Building a Safe Zone with My Harem In The Post-Apocalyptic World-Chapter 98: Rejected & Specialist Ticket

Delilah slowly lifted her head, only to meet the disappointment and shock in Gideon’s eyes. A moment later, it shifted into anger, and her breath caught as she realized what she had just done.

"That’s not what I meant—"

"So that’s it. You should have said that from the start instead of giving me false hope."

His voice was cold, and it made her heart beat faster. She knew she had to fix this, but she didn’t know how.

In the past, rejecting people had always been easy. She could do it again and again without even looking back. But this time was different.

She didn’t want to lose him.

"Let me explain, I was—"

"Stop. Don’t say anything." Gideon turned his back, then glanced at her over his shoulder.

"I won’t bother you anymore, though I don’t think I ever did in the first place. But don’t try to come between your daughters and me. That’s where you cross the line."

"Wait!"

He started to leave. Delilah reached for his hand, but he slapped it away instantly, and just like that, he disappeared into the crowd.

Her hand lingered in the air before falling slowly to her side.

"What should I do?" she murmured.

Delilah knew they would meet again; hell, they spent time together often, they lived under the same roof, after all.

But this conversation hurt her just as much as it hurt him, and worst of all, she had just realized something she could no longer ignore.

She might actually like Gideon in that way.

***

Gideon walked quickly through the crowd, his steps sharp and restless as he tried to clear his head.

He needed to focus on work, on building the territory, on anything that would push this feeling aside.

So what if Delilah rejected him before he even made a move? She brushed against his ego as if it were nothing and crushed whatever genuine feeling he had.

There were plenty of women he could have had. Women he could flirt with, sleep with, get pregnant, and bring into his safe zone as part of his harem.

He already had Freya and Summer, and there were others he had been eyeing, like Elaine, Lucia, and Jade. Even that Regional Guild Master!

There were choices everywhere, more than enough to replace whatever this was supposed to be.

And yet, the anger and disappointment refused to fade, because none of them was what he actually wanted.

"Fuck... this is the first time I’ve been rejected, and worst, she’s just like any other woman, what’s so special about her anyway?" he muttered when he finally found a place to stop and breathe.

He dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "It doesn’t matter who it is. I just need to build my harem, keep the economy running."

He let out another breath, slower this time, trying to steady himself.

"Calm down. It’s fine. There are plenty of fish in the sea."

But even as he said it, it didn’t sit right with him.

Gideon shook his head sharply, forcing himself to refocus. He needed to prioritize. Water came first.

He had already implemented the Underground River Terrain, stretching from the agricultural zone to the commercial district, so setting up a pump system, communal bathrooms, and multiple water access points should be manageable.

If done right, it would cover most of their daily needs, especially hygiene.

With the heat getting worse by the day, this could not wait. If they delayed, the disease would spread, and once that started, it would be far harder to contain.

For now, the residents had been digging pits for waste, building crude, traditional latrines that barely required water. It worked, but not for long.

The waste was piling up too quickly, and in this kind of environment, it would only take a few days before it became a serious health risk, especially for the children.

"Let’s set up a proper waste system too," Gideon muttered.

He opened the system and went straight to the inventory.

There it was. A glowing ticket hovered in front of him.

[Civil Engineer Specialist Ticket]

Gideon stared at it for a moment before selecting it.

"Use."

[Do you want to use this ticket?]

"Yes."

[This is a special SSR ticket with no time limit. The character you receive will be random in physique, gender, and personality.]

[However, their knowledge will match their specialization. It is recommended that you provide proper tools and working conditions to maximize efficiency.]

[Like human beings, they are capable of emotion and growth. They are essentially human, but they will never betray or disobey you.]

[Are you ready for this responsibility?]

Gideon narrowed his eyes slightly. The wording felt strange, almost like a warning.

It reminded him less of hiring a worker and more of being asked if he was ready to take responsibility for something alive, like adopting a pet or raising a child.

"But they’re all adults, right?" he asked.

[Yes. All are adults.]

"Then fine. I’ll use it."

