He followed the man's gaze.
He saw Shinji, who had escaped from the Alexandria Community, now looking at a middle-aged man in a suit with a face full of smiles.
The smile on Shinji's face reminded Spencer of the time when he was in charge of the Search Team.
As a result, he felt even more unbalanced.
He angrily threw down the axe in his hand, but seeing the gazes cast from all around, he dejectedly picked up the axe again.
At this moment, he was in the Camp set up by the historical museum.
This place was also a survivor Camp that only existed after the apocalypse. Because of its excellent terrain, being on a hill that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, they gave the Camp a name.
—Hilltop
This was the Camp's strength and its characteristic.
Just saying the name would immediately bring this Camp to mind.
When Spencer mustered the courage to bring people to seek refuge, the person in charge here was clearly delighted.
His tone was gentle, his attitude was very good, and he even provided hot water and housing, which at one point made Spencer think he had returned to his life in the Alexandria Community.
But good times didn't last; less than two days later, they threw some farm tools and implements at them, telling them to work for Hilltop.
It was only then that Spencer belatedly woke up from the sugar-coated bullets.
He realized that the reason they were so good to him and his group was actually for another purpose.
Simply put, Hilltop was not particularly short of survival supplies; what it currently lacked most was people, labor.
People have always been one of the important resources in the new era, and this remains true everywhere.
It was just that the people of the Alexandria Community had been too well protected, so much so that even Spencer, who was originally a key figure responsible for armed resistance and searching for supplies, did not understand such a simple truth.
He even thought that others were simply friendly, which was why they warmly received him and his group.
Little did he know that at the moment they received him and his group, Hilltop had already thought about what kind of work Spencer and the others should be assigned.
"Aren't you working? We need to finish things here before dark today."
The person beside him saw Spencer stop and urged him.
"My mouth is too dry, I want some water."
After speaking, Spencer leaned the axe in his hand against the wall, then walked to the side and asked for some water to drink.
While drinking water, Spencer looked at the middle-aged man talking to Shinji.
His name was Gregor, and he always had a somewhat smiling demeanor when talking to people, appearing quite approachable.
Gregor
It was precisely because of this that Spencer easily let down his guard.
Spencer guzzled two mouthfuls of water from the bottle, looked at Shinji next to Gregor, and his lips moved twice.
He wanted to curse Shinji for being a sycophant, which was why he could easily get a relatively easy job.
Both were laborers, but his job was to assist in counting supplies, which was unknown how much easier it was than heavy labor.
Spencer bit his lip, somewhat conflicted.
But looking at the guy not far away who was about to come and urge him to start working quickly, Spencer finally took the first step.
Spencer came before the two of them. Originally, Shinji was saying something to Gregor, but upon seeing Spencer approach, his voice became much softer, instantly reined in.
"Sir, do you still remember me?"
Even Spencer himself didn't realize that his words seemed to carry a hint of subservience.
In the past, this would have been absolutely impossible.
But now, living under someone else's roof, that self-righteous second-generation official, after experiencing some things, seemed to gradually become more understanding of human nature.
Gregor heard the voice coming from behind him, and he looked at Spencer with a feigned smile.
"Spencer, of course, I certainly remember you."
"Shinji also often mentions that if it weren't for you, they wouldn't have been able to reach Hilltop alive."
Spencer couldn't help but sneer inwardly at the words.
'Perhaps he often mentions that if it weren't for me, they wouldn't have ended up like this, right?'
The group looked as if they were close, but in reality, they didn't have a single true friend.
Ever since joining Hilltop and Shinji took on the job of counting supplies, he had never spoken to Spencer again.
The few others they brought were the same; they were all a bunch of heartless people.
Spencer only dared to curse inwardly, but on his face, he also showed a smile as he looked at Gregor.
"This is what I should do."
If Diana were still here, she would definitely be surprised by Spencer's change.
At least, the current Spencer had learned to hide his dissatisfaction.
And not like before, impulsive and easily angered, and without the strength to match his personality.
"I remember I seemed to have arranged for you to go into the forest to cut down trees to reinforce Hilltop's walls, right?"
"Is it already break time?"
'Damn capitalist vampire!'
Spencer cursed inwardly again, then straightened his face and looked at Shinji, who was following Gregor like a sticky plaster.
"You know I used to be the captain of a Search Team in a Camp; there's something very important."
Gregor was also a sharp person and instantly understood Spencer's hidden meaning.
He looked back, his eyes moving first, as if considering.
Gregor turned his head to look at Shinji, also smiling as he said,
"Since Spencer has something to discuss with me, you go attend to your business first."
Gregor didn't want to offend either party, so he specifically mentioned Spencer.
"Okay, you two talk." Shinji was startled for a moment, his expression unchanged, and he smiled as he greeted Spencer and then left.
He didn't go far, just counting supplies not far behind them.
He seemed to have his back to the two, but in reality, his ears were perked up high.
Spencer merely glanced at him, then proactively requested to go to the office for a detailed discussion.
Gregor's office was inside the former historical museum.
Upon reaching the second floor and sitting in the boss's chair, Gregor finally looked at Spencer.
"What is it? Speak now; there's no one else here."
Spencer hesitated for a moment, as if he hadn't quite thought it through, but being in a difficult position, he secretly gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Life at Hilltop isn't easy, is it?"
Spencer's words made Gregor pause for a few seconds before he asked in return,
"Why do you think that?"
Why?
The life I lived in the Alexandria Community was completely different from the life I live in Hilltop; why do you ask?
Of course, Spencer didn't say it directly, but after a slight rephrasing, he spoke.
"When I was working, I heard them say that it seems our supplies always need to be handed over at regular times and places, leaving only enough basic supplies for survival."
"Otherwise, according to Hilltop's development speed, the Camp shouldn't be this small."
For example, the Alexandria Community in the past, with no one suppressing them, had only about a hundred people, but the Community area was very large, and resources like supplies and firearms were abundant.
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