Chapter Forty-Two: Attempted Usurpation-No apocalipse, estoques bilionários de suprimentos e domínio total da construção em terras devastadas!(A lua segue o barco que navega.)

Producer Wang snapped back to reality, his lower body feeling suddenly warm and damp. The stench of urine nearly made him faint. He pointed a trembling finger at Jiang Qiyu, his lips quivering as he struggled to squeeze out a single word. Finally, as if suddenly finding a burst of courage, he erupted into a torrent of abuse: "You filthy bitch! How dare you shoot at me! You just wait! You just wait for me!..."

"Do you have any idea who the hell I am?! I am—" He paused, then roared even more hysterically, "You just wait! I won't let you get away with this! I will make you—" He ranted incoherently, his voice sharp and piercing like a cornered rat, struggling frantically to salvage a shred of dignity. "...You slut! You deserve to die a horrible death!..."

Before he could finish, two residents rushed forward and pinned him to the ground. Producer Wang struggled desperately, like a toad flipped onto its back, spewing profanities: "Let go of me! You bunch of lackeys! I’ll kill you all!"

Liu Mei watched the subdued producer, her sobbing gradually subsiding as a glimmer of hope ignited in her eyes. She walked up to Jiang Qiyu and asked in a choked voice, "Boss, this animal... what do you plan to do with him?"

Jiang Qiyu glanced coldly at Producer Wang, the corner of her mouth curling into a cruel arc. "Lock him up. Put him in that cage from before."

Upon hearing this, Producer Wang was terrified out of his wits. He twisted his body frantically, howling, "No! You can’t do this to me! I am Producer Wang! I am—"

His voice, having just reached a shrill pitch, was abruptly cut off by the guards, who clamped a hand over his mouth. He let out a few muffled whimpers. The guards showed no mercy, pinning him down despite his kicking and struggling, dragging him toward the foul-smelling iron cage like a sack of garbage.

Once locked inside the cage, Producer Wang continued his relentless barrage of insults, roaring like a trapped beast and cursing Jiang Qiyu and everyone present with the most vicious language imaginable.

Watching him in the cage, Liu Mei’s grief was gradually replaced by anger. She walked up to the bars, spat at him, and cursed, "You animal! You deserve to die!"

Jiang Qiyu watched Producer Wang barking like a mad dog inside the cage, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes. She slowly raised her pistol, her arm as steady as a rock, the cold muzzle aimed directly at his head. Her sharp gaze sliced through the air like a blade, carrying an irresistible authority that plunged the surroundings into dead silence.

"Bang!"

A gunshot echoed in everyone’s ears.

...However, the bullet did not fire.

A slick-haired man had appeared beside Jiang Qiyu out of nowhere and grabbed her wrist. Jiang Qiyu shook him off and caught his wrist in return. The man winced in agony.

Jiang Qiyu’s movements were lightning-fast; with a sharp, cold jerk, she sent the man stumbling forward. She didn't let go, instead twisting his wrist with a forceful motion that produced a crisp sound of grinding bone, silencing the crowd instantly. The man’s face turned crimson, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his mouth hung open, unable to produce a sound until a low, pained groan escaped his throat. Jiang Qiyu’s eyes were as cold as steel, and as she added more pressure, the man, eyes wide with terror, dared not think of resisting again.

"Hey, hey, hey, Boss, calm down, please calm down!" The man quickly raised his hands in a posture he deemed humble, his face plastered with a greasy, ingratiating smile. His voice was soft and slick, thick with flattery. "This Producer Wang is a piece of trash, but his crimes don't warrant death! His mouth might be foul, but at the end of the day, it's not worth you getting angry, right?"

He glanced at the producer in the cage, then back at the gun in Jiang Qiyu’s hand, a forced smile on his lips. "Besides, killing him would just dirty your hands—it’s not worth it! For a small fry like this, isn't it better to leave him in the cage to rot and suffer on his own?"

As he spoke, he wiped his cold sweat with a handkerchief, his tone trembling with a hint of pleading. "Why waste such a valuable bullet on his lowly life..." By the end, his voice was as faint as a mosquito's. Seeing Jiang Qiyu’s icy expression, he squeezed out another obsequious smile and retreated two steps cautiously.

The man’s name was Qian Duoduo, known in the crew as a "jack-of-all-trades." He was well-informed, slippery, and an expert at reading the room and following the wind.

Several others chimed in: "That's right, Boss, the producer is detestable, but he doesn't deserve death!" "Why not banish him to the wilderness and let him fend for himself?" "Boss, you have such a kind heart; just spare his life!"

As soon as these words were spoken, an older man nodded repeatedly, echoing the sentiment with exaggerated enthusiasm: "Exactly! Showing mercy is the mark of a great leader!" They spoke while carefully watching Jiang Qiyu’s face, hoping to see a crack in her cold exterior.

Seeing she didn't speak immediately, a younger member added timidly, "Producer Wang deserves to suffer, but... killing him does seem a bit much..."

This remark acted like a straw that gave everyone else a reason to chime in, vying to speak with sycophantic voices: "Yes, yes! Boss, just give him a lesson; living is far worse than dying. He’s not worth your bullet!"

"Right, just leave him to rot—that’s the clever way to do it!" They were glib, but their eyes were filled with naked fear, terrified that one misstep would pull them into the storm.

Jiang Qiyu looked at Qian Duoduo’s greasy face, a surge of irritation rising in her chest. She took a deep breath and slowly lowered her gun.

"Keep him locked up for now."

Qian Duoduo and the others immediately bowed and scraped. "Yes, yes, the Boss is wise!"

Watching their fawning behavior, an inexplicable sense of unease rose in Jiang Qiyu’s heart. As the number of people in the base increased, all sorts of ghosts and monsters were beginning to surface. It was time to establish a comprehensive management system.

Just then, the system in her mind pinged.

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host, the Coastline Base has been upgraded to a Level 1 Village!"

Promotion requirements: Stone (1000/1000), Wood (1000/1000), Lumber (100/100), Villagers (10/10), Primary Warehouse (1/1).

Rewards: Intermediate Draw x1, Advanced Protective Barrier x1 (Limited to 60 days), Basic Attribute Points x5, Spatial Limited-Time Upgrade Reward x1.