The First Batch of Employees

Atlanta, Quarry Camp.

Leon stood beside a camouflage truck, a dozen or so survivors gathered around him, each holding a recruitment notice in their hands, their expressions somewhat odd as they listened to his speech.

"Our Umbrella Corporation was founded by the top talents who survived the disaster, an organization created to eliminate the virus, protect humanity, and rebuild civilization."

"We have the most professional virus experts, the safest refuge bases, and the best living environment for ordinary people to survive."

"We have doctors, we have food, we have equipment, and we have a complete water and power system needed for daily life."

"But we are not a charity organization. We won't help survivors for free. Everyone must create enough value."

"We can only accept those Champions who have value, have ability, and are willing to dedicate themselves to all of humanity."

"As long as you join our Umbrella Corporation and become one of us, not only you, but you and your family will receive the company's protection, move into our shelter, and from then on live a safe and stable life."

"In this world like the apocalypse, this is the best choice."

Listening to Leon's speech, most of the surrounding survivors felt their thoughts in chaos, their spirits low, and their hearts lost and uncertain.

After the news Leon brought about the military and the government spread, whether they believed it or not, everyone's thinking was impacted to varying degrees.

If even the most powerful official organization had been defeated by the zombies, how could these helpless survivors possibly survive in this terrifying apocalyptic world?

Leon cleared his throat, pulled a recruitment notice he had written from his pocket, looked at the content on it, and began to speak:

"Take a look at the recruitment notices in your hands."

"Just as described on them."

"All employees who join our Umbrella Corporation will be divided into three different departments."

"Security Department, Engineering Department, and Logistics Department."

"The Security Department is responsible for all the company's combat missions. It offers the best treatment, with a low entry threshold but an extremely high ceiling. It only recruits combat personnel who dare to risk their lives and are not afraid of sacrifice."

"The Engineering Department is the core department of our company, responsible for all technical work. It has a higher entry threshold and only recruits technical talents with truly practical skills."

"The Logistics Department is responsible for the normal operation of our Umbrella Corporation. It has the lowest entry threshold but the highest ceiling. As long as you are hardworking, loyal, and willing to contribute to the future of humanity, you can join."

"Employees in each department are divided into five levels: A, B, C, D, and E. Different employee levels will determine your salary and treatment, as well as your status within the Umbrella Corporation."

"Everyone's employee level is not fixed. It will be raised according to the contributions you make to the organization."

"The higher your employee level, the better the treatment you will enjoy."

"As long as you make enough contributions to the organization, you can even live a better life than before the disaster."

"Now is the era of the apocalypse. We are all survivors under the apocalypse. We can no longer hold on to the lofty ideals of equality, freedom, and peace for everyone."

"In this apocalyptic world, within our Umbrella Corporation, there is no racial discrimination, no distinction between noble and humble bloodlines. No matter who you are, as long as you have the ability and dare to fight and struggle, you can be put in an important position."

"Of course, as a positive organization with the spiritual benchmark of protecting all of humanity, we will severely punish any behavior that violates the basic moral principles of humanity, firmly hold the bottom line of being human, and safeguard everyone's basic rights as human beings."

This long-winded speech left Leon's mouth dry. Fortunately, as a former executive in his past life, his specialty was painting rosy pictures.

What the survivors lacked most right now was confidence in the future.

The apocalypse had shattered their beliefs.

As long as he described a bright future for them, they would be willing to fight for it.

"I know this is a difficult choice."

"You don't fully trust me."

"But think about it carefully. Even if you risk your lives to leave here and search for other shelters, even if you overcome all difficulties and are rescued by the military..."

"Can you really live a better life than if you joined our Umbrella Corporation?"

Leon looked at the survivors before him, who were shaken by his speech, reined in his somewhat elevated emotions, folded the recruitment notice in his hand, and tucked it into his pocket.

Having painted the rosy picture, Leon decided not to stoke the fire any further. He wanted to leave these people some room to think, to let their thoughts collide properly, so they could reach a better result.

"I'll stay until tomorrow morning before leaving."

"Everyone, think it over carefully."

"Do you want to take a gamble with me?"

"Anyone interested, please contact me before I leave."

With that, he left a confident smile, cleanly and neatly climbed into his camouflage truck.

Under the complex gazes of the crowd of survivors, he left the Quarry Camp.

Leon didn't go far. He drove to a flat patch of woodland, about seven or eight hundred meters from the Quarry Camp, and stopped.

He took a set of tables and chairs and a large insulated box from the back of the truck, set them up where both sides could vaguely see each other, and brought out various delicacies one plate after another.

Canned food, cold dishes, grilled meat, cold drinks—the table was packed full, a good dozen or so plates.

This was the food he had prepared in advance last night. Ever since he became a big eater, his demand for delicious food had increased several times over.

As a transmigrator, even in a zombie apocalypse, as long as the conditions allowed, he wouldn't give up enjoying himself.

It was now early summer, and the weather was starting to get hot. Eating high-energy food and drinking iced cold drinks, Leon's body and mind both became cheerful.

As for the outcome of this recruitment drive, he had already speculated on it and wasn't worried.

The survivors of the Quarry Camp were, after all, just a group of strangers who had only recently met, far from the unity they would show a month later when the protagonist Rick arrived.

Among them were some independent families, some siblings clinging to each other for survival, and some lone individuals huddling together for warmth.

They were not a cohesive whole; each person had their own interests and demands. As long as what they gained exceeded their personal bottom line, they would seek change.

Leon couldn't be sure about the others, but at the very least, those without family ties—Glenn, T-Dog, Jim, and other loners—would definitely be more inclined to join a group that didn't exclude outsiders and shared aligned interests.

Only then would they be valued by others and not easily abandoned.

Yet, to Leon's surprise, the first to make a decision were not the ones he had guessed.

He had barely eaten to thirty percent fullness when a pair of young blonde sisters approached him.

It was Andrea and Amy.