Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

Chapter 115: The Selection

A ripple of confusion tore through the gathered crowd as Hazel finished her introduction. Hundreds of eyes shifted to Jax, their skepticism palpable.

To these hardened laborers, Jax looked far too young to be a Boss.

“That kid? He’s barely out of diapers,” one worker muttered, his voice rough with grit. “Is he actually reliable?”

“All three of them are just children,” another whispered back, eyeing Hazel and Kaleb. “Unless… you think they’re Awakened?”

“Never judge a book by its cover, eh?” an older man mused, leaning on a rusted shovel. “To own a mine at that age… he’s gotta be from some powerful family. A young master out playing empire builder.”

“Must be nice,” a worker sighed, clutching a thin shawl. “If we can actually secure work here, we might finally eat well. Look at his clothes—he’s definitely loaded.”

Despite Hazel’s formal introduction, the crowd didn’t offer a respectful greeting. Instead, the murmur of gossip swelled into a dull roar. They stood around in loose clusters, eyeing Jax like a zoo exhibit rather than an employer.

Hazel winced, turning to Jax with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. Most of them are manual laborers from the lower districts. They don’t know much about etiquette or hierarchy. Please don’t take offense.”

Jax waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t care about manners, Hazel. I care about Loyalty.”

He scanned the sea of ragged faces. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. It’s time to filter the gold from the silt.”

Jax leaped onto a large boulder, elevating himself above the crowd. His voice rang out, cutting through the chatter.

“Listen up! Form two lines immediately. You will step forward one by one for an interview. Those who pass will stay. Those who fail can turn around and walk back.”

The announcement hit the crowd like a bucket of ice water. Blank stares quickly turned into indignation.

“What? An interview?” a voice shouted from the back. “You’re telling us we might get sent home? We walked all day for this!”

“That’s not right, Boss!” another yelled. “Nobody said anything about a test before we left The Sprawl!”

“Rich folks and their games,” a man spat on the ground. “Everywhere else, you show up, you work, you get paid. What is this bureaucratic nonsense?”

“We aren’t applying for a government office! We’re digging holes!”

“Do we need paperwork? I didn’t bring my ID! Do I have to go back and get it?”

The grumbling threatened to turn into a riot, but Jax remained impassive atop his perch. He had expected this. Desperation bred impatience.

“Silence!” Jax’s voice boomed, infused with just enough authority to snap heads in his direction. “I will address your concerns, but only if you shut your mouths and listen.”

The crowd quieted down, though the tension remained thick.

“First point,” Jax said, holding up a finger. “This mine requires only fifty workers. I’m not running a charity; I’m running a business. I need people with the strength to haul ore and the Loyalty to keep their mouths shut. The resources here are valuable. I won’t have thieves or slackers in my camp. If you’re just here to scrape by, do the bare minimum, and steal a paycheck—leave now. You won’t last a day.”

His bluntness had an immediate effect. The murmurs started again, but the tone had shifted.

Several men near the back exchanged glances. They were the seasoned grifters—”old oilers” who knew every trick to avoid sweating while looking busy. Jax’s speech made it clear that this wasn’t a place for freeloading. Realizing there were no easy pickings here, a small group broke away from the crowd and slunk off toward the horizon.

Jax watched them go, nodding in satisfaction. Self-selection. Saves me the trouble.

“Good,” Jax addressed the remaining group. “Those of you still standing here clearly want to work. Now, for the second point—the one you actually care about. Pay.”

The word hung in the air, instantly capturing their undivided attention.

“I know life in The Sprawl is hard. I know you’re hungry,” Jax said, his tone softening slightly. “That is why, for the first month, we will offer daily pay. Cash in hand, every single evening.”

He paused for effect.

“Wages are performance-based. Depending on how much you mine, you will earn anywhere from one hundred to 10,000 Credits a day.”

A collective gasp sucked the air out of the clearing. Eyes widened to the size of saucers.

In the outer districts, a good day of backbreaking labor might net them thirty or forty Credits—enough for synthetic gruel and maybe a stale bun. One hundred was a fortune. 10,000 was a fantasy.

“10,000?” a worker choked out. “Boss, are you serious? A few years of that and we could buy a condo in Redrock Bastion!”

