Even If I'm Reborn as a Cute Dragon Girl, I Will Still Make a Harem-Chapter 82Book 6: : Feast

“But weren’t you the one who told me not to do it?”

Facing the black muzzle of the gun, the old man showed none of the fear Woodman had expected. Instead, he gazed at the beautiful sunset and continued calmly, “I regret it now, Woodman. I should have listened to you and thrown every scrap of energy theory into the fire.”

“What’s the point of saying that now? From the moment you started this, I knew this day would come. It was only a matter of time,” Woodman said softly.

“It’s not too late yet—”

“It’s already too late!” Woodman cut him off. “Dean, you know as well as I do—there’s no turning back. Did you see that warship? You think it’s just any ship? No. It’s the hunter’s shotgun. And when it fires, every animal in the forest panics.”

“So you’ve decided to pour fuel on the fire?” The old man’s voice rose suddenly.

“None of this had to happen so fast, Woodman. There was still time for us, our people. But with your gentle push, our race, along with your countless peers, is thrown on an express train, racing straight into hell.”

“Me?” Woodman asked before snorting. “My dear Dean… you don’t actually believe this is all my doing, do you?”

“What… did you say?”

“Don’t forget the era we live in. Under Gaia Center’s watch, the whole network is transparent. Do you think a rumor I made up could last three minutes online, let alone reach this point without any help? Without the tacit approval or encouragement of others, I couldn’t have done this alone. You’re still too naive, Dean.”

“Who? Who’s helping you?”

Ignoring the gun aimed at the back of his head, the old man spun around. His aged eyes burned like molten rock.

“Is it the Director? Or someone else—”

“It’s not the Director.” Woodman pointed upward and said, “Someone higher.”

“Higher…?”

The old man felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. His frail body trembled uncontrollably. “But how did you convince them? Those people… they may have no conscience, but they’re not fools. How could they be swayed by you?”

“I didn’t deceive them,” Woodman said with a smile. “After I made contact, I just asked one question. That’s all.”

“What question?”

“I asked—do you want eternal life?” Woodman’s eyes glinted with a predatory gleam as he held the old man’s gaze, like a demon peering into the human world.

“Eternal life…” The old man’s eyes went wide. “How can you be so sure? Even in the oldest myths, no one ever achieved true immortality.”

“I can’t be sure. But whether or not it’s possible, I know that method can extend life, and that’s enough for those old fools who cling to power and refuse to let go!”

Woodman’s smile widened. “Look behind you, Dean. See for yourself.”

The old man turned his head silently.

In the last light of the setting sun, countless small figures were slowly descending from the warship.

They wore kinetic armor, fully armed but carried no guns. Only massive quantum blades hung across their backs.

“Kinetic armor…” The old man furrowed his brow. “That was retired twenty years ago. Why… bring it back now? And for suppression, firearms are far more effective than blades, no?”

“You still don’t get it, Dean. The people in the lower districts aren’t facing suppression today.” Woodman’s voice turned somber, like singing a dirge.

He lowered his gaze and continued, “It’s gonna be a massacre.”

“A massacre…” The old man finally pieced everything together.

*So that’s why…*

*That’s why there are rumors. That’s why live videos can leak for a full five minutes. That’s why, even with today’s technology, a dangerous criminal can still slip away alone.*

*It’s like leading someone to a trap, dangling bait at just the right moment to stoke the prey’s desire.*

*Now, the prey has entered the arena and the feast has begun.*

*That’s why warships are deployed. That’s why kinetic armor, obsolete for twenty years since being replaced by drone suits, is back in service. That’s why the diners grab their knives and forks, taking their seats at the table.*

“The people inside those kinetic armor suits…”

“At least colonels,” Woodman replied with a mocking curl of his lips. “And even that fossil who’s been rotting in a life-support pod for two decades, despite being so frail he could crumble at a touch, is now standing tall in kinetic armor, determined not to miss this feast.”

He dropped the volume of his voice and added, “Even the one at the very top is in there.”

“What…?” The old man felt strength drain from his body and collapsed to the floor. A broken wail escaped him.

“You… how could you all do this? They’re your own kind!”

“There’s nothing we won’t do,” Woodman said flatly. “For those with one foot in the grave already, they can give anything up for survival. Those worthless commoners mean nothing.”

“What about you, Woodman? Do you have no conscience?” The old man’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the student he had once held in such high regard.

Woodman clutched his chest. “I did, but not anymore. Whether or not you discovered energy theory, as the alliance expands, someone would have eventually unearthed the tragic curse of this race, and it would all still lead here…Most people will still end up becoming fodder for the few in power.”

“If that’s the case, why shouldn’t I side with the few? We’re all going to hell eventually, why not enjoy a few hundred more years before I go? Dean, not everyone is as selfless as you. I’m just an ordinary man!”

Woodman gritted his teeth and continued, “Any ordinary man will inevitably make this choice. That’s why order has collapsed completely in the lower districts. Survival is an instinct etched into our very souls. In this world, only heroes and saints can go against it. But Dean, heroes and saints are rare! Maybe one will only appear every five hundred years! You’re not a hero, and I’m no saint either.”

“…Have you ever considered an even more terrifying outcome?” The old man glared at him and summoned the last of his strength. “Our instincts aren’t just about survival… There’s also greed!”

“It doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” Woodman chuckled. “As long as I’m the one who survives to the end, who cares about instincts?”

The old man fell silent. In that moment, he realized the man standing before him had sunk far deeper into darkness than he had ever imagined.

“Truth is, I didn’t want to kill you, Dean. Even now, you’re still the person I respect most. But outside, there are already people who’ve begun to worship you, the first to discover energy theory, as some kind of deity. You are their spiritual leader, someone who could lead them out of suffering. If you walked out there right now and raised your voice, you’d gain a wave of support.”

“That’s something neither I nor those old men will allow. So I have no choice but to ask you to go to hell first and scout the way for your worshipers. Hundreds of years from now, if I end up in hell, I’ll kneel before you and repent. But for now…”

Woodman pulled the trigger slowly.

“Goodbye, Dean.”