Apocalypse Landlord: My Tenants Are All Beautiful Heroines.-Chapter 14: Bigshot

James walked in with the guide leading the way. From the outside, the camp looked organized, but on the inside, it was a mess.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of tents were littered throughout the outer boundary. Tents that were only big enough to support two people at most had at least five people in them.

It was far worse for those who were somewhat attractive among the trash there. While they were better physically, they had been destroyed mentally from selling themselves to feed the depraved desires of those who had food to spare.

Just looking at their gaunt bodies gave trauma to James. It was thanks to his hoarding habits and chance awakening as an evolver that they were able to last a year.

If Aiden hadn’t appeared when he did, they too would have joined the camp out of necessity.

What would have happened to Alisha and Lily then? I don’t even want to imagine...

[Tenant: James Irwin’s trust has increased to 55%]

While he was singing Aiden’s praises in his mind, someone rushed out from a nearby tent and wrapped his arms around James’s trousers.

"You look very handsome, sir!" the guy whispered in what he thought to be a sultry voice. "You can bend me like you want for a small price of a snack bar. No one will offer you their dignity cheaper than that! Not even the women—"

Before the man could continue his sales pitch, the guard, afraid that the fucker would lead to a massacre there, kicked him away.

"Get lost before I get you kicked out!"

The man’s gaze shifted between the guard and James’s backpack. He knew there had to be some food in there or the guard wouldn’t be accompanying the man.

The poor guy hadn’t eaten in days, surviving on contaminated water and scraps the camp provided to make ’soup’. It was stuff he wouldn’t even feed to his dogs before the apocalypse, but now he had to survive on those things.

Dignity? What was that?

He had already sold his swollen and disease-ridden buttocks once, and he would continue to do so in the future as long as it brought him food.

Wouldn’t he die without food either? What was the point of obeying the fucking guard then?

Unfortunately, his wish was granted sooner than he expected. The look of defiance he gave the guard had irked him. The guard blew a whistle, and two burly guys almost popped out of thin air.

"Take him to the execution ground!" the guard yelled.

The soulless burly men didn’t hesitate and dragged the man while he kicked his feet in vain. After that, no man, woman, or child dared to approach James.

"Don’t waste your time on them, sir," the guard turned to James. "These are the unevolved people who willingly signed their lives away in exchange for safety."

"I see, so it was a contract?"

"Yes, sir. The settlement chief was a lawyer in the old world and awakened an ability to make contracts. Since these people didn’t have talent or beauty, they are kept here as charity."

It was called charity, but everyone knew exactly why these people were fed so they barely stayed alive. They didn’t have the strength or will to rebel with their half-filled stomachs.

Essentially, they were kept as a buffer zone, call it a secondary line of defense if you would. In the event the walls were ever breached and monsters came in, these people would be attacked first.

By the time the monsters got over killing them, the influential people of the settlement would have either run away or launched an offensive on the monsters, depending on the situation.

James could only nod while thinking about Aiden. He, too, had the power to create contracts. However, he didn’t use it to abuse others as the so-called chief did. It took great strength and character not to abuse one’s strength, and James couldn’t help but admire that.

[Tenant: James Irwin’s trust has increased to 57%]

Aiden would have been confused upon receiving these notifications. That is, if he hadn’t muted them while enjoying Alisha’s care.

"By the way, sir, if you do want to relieve yourself," the guard whispered, leaning in. "We have a brothel in the central market. The merchandise there is top-tier. You wouldn’t find anything like them in nearby areas. I can take you there once you’ve concluded your business."

"What do you—!?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

James was flabbergasted by the sudden offer. He wanted to rebuke the guard, saying he was a married man, but then he remembered the bonus quest Aiden had given him.

Brothels are the center of gossip. It seems the best place to spread the word about the apartments.

Yes, he would do it purely for the mission and not because he hadn’t gotten laid in over a year. Besides, Alisha would never learn about it, so there was no harm.

Even if she did, so what? It’s not like she has ever let me touch her.

"Fine, I’ll think about it," James mumbled. "Take me to the traders first."

"At once."

As they walked in, the guard told James more about the camp and its structure. The camp was divided into three ’rings’. The first was the buffer zone that they walked out of.

The second was the market, where all the traders, shops, and housing units for the guards, low-tier evolvers, and most market workers were located.

It also had a small brothel that doubled as a Job hall where the evolvers could enjoy and take quests.

At last was the rich people’s palace, it was the name of the innermost circle where only the settlement chief, his advisors, and major shop owners lived.

It was the best place to be at in the entire settlement, and the brothel that the guard talked about previously was also located there. It had a bar for business dealings and, most importantly, the warehouse to store supplies.

The place had its own guards with distinct uniforms, and the guards serving in the outer circles weren’t allowed inside the rich people’s palace.

"We’re here, sir. Feel free to visit the stores and conduct trade freely," the guard said, pointing towards the busy square. "I’ll be right here if you need help."

"Thank you," James said and was about to leave before turning around. "Here. Little something for your troubles."

"I-I can’t accept—" the guy stammered, seeing a food pack and a sealed water bottle.

"Just take it."

James wasn’t giving it to him out of kindness. If he had wanted that, he could have given it to the guard at any point. He only took those things out in the busy square to show everyone what he had.

Why?

So that no one would dare take his words lightly. After all, if he just told those whores about the apartment and the absolute protection it provided against monsters, they would just laugh at him.

Even if they didn’t, it was unlikely anyone would believe his words. But that would change once they saw him giving out precious stuff for free.

After all, people are quick to believe someone resourceful.

And from the gazes of people around him, James knew he was right.