"I know we are currently short-staffed."

Lin Feng asked everyone to sit down and continued, "Therefore, before we find more trustworthy people, you may need to take on multiple roles. You will be responsible for selecting and evaluating the deputy ministers and supervisors at all levels from among the people, and then submitting your applications to me for approval. I have only one requirement—loyalty is the most important, and ability is the second most important."

"Yes!" the four replied in unison.

A hierarchical and clearly defined ruling structure, with Lin Feng at its absolute core and the four ministers as its pillars, was officially declared at this banquet.

The shelter, originally a survivor camp, has officially transformed into a nascent...kingdom.

The division of power structures is only the first step.

A stable empire cannot function solely through orders and officials; it requires a set of written rules that everyone must abide by.

That is, the law.

The day after the "deployment," Lin Feng convened the four newly appointed ministers in the largest conference room of the administration building to begin the shelter's first "legislative meeting."

Although it was called a meeting, it was more like Lin Feng's "oracle" press conference.

Lin Feng sat at the head of the table at the huge conference table.

There were no documents in front of him; all the legal provisions had already been conceived in his mind.

Qin Lan, Pang Dahai, Li Xiangbin, and Tang Bao sat on either side. In front of them were papers and pens, their expressions solemn, ready to record every word that would determine everyone's fate.

“Today, we are going to formulate the fundamental law of the shelter.” Lin Feng’s gaze slowly swept over the four people. “This code will be the cornerstone of all order in the shelter in the future. Its name is the ‘Shelter Survival Code’.”

Part One: Citizens' Rights and Obligations

Lin Feng's voice echoed in the quiet conference room.

"Article 1: All citizens of a shelter have the right to survival, including the right to basic food rations, safe shelter and medical care."

"Article Two: All citizens have the obligation to work. 'Contribution Points' will be awarded based on their job position, intensity, and level of contribution. These contribution points will be the sole credential for exchanging for higher-level goods and enjoying better benefits."

"Article 3: All citizens have the obligation to obey the management of the shelter and abide by the shelter's laws. At the same time, all citizens have the obligation to reproduce for the shelter."

...

One bill after another was clearly uttered from Lin Feng's mouth.

Pang Dahai was in charge of recording the information about supplies and contribution points. He listened with great interest and had already begun to plan how to use the contribution point system to motivate those lazy people to do the hardest and most tiring work.

Li Xiangbin focuses on regulations related to engineering construction and resource extraction, such as mineral ownership and technology patent protection.

Tang Bao meticulously recorded the regulations concerning people's livelihood, education, and marriage. The code encouraged childbirth and stipulated that all newborns would be registered by the Ministry of People's Livelihood and would receive compulsory education in shelters from the age of three.

Qin Lan, on the other hand, recorded the coldest and cruelest parts of the legal code.

"Part Two, Criminal Law."

Lin Feng's tone also turned cold.

"Article 1, Treason. Anyone who attempts to overthrow the refuge, betray the leader, or collude with hostile external forces shall be executed. Their immediate family members shall be stripped of their citizenship and reduced to slave labor."

"Article Two: Murder, rape, and robbery. Once verified, the perpetrator shall be sentenced to death."

"Article 3, Theft. Depending on the value of the stolen goods, the offender shall be punished with whipping or forced labor."

"Article 4, Crime of Slacking Off. Anyone who slacks off at work or damages production tools will have double contribution points deducted and will be punished with caning."

Article 5, Thought Offense.

When Lin Feng uttered those three words, even Qin Lan's hand holding the pen paused slightly.

"Anyone who publicly or privately expresses dissatisfaction with me or the shelter management system is considered to have committed a thought crime."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Lin Feng's mouth.

"Once discovered, the Discipline Department will be responsible for the investigation. Those with minor offenses will be sent to slave labor camps for 're-education.' Those with serious offenses... will be executed."

The air in the conference room seemed to have been sucked out.

Pang Dahai was sweating profusely and dared not utter a sound. Li Xiangbin and Tang Bao kept their heads down, even their breathing became cautious.

This law is far too domineering, far too... terrifying. It elevates the power of the Discipline Department to an absolute level, allowing it to directly monitor everyone's thoughts.

This means that in this sanctuary, not only can you not do wrong, but even thinking wrong is a sin!

Only Qin Lan's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement.

She felt that this law was tailor-made for her. It gave her the most legitimate reason to eliminate those impurities hidden in the shadows, those who were not devout enough to Mr. Lin.

Lin Feng was very satisfied with their reaction.

What he wanted was this absolute deterrence. He wanted to nip all potential and unstable factors in the bud.

What he wanted to build was an impregnable kingdom where there was absolute ideological unity and absolute obedience in action.

He cleared his throat and spoke today's, and also the most core and supreme, article in the entire code.

"The Shelter Survival Code, General Outline".

"Article 1."

He stood up and looked down at his four most important ministers.

"All rights of interpretation, amendment and repeal of this code belong permanently to Mr. Lin Feng, the sole leader of the shelter."

"The leader's will is above this code. When the leader's orders conflict with the provisions of the code, the leader's orders shall prevail."

"Mr. Lin Feng is the creator of shelter laws and the arbitrator of shelter order. He is above the law."

These words struck the four men like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

But this time, they were neither shocked nor afraid.

On the contrary, everyone felt it was only natural.

Yes, that's how it should be.

The entire shelter was built by Lin Feng, with every single tree and blade of grass contributing to its construction.

Everything belongs to Lin Feng.

The law, also created by Mr. Lin, is used to govern ordinary people like them.

Mr. Lin himself is a god. How can a god be bound by the rules he created?

In their minds, this logic is so natural and self-evident.

Pang Dahai was the first to react. He stood up abruptly, his fat face filled with fanatical worship: "Our leader is wise! You are our heaven and our law!"

Li Xiangbin and Tang Bao immediately stood up and bowed their heads respectfully: "We swear to defend the supreme authority of our leader to the death!"

Qin Lan demonstrated her loyalty through her actions. She knelt on one knee again, her voice soft but incredibly clear:

"Your will is sacred and unique."

Lin Feng looked at the four people kneeling before him as if they were four gods whom he had personally bestowed upon. He knew that from this moment on, the shackles of the law were firmly bound around the necks of the three thousand people in the shelter.

He was the only one who held the key and always stood outside the shackles.