Rise Of The Hoarder

I started the rumors, of course. It was a very simple task, and all I had to do was play little tricks. After overhearing everything that went on in Charles' office, I decided that it was the most effective way to resolve the problem.r

'Charles isn't willing to do whatever it takes, so I just have to motivate him a little.'r

I was a 'kind' person, after all.r

While the Scouts who rested in their lounge were conversing about the Horde and what they saw, I managed to manipulate a few Camp members to pass by the door. Also, by using <Steal> to reduce the intelligence Stats of all the Scouts, the already tense people lost their self-control and rambled on about the Horde to one another.r

Their voices were loud enough to leak out of the resting area, causing random Camp members to hear their conversation.r

The Camp members weren't exempted from my <Steal> ability, as I reduced their intelligence levels as much as possible so that they wouldn't even think of being discreet or try to confirm what they had heard.r

Regular people in the Camp were bound to spread the rumors even without their intelligence being stolen, but I wasn't the type to leave things up to chance.r

The rumors spread as expected, and by using <Steal> on every random Camp person, I took away chunks of their intelligence. This made their reaction to the news to be exaggerated and before long, the whole thing blew out of proportion.r

Ana and her righteous crusaders tried to contain the internal conflict, but it all backfired. r

With their lessened intelligence, the sly and crafty Camp Members lost the ability to 'suck up' to the Expedition party as they used to do in the past. Instead, they blamed them and even told them to take responsibility for the horde. Their desperate eyes and ungrateful tone shocked a lot of the Expedition team members while it enraged others.r

Before long, the whole thing had escalated into one massive internal conflict. As such, it was only a matter of time before Charles would be brought into it.r

"That's enough, everyone!!!" Charles yelled, frowning at the commotion he met.r

A wide grin formed on my face as I watched his conflicted expression. r

Most of the conflict was occuring on the ground floor. However, since the apartment was separated into floors, in which a person from a higher floor could see the activities of what was happening on the ground floor, Charles maintained his position on the fourth floor as he was able to view everyone from above.r

"I-it's the Camp Leader…" Whispers began spreading among everyone.r

Even though their intelligence had been shaved off, the Camp Members knew better than to defy the authority of their lord and the one who ruled above them.r

It was a simple hierarchy, one even children were aware of.r

"What is the meaning of this?!" Charles asked with a deep glare.r

His lips were bent in a grim, forbidden manner, displaying his extreme displeasure.r

"W-well, we…" One of the camp members attempted to speak, but instantly shut his mouth the moment Charles shot him a dirty look.r

"Did I permit you to speak?!"r

Everyone gulped as they felt intimidated by Charles. Not only was he as strong as an Expedition team member, but he also had many tricks up his sleeve. No one could lie to him, and he could decipher many things in an instant. He smoothly ran the Camp and saved a majority of people within their organization from a lonely life of survival outside the safe walls of their camp.r

It was safe to say… Charles was like a god to them.r

'Pfft, a god that's my little puppy.' r

This method of control was the best. Indirect rule. This way, I was actually the one in control of the Camp in the shadows, while also gaining enough freedom and mobility to act however I pleased.r

"Daniel, Ana. What the hell is going on?" Charles asked the two most important members of the Camp.r

As expected, they were both trying to stop the riot ensuing, all to no avail.r

Daniel was still flustered, so Ana decided to speak.r

It took some time, but she explained what she knew about the situation. The Camp members tried protesting so as to interrupt her, but Charles made sure there was perfect decorum until she finished.r

After this, he inhaled deeply and exhaled, calming his nerves. I smiled at him from the angle where I stood. That's right, I was at the penthouse, using my binoculars to clearly see everything that was going on from the small hole I made on the roof's surface.r

The people on duty had joined in the riot, so I had all the space to myself.r

"So, because of this news… you've all thrown yourselves into disarray instead of calming down to see reason?" Charles gritted his teeth as he spoke.r

At this point, he was bound to see reason in my logic. People like the regular Camp members were only a waste of space. When it truly mattered, they were not going to be of any use.r

"I didn't want things to happen this way, but since you all know, I have no choice," Charles said.r

"It's true. There's a Horde approaching!"r

His words sent a wave of shocked screams and loud noises of discord and fear. r

"Silence!" r

His voice once again put an end to the loud protests, demanding silence in an instant.r

"Our forces are too small to deal with the number of Hobgoblins approaching us, and our resources are too small to support us fleeing from this place. Therefore, there's only one choice that awaits us." r

A wave of unease permeated the area as they all heard this. Some of them were even beginning to have an inkling of what Charles was getting at.r

"A large bulk of the regular Camp members will need to volunteer and join the expedition force if we are to drive away the Horde!"r

"WHAT?!!!" A loud response of shock, fear, and disbelief came from the audience.r

"A carefully planned strategy is in place and our victory is assured as long as we make up for our lack of numbers… so, as fellow Camp Members, I will ask you… who is willing to join forces with the expedition force in order to form the appropriate subjugation team and protect the camp?!"r

As Charles said this, I smiled in amusement. A wonderful sight would soon be revealed.r