Facing the crowd's accusatory stares as if they were preparing to put him on trial, Lu Tianming offered a "friendly" smile and countered:
"Since you're all dissatisfied with our approach... why don't you return to your rescue capsules, and we'll redeploy you back into space?"
"Don't be absurd! The propulsion units in the rescue capsules are damaged, and we can't transmit our location. Where would we even wait for rescue?"
A man's voice emerged from the crowd—this time, it wasn't Flay. After initiating the confrontation, she had melted back into the group, leaving those she'd stirred up to speak instead.
"You see? You understand perfectly well—without our rescue, there's an eighty percent chance you'd have died."
Lu Tianming spread his hands, a slight curl forming at the corner of his mouth as he watched the man fall into his rhetorical trap.
Noticing Lu Tianming's subtle change in expression, the crowd grew uneasy. The man who had posed the question particularly felt as though he were stepping into a carefully laid trap.
But with things having escalated this far, he couldn't back down now:
"So... so what?"
"We saved your lives. We're not asking for money or anything else—only that those who are capable lend a hand, while those who aren't stay quiet and wait until we can drop you off somewhere safe along our route... Is that such an unreasonable request?"
"All of you keep shouting about neutrality, rights, and freedom... yet you haven't proposed a single reasonable demand. You're unwilling to make concessions or negotiate—isn't this just chaos?"
"But since you want freedom, I'll give you exactly that. You can choose: return to your rescue capsules, or stay here and follow our arrangements. The decision is yours. How does that sound?"
With each sentence, Lu Tianming took a step forward. In response, the refugees instinctively retreated, avoiding his advance.
His words, his gaze—they carried an intimidation that triggered a primal fear within them.
Even though Lu Tianming was smiling, to them, it was anything but friendly... more like a predator's lure.
As if biting into it would inevitably provoke the fiercest counterattack.
Thud.
The sound of a shoe heel hitting the wall echoed, followed by a sudden jostle in the crowd. The refugees abruptly realized—they had nowhere left to retreat.
No escape, no avoidance... They were forced to lift their heads and meet Lu Tianming's chilling, subtle gaze.
"Anyone who wants to leave, step forward now?"
Seeing that no one spoke up, Lu Tianming reminded them again... but in this atmosphere, who would dare move? Who would even consider it?
Anyone with a shred of common sense knew—staying aboard this battleship was their best chance of survival!
"Have you all made your decision? If you don't choose now, leaving won't be an option later."
Badgiruel and Murrue exchanged a glance before she coldly stated their support for Lu Tianming's stance.
Some in the refugee group, realizing they couldn't win through reasoning, had been about to challenge Lu Tianming's authority. But seeing the deputy captain publicly back him... they could only swallow their words and retreat in frustration.
After all, they still needed to stay here... They couldn't afford to offend all the important figures at once.
Just as Lu Tianming had said earlier... it was enough to make a scene to a certain extent.
"Of course, there's no need for everyone to worry. We won't force anyone to do anything beyond their capabilities. Just do what you can..."
Seeing that the situation was improving, Murrue softened her tone, giving these people who had been backed into a corner by Lu Tianming a way to save face.
The refugees, upon hearing Murrue's words, felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They nodded repeatedly, promising to fully comply with the ship's arrangements and that no similar incidents would occur again.
Their attitude was a world apart from the aggressive stance they had taken initially...
"Since no one is taking action, I'll assume everyone accepts the previous plan... Now, please follow the staff's instructions to register your identities in an orderly manner and await further arrangements."
Seeing that no one objected, Lu Tianming nodded with satisfaction.
The relevant staff, hearing this, began to move into action—guiding the refugees one by one to register their identities and assign rooms. The refugees themselves were eager to escape from Lu Tianming's sight... Who knew what might happen if they stayed here any longer!
——————————————
"I never expected you had such skills, Tianming. You scared me when you walked right up to those troublemakers without saying a word earlier."
In the ship's corridor, Mu patted his chest, wearing an expression of relief as if he had narrowly escaped disaster.
Those troublemakers... He, Murrue, and Badgiruel had struggled for so long without resolving the situation, yet Lu Tianming had managed to discipline them into submission as soon as he arrived. It was truly astonishing.
"Tianming has always been highly capable in persuasion. Back in Heliopolis, it was Lu Tianming who personally convinced those students to come and help."
Murrue said with a smile, clearly remembering what had happened in Heliopolis... Initially, Kira and the others were unwilling to follow orders, but after Lu Tianming spoke a few words to them, they agreed.
"But your attitude back then seemed much better than it was just now... Was that intentional?"
"Of course it was intentional. One should be courteous before resorting to force."
Noticing that Murrue had picked up on the difference in his attitude during the two persuasion attempts, Lu Tianming smiled and nodded, explaining.
"I'm always willing to reason with those who are willing to listen, but since your efforts earlier had no effect, there was no need for me to repeat what you had already said, right?"
"When dealing with troublemakers, you have to come down hard. They didn't even thank us for saving their lives and instead kept pushing their luck. What else could they be but troublemakers?"
Lu Tianming casually joked, then cleared his throat, his expression turning serious as his tone grew more solemn:
"Actually, the most important issue is the distinction between enemies and friends. We can treat friends with kindness... but when facing enemies, we must bare our blades. Compromise and retreat will only embolden them."
"Enemies...?"
Murrue and the other two were taken aback, surprised that Lu Tianming had categorized the protesting refugees as enemies in his mind.
"Yes, the refugees started protesting and pushing their limits... Part of it was due to the emotional pressure of being in a confined space, but I think another part of it was that someone was inciting them."
"They may not necessarily harbor any ill intentions, but are perhaps merely accustomed to acting as opinion leaders—stirring up public sentiment, guiding public opinion, organizing protests to gain bargaining chips, thereby securing their initiative in shipboard activities and their status within social circles.""
"My earlier admonition served two purposes: first, to calm the impassioned crowd being led astray and help them recognize who truly ensures their survival; second, to send a clear signal to these hidden adversaries—we will not concede, cease your futile actions, or face the consequences."
"And evidently, they understood the message conveyed in my words."