Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 18: Sharpening 300 Metal Rods

Chapter 18: Sharpening 300 Metal Rods

"..."

The auditorium became completely silent.

Everyone’s eyes remained fixed on Alex.

Only a short while ago, Alex had stood before everyone with an arrogant expression, demanding half of their supplies in exchange for his so-called protection.

Now, his face was so swollen that his eyes had nearly disappeared beneath the bruised flesh. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.

His legs trembled slightly, but he did not dare to fall while Cain still stood in front of him.

The members of Alex’s group lowered their weapons.

Several had been prepared to support their leader when the confrontation began, but one of them moved now.

Cain had beaten Alex so easily that interfering no longer seemed brave, but pure stupid.

Ron touched the small bump on top of his head, then looked at Alex’s ruined face before glancing at Cain.

The resentment he had felt after being smacked suddenly disappeared.

’At least he only hit me once.’

Cain looked at Alex for another moment before wiping his palm against his shirt.

"You’re lucky."

Cain continued, "You’re still a student from this university, and you didn’t immediately attack anyone when you entered."

He pointed toward Ron and the survivors standing near the stage.

"If you had injured one of them, I would’ve broken a limb or two."

Alex’s companions remained silent.

They had demanded supplies because their group was stronger than the survivors they found inside the auditorium.

Before Cain returned, that assumption had been correct since Alex was Level 20 and several members of his group had also reached double-digit Levels.

However, Cain’s arrival changed everything.

The difference between their Levels had convinced Alex that Cain would be easy to control.

Instead, Cain had humiliated him in front of everyone.

Cain looked around the auditorium.

The apocalypse had only begun several hours ago, yet someone had already tried to seize another group’s supplies.

He doubted Alex would be the last.

The laws outside had collapsed. There were no police officers coming to resolve disputes or whatsoever.

Many people would begin using their strength to take whatever they desired.

Cain needed to make the consequences clear.

He did not want to explain the same rule every time another arrogant person entered the auditorium.

Everyone present had watched what happened to Alex.

That should be enough for now.

Cain turned away from him.

Professor Holt approached from the entrance, his gaze moved toward Alex before settling on Cain.

"You handled that more calmly than I expected."

Cain only shrugged in response.

Then he opened his Inventory.

A large pile of metal rods appeared beside him.

Clang!

The sudden weight striking the floor created a loud metallic crash.

Several survivors stepped backward in surprise.

The rods spread across the ground until they formed a tangled pile.

Cain picked up one of the infusion-stand poles and inspected its end.

The rod was straight, but the cut surface was flat.

It could still become deadly when thrown with Piercing Momentum and Ruin Dragon Force.

However, a sharpened tip would make penetration easier and reduce the amount of energy Cain needed to use.

Cain turned toward Alex.

"You."

"What?" Alex slowly raised his head.

Cain tossed the rod at him.

Alex caught it against his chest.

"Sharpen it."

Alex looked at the pole.

"How?"

"Twist the end and bend the metal until it forms a point."

Cain picked up another rod and demonstrated.

He gripped the end with both hands.

The metal groaned beneath his raw strength as Cain twisted it, then folded the edge inward.

The flat end gradually became narrow.

It was not as clean as a professionally forged spearhead, but it would pierce flesh more easily than before.

Cain threw the modified rod onto the floor near Alex.

"Do that to all of them."

Alex stared at the pile. There were hundreds of them.

"You want me to sharpen every single one?"

"Yes."

"That’s too much."

Cain looked at him and took one step closer.

"You have two choices."

He pointed toward the rods.

"You can work."

Then he raised his hand slightly.

"Or I can continue beating you until you become willing to work."

Alex’s swollen face twitched.

"You can’t treat me like a slave."

Cain chuckled, "You entered my shelter, refused our safety check, and tried to steal half of our resources."

His smile disappeared as he said coldly, "You’re lucky I’m only making you useful."

Alex clenched his teeth. His eyes moved toward Professor Holt.

The professor did not speak as he moved toward the other students instead and began checking whether anyone had been injured during the confrontation.

Alex looked toward his own group, but nobody met his gaze.

The people who had followed him because of his strength were no longer willing to challenge Cain on his behalf.

Alex lowered his head.

"Fine."

He sat down beside the pile and picked up the first metal rod.

His hands wrapped around the end.

Alex’s raw strength was extremely high.

The metal bent beneath his grip without requiring a Skill.

Cain nodded in satisfaction.

"Make sure the points are straight."

Alex glared at him.

Cain raised one eyebrow in response.

Alex immediately returned his attention to the rod.

Cain could sharpen the weapons himself.

However, doing so hundreds of times would be annoying and a waste of time.

Alex had provided him with a convenient worker.

Cain found nothing wrong with taking advantage of the opportunity.

Ron walked closer.

