A Thousand Gold Pieces to Buy Horse Bones

That afternoon, things went as smoothly as Leon had expected.

Perhaps because Andrea and her sister had set an example, four more people came for interviews afterward: a burly black man named T-Dog, a car mechanic named Jim, a city planner named Quinn, and a Korean-American deliveryman named Glenn.

With Leon's deliberate guidance and persuasion, T-Dog and Glenn joined the Security Department as E-Class Combatants, Jim joined the Engineering Department as an E-Class Technician responsible for vehicle repairs, and Quinn, the city planner, had no particularly useful skills but at least had over a decade of experience as a Civil Servant. Following the principle of making use of everything, Leon assigned her to the Logistics Department as an E-Class Administrator and Andrea's Deputy Leader.

By evening, Leon pulled out plenty of food from the truck and generously invited everyone to share dinner together.

After all, they were going to be a team from now on, and Leon hoped to foster a harmonious and united atmosphere within the group.

Basking in the overt and covert flattery of his subordinates, Leon felt a secret thrill. With T-Dog and Glenn as combatants, he was no longer a commander with no troops.

With a grand wave of his hand, he handed T-Dog and Glenn each a pistol and a military-grade bulletproof vest, earning him looks of gratitude from both.

Loyalty plus ten, haha, just like playing a game.

All of this was scavenged from the fallen soldiers outside the CDC—worthless junk with no cost, so giving it away didn't sting at all, and it was perfect for winning people over.

T-Dog and Glenn were the type willing to fight and die for the team. In the original story, they both sacrificed themselves to save the group. As long as he secured their loyalty, he'd have two sharp blades at his command.

That night, Leon brought out ice-cold beer and barbecue, hosting a small cookout with his subordinates. Everyone chatted about their own stories, the host and guests all enjoying themselves, and the bonds between them deepened significantly.

Unlike the lively atmosphere around Leon, the Quarry Camp was heavy and tense. Everyone had their own thoughts, with little conversation at night, each family whispering inside their tents.

The next morning, Amy slipped smoothly into her role as personal assistant, getting up early to prepare breakfast for Leon. Before she could finish, Leon saw the old thug Merle walking toward him with his younger brother, Daryl, one after the other.

Leon stood up on his own, shook hands with Merle, who wore a fawning smile, and said with a grin:

"Welcome, Mr. Merle."

"Thinking of joining our company? You and your brother look like seasoned Warriors. If you sign on, you'll definitely be put to good use."

Leon's attitude was very kind, giving off a sense of respect and recognition. Having navigated the workplace for years, he knew that low-level thugs like Merle craved respect and acknowledgment from others—especially from those stronger than them.

If you're incompetent, even if you respect and acknowledge them, they'll see you as a coward.

But if you're stronger than them and still offer respect, they'll be willing to follow you.

Merle's grin widened. He laughed heartily, shook Leon's hand, and said:

"Yes, Boss, both me and Daryl want to work under you."

"From now on, whatever you tell us to do, we'll do it. Whoever you want us to hit, we'll hit. No complaints."

Leon laughed at that, glanced at the silent Daryl, and told Amy to call her older sister Andrea over.

The Merle brothers were both formidable fighters, ranking among the top in combat ability across the entire world of The Walking Dead. Though both had clear weaknesses, if handled properly, they could become reliable assets capable of holding their own.

He paused for a few seconds, then smiled at the two and said:

"Mr. Merle, Mr. Daryl, normally all combatants have to start as E-Class personnel and work their way up."

"But considering the company is in need of talent right now, I'm making an exception and promoting you both to D-Class Personnel, temporarily serving as the squad leader of Combat Team 1, with Mr. Daryl as your Deputy Leader. This is a rare opportunity, and I hope you'll make worthy contributions to Umbrella Corporation."

Merle's heart leaped with joy, his face breaking into a wide grin. He patted his brother on the shoulder and said loudly to Leon:

"Thanks, Boss. I won't let your trust down."

Daryl was also surprised. He hadn't expected that people like him and Merle would be given such responsibility. He looked Leon in the eye, nodded, and said quietly:

"Thanks, Boss. I won't let your trust down either."

Pleased to have gained two strong subordinates, Leon handed them each a decent set of gear and treated them to good food and drink, earning a wave of goodwill.

After seeing them off, Andrea asked curiously:

"Mr. Castor, you seem to place a lot of importance on those two."

Of course—Daryl was the one who made it to the final season.

Leon nodded, unsurprised by Andrea's question.

"Times have changed, Andrea. In this era, only those strong enough can decide their own fate."

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

After settling the Merle brothers' affairs, time flew by. Just when Leon thought no one else would show up for an interview, Morales arrived belatedly with his wife and child.

Seeing four more fresh recruits, Leon was delighted. He warmly welcomed Morales's family into Umbrella Corporation, completely ignoring Morales's fierce opposition from the day before, which left the good-natured family man a bit embarrassed.

Morales was a professional plumber and electrician with over twenty years of experience, so Leon brought him into the Engineering Department.

His family members were ordinary people with no special skills, so they were assigned to the Logistics Department.

By noon, after Leon and his subordinates finished lunch, no one else came from the Quarry Camp.

After this split, about three or four families remained at the camp, around twenty people.

But those who left—Glenn and the others—were the braver, more aggressive ones, so the camp's combat strength had dropped by at least half.

Can't blame me. You had the chance and didn't take it.

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

Leon didn't hesitate. He cleanly gathered his twelve new subordinates, left the Quarry Camp, and drove toward St. Joseph's Nursing Home.

On the southern outskirts of Atlanta, the nursing home was relatively remote, located in an old, sparsely populated neighborhood. That was exactly why they'd managed to avoid the Zombies' notice.

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

It was easy to enter into friendly negotiations with the survivors here.

They were ordinary people trapped while visiting elderly relatives—weak, isolated, and eager to join the Umbrella Corporation, a safe and stable organization.

However, there was a very real problem: the elderly in the nursing home were all over eighty, with no labor capacity, and were nothing but a burden.

Not only did they produce no value, but their illnesses would also consume a large amount of medical supplies.

Without solving this issue, a smooth handover between the two sides would be difficult.

Leon had already thought about this situation.

He had to accept these useless old people. Since the team was just established, the most important thing now was to win people's hearts.

The story of "A Thousand Gold Pieces to Buy Horse Bones" was known to every Chinese person.

Taking in these old, weak, women, and children would increase the sense of security among all team members, giving those with kind hearts a greater sense of belonging and identity.

Though it might be a slight loss materially, if it earned everyone's goodwill, it was a sure-win deal for Leon.

Besides, reaping profits was a skill—if the scythe was swung well, it was still uncertain who would end up profiting.

Facing the nursing home crowd waiting anxiously for his decision, Leon cleared his throat, revealed a warm smile, and spoke loudly:

"Everyone, please rest assured."

"Adhering to a people-first principle, the Umbrella Corporation will take in these poor elderly and, in the days ahead, cover 50% of their living and medical expenses."

"I hope all of you here can identify with this company's philosophy and dedicate your strength to the revival of humanity."