Chapter 27: Assessment Content
In the corridor of the quarantine area, Karina stood by the observation window, watching people move in and out beyond the glass.
Inside the ward, Paul lay on the hospital bed. His bandages had just been changed, and although his condition was stabilizing, his body remained weak.
"Hey, newbie."
A lazy, rough voice came from the side.
Karina turned her head.
A middle-aged man leaned casually against the doorway of the adjacent isolation room. His hair was messy, his expression unruly, and his eyes carried an unsettling, wandering sharpness.
Karina said nothing and only nodded slightly before looking away.
Merle Dixon—she had learned his name later—smirked and walked closer, leaning against her doorframe.
"What's wrong? Don't feel like talking?"
He lowered his voice slightly. "Relax. I just want to make friends. Karina, right? Nice name. That guy in there your boyfriend?"
Karina frowned and stepped back.
"It's none of your business."
"Tsk. Cold, aren't you?"
Merle chuckled as if amused by her reaction. "Let me give you some advice. I know this place better than you think. Want to know how many points those black-uniform guys earn? How comfortable life in the Hive really is? Or how to avoid getting sent out to die?"
Karina clenched her fists but remained silent.
Paul, hearing the exchange, struggled to sit up. A sharp pain immediately shot through his abdomen, forcing a low groan from him.
"Don't move," Karina said quickly, rushing to support him.
"That bastard…" Paul muttered through clenched teeth.
"Forget him," Karina replied quietly.
Merle peeked into the room and sneered when he saw Paul's condition.
"Wow, you're in bad shape. Still trying to act tough? Save it, kid."
Paul's eyes reddened with anger.
At that moment, another voice echoed down the corridor.
"Merle."
Merle turned.
Sean stood at the far end of the hallway, expression cold and unreadable.
"Go do what you're supposed to do," Sean said flatly. "Don't cause trouble."
Merle's grin stiffened for a moment before twisting into a cold smirk.
He straightened up and walked past Sean, lowering his voice just enough for only Sean to hear:
"Next week's assessment… I'll crush you."
Sean didn't respond.
Merle laughed softly to himself and disappeared down the corridor.
Sean then approached Karina's room.
"You two alright?" he asked.
Karina nodded. "We're fine. Thank you."
Sean gave a slight nod. "Just ignore that guy. He's all bark."
Paul studied him for a moment. "You're new here too? You're not in uniform."
Sean glanced down at his shirt and smiled faintly. "Yeah. I've only been here two days."
"What happens after quarantine?" Karina asked.
Sean leaned against the wall, thinking briefly.
"Nothing complicated. Think of it as an adjustment period. You stay in your room at night, but during the day you're free to move around and learn the base. After three days, you officially start work."
"And what kind of work?" Paul asked.
"It depends on your skills," Sean replied. "Security, logistics, maintenance—anything useful. If you're useless, you still get assigned work. No freeloaders here."
He paused, then added calmly, "But it's not exploitation. You get food, shelter, and protection. That alone is better than outside."
Karina and Paul exchanged a look.
Slowly, their tension eased.
"Thank you," Karina said again.
Sean waved casually and left.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Karina sat back down beside Paul.
"It seems we made the right choice," she whispered.
Paul nodded weakly and held her hand.
Third Floor Office
Wu Fan sat in his chair, flipping through newly submitted personnel files.
Karina, female, 28, nurse.
Paul, male, 31, high school teacher.
He paused slightly.
Those names felt vaguely familiar.
After a moment of thought, he recalled it—characters from The Walking Dead, likely from one of its spin-offs or related arcs.
"So they've already come here…"
He set the files down and rubbed his temples.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Amy entered.
She had returned to her formal business attire, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
Wu Fan glanced at her. "Not resting a little longer?"
Amy hesitated briefly, then replied, "I'm fine. A short break was enough."
She poured him coffee and placed it on the desk. The temperature was perfect.
Wu Fan took a sip and nodded in satisfaction.
"Oh, right," Amy said casually, "what's the content of next week's assessment?"
Wu Fan raised an eyebrow. "Your sister asked you to find out?"
Amy froze, then reluctantly nodded.
Wu Fan smiled faintly.
He pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to her.
"It's not a secret. Go post it."
Amy read it carefully.
Umbrella Corporation Security Assessment
Time: Next Monday, 08:00
Location: Training Ground
Events:
3km run (10kg load)
Obstacle course (2m wall, barbed wire, balance beam)
Shooting (stationary & moving targets)
Hand-to-hand combat (1v1 sparring)
Note: Results determine role assignment and salary level. No elimination.
Amy's expression tightened slightly.
Wu Fan noticed. "Worried about your sister?"
"No," Amy said quickly, then turned away. "I'll go print this."
As she left, Wu Fan added calmly:
"Tell her not to worry. This isn't a death test. Even the lowest score still gets a job. Just not leadership."
Amy nodded and left.
Training Ground — Later
The notice quickly spread.
Murmurs filled the crowd.
"Three kilometers with weight? Are they trying to kill us?"
"A two-meter wall?!"
"Combat training? I barely know how to hold a gun…"
Merle stood at the edge of the crowd, smirking.
His gaze briefly met Sean's.
Cold anticipation passed between them.
Then he turned away.
Sean said nothing, only stared at the notice.
Nearby, Andrea clenched her fists.
Two weeks.
That's all she had trained.
But her eyes hardened with determination.
Two weeks is enough.
She turned and headed straight for the training field.
Quarantine Corridor
Karina and Paul stood among the crowd as well.
"Seems I'm not suited for security," Paul said with a wry smile, glancing at his injury.
Karina nodded. "Focus on recovery first."
A nearby man overheard them. "A nurse? Lucky you. I used to be an accountant—I guess I'll be stuck in logistics."
"Be grateful you're alive," another muttered.
Karina didn't respond.
She simply pushed Paul back toward the room.
The voices behind them blended into a rising wave:
"Three kilometers…"
"Combat…"
"Obstacle course…"
Some feared it.
Some hoped.
Some were already preparing.
And from the third-floor window, Wu Fan quietly observed everything.
He turned his coffee slowly in his hand.
"One week," he murmured.
"Enough to see who's a wolf… and who's just sheep."
He took a slow sip.
The coffee was still warm.
And the system of this new world… was beginning to take shape.