Chapter 184: Ch 184: Getting Settled in
It looked like a fight could break out between the two groups at any second. Both sides had their pride and refused to back down.
The people around the old lady were especially hostile and made it clear that they were not here by choice.
"Boss, we told you that this was not a good idea. These people do not appreciate our presence. We should head back and rebuild our base—"
"Don’t be ridiculous. I already told you that it would be futile to rebuild that place. No matter how much we try to return to how things were, we no longer have the resources or the manpower to run a settlement."
The old lady seemed aware of her group’s shortcomings. And unlike most people, she appeared willing to accept reality.
Rin watched the debate for a few more seconds before the old lady climbed down from her elevated seat and stood in front of him.
He waited to see what she would do, ready to stop her in case she suddenly tried something.
But the old lady merely sighed before bowing her head in front of him.
"I would like to apologize for being hard-headed. As the former leader of my people, I had the responsibility to protect them and act as their pillar. However, I would now like to entrust that responsibility to you."
The old lady offered Rin everything she had.
Now that their leader had surrendered, the rest of the settlement had no choice but to follow suit. But the unhappy expressions on their faces made it clear to Rin that this would become a problem later.
’I need to nip this problem in the bud before it has a chance to grow.’
He sighed and placed a hand on the kneeling old lady’s shoulder, signaling for her to raise her head.
"I will accept your surrender and your people. They are welcome to join us as long as they do not cause any trouble. May I hold you responsible if anything happens?"
Rin asked, noticing that most of the people behind her looked ready to tear him apart because of his decision. But he ignored them and kept his attention on the old lady.
The former boss let out a heavy sigh of relief at his agreement and nodded.
"You may hold me responsible if anything happens because of my group. But I know them well. They are good kids and will blend in with the others without much trouble."
The old lady assured Rin, but he was not willing to take her word for it.
After all, nearly every person standing behind her looked like a troublemaker. But he kept those thoughts to himself and told Collin to show them to their rooms.
Serena passed by him, and her complexion looked paler than the last few times Rin had seen her.
Not only had she lost weight, but there also seemed to be something heavy lingering behind her eyes.
Serena opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something to him, but ultimately decided it would be best to remain silent.
__________
Serena felt her heart skip a beat as she returned to Rin’s settlement. It felt wrong to be back here... almost as if she were betraying her people and the old boss.
But she was not here alone this time. The others had come with her, and their boss, the old lady, was leading the group.
"We will arrive soon. You all better behave yourselves and not give those people any reason to doubt our sincerity."
The old lady warned the group, but Serena could still see the unhappy expressions around her.
"Boss, is this merger really necessary? I know our settlement was destroyed, but we can rebuild it if we try—"
"With what resources? We ran out of supplies a while ago. It would be a miracle if we even survived until the end of the week. I refuse to take that risk with your lives."
The old boss replied sternly. Her words quieted the speaker, and no one else dared to question her for a while.
When they finally reached Rin’s settlement, the encounter turned tense almost immediately, and sparks flew between Rin and the old boss.
But in the end, their side was far more desperate than Rin’s, and they had no choice but to surrender.
That was how Serena found herself walking through the familiar corridors while staring at Rin’s back.
Her mother’s voice was still whispering in her ear, but it sounded fainter than before.
"This will be your living area until we decide where to place all of you permanently. Please behave yourselves while you are here, and if you need anything, let me know."
Rin’s butler spoke in a neutral voice. It was obvious that he was not happy about their presence, but he kept his feelings hidden because his young master had ordered him to take care of them.
The temporary shared space they had been given was spacious and even had communal bathrooms with running water. The beds also looked soft and inviting, making many people want to collapse onto them immediately.
But they held their ground and pretended the place was not nearly as impressive as it actually was.
"You sure are cheap when it comes to these rooms. Do you really think this is enough space for all of us?"
Someone asked, clearly trying to start trouble. But the butler looked unfazed by the complaint.
"I do not think your group is in a position to complain about our hospitality. You are more than welcome to sleep outside if you prefer. However, we cannot guarantee your safety during these times."
Collin replied calmly, and Rin watched from the sidelines as the other group fell silent. He had no intention of helping them or making things easier for them. This was the first good opportunity their settlement had received in a long time.
"Now then, I will have your dinner delivered to your rooms, so there is no need for you to come to the dining hall. I have a feeling your group would prefer this arrangement as well."
The butler informed them before walking away. Rin left as well without saying anything further.
Serena felt... strange as all of this unfolded. She wanted to talk to Rin because she had a feeling he would be able to help her.
’But you do not really want help, do you, Serena? You are happy being with Mommy. Mommy is all you need.’
