Chapter 38: Honest Thoughts

"This is an opportunity for the Smith family."

"With my ability, Library of the World, I now not only have the knowledge, but the ability to control the narrative!"

Bang!

Stomping his right foot hard, Ethan applied so much strength that it made the ground beneath him crack.

"Just imagine it! In a world where all kinds of monsters roam the world..."

"A world where the strong dictate the law!"

"With this knowledge, we Smiths will be that strong!"

"However, that is only possible if you believe in me and trust me to lead you!"

Speaking to everyone in the room, Ethan had decided to appeal to their desires.

Be it the lust for strength or greed for control, in the face of a world where all order was about to be rewritten...

He knew just how desperately those who held power would cling to the slightest possibility of maintaining their position.

In the face of such a situation, if they didn’t want to be swept away by the times, they had no choice but to follow his command.

"I know my Grandfather threatened all of you to surrender while he handed the position of patriarch to me."

"To be honest, even I never expected him to go so far."

"However, when you think of the circumstances, his actions are understandable."

"The Smith family as a whole has been ridden with all kinds of infighting and secrets for a long time."

"If we were to take it slow, then what happens next would be nothing more than the Smith family as a whole being destroyed!"

Listening to these words, a lot of people wanted to refute them.

Some wanted to call him an alarmist, while others wanted to force him to hand over his knowledge and serve the Smith family without granting him power.

However, when they remembered the earlier show Ethan had put on with the illusions and the crack on the ground...

No one dared to say otherwise.

’That’s indeed my grandson; at least with this a few of them should be willing to follow him.’

’Plus, by the time I’m done with my purge, the Smith family will be stable as a rock,’ thought Christian, extremely pleased with his grandson’s actions.

And Ethan, feeling the tide of emotions sway in his favor, felt it was time.

"Alright then everyone, since we’re all here and I don’t think anyone has anything to retort, I’ll begin explaining."

"Although I told you how harsh the apocalypse was going to be..."

"I didn’t tell you that with the help of Grandpa, preparations had already started to be made," said Ethan.

"A few hours from here, an abandoned air-raid shelter has been renovated by us into a state where it’s capable of holding 2,000 people."

"From today, you will begin to prepare to move over with each of your own families."

"Not only that, but when the apocalypse starts, each of you will be assigned to a certain duty."

"Oh, and if anyone has any objections, they are free not to enter the shelter."

"However, once you make your decision, there is no going back."

"At that point, you are officially cut off from the Smith name."

Speaking with all seriousness, Ethan’s command was absolute.

With his mana circle pulsing, a strange wave seemed to spread outward from him, causing the room to feel heavy.

"Also in that shelter, along with us, some people I have personally invited mercenaries and Grandpa’s army buddies will also be there."

"If anyone is caught trying to bully or extort anyone, then you will be killed on the spot for affecting the family unity."

Recalling those camps and shelters he had seen in his past life, most ended up being destroyed due to betrayal.

In this life, he wouldn’t let such a thing happen to the Smiths.

Even if it meant labeling him a tyrant, then so be it.

For a moment, he and Christian seemed to look the same.

Just as Christian was ready to be labeled a kinslayer, Ethan was ready to be labeled a tyrant.

’Plus, to spread the existence of magic and get way stronger, the existence of a large population is necessary.’

’And what better way to gather a lot of people than under the banner of the Smith family?’

With this in mind, Ethan began to give orders.

"As you all know, we don’t have much time before the first."

"To prepare, firstly, none of what was spoken here today should reach the outside world."

"Secondly, we need to split all our resources into as many modes as possible."

"We need someone to be in charge of getting the grains and supplies."

"Another to get medicine and other available medical equipment."

"Next, we need someone in charge of recruiting farmers and other desperate villagers to move to our shelter."

"To have a better future, not one of these things must be missing."

"And if everything can be done, on the day of the apocalypse I’ll help you awaken your abilities."

Smiling at the corner of his mouth, he conjured an illusory wine glass and held it up towards the sky.

"People of the Smith family, now I’ll ask you again, not because my grandpa told you to..."

"And not because there’s a gun pointed at you."

"Tell me, will you accept me as the patriarch?"

Waiting for their response, Ethan looked as calm as if he didn’t care what they chose.

Because to be honest, he really didn’t.

Even if he told them to be honest, if they decided to be honest and still didn’t want him, he would have just pushed out the dissidents.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long as after a few minutes of hesitation, Emilia was the first to speak.

Raising her hand, she looked at her nephew with a smile and wondered when he grew so much.

"I, Emilia Smith, hereby declare my support for the grandson of the current patriarch, Ethan Smith, to become the patriarch!"