leader, her authority was still hers to wield.
Rin could not allow such a thing in his settlement.
He did feel sorry for the old lady, but he had no intention of creating trouble in the pecking order among his people.
"I am sorry, but I cannot accept your request. I appreciate you all making this trip, but please head back now."
The old lady paused, and she was not the only one. The others from her settlement looked just as troubled by Rin’s refusal.
It seemed his rejection was unacceptable to the old lady because she immediately questioned him.
"Why are you rejecting us? If it’s about having more mouths to feed, then I am sure you have the resources. And we will all pull our weight as well—"
"I am afraid it’s not about resources or labor. It’s about authority. In this settlement, I am the one in power. As long as there is even one person capable of disrupting that order, I cannot allow them in."
Rin told the old lady calmly.
He did not care if he came across as too harsh or too rude. He wanted her to understand that the ball was now in her court.
If she wanted her people to be allowed in, then she would have to give up her authority.
It was a hard decision to make. Once a person got a taste of power, they never wanted to give it up. And the older someone became, the more stubborn they tended to be about it as well.
This old lady might have been prepared to do anything for her settlement, but that did not mean she would not resist unconsciously.
So Rin needed to settle this before he allowed these people inside.
"Hey, watch what you say to our old lady!"
"That’s right! The only reason we are here is because the boss insisted we come. We do not actually need your help."
The people from the settlement were already showing their true colors. Some of the more vocal ones were even insulting him openly.
Rin was not going to tolerate that, and his glare made that much clear.
"I am afraid the bridge has already been burned. Please leave now. I no longer have anything to discuss with your group. If you try to force your way in, then I will take it as an act of aggression against us and respond accordingly."
He told the old lady, and she looked annoyed by his stubbornness.
