Reforming a Tyrant: Through the Praise of the People

The city's chat channel was as lively as ever. Today's hot topic? A heated war of words between the so-called righteous survivors and the loyalists of the city center.

For a while, insults flew back and forth like bullets, but then, unexpectedly, the city center defenders went silent.

People didn't think much of it. Discussions quickly shifted to the rescue teams dispatched by the Commander. Should they follow the teams and abandon their makeshift shelters, or hunker down and endure the apocalypse alone?

Suddenly, amidst the chatter, a new message popped up.

"Glory to Captain Chen! Eternal in valor! Fighting for the nation and its people!"

The abruptness of the message left everyone momentarily stunned.

"What? Who's fighting for the people? Surely this is about the Commander, right? I mean, does the Commander's surname happen to be Chen?" someone asked hesitantly.

"Nope," another chimed in. "I know who they're talking about—Captain Chen. He used to be my boss. A real legend."

"Wait. That Captain Chen? You mean the psychotic killer? The one topping the city's most wanted list? Are you serious? That monster's for the people now? Bullshit! The Commander'll take him out sooner or later!"

"Relax, man. Did he kill you? No? Then why are you so mad? Sure, Captain Chen has a high body count, but most of them were violent scumbags fighting him for territory. Not exactly saints."

"Look! The White Bear remnants are defending their murderous leader!" someone jeered. "Who knows the Commander? Let's report this to them right now—let them handle the city center and then deal with the White Bear!"

Just as tensions rose, a calm yet authoritative voice interjected.

"Enough. Captain Chen has already sworn loyalty to the Commander. Consider him... handled. There's no need for your report."

"What? He defected? For real?"

"Believe it or not, word from the front lines says there's this guy—absolutely brutal, unstoppable. Sounds like him."

Confirmation came soon after. Survivors rescued (or "recruited") from the city center began flooding the chat, sharing tales of their dramatic salvation.

And in their stories, one name kept surfacing: Captain Chen.

The chatroom erupted.

"Wait, what? The White Bear joined the Commander? He's saving people now? This feels surreal!"

"Unbelievable. That psycho? The Commander must be insanely persuasive to pull this off!"

"No, no, no—don't call him a psycho anymore. He's 'Captain Chen' now! And tonight, he's saved thousands. That's gotta outweigh whatever he did before."

"Oh, so now he's a hero? Weren't y'all just calling him a monster five minutes ago? Hypocrites."

"Hey! People change! If the Commander can guide him to fight for the nation and the people, then he's one of us now! Simple as that!"

The transformation of Captain Chen's reputation was nothing short of miraculous. Within hours, he had gone from feared warlord to the city's protector—a symbol of strength and redemption.

What sparked this shift wasn't just his heroic deeds but the undeniable influence of the Commander. Without the Commander's mantle of authority—seen as the embodiment of national will—Chen's actions might've been dismissed as a temporary anomaly. But under the Commander's banner, his loyalty felt unshakable.

The chat grew louder with speculation about the enigmatic Commander. Who was this figure capable of taming even a force like the White Bear? Details were scarce—security was airtight, and even the simplest information, like their gender, was classified.

But the lack of facts didn't stop the rumors. If no one had negative things to say, people leaned into the fantastical.

"The Commander is like a beacon—perfect, untouchable, and beyond mortal comprehension!"

Mike, the man behind the Commander's title, sat back, scrolling through the chat with increasing disbelief.

"Wait, what? A flawless leader? A savior of the people? A goddamn hero?"

He groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"This is insane. I'm just a regular guy! A shut-in, for crying out loud!"

As the chat spiraled further into fervent admiration, Captain Chen himself finally made an appearance.

White Bear Refuge: "You're all making a big deal out of nothing. I just handled a minor issue—hardly worth discussing."

Mike raised a brow, smirking to himself. That tone? Classic Chen. Acting aloof while secretly basking in the attention.

The chat exploded again.

"He's here! Captain Chen is here! Damn, he's so cool!"

"Minor issue? Bro, you saved hundreds of people tonight!"

"Exactly! Captain Chen, you're a hero—a true defender of Nanjing!"

Chen's response was characteristically brief.

White Bear Refuge: "Stop it. I've got work to do."

That single line was all it took to cement his image as a stoic, no-nonsense savior.

Mike leaned back with a sigh, watching the chaos unfold. The Commander's mythos grew with every passing second, buoyed by exaggerated rumors and the genuine relief of survivors.

"Guess there's no stopping this train now," he muttered.

Outside, the apocalypse raged on. But inside the city's chat channel, a new legend was being forged—one of redemption, leadership, and the unyielding will to survive.