The negotiations over territory atop the clock tower came to an end in the pouring rain.
Without the slightest effort, Wei Shan became the city's absolute ruler.
When dealing with scum who feared force but respected no kindness, he believed military deterrence worked far better than tempting them with benefits.
Though the leaders of the seven gangs were unwilling to accept it, they dared not reveal even the slightest thought of defiance.
The Gear Gang leader's fate lay right before their eyes. That lump of iron, still dripping blood, was precisely the punishment they would face for saying "no."
They might have had the confidence to fight other gangs, but they had no power to resist Wei Shan.
Combat strength far beyond this world's made every scheme and trick futile.
Next, he only needed to use these seven leaders to cast a vast net for harvesting shock points.
But before that, he had to get a clear picture of the city's resources.
For instance, exactly how many resources each district produced daily, and how many residents those outputs could sustain at a basic level.
Only after working out those figures could he precisely determine the scale of the rewards for the Courage Challenge.
Two days later.
A brand-new building rose in the center of New Cassini, replacing the original clock tower.
The building resembled a mass of mist gathered on the ground, with eerie purple patterns of light flowing across its surface.
From a distance, it looked like a purple beast lying in wait; up close, it seemed more like an illusion generated by a holographic projection.
Viewed from high above, it looked like an open purple eye.
An invisible force protected the building, keeping rain and dust outside.
The gang members who had once roamed this area were