Chapter 29 — Black Gloves
Third-floor office.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Amy pushed the door open and stepped aside. "Boss, Merle has arrived."
"Let him in."
Merle entered with hesitant steps.
He wore a faded T-shirt, his hair was unkempt, and he looked completely out of place in the clean, orderly office.
It was the first time he had met Wu Fan alone.
And for once, even Merle felt a faint trace of unease.
Not fear—he didn't know fear easily—but the feeling of being summoned alone by authority carried the same pressure as being called into a principal's office as a child.
Uncomfortable. Irritating.
"Sit."
Wu Fan gestured toward the chair opposite him.
Merle sat, though only half of him committed to the seat.
Wu Fan picked up a file and read aloud:
"Merle Dixon, 43. Dropped out of primary school, enlisted in the military as an adult, discharged after less than two months for assaulting a sergeant—breaking five of his teeth. Later sentenced to sixteen months in prison."
He set the file down and looked up with a faint smile.
"I don't have to worry about you punching your boss, right?"
Merle paused, then shrugged.
"If it bothers you, I can leave."
Wu Fan chuckled.
He opened a drawer, took out a cigarette pack, and tossed one toward him.
Then lit his own.
The lighter slid across the table.
Merle caught the cigarette, surprised for a brief moment.
It was his brand.
Something he hadn't had for half a month.
He lit it, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled.
"…That's better."
His shoulders eased for the first time.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, saying nothing as he smoked.
After half a cigarette, Merle finally broke the silence.
"Boss… you didn't call me here just to give me a smoke, did you?"
Wu Fan nodded.
"You're sharp."
He tapped ash into the tray and continued calmly:
"I like your background. And I like your temperament."
Merle frowned slightly, still not following.
"The world outside has collapsed," Wu Fan said. "Law, order, morality—all gone. Walkers don't reason. Survivors don't always either."
He paused.
"Rick and Sean are police officers. Their instincts are still rooted in rules—arrest the guilty, protect the innocent. That's good. People like them are perfect for maintaining internal order."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"But what about the outside world?"
Merle's eyes shifted subtly.
"There are survivors out there," Wu Fan continued. "Some cooperative, some hostile, some waiting for an opportunity to steal from us or destroy what we've built."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I need someone to scout the surrounding towns. Map survivor groups. Identify threats. Mark resources."
A beat.
"And if necessary—eliminate the ones who pose a danger."
Merle froze.
For a moment, he thought he was being offered a dirty job.
A shadow role.
A disposable blade.
But what he heard instead… was authority.
Direction.
A mission.
"You mean…" Merle's voice lowered. "You want me to lead people?"
Wu Fan nodded.
"Yes."
"You've served in the military. Even briefly. You understand structure. You've fought. You've been in prison. You know how ugly people can be."
He met Merle's gaze.
"Most importantly—you're ruthless."
Silence settled.
Merle's expression shifted.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Memories surfaced—years of being looked down on, dismissed, treated as trash. Teachers who called him worthless. Officers who humiliated him. Neighbors who avoided his name. A world that never gave him a chance to stand upright.
And now—
Someone was looking at him without disgust.
Without fear.
Without contempt.
A man was offering him responsibility.
Trust.
Merle slowly stood up.
"Boss."
His voice was slightly hoarse.
"From the day I was born until now… nobody ever respected me. Not in school. Not in the army. Not even after prison."
He exhaled.
"They only ever saw the worst of me."
His fist tightened.
"But I won't waste this chance."
He extended his hand.
Wu Fan stood and shook it firmly.
"One week," Wu Fan said. "You pick your team. Scout nearby towns. Avoid direct conflict. Prioritize safety."
"Understood."
"When you return, I'll adjust the next phase based on your report."
Merle nodded.
"I won't disappoint you."
He turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"Boss…"
He hesitated briefly, then grinned.
"Thanks."
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair.
Then reached for his cigarette—
He paused.
"…Where's my lighter?"
A beat of realization.
"That damn Merle."
He sighed, then spent one point from the system store to purchase a replacement lighter.
Click.
Flame.
Smoke rose again.
Wu Fan leaned back, exhaling slowly as his thoughts settled.
Rick and Sean were stabilizers—good for structure, discipline, and order. But they needed time to grow into real leaders.
Merle, on the other hand, didn't need time.
He was already sharpened.
A blade forged in the wrong places—but still a blade.
The kind that didn't hesitate.
The kind that didn't ask questions twice.
Wu Fan looked out the window.
On the training field below, recruits were running drills under Rick's command, while Sean corrected their movements with precision.
The two worked in sync now—almost like they had always stood on the same side.
Good.
They were improving.
But still growing.
Merle, however…
Was already moving.
Wu Fan extinguished the cigarette and leaned back.
The world ahead—
Would only become more interesting from here.