After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World novel Chapter 235

Bang!

Huge fists filled with sharp metallic rings connected to Matthew’s stomach, quickly making him lose his footing. His dark-ash blonde hair was uncharacteristically all over his face, sticking as he sweated in pain.

He didn’t speak and just gripped his stomach, coughing in pain, but he didn’t show any hint of fear, despair, or hate—as always.

"Tsk—" the large man sneered, spitting on him. "Did you think you’d escape easily from a punch?" He said, kicking him several times until he couldn’t move anymore.

The larger man’s eyes traced over him, seeming to revel in his pitiful state.

"You think just because you’re the Lord here you can do whatever you want right?!"

Lying down and eating dirt, Matthew forced himself to utter out words, "Brother-in-law…"

"So you STILL remember I’m your brother-in-law!" The man roared as he kicked again, still with more strength. "Do you want your sister’s medicine to be thrown into the mouths of monsters?"

This finally made his impassive look change and he paled further. "No, I—"

The man seemed happy to finally see fear in his eyes, but it naturally did not calm his aggressiveness, and the man habitually kicked a bit more.

"Then why did you stop my men, HUH?!" He yelled, sending him yet another kick, this time on his leg. Matthew gasped and tried to lift himself up to explain.

"I… I thought f-for you." Cough. "It w-was for you to get more."

Interested, the man finally stopped kicking. "Continue."

It took a moment for Matthew to gather himself, but he spoke even before he could. He knew how impatient this man was, after all.

"For producers… it’s better to gain access by cooperation." Matthew used this moment of respite to sit up and wipe the blood from his mouth. "Their territory could produce the items they sell. Our village does not have this capability."

"Then make it so!"

"It’s not that easy!" Cough! "The technical talents are in their territory! Do you think they’d allow us to steal these talents when we beat them up off the bat?"

The man paused, rubbing his bushy beard in thought. "Then what do you plan to do?"

Matthew’s hand gripped the soil beside him, eyes flashing with bitterness. "...gain their trust and gain access to their talents."

He paused, and Higson looked at him in interest. "And? Continue."

Matthew pursed his lips, his eyes darkening. "I will use my… assets to get them back to the territory."

The man stared at him and grabbed his face. He looked at Matthew’s handsome face—the only part of him without bruises.

He cackled, very amused. "Heh, as expected for the brother of a slut."

Matthew wanted to bow his head to hide the uncharacteristic hideous expression on his face, sadly the man held his face firmly and he couldn’t move away at all.