Chapter 62

Ignoring their reactions, Zachary approached Aaron.

“You mentioned the leader’s authority could be transferred at any time?”

“Of course. You may relinquish your position immediately if you so desire.”

“Can I set a delay so the authority transfers automatically after a specified time?”

“That is possible as well. Simply specify the recipient and the duration.”

Justin couldn’t help but admire the cleverness of the system. With such a delayed transfer, there would be no opportunity for interference from the next leader before the pioneers left.

“Then, in 20 minutes, transfer leadership to Nox. I hereby resign from my position.”

“…!”

Nox’s eyes bulged in shock. He had assumed Justin was bluffing—until now. Around them, the villagers struggled to comprehend what was unfolding.

Sensing the confusion, Justin decided to spell it out for them.

“Alright, quiet down! I’ll explain what’s happening so everyone understands.”

As all eyes turned toward him, he laid out the facts with cold precision.

“To put it simply, I discovered a neighboring stronghold. Their leader challenged me to a fight, and I killed him.”

“…!”

“Naturally, I took over as the new leader. For now, someone else is managing it temporarily, but that’s beside the point.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, their expressions a mix of awe and dread.

“Here’s the important part: that stronghold is far better organized than this place. The villagers there actually respect their pioneers. So, we’ve decided to move.”

“W-Wait, you’re leaving?” A panicked voice rang out.

“That’s right. I, my companions, and Zachary’s entire group. Once we leave, the only pioneers left will be these guys.” He pointed toward Nox and his small clique.

Understanding finally dawned on the villagers’ pale faces. For too long, they had taken their safety for granted under the leadership of Zachary. Now, they would be left behind—under the rule of a man they had every reason to fear.

“We have to transfer leadership to someone before we leave,” Justin continued casually. “Who better than Nox? He’s been itching for power, after all.”

“W-Wait! You can’t just decide this on your own!” a villager stammered.

“Why not? This is our choice. Since when did we need your permission to leave?”

The villager tried to protest but faltered under Justin’s unwavering gaze. What could they offer to stop him? They had never lifted a finger to support the pioneers before.

Turning to Nox, Justin’s voice dropped, laced with mockery.

“Congratulations on becoming the leader you’ve always dreamed of being. You must be thrilled, right?”

“….”

“Don’t even think about trying anything funny.” His voice hardened. “I know what you’re considering. Our absence will leave you dangerously underpowered, won’t it? You’re tempted to coerce us into staying—maybe even flex a little authority while you’re at it.”

Nox flinched, caught off guard by the accuracy of his thoughts.

“Drop the idea. You’re not strong enough to pull it off, and if you try… Well, you won’t live to regret it.”

For a brief moment, anger flashed across Nox’s face. His clenched fists trembled with suppressed fury, but fear quickly overpowered any rebellious impulses.

“Good boy,” Justin sneered, clapping him on the shoulder as he passed. “Keep that attitude. You’ll need it with only seven pioneers under your command.”

As the departing group gathered, ready to leave the failing stronghold behind, Justin called out one final message:

“Alright, let’s move out! Time to leave this miserable place for something better!”

“Damn it… I’ll kill him one day.”

Nox seethed, glaring at the departing group. A follower approached him hesitantly.

“Sir, are we really going to let them leave?”

“What’s the alternative?”

“We could strike from behind—hit them with a spell when they’re not expecting it.”

The suggestion drew a dark scowl from Nox.

“And risk a counterattack? You think we’re the only ones with ranged abilities?”

The truth was harsh—Justin’s elemental magic and Nathan’s archery could easily turn the tide even after an ambush. A single miscalculation could cost them everything.

“You understand what happens if even one of them survives long enough to retaliate? My cooldown would leave me wide open.”

“B-But—”

“Shut up! We’re down to seven pioneers! Every loss weakens us. We can’t afford even a single death right now.”

Despite the temptation for revenge, Nox’s instincts screamed at him to stand down. Any misstep would result in disaster.

“Fine. Let them leave for now,” he muttered bitterly. “We’ll strike back when the time is right.”

A cruel smile curled his lips as the system notification finally echoed through his mind:

《At the request of the previous leader, leadership has been transferred.》
《Nox has been appointed the new leader.》
《Leader privileges and territory development options are now available.》

The moment he had long desired had finally arrived. He turned to the cowering villagers, eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure.

“Enjoyed the peace while it lasted, didn’t you?” His voice was icy. “Those days are over.”

The villagers’ faces drained of color as dread settled over them. Some collapsed from sheer terror as Nox disabled the system’s protection against violence.

“Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Justin returned to his domain, accompanied by Zachary’s group and Nathan’s family.

As soon as he arrived, Rachel wasted no time in relinquishing her leadership role.

《At the request of the previous leader, leadership status is transferred.》
《Justin has been appointed the new leader.》
《Leader privileges and domain development options are now unlocked.》

A satisfied smile crept across Justin’s face as the system messages echoed in his mind.

“Now, things can finally begin in earnest.”

In World Breaker, the real game only started after gaining control of a village. Until now, he had merely been a ‘unit’—a pawn at best. But with this transition, he had officially stepped onto the playing field as a full-fledged ‘player.’

“Status window.”

A soft shimmer of light flickered as the status screen unfolded before him. As the message indicated, new functions had been unlocked—removing violence restrictions, expelling specific individuals, limiting access to shops, and more. Each function was powerful enough to let him rule with an iron fist if he so desired.

“Of course, abusing these now would just drive the pioneers away in an instant.”