Shi Ke's body was just left there on the ground, his limbs still twitching occasionally. The entire process, from start to finish, took less than two minutes. The scene fell into silence. The Bounty Hunters gathered in the middle of the hall, including the few standing around, hadn't reacted yet. Most of them stood frozen, at a loss, or in shock, fear, or anger. However, Feng Jun was more concerned about the pair of siblings Hei Qin had just mentioned and the several Evolvers he sensed.
This action successfully attracted the attention of those Evolvers, who all turned their gaze towards Feng Jun. From their eyes, Feng Jun could feel some hostility; high-level Evolvers could sense each other, and these individuals could also perceive that Feng Jun was an Evolver of no low level.
Aside from those twelve individuals, the rest were somewhat stronger Bounty Hunters. These people had already been subdued by Fang Xinglong's earlier display, completely losing their initial belligerent demeanor.
Seeing that the purpose of deterrence had been achieved, Feng Jun called Fang Xinglong back. Although he had the ability to kill all those who had led the commotion, doing so would turn all the Bounty Hunters against him. For dealing with these people, a carrot and stick approach was more effective.
A few sharp-eyed Imperial Guards had already come forward to clean up Shi Ke's body and blood. Feng Jun coughed twice to clear his throat, then said, “Since the instigator has been punished, this matter is concluded. I am the de facto controller of New Shangqing City. I came today originally to appoint the head of the Bounty Hunter Guild and to announce some benefits specifically for the Bounty Hunter Guild.”
As soon as Feng Jun finished speaking, the Bounty Hunters in the hall began to whisper. None of them had seen Feng Jun before; they only knew that the forces from Longmen Town had taken over Huaicheng District and renamed it New Shangqing City, but they didn't even know if this new authority figure was male or female. And upon hearing that he was going to appoint a new head for the Bounty Hunter Guild and announce some welfare policies, it further piqued the curiosity of most Bounty Hunters.
“The era of Huaicheng District is over; the time when five factions coexisted has ended. Now, this place is named New Shangqing City, and we no longer have the energy to waste on internal conflicts. I believe all you Bounty Hunters experienced the last Zombie Tide, didn't you? And the black mist that caused the tragedy in Huaicheng District is related to the Blood Nest in the Old Shangqing City Wasteland.” Feng Jun continued to speak amidst the crowd. “While most people still consider the Zombie Tide and Mutant outbreaks as natural viral evolution, new enemies have long since quietly risen and sent parasitic entities to infiltrate among us. The Blood Nest has given birth to a Mother consciousness, similar to a leader. If this consciousness continues to evolve, it will eventually destroy our entire human race.”
Feng Jun took the opportunity to reveal the Mother's consciousness. In an unstable internal environment, besides the deterrence of strong power, establishing a powerful external enemy is very useful. Moreover, zombies and humans are naturally antagonistic, with no room for reconciliation between them. In the Doomsday environment, hiding the Mother's news offers no benefit; it's better to reveal it in advance as a pressure to unite internally. If it were a government in peacetime, it would likely adopt a policy of secrecy regarding a threat like the Mother, to avoid causing panic among ordinary citizens.
Upon hearing Feng Jun's words, all the Bounty Hunters were greatly shocked. Most of them had experienced more than one Zombie Tide, and exploring the ruins in Old Shangqing City to collect supplies was a frequent occurrence. Although most of them had left Huaicheng District during the civil war, they were very clear about the devastation caused by the black mist. But they had never imagined that there was a conscious entity behind all of this, controlling it. This news, for them, was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire hall became heavy. The Bounty Hunters, who had been whispering, all fell silent, their faces showing worry and fear. They knew that this meant the enemy they faced was far stronger and more dangerous than they had imagined.
Feng Jun looked at everyone's reactions, secretly pleased. His goal was to use this news to make these Bounty Hunters understand that they needed a strong leader to guide them against this powerful enemy. And he himself was the best candidate for this leader.
“I know this news is hard for everyone to accept, but that's the truth.” Feng Jun continued, “I hope everyone can unite and face this powerful enemy together. And I will lead everyone to fight against this enemy and protect our homeland. As for prohibiting large weapons and vehicles from entering the city, that is also for safety. After all, the tragedy of this black mist was caused by parasitic entities infiltrating the old leadership of Huaicheng District.”
Hearing Feng Jun's words, some Bounty Hunters began to whisper amongst themselves. Some of them began to trust Feng Jun, believing that he had the ability to lead them against this powerful enemy. Others, however, remained skeptical, thinking that Feng Jun might be using this news to consolidate his own position.
Nevertheless, Feng Jun's goal had been achieved. He had successfully attracted the attention of these people and made them start considering uniting to fight against this powerful enemy. Next, he only needed to continue working hard to win their trust and support, and then he would truly be able to control this New Shangqing City.
Feng Jun stood in the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. He knew this was a critical moment; he needed to consolidate his leadership and ensure the Bounty Hunters supported his policies.
“I know that as Bounty Hunters, each of you faces immense risks and challenges.” Feng Jun's voice was firm and powerful, “To meet these challenges, we need to act in an organized and planned manner. That is why I have decided to appoint Hei Qin as the head of the Bounty Hunter Guild.”
In the former Huai City, Hei Qin was a relatively prestigious figure. Although she was allied with Zhu Wenyao, Hei Qin would always mediate and resolve issues in a fair and just manner on matters that did not involve their fundamental principles. At that time, the Blackwater Merchant Guild she led was the most reputable force within Huaicheng District. Her fair conduct earned her the respect of many. Feng Jun's choice of her as head was undoubtedly a wise decision.
Hei Qin stepped forward, her gaze resolute, her voice clear: “I am honored to accept this position, and I will do my best to lead our guild towards a brighter future.”
Subsequently, Hei Qin began to introduce the policy benefits proposed by Feng Jun. The first policy was the establishment of Bounty Hunter identity files, meaning every registered Bounty Hunter would receive official recognition and protection. More importantly, they would receive a free house, which was a tangible reward for their hard work.
The second policy was to encourage Bounty Hunters to kill high-level Mutant zombies. This was not only to protect human safety but also to provide Bounty Hunters with the opportunity to earn higher rewards. If they could obtain the gene seed (which is xin he (heart cores), and will be uniformly referred to as gene seed from now on for convenience) from the zombie's body, they could receive double the reward, which was an irresistible temptation for many Bounty Hunters.
The third policy was the establishment of a Bounty Hunter armory. This was a completely new concept, meaning Bounty Hunters could rent weapons for free as long as they accepted missions issued by the New Shangqing City government. This would undoubtedly greatly enhance their combat effectiveness while also alleviating their financial burden. However, this was limited to when working for the New Shangqing City government; for personal jobs or other work, a certain rental fee would still need to be paid.
When Hei Qin finished introducing these policies, the entire hall erupted. These policies would undoubtedly greatly improve the lives of Bounty Hunters and enhance their combat efficiency. Many expressed their respect for Feng Jun, believing that under the new policies, they would be better able to protect themselves and contribute more to the safety of New Shangqing City.