Hearing Sebastian Crawford's words, Sierra Sullivan gave a silent, cold laugh.
'He sure makes it sound nice,' she thought.
'If he really had the guts to go out and look for supplies, why would he be nagging endlessly outside my door?'
Although Sierra was very curious about how one acquired a Superpower, she ultimately remained silent.
Sebastian Crawford finished speaking and waited for a while, but still received no response.
His face didn't show it, but he was furious inside.
'I've already laid it all out for her, and Sierra Sullivan still won't make a sound. She has absolutely no respect for me.'
But against someone like Sierra, who was impervious to both threats and persuasion, he really couldn't think of a good solution on the spot.
Troy Lowell was also surprised that even after Sebastian Crawford revealed his Superpower, Sierra Sullivan remained completely unmoved.
"Mr. Crawford, this Sierra Sullivan is being way too disrespectful! We have to teach her a lesson!"
Troy Lowell thought he was sticking up for Sebastian Crawford.
But in reality, his words put Sebastian right on the spot.
Sebastian Crawford looked at Troy Lowell, his expression blank. "Fine. You get her to come out, and I'll be the one to teach her a good lesson."
"I—"
A flash of awkwardness crossed Troy Lowell's face.
"You're joking, Mr. Crawford. I don't have that kind of ability!"
'Sebastian Crawford just said that you'd need a cannon to force open that folding door.'
'Where am I supposed to get a cannon?'
'If I actually had a cannon, I wouldn't even care about the piddling amount of stuff Sierra has!'
Sebastian Crawford couldn't be bothered to talk to Troy Lowell anymore. "Since she's dead set on not coming out and refuses to team up with us, then forget it! We can't force her against her will. Let's go!"
Mandy Sinclair had been waiting to see Sierra Sullivan suffer. Hearing that Sebastian Crawford was about to leave, she grew anxious.
"Why are you leaving already? We haven't gotten the supplies! Mr. Crawford, that little brat Sierra is treating you with such contempt, how can you let her off so easily—"
Sebastian Crawford's gaze turned icy as he stared straight at Mandy Sinclair.
"Are you taking me for a fool?"
"Wh-what?" Mandy Sinclair's body went stiff, and she instinctively took two steps back. "Mr. Crawford, what are you talking about? How could I take you for a fool? I wouldn't dare!"
"You wouldn't dare?" Sebastian Crawford sneered. "Who's more daring than you? You have a grudge against Sierra Sullivan, so you're trying to provoke me into dealing with her while you watch the show from the sidelines. Am I wrong?"
With her plan laid bare by Sebastian Crawford, word for word, Mandy Sinclair broke out in a cold sweat.
"I—I—"
Mandy Sinclair wanted to explain, but Sebastian Crawford had no interest in hearing it.
"Don't think you're the only smart one in the world, treating everyone else like idiots! If you want us to stick our necks out for you, you'd better be able to pay the price!"
Every one of Sebastian Crawford's words was like a heavy hammer blow, striking Mandy Sinclair's heart.
Mandy Sinclair's face was pale, her body trembling slightly.
But Sebastian Crawford had no intention of letting her off that easily.
'The pride I lost dealing with Sierra has to be regained somewhere else.'
'Mandy Sinclair is the perfect target!'
"You said before that you live on the floor below Sierra, right?" Sebastian Crawford started to laugh. "All of us climbed all the way up here; we can't just go back down empty-handed. If you want us to take care of her for you, that's fine, but you have to at least let everyone fill their stomachs first!"
Hearing this, Troy Lowell's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Mr. Crawford is right! All of us can't have come up here just to go back down with nothing! If you treat us to a good meal, we'll definitely help you take care of Sierra Sullivan!"
The others all chimed in in agreement.
The people standing at the stairwell immediately turned and started heading downstairs.
Sebastian Crawford and Troy Lowell followed with smiles on their faces.
Mandy Sinclair, now deathly pale with fear, watched their retreating backs and staggered after them.
"Mr. Crawford! Mr. Lowell! My family really doesn't have any supplies left!"
"I have two young children at home! They're still little, they'll be terrified if they see so many people!"
"Mr. Crawford! Mr. Lowell! I'm begging you, please don't go!"
Mandy Sinclair pleaded nonstop, her voice tinged with sobs.
But no matter what she said, she couldn't change the minds of Sebastian Crawford and Troy Lowell.
Sierra Sullivan watched the monitor.
The screen was now empty.
Everyone had gone downstairs.
'The soundproofing in this building is just too good,' she thought.
Standing by the door, Sierra couldn't hear a single sound from downstairs.
Although she was genuinely curious, Sierra didn't open the door.
'Compared to watching the drama unfold, strengthening myself is more important right now.'
'Sebastian Crawford was right about one thing—I can't stay cooped up in this room forever.'
'I need to be strong enough to ensure my own safety.'
With this in mind, Sierra turned, went back to the living room, and began another round of training.
Outside the door.
The few men left guarding the stairwell looked at the still-shut door, a little disappointed.
"That little brat really knows how to keep her cool!"
"Forget about her. Let's go! We should hurry downstairs too!"
"You're right! If we don't go now, we won't even get the scraps!"
With that, the men hurried down to the 35th floor.
By this time, Mandy Sinclair's apartment was teeming with people.
Dozens of them were roaming through the apartment, searching relentlessly.
Drawers, cabinets, under the sofa, under the table—every nook and cranny was turned upside down.
Anything and everything edible or drinkable was completely plundered.
Not only that, but some people also pocketed gold and silver jewelry on the side.
Granted, it was the apocalypse now, so these things might be useless.
But what if?
What if this sandstorm ended soon?
Best to take the stuff first and worry about it later!
Sebastian Crawford sat on the living room sofa, not participating in the search.
But he didn't have to; plenty of people were there to bring their findings to him.
Several bottles of mineral water that looked expensive just from the packaging, a few bottles of foreign liquor, and some exquisitely packaged bread, cookies, and nuts—all clearly imported goods.
Sebastian Crawford gave the items a cursory glance before saying to Troy Lowell, "I don't need any of it. Go ahead and split it with everyone else."
"You're so generous, Mr. Crawford! Thanks, Mr. Crawford!" Troy Lowell said immediately.
Hearing this, the others also started shouting their thanks along with Troy.
The voices of dozens of people echoed through the living room, deafening.
Sebastian Crawford waved his hand, silencing the crowd.
Sebastian Crawford looked at the tear-streaked, ashen-faced Mandy Sinclair. "Next time you want to use me and everyone else as your personal weapon, remember to prepare the payment first!"
With that, Sebastian Crawford stood up and said to the crowd with a smile, "Let's go! We'll head back and discuss when to go out and search for supplies."
The supplies from Mandy Sinclair's home amounted to very little. Once divided among everyone, it was gone in two bites.
It was barely a mouthful, let alone a full meal.
If they wanted to eat and drink their fill and survive for a while longer, they still had to go out and find supplies!