Right now, he did not have the luxury to hesitate. The territory’s water and sanitation problems had to be solved immediately.

[Ticket has been used!]

—

[Name: William Sinclair]

[Sex: Male]

[Age: 35]

[Specialization: Structural & Water Infrastructure Engineering]

[Rank: Senior Engineer]

[Experience: 12 Years]

[Personality: Professional, introverted, calm, highly controlled, perfectionist]

[Likes: Clean environments, efficient subordinates, structured workflow]

[Dislikes: Incompetence, disorder, insects]

[Passive Traits]

→ Precision Planning (+15% efficiency)

→ Strict Supervision (+10% build speed, morale -5%)

→ Adaptive Engineering

[Flaws]

→ Perfectionist (may delay urgent work)

→ Control-Oriented (conflicts with strong personalities)

[Background]

→ Former crisis-zone infrastructure consultant

—

A faint light appeared in front of Gideon, gradually taking shape into the silhouette of a man. Within seconds, the figure solidified, and William Sinclair stood before him.

He had slicked-back black hair and striking blue eyes behind a pair of glasses. His features were sharp, with a strong jawline that gave him a composed, almost intimidating presence.

He stood tall, around 185 centimeters, with a lean build.

His attire contrasted heavily with the surroundings, a neat office suit with a tie, and a tablet held firmly in his hand.

William adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"Greetings, Lord Gideon. I am ready to fulfill your request. Please give your instructions, and I will begin planning immediately."

It was as if he had been designed for this role, already aware of why he was here, with no hesitation or confusion.

Still, judging from his personality, Gideon could already tell this man would not handle the current conditions well.

The house itself was clean, but with people constantly coming in and out, it was far from orderly. For someone like William, it would be overwhelming.

’I should build him an office on the second floor... and a proper room too,’ Gideon thought.

Fortunately, the system allowed him to expand the house using Love Coins.

"For now, I need a water pump system for the temporary settlement, along with toilets, faucets, and communal bathrooms. You understand what’s needed."

Gideon trusted both the system and William’s expertise. If anything, William would know better than him what was required.

"If you need materials, just tell me. I’ll provide them immediately."

"No need, Lord Gideon." William lifted his tablet slightly.

"I can procure everything through this. However, I will require your approval before proceeding. For a project of this scale, temporary and serving a small population, approximately thirty-five residents, correct? It should not take long."

"Yes, but the Freebound men will be staying for a while, and the construction workers will arrive tomorrow. I want a separate water system and sanitation facilities for them. The workers will also need temporary housing."

"I understand. As for housing, I will coordinate with the construction supervisor. Temporary shelters are usually handled by their team. You will only need to supply the materials."

William took out a stylus and glanced at Gideon. "Please confirm the numbers so I can calculate the required facilities."

"The construction workers will be around thirty men. The Freebound group that comes regularly is about twenty-five."

"Understood." William tapped lightly on his tablet. "Now, do you prioritize comfort or efficiency? And what is the budget for this plan?"

"Efficiency comes first since this is temporary, but I don’t want them living in miserable conditions just to use a toilet. As for the budget, use whatever you need."

William gave a small nod. "Based on the Sphere Handbook, the minimum standard is one toilet per twenty people, one communal bathing facility per fifty, and one water point per two hundred fifty."

"However, since you also want a reasonable level of comfort, I propose five toilets, one communal bath for the residents and Freebound personnel, and the same arrangement for the construction workers."

"As for generators, at least two with one backup generator."

He paused briefly, then added, "We should continue this discussion in a more suitable environment. This heat is... less than ideal."

A thin layer of sweat had already formed on his forehead, clearly unaccustomed to the climate.

"Sure. We’ll head through the residential zone so you can assess the area and decide on a suitable location for the workers’ camp. I’ll also introduce you to the others, just follow my lead."

William nodded once and fell into step behind him without another word.

After a short walk, they arrived at the temporary settlement. The tents had been arranged neatly, and residents were lining up in an orderly queue. At the front stood Aria, who immediately waved when she saw him.

"Boss! I set up a booth to register workers!" she called out, grinning brightly.