Building a Safe Zone with My Harem In The Post-Apocalyptic World

"Maybe she’s lying. It could be a back order that doesn’t need to be written in the ledger," Elaine said, her tone steady but sharp.

"After all, I kicked her men out of Climber Rift. That was one of their biggest sources of income."

Gideon considered her words carefully, because they made sense. Elaine knew Piggy far better than he did, and she was not the type to throw accusations without reason, which meant there was a strong possibility she was right.

"Then we make her talk," he said.

Piggy’s face immediately turned pale, sweat dripping from her temple down to her already damp clothes as she shook her head repeatedly, panic breaking through whatever composure she had left.

"You can torture me all you want. Hell, you can split my head open and I swear you’ll find nothing," she said, her voice trembling despite trying to sound firm.

Even the boss of Skull Fangs could not hide her fear when death was staring her in the face.

"But..." she paused, hesitation creeping into her expression as if she was trying to recall something she had ignored before. "We did lose some men."

Her voice dropped slightly, uncertain now. "I didn’t think much of it since people leave all the time. Some of them get chicken out and run, so I just assumed it was the same case. But now that I think about it..."

She swallowed. "Maybe they were killed, and someone took their gear to make us look like the ones responsible."

Gideon narrowed his eyes, because that explanation carried weight. If it was true, then whoever attacked Delilah’s bunker was not acting under Skull Fangs at all, and instead wanted to frame them while taking whatever was inside that place.

The lab.

That was the only thing valuable enough to risk something like this. He saw the inside of it once, that place was tied to the old government and filled with research that should have never existed in the first place.

He also remembered what she said about Eagle Union, that they were not reckless fighters but former soldiers, researchers, and even some of them came from Astrain and defectors who had structure and discipline.

Moving through Freebound territory fully armed without consent from Jade and worse, still using their badge did not fit their usual behavior at all.

Elaine clearly thought the same, because her eyes sharpened as she looked down at Piggy.

"Eagle Union isn’t as stupid as Skull Fangs," she said coldly. "You’re a bunch of fools, they’re professionals."

She stepped closer, her presence pressing down on Piggy as she continued, "If you don’t want to die, tell me everything. I know you’re hiding something."

This time she did not raise the pistol. Instead, she pulled a knife from her boot and pressed the cold blade against Piggy’s cheek, slowly dragging it down to her chin just enough to cut the skin, leaving a thin line of blood behind.

"Or do you want me to ruin what’s already broken?" she added quietly.

Piggy’s expression hardened, though the fear in her eyes did not disappear. Gideon could hear the faint grind of her teeth as she closed her eyes for a brief moment, clearly weighing what she should say and what she should keep hidden.

"This is just a rumor from HQ," she finally said. "But something is wrong with Eagle Union."

Gideon’s focus sharpened immediately.

"At their main base, they stopped taking missions. No movement, no activity, they just stayed there as if waiting for something," she continued, her voice unsteady but clearer now that she had started.

She took a breath before going on. "They sent an SOS signal once to Edelweiss Town, a nearby faction territory. That place sent people to check, but none of them came back."

Her voice lowered after that. "The leader there thought they got wiped out by a sandstorm, but honestly... I don’t think that’s what happened. Something is wrong with them. That’s just my guess."

The room fell quiet after that.

Elaine slowly pulled the knife away, her expression unreadable as she processed everything, before turning her head toward Gideon.

"We need to talk," she said, her tone serious.

Gideon nodded without saying anything and followed her out of the room, his mind already piecing everything together, because whatever this was, it was something far larger than he had initially expected

They stopped at a cell not far from where Piggy was held, and Elaine leaned against the metal bars, letting out a slow breath before speaking.

"She was honest, but she didn’t say everything yet."

"So you want to torture her? I can give you a room," Gideon replied, glancing back briefly, knowing well enough that Elaine was far more capable than him when it came to breaking someone mentally.

Elaine shook her head slightly. "No, she won’t say anything. Or worse, she’ll bite her tongue and kill herself before we get anything useful. I have a better idea."

Gideon frowned, folding his arms as he looked at her. "And that is?"

"You take her to your territory as a captive and convince her slowly to talk."

The answer made him pause, confusion clearly written on his face because just moments ago she had been beating Piggy without hesitation, and now she was suggesting keeping her alive. It didn’t match, and he couldn’t understand what changed.

As if she already knew what he was thinking, Elaine continued, her fingers unconsciously moving to her braid.

"I’ve known her for a long time. You heard what we said back there, so I won’t repeat it. Piggy craves validation. That’s the only reason she’s still clinging to that garbage faction. She wants to prove she still matters, and more than anything, she hates being abandoned."

She lowered her gaze slightly, her voice quieter but steady. "She’s in denial, and people like her eventually soften when they think they’re being given another chance."

Gideon stayed silent for a moment, processing her words carefully. "And you think we can use that?"

"Yes," Elaine answered without hesitation. "She’s useful."

"What kind of usefulness?"

"Negotiation, trade, commerce," Elaine replied, straightening slightly.

"You think Skull Fangs can move that many goods just by brute force? Sure, they threaten people, but that’s not enough to build something this stable. Piggy handles the deals."

Gideon studied her closely, noticing the slight hesitation behind her confidence, a subtle crack in her composure that she tried to hide.

It was enough for him to realize there was more to her past than she was willing to say, and for now, he chose not to push further.

Moreover, he did need someone like that. His Safe Zone was growing, and sooner or later, brute force would not be enough to sustain it.

Trade and structure would matter just as much as strength. But the risk was equally clear, because Piggy was not just anyone, she was a key figure in Skull Fangs, and bringing her into his territory could easily backfire.

"I’m still not convinced," Gideon said after a brief pause.

"I don’t want someone like her inside my territory. Someone who can step on others and exploit them, especially when the world is already like this."

Elaine’s fingers tightened slightly around her braid, and though she kept her composure, the disappointment in her voice was unmistakable. "I understand."

Gideon exhaled, running a hand through his hair before speaking again. "I didn’t say no. I’ll keep her under strict house arrest, not the comfortable kind, but I’ll need someone to watch her at all times. Someone who takes responsibility for everything she does."

Elaine looked up immediately and nodded. "I’ll do it. I’ll take responsibility, and if she tries anything, I’ll deal with her myself."

Gideon tilted his head slightly, still trying to understand her shift in behavior. "That’s sudden. You looked like you were enjoying beating her earlier."

Elaine let out a quiet breath, and the atmosphere between them grew heavier. "I have a bad feeling about this," she said, her voice more serious now.

He didn’t interrupt.

"Eagle Union is the second strongest faction after the Order of the West, and they sent SOS signals to two different factions or more, even Freebound, which is far from them, and based on their tense history, they wouldn’t do that unless it was something really really urgent."

She paused briefly, then let out a short, uneasy laugh. "And now winter is coming, no one can move and check on them, Jade is busy preparing, and every faction is slowing down at the same time."

Her gaze sharpened. "Do you really think that’s a coincidence?"

The weight of her words settled in.

"That’s why we need information," she continued. "As much as possible. Even if it means keeping her alive and staying under the same roof with that bitch, I’ll take that risk."

"She’s the easiest source we have right now. The mercenary guild won’t leak anything important about their agents."

Gideon fell silent, her words slowly forming a clearer picture in his mind, one that felt far more dangerous than he initially thought.

"Do you think they’re being attacked from the inside?" he asked quietly.

Elaine shook her head once.

"Worse," she said. "They’re already being exterminated."

Elaine’s words were enough to make his eyes widen. It was also a possibility, a horrible one.

But still, one question is lingering. "Who and why sent those men to the bunker then?"