Chapter Forty-Five: The Talent Plan

Two hours passed, and it was already after nine o’clock. With electricity heavily rationed, the streets outside were shrouded in darkness, and only the occasional shaft of light escaped from a few windows. Originally, Xie Han thought that after nine, no one would pay him any mind; he had braced himself to spend the night there. Yet, as soon as the hour struck, two soldiers arrived outside. Carrying military flashlights, they escorted Xie Han all the way back to the compound.

Xie Han was puzzled—was this due to his reputation? Unbeknownst to him, thanks to Chen Liu and the others, his name had already spread throughout the hunting circles. In this apocalypse, selfless actions for the public good were exceedingly rare and precious—who wouldn’t want such a comrade at their side? Moreover, Xie Han’s strength inspired both respect and awe. It was precisely for these reasons that he received special treatment and was escorted home.

Qi Feiwu and the others had already moved into their new residence. Taishan was, after all, a local figure in the neighborhood and managed to procure several emergency lamps, making their new home bright as day. Xie Han didn’t have to exert himself to find the place; the compound’s intelligent system guided him straight there. He couldn’t help but admire the person Taishan had found—someone capable of hacking into the base’s management system and forcibly altering the programs to legalize several housing units, all for the price of just five kilograms of rice—an almost unimaginable feat.

No sooner had Xie Han returned than he was greeted with cheers like a hero. The new residence was hosting a simple celebration, bustling with life. With over thirty people gathered in the connected apartments, it didn’t feel cramped at all. Xie Han had no objection to the festivities; securing three tons of high-grade flour was indeed cause for joy.

To Xie Han’s surprise, the bespectacled man from his previous apartment was also among the revelers. Xie Han shot a questioning look at Chu Tianhe, who smiled and said, “Boss, it’s quite a coincidence—Taishan’s computer expert turned out to be this bespectacled fellow. Damn, I couldn’t believe it myself. Who would have thought such a timid man was actually a hacker? This world never ceases to surprise.”

Xie Han chuckled and glanced at the bespectacled man, who immediately shrank back into the crowd. Xie Han didn’t mind his timidity or caution; for all he knew, it was just an act. So long as the man was talented, he was welcome. After a quick meal brought by Qi Feiwu, Xie Han called together Xu Qiang, Taishan, and a few others into his newly assigned room.

Looking at his companions, Xie Han felt a sense of wonder. Who would have thought that in just a week in this apocalypse, he’d have gathered such a capable team? Xu Qiang, for instance, hadn’t yet shown his full potential, overshadowed by Xie Han’s own formidable skills; but as a former special forces soldier, he was a force to be reckoned with in this world. Taishan, though brawny, was in fact shrewd and reliable. Chu Tianhe was quick-witted and adaptable, while even Qi Feiwu—despite being a woman—had a remarkable grasp of the big picture and vision for the future.

Xie Han was thoroughly satisfied with his team; he now had the core members for every role. Seeing the group eyeing him curiously, he smiled and said, “There are just a few matters I want to discuss with you.” Taishan smacked his lips and replied, “Boss, whatever it is, just decide—it doesn’t need discussion.” Xu Qiang and Qi Feiwu only smiled, while Chu Tianhe, much like Taishan, echoed the sentiment.

Xie Han shook his head. “Though I’m your captain, we’re a team. The matter I want to discuss tonight will sound utterly absurd to most, perhaps even to you—it might even be called an oddity.” His words immediately piqued their curiosity; they stared at him, wide-eyed.

“It’s simple. The order of the world has been completely overturned, and the once-glorious civilization of humanity has suffered catastrophic destruction. Countless crystallizations of civilization have been lost. What I want to do is preserve these remnants of civilization, to ensure the continuation of humanity’s legacy.”

His meaning was clear and straightforward, yet after he finished, his companions looked at him as though he were a monster. Chu Tianhe even reached out to feel his forehead, exclaiming, “Boss, are you running a fever?”

Xie Han pushed his hand away and said seriously, “I’m telling the truth. Have you considered how much of our technology has been destroyed in this disaster? Yes, in the apocalypse, food is king. But have you ever thought that skilled survivors—the true talents—are humanity’s most precious resource right now?”

Qi Feiwu, indeed, saw further than most. She grasped the importance of these talents. Yet, with zombies rampant and food painfully scarce, keeping such people alive would only drain their supplies. Three tons of flour sounded like a lot, but for their group of over thirty, it would last only two months. She said, “Xie Han, your idea isn’t a bad one. Many have thought of it. But in this world, everything depends on food. If you can solve the food issue, your plan has great potential. I believe the apocalypse will end one day. When that time comes, what we hold in our hands will be the pinnacle of human technology. Imagine the glory of such an accomplishment.”

Taishan shook his head. “Feiwu, I’ve thought about this too. But do you know how many zombies are out there? To wipe them out would take years—maybe we’ll never see it done in our lifetimes. Still, boss, if you can solve the food problem, I totally support your plan. Just think—while everyone else is fighting to the death for a mouthful of food, we’ll be running a company. Now that’s living…”

Naturally, Xie Han knew the root of everything was food. And, at least for now, it was the one thing he didn’t lack. Everyone knew he had three tons of flour; even if he brought more from the present, with that much as a cover, it wouldn’t arouse suspicion. In any case, now was the time to gather these talents. This place wouldn’t do for the long term; he needed to find a spot where a self-sustaining food chain could be established.

“Food is not a concern,” Xie Han declared to Taishan, having made up his mind. “Tomorrow, I want you to find out just how many experts in various fields we have here. Remember, we need the very best.”

Taishan replied, “Don’t worry, I’ve been here a year and a half—I know the place inside out. But, boss, experts in genetics or pharmaceuticals are hard to come by.”

Xie Han asked, “Why is that?” Taishan answered, “There weren’t many to begin with, and most have been recruited by the administration—something about a special department researching zombies.”

Xie Han’s interest was piqued. “I only heard about that today. But it’s been three years—why hasn’t there been any progress?” Taishan shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. Maybe the XR virus is just too difficult to study.”

Xie Han understood that to truly solve the zombie problem, the key lay with the XR virus. Only by developing a counteragent could they kill zombies easily and reclaim the cities for humanity. But how easy was that? Among the hundreds of thousands of survivors, there were probably only a handful of experts in the field. Even if each base had a few, with zombies cutting off contact, it was impossible to gather them together for breakthroughs.

Perhaps there was another way—he could obtain files on the XR virus and take them back to the present, seeking out modern experts in genetics and pharmaceuticals to solve the problem. The thought stirred Xie Han’s heart, but he knew that implementing such a plan would demand immense resources and power. For now, it would have to wait until his strength had grown.