Chapter 34: Population Decline

Interestingly, all three had different absorption rates. Kevin Lake showed the best talent—perhaps due to his preexisting fitness.

His Strength rose from an initial 8 to 14, surpassing normal human limits. Anna Young jumped from 4 to 9, suggesting she hadn't been very athletic before.

Rena Dane lagged slightly, going from 6 to 9, half Kevin's gain. Logan wasn't sure why she absorbed less.

A disgusting mudlike substance oozed out of their pores, stinking of impurities. Logan, feeling nauseated, waved them outside. It was raining heavily, so they could rinse off for free in nature's downpour.

Once Logan finished his own meal, he noticed Bella's belly swollen from overeating. How she managed to fit so much inside her tiny body was a mystery—and whether she could still fly was another.

Logan looked at Bella and wondered, "Am I turning this cute elf into a chubby ball?" Imagining her waddling on the ground like an overweight chicken made him stifle a laugh.

Bella apparently sensed his amusement.

She stared at him crossly, chirped twice, then pretended to ignore him—her small wings too stuffed to flutter.

Logan nearly burst out laughing. Bella was truly intelligent, no less than a seven- or eight-year-old human child.

Just then came a knock at the door. Assuming the three had rinsed off, Logan called, "Come in!"

To his surprise, Rena Dane entered. Her newly woven leaf garment was gone, leaving her completely naked.

She quickly shut the door, stepping closer to Logan.

Her pale skin and alluring figure shone in the dim light.

Logan studied her with narrowed eyes. Because she was now his vassal, no emotional stir arose—he felt nothing sexual, merely observing an object.

"Where are Kevin and Anna? And your clothes?" he asked, frowning.

Rena sauntered forward, swaying her hips suggestively. She tried to seduce him with each movement.

Suddenly, Rena shrieked, her wail so loud it drowned out the thunder. She sounded like a pig being slaughtered.

A cold sneer appeared on Logan's face. He wasn't one to pamper "delicate flowers."

Divine Strength radiated from him where she'd forced his hand onto her body. Her skin deformed, blood spurting. The agony made Rena scream hysterically.

A moment later, Kevin Lake and Anna Young rushed in, hastily dressed in freshly washed leaf-wear. They halted at the gruesome sight of Rena's bloody wound. Kevin dropped his gaze at once, while Anna turned ashen.

Logan's icy voice carried over the commotion:

"Let this serve as a warning. If I let you into my hut, it's strictly for tasks I assign. Clean your minds and actions. Otherwise, Rena Dane's fate will be yours.

"Even if I wanted you in my bed, I'd command it directly. Understood?"

With that, he waved Bella over. "Treat Rena's wound," he said softly.

Bella chirped, rolling her eyes at Logan—apparently annoyed—but conjured pale-green energy that flowed into Rena's skin.

Within moments, the wound sealed, and Rena's pained shudders began to ease.

Logan sent Rena and Anna back to Cabin #3 and stepped outside into the rain to rinse the gore off his hands.

He scrubbed multiple times before the gooseflesh on his arms subsided.

Kevin Lake, head bowed, worried about his own neck. He'd briefly glimpsed Rena naked—would Logan punish him for that? He trembled inside, cursing his misfortune.

Logan glanced at Kevin, confusion flickering on his face. Why were his subordinates so weirdly terrified, practically enslaving themselves mentally? Sure, their free will was restricted, but they still had some independence of thought.

He snorted. "Whatever. Let them figure it out," he muttered, returning inside and dropping onto the blanket, shutting his eyes to meditate while Bella roosted grumpily at his side.

Thunder rumbled, rain pelted the hut, and Kevin Lake stood at stiff attention, mind churning with fear. He realized yet again: if Logan was this ruthless to himself in pursuit of power, what mercy would he spare for others?

"Kevin Lake, get ready," Logan Lane said coolly.

"You, along with Anna Young and Rena Dane, will dispose of the dozens of Icelandic Crab carcasses on the shore. Those are rank-grade items, so handle them properly. If you do well, I'll allow you to send 200 grams of crab meat to your wife. If not—well, you saw what happened with Rena; I'll make you a eunuch. Then your wife can enjoy widowhood."

Logan's gaze was sharp as Kevin shuddered.

To emphasize the threat, Logan tossed his Breeze Sword to him. He wasn't worried Kevin might betray him; as a vassal, he couldn't.

Moreover, Kevin needed a sharp weapon to break the Icelandic Crabs' armored shells.

Logan also preferred not to use the system's direct decomposition. He wanted to see how many extra resources could be salvaged by labor.

He was far from charitable; quick system breakdown would cost valuable item yield.

Now that he had three subordinates, he wasn't about to waste free labor. As for Anna and Rena being women?

"Sorry," Logan thought. "I don't feel any desire for them, so they're basically big, strong men in my eyes." No need to be gentle—they were there to work.