Ch 67
“I doubt that an actual rebellion will occur,” stated Zhihao calmly. “It is more likely that a new faction would form a consensus and eventually ascend to command on the less contentious issues.”
Matt frowned as his hopes that the troubles with the other group would resolve themselves steadily dwindled.
“It appears that without my presence there, indecision will paralyze their actions,” commented Paul, his eyes locking with Matt’s as his frown deepened. “You promised my return, so please fulfill that promise, and I will do everything in my power to convince them that attacking here is a grave mistake. After all, even with the breach in the outer wall, you still enjoy the significant advantage provided by the inner defenses and the elevated terrain. Sure, you and I both understand that your group would still suffer defeat, but that loss would cost over 150 lives with nothing to show for it.”
“Are you not concerned that Matt might return to launch an attack in retaliation for the treatment of Sarah’s group?” asked Emily, her tone rising with worry.
“Not in the slightest—unless his intent is to kill even more people,” Paul replied evenly.
“I don’t wish for more bloodshed, yet I cannot simply abandon a group responsible for the deaths of over 100 people,” Matt countered with quiet intensity.
“Then negotiate before they reach your walls,” advised Paul. “While I may not be a leader, my truth-compelling abilities can certainly help secure a reliable deal.”
“I doubt they can be swayed in that manner,” countered Greg firmly. “Honestly, there is always a way to tweak the wording or simply change one’s mind after sealing a deal. All you can really do is prevent outright lies; people can still mislead you or skirt around the real issues. Your ability is most effective when it catches someone off guard or in straightforward situations only.”
“Zhihao, do you intend to remain here?” asked Matt, his voice carrying a hint of concern.
“If you will allow me,” Zhihao replied hesitantly, “I now fear what will become of me now that I am aware of the actions our leaders have taken.”
“You would rather see them killed?” retorted Paul sharply. “Surely, their fates were far better than that. None of them were even forced to—”
“Be careful with your words,” interrupted Matt. “Who’s to say what might have happened as time went on? At the very least, they were forced to expose themselves in ways that should never have been required.”
“This isn’t the United States, and most of those here come from lands that would have dealt with them far more harshly,” stated Paul with a cool detachment. “Even if we from what we consider the civilized world still believe in treating others with dignity, such arguments hold little significance in our current reality.”
“As much as I loathe to admit it, he does have a point,” Eleanor conceded softly. “I have witnessed both sides of these conflicts throughout my life, and it seems we must reconsider our approach on several fronts. Jaelyn, would you please share what you told me upon your return?”
“I believe I have finally figured out how my ability works,” Jaelyn confessed. “At first, I assumed that a survivor’s will was simply about bolstering my determination to carry on. But then Matt pointed out how those around me began acting strangely—placing my own survival above that of others. Now for the confession: I have been solely focused on myself from the very beginning, evaluating others as either useful or worthless based on my own perceptions. The more useful I have judged them to be, the less they seem to be affected by my ability, at least as far as I can tell.”
“Is there a point to all of this?” asked Paul, his irritation clear as he still hadn’t received a definitive commitment to be returned to the other group.
“Yes,” replied Jaelyn, “I have a theory. If I shift my perspective toward prioritizing the group’s survival—even though it still affects everyone—it would do so in a less invasive manner.”
“Or you could create a hive mind,” retorted Greg. “I doubt such an ability could be attained at level 3, but the pathway toward one certainly exists. That thought alone makes me shudder at what we could face after leaving this place.”
“I don’t think hive minds are common—”
“They are very common,” interjected Tempormr, halting Matt mid-sentence. “At least among the societies bent on control, though few can incorporate others into their collective consciousness the way Greg suggests.”
“Are you okay, Matt?” asked Constance, her tone laced with concern.
“Sorry, I take it back,” Matt resumed, adding a thoughtful pause. “We shouldn’t simply discount the myriad possibilities in an almost infinite universe. Instead, we must focus on ensuring Earth remains free of such power. Still, if Jaelyn can help everyone adjust their mindsets toward survival while preserving individual personalities, I say that we should allow it.”
“I wish I could be sure you’re speaking without being influenced by her,” Greg replied skeptically. “But—”
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“It passes the ‘if it was suggested by you’ test,” Matt interjected dryly. “Honestly, I’m thinking we should have her and Paul spend today together, and then tomorrow I’ll set out with a party to push for negotiations. Zhihao, will you lead those sent by your old group to the location I choose?”
“Why not assign that role to Paul?” asked Zhihao.
“Simple,” explained Matt. “If they truly want him back, they should, if only to see him returned. Additionally, I’m considering that you should be seen as a hostage too, with those accompanying you pretending to know the route while you remain just a familiar face.”
“You should have her shown the location before she’s blindfolded and led away,” observed Emily thoughtfully. “That way, she can later claim she saw the location and confirm that there were no traps—even if she’s uncertain of the way back.”
“Or we could simply extend our trust to her as a gesture of goodwill,” stated Eleanor calmly. “I mean, would you agree to this arrangement if they offered the same terms?”
“They’re the ones who attacked unprovoked,” countered Greg sharply. “Sure, Matt killed a few after escaping, but that can be explained as a consequence of scouting them and finding the women. The sequence matters less than the fact that these things occurred.”
