Ryan turned his head in surprise and glanced at Moon Knight, not understanding why he would think that way.
Ryan shrugged and didn't deny it directly, but instead spoke from another perspective:
"I prefer to call them 'laborers.' After all, times are progressing, and slavery has long since failed to keep up with the era. Now, people have developed a better system..."
"Under this system, the upper class doesn't need to struggle to enslave others. Instead, the people at the bottom will voluntarily work twice as hard for the upper class in order to live a better life, for their families, and for a house to live in!"
"So don't worry, this is definitely not slavery, and you are certainly not my slaves. You are free. You can freely choose to stay in this safe city where nothing is lacking and work just like before the apocalypse, or of course, you can choose... to go out into the zombie World and try your luck?"
Moon Knight fell silent upon hearing this.
Because while this seemed like a free choice, it was actually a single-choice question where the other option meant death!
Especially after experiencing the zombie apocalypse, Moon Knight believed that no one would be stupid enough to choose the second option and seek their own death!
Ryan patted the silent Moon Knight on the shoulder and said meaningfully:
"And you, Eric, you are the first City Lord I have chosen for this city that represents the last hope of humanity. I want you to manage it for me—not for my sake, but for the sake of those remaining survivors on Earth..."
Moon Knight sighed after hearing this.
He knew that he, like those confused people below, had no room for choice at all...
Just as Ryan said, even if not for himself, he needed to think of these survivors.
So he compromised:
"What do you need us to do for you?"
Seeing Moon Knight's indirect agreement, a smile appeared on Ryan's face, and he raised his hand to snap his fingers.
Snap—
In the next moment, on a piece of open ground he had reserved in the center of the city, a huge blue meteorite appeared out of thin air.
Ryan looked at the meteorite faintly emitting blue light and said calmly:
"Although that Vibranium meteorite in Wakanda unfortunately went up in smoke during the explosion of the Infinity Stones earlier—and I must say, that was a great waste..."
"But fortunately, the Vibranium meteorite in Wakanda wasn't the only one in this World; there's another one in the undersea World!"
"And all of you have only one mission: to help me mine this Vibranium meteorite, which is enough to cause a qualitative change in a World's technology tree. Then, according to my orders, manufacture various finished products and transport them to my World!"
Hearing this, Moon Knight finally understood: "You want to turn this place into a factory for your World!"
Ryan pointed at the Earth beneath his feet, his eyes becoming very bright: "Eric, do you know? I've actually had a 'small' dream since I was a child..."
"That was to establish my own Parker Industries. And when I easily realized this dream in my World, it quietly expanded in my heart!"
"Now, what I want is for my Parker Industries to be spread across countless Earths in the Multiverse!"
"Whether it's an ordinary World or an apocalyptic World, I don't want to let any of them go. In ordinary Worlds, I can sell products to generate profit, and in apocalyptic Worlds, I can use them to manufacture products!"
"Selling products at high prices and having low manufacturing costs—the two will form a perfect industrial chain belonging to Parker Industries!"
After finished explaining his 'small dream,' Ryan looked at Moon Knight, the corners of his mouth curling into a capitalist's smile:
"And letting you live, and giving you the supplies needed to survive in this apocalyptic World, will be the wages I give you!"
"How about it? Very fair, right?"
"Oh, right. Tell them that the year-end bonus for working for me is that every year, one hundred outstanding employees will be selected from among everyone to enter the New World. These one hundred outstanding employees will be able to take their families and have citizenship in the New World where there are no zombies!"
Hearing this, Moon Knight's body shook. He suddenly turned his head to stare fixedly at Ryan, as if he could already see the fixed future of this city!
Citizenship in the New World!
With just this one sentence, people would definitely do exactly as Ryan said—for a better life and for their families, they would proactively work their lives away for Ryan!
Terrifying!
Too terrifying!
This guy not only has frighteningly strong power, but he can even manipulate people's hearts with ease!
But even though he realized this, Moon Knight could only accept it helplessly.
Again, he simply had no power to change anything...
Moreover, although these conditions would have been a major violation of human rights before the apocalypse, this was the apocalypse. Human rights?
Don't be ridiculous. To be able to live in a safe city by relying on one's own labor was already an incredibly happy thing!
Next, Ryan took Moon Knight and gathered all the survivors in the city to the center of the large plaza in front of the Vibranium meteorite, and announced this exciting 'good news' to them!
Upon hearing that they were about to become employees of Parker Industries in this World, everyone was a bit surprised at first!
But then, after hearing that food and housing were provided, and that there was a chance to go to the New World, everyone became excited!
Except for a small number of stubborn people who expressed opposition, feeling that this was disrespectful to their human rights, most rational survivors had no objection to this and were full of longing for the New World Ryan mentioned!
As for those suicidal dissenters, Ryan didn't say a word and directly teleported them back into the apocalyptic World outside.
In this apocalyptic World, if you don't want to work, then get out. There are plenty of survivors willing to do it!
This left the troublemakers who had led the outcry—who originally wanted to fight for greater benefits for themselves—completely stunned.
This wasn't right. Shouldn't they discuss it first, then bargain with each other, and finally shake hands and make peace when both parties were satisfied?
How could he just kick them out of the 'room' without a word because of a disagreement?
And these people weren't just kicked out for now; even if they wanted to come back in the future, it would be impossible!
Because this city only allowed exits and no entries, being expelled by Ryan meant losing the right to reside in this only sanctuary forever!
Ryan's swift and resolute methods also immediately intimidated those wavering survivors, and none of them dared to invite trouble again.
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