Live Specimen

After finishing the dessert, Kevira took her leave without lingering, leaving Amy and Maggie still chatting there.

Leon wasn't particularly interested, but he joined in a few words to lighten the mood.

Through the conversation, Leon figured out Hershel's intention. The old man was worried that Leon's group might waste the chance for autumn plowing, so he sent his daughter over to guide them on how to farm the land.

It was a kind gesture. Leon thought it over—growing vegetables wasn't dangerous or strenuous. He could let the kids learn farming: study in the morning, work the fields in the afternoon, balancing work and rest, and even earn a small allowance. Wouldn't that be great?

Regardless of the outcome, it would be a valuable form of education.

He brought it up with Amy and Maggie right away.

Amy agreed with Leon's idea. Her mother had died when she was young, and her father had been strict with her and her sister's education, which was how they both ended up at prestigious universities.

Maggie, who grew up on a farm and had been helping with chores since childhood, saw this kind of life as perfectly natural.

The three of them discussed the details. Currently, the children of Umbrella Corporation employees numbered over thirty, with ten under the age of ten and twenty between ten and sixteen. Having Maggie and the two teachers lead these thirty-plus kids in cultivating a few acres of vegetable fields shouldn't be too difficult.

Once that was settled, Maggie wanted to leave, but Leon wasn't the type to be stingy—courtesy demanded reciprocity.

He had Amy assign Maggie a single-person apartment, converted the gifts delivered that day into Contribution Points, and issued her an ID card.

"Since you're here, take Amy today to check out our shops. Exchange these Contribution Points for supplies and have the brothers who escorted you take them back. We don't take advantage of friends."

"While you're here teaching the kids to grow vegetables, you'll also earn an income. Fair pay for fair work is our company's principle."

After Maggie left, Leon sat in his office studying the map he had marked that day. After a while, he called for Professor Amrin.

This senior software engineer had already helped the company complete the radio communication system, giving Umbrella Corporation a five-hundred-kilometer communication range—a major achievement.

But this key contributor didn't stop. After finishing that task, he immediately proposed dozens of suggestions for the Red Queen intelligent system. Once Leon approved them, he dove straight into developing other functions and applications for Red Queen.

He was practically a workaholic who forgot to eat and sleep.

Amrin's face was still pale, covered in a messy stubble that hadn't been shaved in at least three or four days. He wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses and adjusted them awkwardly as he faced Leon.

"Boss, what did you call me up for?"

Leon pushed the map across the desk to Professor Amrin and asked, "Professor, we've pinpointed several key locations today: the Museum, the Police Station, the TV station, the Solar Energy Factory, and the Large Department Store."

"In your opinion, which of these buildings might have things that could significantly boost our company's strength?"

Amrin pushed his glasses again, took the map, and studied it carefully. After a few minutes of thought, he spoke up.

"The Solar Energy Factory would definitely be useful. Our current power generation is too one-dimensional—it all relies on the base's fuel generators."

"If we can get a large number of solar panels, we could cut out a lot of unnecessary waste in many areas, even supply power to some Ground Buildings and create portable power sources."

"The Police Station's office computers should have the latest and most complete map data for all of Atlanta. If you bring some back, I think I can crack them and get the full map."

"The TV station has very advanced equipment, which I'm not too familiar with. If you can find relevant experts, you might be able to secure partial access to some satellites."

Professor Amrin thought a moment and added, "If we can get partial satellite access, remember that military base I mentioned for producing drones?"

"We could even achieve remote drone control—not just a few kilometers, but ten or even tens of kilometers away."

"Of course, these are just suggestions based on my expertise. Maybe you should ask the other professors for their opinions too."

After Professor Amrin left, Leon sank back into thought. His current labor force and warriors were all tied up building the wall. In the short term, he couldn't afford any major moves. The only idle troops were the twenty-plus soldiers under Colonel William.

None of the tasks on hand could be completed by one person alone. Fortunately, as the base's population grew, the labor force he'd put into wall construction had reached nearly two hundred—double the original estimate.

As long as he pushed through another month and a half, this massive project would be finished. Then he could free up a lot of labor for other things—and that shouldn't be too late.

Leon sighed. Ah, haste makes waste. Success takes patience.

He checked the time. After talking with the professor, it was already past four in the afternoon, and the sun was about to set. Leon thought for a moment, grabbed the radio from his waist pouch, and opened a channel to Merle.

"Hey, Merle, it's the Boss."

"It's been three hours. Haven't you caught those two runaways yet?"

After a second or two, Merle's slightly hoarse voice came through.

"Boss, we've got them. Daryl's heading back to the base."

"But one bastard's already been bitten by a zombie. Should we take care of him first?"

Leon was about to say yes when he suddenly remembered that Dr. Melpha had once mentioned wanting a sample of someone in the middle of turning.

Their warriors had never had a casualty, so they'd never encountered one before—this was a good opportunity.

So Leon said to Merle, "Leave the normal prisoner alone for now. Lock him up. Bring the bitten bastard to me as fast as you can."

"Remember—as fast as possible."

In about ten minutes, Merle and a burly man, both a bit out of breath, carried a prisoner bound in ropes to the first floor. The man had a bite wound on his calf, his face streaked with tears of despair—a scrawny, middle-aged man.

Leon had nothing to say. He waved Merle and his subordinate away, grabbed the man by the back of his collar, and dragged him into the Underground Research Institute.

He had just finished disinfecting and stepped out of the elevator.

He saw that Dr. Melpha and Dr. Jenner were already waiting there, and Leon seemed to catch a glint of excitement in their eyes.

He didn't find it strange—scientists often had a strong sense of curiosity, and live virus samples were indeed rare for them.

He pointed at the bound man and said:

"Doctor, this guy is as good as dead."

"Don't worry about his life or feelings anymore. Do whatever you need to. For your safety, I'll stand guard here and lend a hand."