"But it will be difficult for me to keep those who don't have the Foster bloodline, or aren't naturally attuned to Mana." Max finished and noticed his three aunts shiver.

"Why?" Robert and Evans asked at the same time, their brows furrowed.

"It's not easy to explain, but it has something to do with my method." Max calmly said before looking at Robert, "This was why I hesitated so much before agreeing to your suggestion."

"Then, you mean, apart from us, everyone will still be at a risk of dying when radiation spreads here?" Evans asked while putting his hand on top of Samantha's trembling ones.

"Yes, but it will be just that… a risk." Max said before adding, "Those who are lucky will survive, and those who aren't will be eliminated."

Sunny, Pennel and others shivered not just because their mother's lives were at a risk, but also because of how he sounded and looked so calm when saying this as if he wasn't talking about the over 200 people's possible deaths, but about just some mundane affair.

They finally realized, this seemingly easy to get along guy was in fact a very ruthless man.

Max let them worry for a few moments more, so what he was going to say next would have more impact and they would be more grateful.

Yeah, he accepted it was somewhat insidious of him to do, but he was just looking out for his interest without harming anyone. So, he didn't feel any guilt.

"Don't worry so much, aunts." He said with a smile on his face while looking at Penelope, Hannah and Samantha.

'Huh?' Immediately, everyone focused their gazes on him, especially his aunts, who looked at him with renewed hope.

"M-Max… you mean you can resolve this situation? I mean, can you make it so we won't be in danger any longer?" Hannah nervously asked.

Max didn't immediately answer, creating more tension. Then, he nodded, "For others, I would not go the extra mile because it's already not easy for me to reduce the danger of radiation to a non-fatal level, however, you three are family. So, I can't really let your lives remain in danger."

Everyone relaxed upon hearing this and Robert, Mark and others nodded in appreciation.

"You are a good man, little Max. I'm sure Sarah would have been proud if she was awake now." Peter emotionally said, but then he realized he might have touched a sore spot for Max and panicked.

Fortunately, for him, Max didn't look upset and even gave him a light smile and a nod.

He then looked at his relieved aunts and said, "Aunts, starting from the day of radiation's arrival until either you awaken or I find a way to cleanse the area of radiation, you'll live with me and my family in my house where my method will be more effective."

…

A while later, Mark, Peter, Evans and their families had left, leaving only Max and Robert, who looked at Max with a grateful and guilty look on his face.

"Thank you, little Max, and I'm sorry that I and my family didn't contact you all these years."

Max shook his head, "No need for thanks, Grandfather. As I said, aunts are also my family, so I'm doing what I should do. Also, you don't need to feel guilty about staying clear of me all these years because I know you must have your reasons with our families being involved in such complicated matters."

Robert nodded without saying anything.

After a moment, Max said, "Grandfather, I need a mansion where at least twenty people can live comfortably. I'm going to bring my family over."

"No problem." Robert promptly agreed.

"Good. Then, I'll leave. Everyone must be feeling quite anxious because of my long absence." Max said, standing up.

"You can take Jack or Henry with you if you want. Normal desperados would dare cause trouble when they see them with guns." Robert suggested.

"Yeah. I'm going to take them." Max nodded. He had already thought about bringing one of them and a few other people to escort everyone here.

With several people, not only would it be safer—though he didn't need to worry about it with his current physical stats—they could bring their stuff along too.

…

In the evening… Right before the sunset, Henry saw a group of twenty people coming toward the mansion. When the group was still far, he raised his guard up, but when it came nearer, he saw Max, Jack and several other familiar people and relaxed.

"Welcome to the gov—Williams' Mansion!" He greeted the Williams, the Martinez, Thompsons and Harman's family with a polite smile on his face.

Emily, Sophie and Natalie—who was walking beside Max, with her hand hooked around his hand for support—and Ruth and others looked at him in confusion which soon turned into surprise and then astonishment when Jack and others didn't refute him.

"Big Brother… What's going on?" Natalie asked, blinking her beautiful blue eyes at him, curious like a cat.

Sophie glanced at her before looking at Max.

Max patted her small head, and smilingly said, "Some things happened and I became the leader of this place."

If the fact that he could take them to the Governor's Mansion, the safest place in the Red city, and had even brought people to escort them had surprised Natalie, this shocked her so much that she found it surreal. But soon, the shock and disbelief turned into adoration and she looked at him with shining eyes.

Among the group, she wasn't the only one to have this reaction, however, as Ruth was the same.

In fact, Max could feel several more impressed gazes on him which made him feel some pride.

"Alright. Let's go and get settled now." He said and took the lead to enter the mansion after giving Henry a nod.

Half an hour later, the four families had settled in their new homes.

As Max asked Robert, he was given a large villa which could comfortably house 25 people.

As for the Martinez, Thompsons and Harman's family, they were given two story houses with a small garden at front.

"It's nice here, Big Brother." Natalie said while looking around.

Not long after they settled their things in their new rooms, Natalie had excitedly rushed over and asked him to take a walk with her around the mansion and explore it.

Max naturally did not deny her. Just when they were leaving the house, they ran into Sophie who asked them where they were headed to.

Natalie told her what they were going to do and invited her to join them. Sophie agreed and now the three of them were taking a stroll.

"Yes, it is." Max nodded and glanced at Sophie, "What about you, Sophie? Do you like the place?"

"Mm, I do." Sophie nodded, "We are not alone now and while clearly worried, the people here don't seem hopeless and depressed."

Hearing this, Max nodded to himself, feeling that his decision to take charge of the place and accepting the quest was right.

Thinking of the quest, with a thought, he pulled up the quest screen.

[Time Remaining: 4 Days, 20 Hours.]

"Max!"

Right then, a gentle and sweet voice called out to him.

"Who is she?" Before Max had even looked over, Natalie spoke up, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the mature woman in office dress walking toward them with a smile on her face.

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