Lethal_Drinker
Dude to clarify no one is asking for a perfect character. Just like you, everyone questioned if it was rational for a genius character to do the whole conquering thing just to get resources. And drinking scene afterwards was just bad, I went back to the chapter comments and I can't see what kind of backlash you are talking about. You are writing your story on an open platform, people are bound to give their opinions on what you post, it's up to you to grow from them, ignore them or take it in a negative way.
I think if you replaced the drinking scene and made a scene before the genocide about him having a moral dilemma within himself whilst also trying to rationalise the merits and drawbacks of such extreme actions and why he had to do said actions would have been way better for the character development in general. It would have highlighted his advanced thinking and his struggle with his own moral compass. Cause from what was written it seems that whilst he had a plan for getting in the underground and knew what he wanted from this expedition, it seems like he had truly not thought about how to deal with the confrontaion with moleman and the moiloids beside basic killing. That whole genocide kinda ruined the whole, "Im a top level genius that plays 6 dimensional chess" thing you had going with him and makes him seem, I dunno know somewhat shallow as a character. Someone that shrugs of responsibility, despite his advanced intelligence allowing him to think of a soloution.
I agree with what he did, it was the best move but didn't get the drinking thing. he made the right decision, the moles woukd have been a problem and Harvey needed to go. but I don't see why he was upset about it later. I guess I go by the rule of once you make a choice never regret it, come what may. the drinking was kind of cheezy though lol if the mc faltered or paused before killing them then I could maybe see it but he didn't.