“Don’t be an idiot,” his neighbor hissed. “He’s blowing smoke. Nobody pays that much. It’s a pipe dream to get us to work until we drop dead.”

“Who cares if it’s a pipe dream?” someone else argued. “The Boss said the minimum is a hundred. Even that is double what the factories pay! I’m staying.”

“Me too! Digging is digging. Might as well dig for gold!”

Excitement rippled through the lines. Some were calculating down payments on houses; others were just thinking about a meal with real meat. The hesitation vanished, replaced by a hungry eagerness.

As the lines formed, Hazel watched Jax with curiosity. “How exactly are you going to interview them, Jax? You didn’t prepare any questions.”

“I don’t need questions,” Jax replied mysteriously.

The first candidate stepped up to the makeshift desk—a burly man with calloused hands. He looked nervous.

Jax looked him up and down. “Lower your head.”

The man blinked. “Uh, Boss? You ain’t gonna shave me, are you? I like my hair.”

Jax’s face twitched. “What? No. I’m not a barber. Just lower your head.”

Confused but compliant, the man bowed his head. Jax placed his palm on the man’s crown. To the onlookers, it looked like a strange ritual. To Jax, it was a data query.

A translucent blue window popped into existence in his retina.

[Name: Ox] [Physical Ability: 50] [Loyalty: 28]

Jax withdrew his hand. Physique is decent. Loyalty is low, but that’s expected for a stranger. We can build trust with Credits.

“You pass, Ox,” Jax said calmly. “Go to the supply crates. Get your identity tag and a pickaxe.”

The burly man froze, his jaw dropping. “Boss… how? I didn’t tell you my name.”

Jax realized his slip-up but recovered instantly. He straightened his posture, letting a hint of arrogance bleed into his voice. “I am an Awakened. Did you think a simple name could be hidden from me?”

Understanding dawned on Ox’s face, replaced quickly by awe. He frantically cupped his hands and bowed deep. “Of course! Thank you, Boss! Thank you!”

Jax waved him off. “Next!”

Another laborer stepped up, bowing his head without being asked. He didn’t want to upset the mystical Awakened Boss.

Jax tapped him.

[Name: Iron] [Physical Ability: 57] [Loyalty: 30]

“Pass. Good build, Iron. Go get your gear.”

“Thank you, Boss!”

The line moved efficiently. Jax became a machine, filtering data in seconds.

[Name: Mutt] [Physical Ability: 30] [Loyalty: 40]

Jax paused, looking at the scrawny man before him. “Mutt, right? Your physique is weak. You sure you can handle mining?”

Mutt puffed out his chest, trying to look bigger. “Boss, don’t look at the size of the arms, look at the heart! I never slack off. I’ll outwork half these big guys, I swear it!”

Jax smirked. The Loyalty score backed him up—40 was high for a new recruit. “Alright. I like the attitude. Grab a pickaxe.”

Within the hour, the eighty-something applicants had been whittled down. Jax selected the best fifty, dismissing the rest.

The chosen workers stood taller, clutching their new identity tags like talismans. They were already mentally spending their first day’s pay.

Kaleb, however, looked overwhelmed. He had been dragged along on this whirlwind trip, and the reality of his new responsibility was sinking in.

“Boss,” Kaleb whispered, watching the workers inspect their tools. “You really think we can pull this off? Can we actually get Refined Iron and Stardust Stone out of this hole?”

“We can,” Jax assured him, keeping his voice low. “You’ve signed a contract with me, Kaleb. The System recognizes you. You’ll find the ore practically jumps into your hands.”

“Then why hire them?”

“Because this is my mine,” Jax said, a gleam in his eye. “My ownership exerts a subtle influence. They can find the ore, but they need guidance. That’s where you come in. I need you to train them. Teach them the techniques I showed you.”

Jax placed a hand on Kaleb’s shoulder, his expression serious.

“But your real job isn’t just mining. It’s observation. Watch them. Find out who has talent, who works hard, and who can be trusted. I need lieutenants, Kaleb, not just laborers. Understand?”

Kaleb straightened, the weight of the trust settling on him. He nodded firmly. “I get it, Boss. Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.”