“Will you allow us a seat at the negotiation table?” asked Sarah, her voice firm yet tentative.
“That might be a bad idea,” stated Paul gravely. “Can you guarantee that you won’t seek revenge for what happened to you?”
“No,” Sarah admitted. “But I can’t sit here quietly while that group potentially returns to forcing others to join them—or face death.”
“Nor can I,” Matt agreed, his tone laced with resignation. “It’s a peculiar stance for a group to adopt.”
“Not when it’s led by those who’ve survived conditions arguably even harsher than these,” Paul countered. “Listen, you don’t have to give them a free pass, but if you can’t reach a compromise they can actually accept, then what’s the point of even negotiating?”
“I do have a compromise in mind,” Matt replied, leaning forward slightly. “However, I won’t share it before the negotiations begin, as doing so would compromise my position.”
A few stern looks passed between them after Matt’s response. Ultimately, the meeting drew to a close, and soon he found himself in a smaller session with only Greg and Eleanor.
“Were there any noticeable changes with Jaelyn gone?” Matt asked, his curiosity evident.
“Just slight ones,” Eleanor replied, her voice soft and reflective. “I realized that after she’d been gone for merely a day, I stopped looking for her entirely. Now that she’s returned, I catch myself searching for her, and it just feels...wrong.”
“Honestly,” Greg chimed in, a spark of mischief in his eyes, “if you can persuade whoever’s plotting to extract you from this planet to allow you to bring along the six of us who tackled the dungeon with you, we might as well set all this aside and make a dash for level 9.”
Before Matt could respond, a voice echoed within his mind—Tempormr’s unmistakable tone: “No, even if that opportunity arises, I won’t commit to it and essentially let you all slip away.”
Matt sighed, his tone heavy with resignation. “We can’t simply ignore this situation. My patron insists there’s a lesson here. That said, Eleanor, do you want to remain in command, or would you prefer to return to the freedom of roaming?”
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What exactly are you implying?”
“I mean that the fort isn’t my priority until we get back to Earth,” Matt explained. “If it ever becomes worthwhile to haul it over there, I’ll consider it—but right now, it’s not worth the hassle.”
Greg interjected with a thoughtful comment: “If you could modify the dungeon, it might serve as a fantastic tool for leveling others. But aside from that, nothing here seems particularly valuable to me.”
“You’re overlooking its auto-repair function,” Matt reminded him firmly.
Greg scoffed lightly. “I fully anticipate a time when people will be strong enough to punch through gates—or even walls—with just a single blow.”
“I don’t agree with that outlook,” Matt stated. “Even if brute force becomes our reality, my intuition tells me that this fort will surpass anything ever constructed on Earth before our arrival.”
“We can worry about that later,” Eleanor interjected sharply. “Matt, are you seriously considering abandoning the fort—and everyone in it?”
“No, it’s not abandonment,” Matt clarified. “I’m perfectly willing to have the seven of us form a dedicated team to seek out others while we’re still here. If just one more joins me when I finally leave, the rest can carry on the mission on their own. Or perhaps we’ll simply vanish one day, leaving those here to puzzle over our fate.”
“That would mean it isn’t just the seven of us anymore,” Eleanor observed cautiously. “Or are you implying that you’re certain one of us will be the chosen one?”
“Are you trying to lower your own chances?” Greg teased.
“Yes,” Eleanor admitted, “because then he might take Jaelyn and save the rest of us from falling even further under her influence.”
“Did that idea come from her influence, or is it your own original thought?” Matt asked quietly.
“I conceived it while she was away,” Eleanor said slowly. “I can’t say for sure whether it was her influence—or perhaps my own desire for freedom—that sparked the idea.”
“Fair enough, and it’s not the worst idea,” Greg acknowledged. “But I still believe it should be a firm no. Her role is to provide the crucial knowledge we need to survive here, no matter how long we’re stuck. Beyond that, her value diminishes significantly.”
“Why?” asked Eleanor.
"She’s a coward," declared Matt firmly. "I can't say for certain since I didn't know her before I healed her, but she hesitates during fights and tries to avoid any situation where she suspects she might die. I even believe her ability is part of the reason the other group didn't attack until we had rejoined the rest of our team."
"Is that why you're only concerned if her ability changes people's personalities?" inquired Greg. "Because I still see it as taking away their ability to choose their own path."
"Every law back on Earth could be said to do the same thing," argued Matt. "People either refrained from acting out of fear of punishment or faced consequences for their actions."
"We can choose our actions, not the consequences," Eleanor stated thoughtfully. "I’m beginning to understand more of why you chose to live an isolated life."
"Can you break a law if there's no one to witness it?" Greg pondered. "I mean, if there's no victim, is there really a crime?"
"Yes," replied Eleanor, sounding slightly exasperated with the men's logic. "If you burn a harmful substance that someone ten miles away inhales—"
"There's a victim there," Greg interrupted. "I'm talking about things like calling a pickle you made that doesn't bounce a pickle as you eat it."
"There is something wrong with you," Eleanor retorted, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But thank you for the levity."
"Right, we can continue this discussion after the negotiations," stated Matt, not revealing the true reason behind the topic. "I am sure that if I make a decision, all of you will do what you feel is best for yourselves as well."
