Though he had several ways to deal with the burly man before him, Luo Shu—mindful of conserving his ability uses—opted for deception first.
"I could tell you, but you're not the decision-maker. I'm a special envoy from the Southern Coalition. In one month, our forces will occupy this city. To minimize resistance, we need a local proxy."
At the mention of the Southern Coalition, the man frowned.
The gangs here could scuffle over scraps, but against organized military firepower, they stood no chance.
Most faction leaders dreaded the Coalition's arrival.
But the word "proxy" made the man's eyes gleam.
His gang—a few dozen members with barely a dozen guns—was second-rate in this city.
Aligning with the Coalition could catapult them to dominance.
This was above his pay grade. He hurriedly led Luo Shu inward.
Liu Wei and Shasha moved to follow, but the man glared at Liu Wei's rotting form. "You reek! Stay outside!"
As for Shasha—though he coveted her, business came first.
Once I'm the city's second-in-command, women like her will be lining up.
Under Luo Shu's mental command, Liu Wei remained outside to guard Shasha from harassment.
Luo Shu followed the man into a repurposed hotel conference room—spacious, with living quarters merged into one space.
Electric lights glowed, powered by a diesel generator downstairs.
In this apocalypse, fuel was priceless.
Upstairs and downstairs—two worlds, side by side.
A leather sofa dominated the far wall, where the gang leader lounged with two scantily clad women.
After hearing Luo Shu's claims, the leader shoved the women aside, eyes alight.
"Proof. Show me you're really from the Coalition."
Luo Shu gestured to his outfit. "Is this enough?"
After 20 years of ruin, even preserved clothes were faded or decayed.
Luo Shu's pristine attire—high-end brands bought pre-apocalypse—was irrefutable evidence.
The leader was half-convinced. "Even if you're legit, how do you back your 'proxy' promise? Words won't make us bleed for you."
Luo Shu didn't hesitate. "A hundred guns. Assault rifles, SMGs, squad automatics. Enough?"
He dared not oversell—but even this number made the leader gasp.
A hundred firearms!
His entire gang—including servants and women—numbered fewer.
And automatic weapons? That firepower could crush every rival faction.
"Deal! Where are they? When can we get them?"
Hook, line, and sinker.
Now came the real play.
"They're hidden outside the city. But first, I need to address your people—as the Coalition's representative."
"Fine, fine!"
For a hundred guns, the leader would tolerate a speech or ten.
With just Luo Shu and Shasha—two unarmed outsiders—what threat could they pose?
He summoned every member—fighters, servants, women—to the lobby for the "envoy's" address.
Exactly what Luo Shu wanted.
He instructed Shasha to stay upstairs, then took the makeshift stage.
Flipping to Page 47 of the Compendium:
SCP-3221-2 (Prester John).
Reality-warping charisma.
"Ahem. On behalf of the Southern Coalition—"
"Ours is an age of sorrow. We starve. We sicken. We scavenge in ruins!"
"Yet ours is also an age of hope! A savior has come—to lead you from darkness, to rebuild civilization!"
The gang leader and his lieutenant exchanged baffled glances.
Is this a Coalition speech or a sermon?
Well, if it came with a hundred guns, they'd convert on the spot.
In this lawless world, faith held no power—only tangible gains mattered.
None feared being "brainwashed" by mere words.
But had Achilles' Heel been present, their Kant Counters would've shrieked in alarm.
Luo Shu was warping reality.
As ambient Hume levels plummeted, the crowd's minds grew malleable.
His voice became divine truth, etching itself into their souls.
Who cared about gang loyalties now?
They longed only to serve Prophet Luo Shu, to forge a glorious future.
Mid-speech, Luo Shu felt power surge through him—his personal Hume level rose.
The conversion was complete.
The gang leader collapsed weeping at Luo Shu's feet.
"Master! You are our prophet, our guiding light! Command us, and we obey—even unto death!"
The rest knelt in unison, swearing fealty.
Luo Shu was stunned.
Such potency from a first attempt!
No wonder Prester John turned SCP-3221-1 into his kingdom.
His gaze drifted to the rusted gates beyond.
If I converted this entire world...
Could I become a Tier-5 reality bender?