A Thousand Gold Pieces to Buy Horse Bones

That afternoon, everything went very smoothly, just as Leon had expected.

Perhaps Andrea and her sister had set an example. Four more people came for interviews afterward: the burly black man T-Dog, auto mechanic Jim, urban planner Quinn, and Korean-American deliveryman Glenn.

With Leon's deliberate guidance and persuasion, T-Dog and Glenn joined the Security Department and became E-Class Combatants. Jim joined the Engineering Department and became an E-Class Technician in charge of vehicle repairs. Urban planner Quinn did not have any particularly useful skills, but she was at least a civil servant with more than a decade of experience. Upholding the principle of making use of everything, Leon had her join the Logistics Department as an E-Class Administrator and Andrea's deputy.

By evening, Leon took a large amount of food from the truck and generously invited everyone to share dinner.

After all, they would be part of the same team from then on. Leon still hoped to foster a harmonious and united atmosphere within the team.

Enjoying his subordinates' overt and covert flattery, Leon felt secretly delighted. After recruiting T-Dog and Glenn as combat personnel, he was finally no longer a one-man commander.

With a grand wave of his hand, he gave T-Dog and Glenn a pistol each, then gave each of them a military-grade bulletproof vest, earning two deeply moved looks in return.

Ten loyalty points. Haha, it really is just like playing a game.

All of these had been stripped from the dead soldiers outside the CDC. They were worthless items that had cost him nothing, so he did not feel the slightest pain giving them away. They were perfect for winning people over.

T-Dog and Glenn were both the kind of people willing to risk their lives for the team. In the original story, they had both died trying to save the group. As long as he gained their loyalty, he would acquire two sharp swords.

That night, Leon brought out chilled beer and grilled meat again and held a small barbecue feast with his subordinates. Everyone chatted about their stories, and both hosts and guests had a wonderful time. Their bonds with one another grew much stronger.

Unlike the lively atmosphere around Leon, the situation at Quarry Camp was gloomy and complicated. Everyone had their own thoughts, and there was little conversation that night. Each family whispered among themselves inside their own tents.

The next morning, Amy settled into her role as Leon's personal assistant perfectly. She rose early of her own accord to prepare breakfast for him. Before she could finish, Leon saw the old hoodlum Merle approaching with his younger brother, Daryl, one in front of the other.

Leon stood up first and shook Merle's hand, smiling ingratiatingly.

"Welcome, Mr. Merle."

"Would you like to join our company? You and your brother look like seasoned warriors. As long as you join us, you'll definitely be entrusted with important responsibilities."

Leon's attitude was extremely cordial, giving off an air of respect and regard. Having spent many years in the workplace, he knew that low-level thugs like Merle needed other people's respect and recognition most of all—specifically, the recognition of the strong.

If you were incompetent, then even if you respected and acknowledged them, they would still see you as a coward.

But if you were stronger than them and were still willing to show them respect, they would be willing to submit to you.

The smile on Merle's face grew even broader. He laughed, gripped Leon's hand, and said:

"That's right, boss. Daryl and I would both like to work under you."

"From now on, whatever you tell us to do, we'll do it. If you tell me to beat someone up, I'll beat them up. We won't complain about anything."

Leon laughed at that. He glanced at the silent Daryl and had Amy call over her sister Andrea.

The Merle brothers were both formidable warriors. In the entire world of The Walking Dead, their combat abilities ranked among the best. Although both had fairly obvious weaknesses, with the right methods, they could eventually become capable fighters who stood on their own.

He pondered for a few seconds, then smiled at the two men.

"Mr. Merle, Mr. Daryl, normally, all combat personnel must begin at E-Class and work their way up."

"But considering that the company is in urgent need of personnel, I am making an exception and appointing both of you as D-Class Personnel. For now, you will serve as the captain and deputy captain of Combat Team 1. Mr. Daryl, you will be the deputy captain. This is a rare privilege. I hope you can make the contributions Umbrella Corporation deserves."