"You’re making him sharpen all of those?"

"Yes."

Ron looked at Alex, a smile appeared on his face.

"Make sure you don’t miss any."

Alex tightened his grip on the rod.

Ron quickly stepped behind Cain before continuing, "And make them sharp. Cain gets angry when people disappoint him."

Cain glanced back.

"Why are you hiding behind me?"

"I’m not hiding." Ron looked toward Alex’s large body and continued, "I’m supervising from a safe angle."

Cain ignored him as he focused on the Inventory again.

Boxes of medicine appeared beside the stage, then bottled water followed.

Packages of bandages and disinfectant filled another section of the floor.

The survivors from the hospital began placing their own supplies nearby.

Cain intended to leave the auditorium again.

Their group had grown rapidly.

They now had the original dormitory survivors, Elara’s fencing club group, the hospital patients, Professor Holt’s people, and Alex’s companions.

The resources inside the auditorium would not last long.

Cain looked toward the side doors.

"We need food."

Professor Holt nodded.

"The cafeteria is the most obvious choice."

"It might also have delivery vehicles nearby," Cain said.

The university owned several buses.

There were also vans used by staff members and supply trucks that visited the cafeteria.

Cain wanted to check them before deciding how soon they could leave the university.

Walking to their hometown would be impossible.

Even if Cain could travel on foot, the patients and weaker survivors would slow the group too much.

That was why they needed transportation.

Cain looked at the people gathered inside the auditorium.

"I’m forming another team."

Several students immediately straightened as some wanted the chance to gain Levels.

The others simply disliked remaining inside the shelter while stronger people gathered valuable equipment outside.

Cain selected seven students who had already proven capable of killing disabled zombies.

Doctor Owen would join because they could encounter injured survivors.

Jack and Maya would accompany them again.

This time he planned to bring Ron along as his level was already behind compared to the others.

Elara stood near the hospital survivors, but she moved toward Cain before he called her name.

Professor Holt approached as well.

"I’ll join you."

"You should stay." Cain shook his head.

Professor Holt frowned.

"You may need another strong fighter."

"The auditorium needs someone in charge."

Cain glanced toward Alex.

"I don’t trust him yet."

Alex continued twisting a metal rod, pretending that he had not heard them.

Cain continued, "You already led a group through the campus. The survivors will listen to you."

Professor Holt considered his words.

After several seconds, he nodded.

"Fine."

Cain looked toward the professors who had arrived with Holt.

A woman adjusted the glasses resting on her nose.

She appeared to be in her early thirties.

Her long brown hair had been tied behind her head, though several strands had escaped during the fighting outside.

Her figure was difficult to ignore.

Professor Irina possessed a narrow waist and full hips, while her chest rivaled even Evelyne’s.

Her glasses and serious expression gave her a scholarly appearance that contrasted with her voluptuous body.

A bow rested against her shoulder. A quiver containing mismatched arrows hung across her back.

The second volunteer was Professor Ian.

He was a quiet man with short gray hair and a sheathed sword at his waist. His clothing had several tears, but the weapon appeared well maintained.

Cain looked at them.

"Professor Irina, Professor Ian. You two come with us."

They both simply nodded.

Cain walked toward Alex and took five rods that had already been modified and checked simply before putting them into his inventory with satisfaction.

Cain was about to give the order to leave when a female voice came from near the hospital survivors.

"Wait!"

Everyone turned their heads.

Evelyne stepped forward. She had corrected the button on her blouse, but the clothing remained slightly wrinkled. Her white-red hair had been tied into a loose ponytail.

She walked toward Cain while trying to maintain her usual confident expression.

"I’m coming too."

Cain looked at her.

"You?"

"Yes."

"You’re too weak." Cain shook his head.

Evelyne’s eyebrow twitched.

"I know."

Cain raised an eyebrow as he knew that Evelyne rarely accepted criticism without arguing.

She tightened her hands at her sides.

"That’s why I want to come."

Cain studied her face.

The frustration he had noticed earlier remained as Doctor Owen’s S-rank Healing Talent had made Evelyne painfully aware of the weakness of her own D-rank Talent.

She did not want to remain behind while everyone else became stronger.

Cain stepped closer.

"Are you ready to pay the price?"

Evelyne’s confidence disappeared for a moment. Her eyes moved away from his face.

She understood that Cain was not talking about money.

Her cheeks became faintly red.

After a few moments, Evelyne finally nodded.

"I’m ready."

Cain smiled, "Good."

He looked over her body for a moment before turning away.

The memory of what happened inside the hospital room returned to his mind.

Evelyne irritated him more than almost anyone else.

However, he could not deny that her body was extremely attractive.

The idea of tasting it properly had already crossed his mind more than once.

"Stay near Doctor Owen," Cain said. "You’ll both focus on gaining Levels this time."