Third-floor office.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, staring at the system panel in his mind, studying the newly unlocked floor introduction.
[Hive Second Floor: Administrative Office Center]
Unlocked.
Includes meeting rooms, archive rooms, communication centers, and dispatch centers.
Can accommodate 200 people working simultaneously.
[Hive Third Floor: General Laboratory]
Unlocked.
Includes basic virus research, sample analysis rooms, data storage centers, and culture rooms.
Can satisfy basic virology and biology research needs.
Wu Fan rubbed his temples.
He was short on points again.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Amy pushed the door open, poking half her body in: "BOSS, Merle is here. He says he wants to report on the recruitment matter."
Wu Fan nodded: "Let him in."
Merle pushed the door open and entered. He still had that sloppy look, but his energy was much better than when he first arrived.
He was wearing that black combat uniform, walking with a swagger. When he saw Wu Fan, he grinned:
"Boss!"
Wu Fan reached into his drawer, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and tossed it over.
Merle caught it and looked down—Xia Country Lotus.
He hadn't seen it before, but the packaging looked high-end.
He flipped it over to look at the back, which was covered in dense Chinese characters.
Xia Country cigarettes were unique.
His eyes lit up.
Wu Fan looked at the light in the old smoker's eyes and sighed helplessly.
A pack of Xia Country Lotus cost 50 points, the heads of five Walkerss.
Merle quickly stuffed the cigarettes into his jacket, afraid that the generous boss might change his mind. He said with a cheeky grin: "Boss, you're truly generous! I've finished the recruitment. Ten people. All of them have been out and fought Walkerss. They've practiced, and their growth rate is very fast."
Wu Fan nodded: "What about weapons and ammunition?"
Merle scratched his head: "I was just about to tell you. The ammo is almost gone..."
"Go to the Hive entrance to get it."
Wu Fan said: "There will be a batch of supplies left on the subway platform every day. Take your people to collect them. When you go out to scavenge, visit the police station more often."
Merle blinked, hesitating to speak.
Wu Fan glanced at him: "Spit it out."
Merle chuckled twice and asked in a low voice: "Boss, I've always wanted to ask, those supplies... are they really brought by the subway? Where does this subway lead to? Why have I never seen a train?"
Wu Fan took a deep drag of his cigarette and flicked the ash.
This was a good question.
Of course, he couldn't say they were redeemed from the system.
So, from the beginning, he had the red queen cooperate to stage a "secret subway transport" act.
Every day, he piled the redeemed supplies on the subway platform at the Hive entrance, claiming they were sent by headquarters via the underground railway.
Anyway, with the red queen monitoring, no one dared to explore where that pitch-black tunnel led.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Wu Fan said: "The red queen is watching."
Merle shrank his neck and stopped asking.
But he hadn't left yet.
Wu Fan looked at him: "Anything else?"
Merle hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Boss, I just don't understand... why are we accepting those old, weak, sick, and disabled people? Those old men and women, they can barely walk, what can they do? It's a waste of food and medicine."
Wu Fan looked at him without speaking.
He took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled slowly, and then leaned back in his chair.
"Merle..."
He said: "Do you think our Umbrella Corporation is a friendly force or an evil force?"
Merle was stunned for a moment, then thought: "Not good, not bad... just... a normal force?"
Wu Fan grabbed the folder on the desk, making a move to throw it at him.
Merle dodged quickly, covering his head with his hands: "Hey, hey, hey, Boss, don't hit me!"
Wu Fan slapped the folder onto the desk and glared at him: "A normal force? We are a place that researches virus vaccines! We are the last hope for all of humanity! You are telling me we are a normal force?"
Merle stood up straight sheepishly, not daring to dodge anymore.
Wu Fan lit another cigarette and softened his tone: "You think I took those old people in out of kindness?"
Merle blinked: "Isn't it?"
Wu Fan sneered: "Yes, and no."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the elderly people being arranged for quarantine downstairs.
"Do you know what the situation is like outside right now?"
He said: "The law is gone, the government is gone, order is gone. The people who survive either kill each other like beasts or hide like rats."
Merle nodded; of course, he knew.
"But..."
Wu Fan turned around and looked at him: "There are still many people who have humanity left in their hearts. They want to live, but they don't want to become beasts. They want to protect their families, but they don't know where to go."
He pointed to the old people downstairs.
"Those old people are our facade."
Merle was stunned.
"Facade?"
"Right."
Wu Fan said: "A place that takes in the elderly and treats the weak well—what kind of people will that attract? It will attract those who still retain their humanity. Kind, upright people who are willing to contribute to others—we need these kinds of people."
He flicked the cigarette ash.
"If we only took in fighters, only young people, then what kind of people would come? Desperadoes, anti-human elements, murderers, and robbers. Do you dare let people like that into the base?"
Merle scratched his head, seeming to understand a little.
Wu Fan continued: "Those old people are a signal, telling people outside: It's safe here, there is humanity here, it's worth coming here. They don't have to do anything. Just by being alive and being well-cared for, they are the best advertisement."
He paused and emphasized his tone:
"And, who do you think those young people taking care of the elderly are—those family members, those caregivers? They could have abandoned the elderly to save themselves, but they didn't. These are the people we truly need."
Merle was silent for a few seconds.
Then he scratched his head and chuckled: "Boss, you capitalists' brains are really... everything is calculated."
Wu Fan rolled his eyes at him: "This is strategy, not calculation."
Merle nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, yes, strategy, strategy."
Wu Fan walked back to his desk, sat down, and lit another cigarette.
"Remember this. From now on, when you see those old people, greet them properly. Be polite, be respectful. Treat them like your own grandmothers and grandfathers. Understand?"
Merle stood at attention and gave a cheeky salute: "Understood! I guarantee to serve those old men and women comfortably! If I see one, I'll call them Grandma; if I see two, I'll call them Grandpa!"
Wu Fan waved his hand: "Get lost."
Merle turned to leave, then turned back at the door: "Boss, that cigarette is really good. Will you have more next time?"
Wu Fan picked up the folder, ready to throw it again.
Merle ran away laughing.
After the door closed, the office quieted down.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, smoking and looking out the window.
Downstairs, the elderly were being arranged to enter the quarantine zone.
Some were pushing wheelchairs, some were helping others walk, and some were holding children.
Although they moved slowly, everyone had a smile on their face.
He thought about what he had just said.
Facade.
Yes, sometimes, kindness is also a strategy.
He stubbed out his cigarette and reopened the system panel.
He was still short a lot of points.
But at least, the direction was right.