Merle was overjoyed, his face breaking into a grin. He patted his brother on the shoulder and called out to Leon:

"Thank you, boss! I absolutely won't let you down!"

Daryl was also very surprised. He had never expected someone like him and Moore to be valued and entrusted with important responsibilities. He looked Leon in the eye, nodded, and said softly:

"Thank you, boss. I won't let you down either."

After taking in two powerful subordinates, Leon was delighted. He raised his hand and gave them both a decent set of equipment, then brought out good wine and fine food to entertain them, earning another wave of goodwill.

After the two men left, Andrea asked curiously:

"Mr. Castor, you seem to value the two of them very highly."

Of course. Daryl survives all the way to the final season.

Leon nodded, unsurprised by Andrea's question.

"Times have changed, Andrea. In an era like this, only sufficient strength can determine your own fate."

"The Merle brothers have more potential than you imagine. They're better suited to this environment than you are."

After arranging matters for the Merle brothers, time flew by. Just as Leon thought no one else would come for an interview, Morales finally arrived in front of him with his wife and children.

Seeing four more lambs for the slaughter, Leon was thrilled. He enthusiastically recruited the Morales family into Umbrella Corporation, completely unconcerned by his fierce opposition the day before. That made the good-hearted Morales feel rather embarrassed.

Morales was a professional plumber and electrician with more than twenty years of work experience. Leon recruited him into the Engineering Department.

His family members were ordinary people without any special abilities, so they could only be assigned to the Logistics Department.

By noon, after Leon and his subordinates had finished lunch, no one else from Quarry Camp had come over.

After this division, only three or four families—around twenty people—remained at Quarry Camp.

But the people who had left, including Glenn, were among the bravest and most willing to fight. The camp's combat strength had fallen by at least half.

You can't blame me. I gave you a chance, and you failed to value it.

I hope Rick's family is still alive when he wakes up.

Leon did not hesitate. He promptly led his twelve newly recruited subordinates away from the quarry and drove toward St. Joseph's Nursing Home.

This nursing home on the southern outskirts of Atlanta was relatively secluded, located in an old neighborhood with a sparse population. It was precisely because of this that they had escaped detection by the Zombies.

Unlike Rick's encounter, Leon arrived at the nursing home with a group of heavily armed toughs.

He easily entered into friendly negotiations with the survivors there.

They were all ordinary people who had become trapped while visiting their elderly relatives. Outnumbered and without anyone to rely on, they were more than willing to join Umbrella Corporation, a safe and stable organization.

However, there was one very realistic problem: the elderly people in the nursing home were all over eighty years old and had no ability to work. They were nothing but burdens.

Not only could they produce no value, but their illnesses would also consume a great deal of medical supplies.

Without resolving this problem, it would be difficult for both sides to complete the transfer smoothly.

Leon had already considered this situation long ago.

He had to accept this group of useless elderly people because the team had only just been established, and winning people's hearts was currently the most important thing.

All Chinese people knew the story of A Thousand Gold Pieces to Buy Horse Bones.

Taking in the old, weak, women, and children would increase every team member's sense of security and give kindhearted people a stronger sense of belonging and identification.

Although it would cost him a little materially, if he could win everyone's goodwill in the process, then for Leon, it would be a profitable deal with no downside.

Besides, exploiting the masses was a skill in itself. As long as he wielded the sickle well, it was still uncertain who would ultimately profit and who would lose.

Facing the nursing home residents waiting eagerly for his decision, Leon cleared his throat, put on a warm smile, and spoke loudly:

"Everyone, please rest assured."

"Upholding the principle of putting people first, Umbrella Corporation will take in these unfortunate elderly people and cover fifty percent of their living and medical expenses in the days to come."

"I hope everyone here can identify with our company's ideals and contribute your strength to the revival of humanity."