Chapter 40: The Storefront
Third-floor office.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, staring at the system panel in his mind, studying the floor descriptions he had just unlocked.
[Second Floor of the Hive: Administrative Office Center]
Unlocked.
It includes conference rooms, archives, a communications center, and a dispatch center.
It can accommodate 200 people working at the same time.
[Hive Level 3: Standard Laboratory]
Unlocked.
It includes basic virus research, sample analysis laboratories, a data storage center, and a culture room.
It can support basic research in virology and biology.
Wu Fan rubbed his temples.
"I'm out of points again."
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
Amy pushed open the door and poked half her body in.
"Boss, Merle is here. He says he wants to report on recruiting people."
Wu Fan nodded. "Let him in."
Merle pushed the door open and walked in, still with his carefree attitude, though he seemed much more energetic than when he first arrived. He wore a black combat uniform, walking with a swagger, and grinned when he saw Wu Fan.
"Boss!"
Wu Fan took a pack of cigarettes from the drawer and threw it over.
Merle caught it, looked down, and saw—Xia Kingdom Lotus.
He had never seen it before, but the packaging looked high-end. He turned it over and saw the back covered with dense Chinese characters.
Xia Kingdom Lotus cigarettes have a unique flavor.
His eyes lit up.
Wu Fan sighed helplessly as he looked at Merle's excited expression, despite his old smoking habit.
One pack of Xia Kingdom Lotus is worth fifty points, equivalent to five Walker heads.
Merle quickly stuffed the cigarettes into his pocket, afraid the boss might change his mind. He said with a grin, "The boss is really generous! I've already taken care of the recruitment. Ten people—all of them have gone out to fight Walkers and practice. They'll learn quickly."
Wu Fan nodded. "What about weapons and ammunition?"
Merle scratched his head. "I was just about to tell you—we're almost out of ammunition…"
"Go to the entrance of the Hive and get more," Wu Fan said.
"Every day, a batch of supplies will be placed on the subway platform. Take your people to pick them up. When you go out on raids, pay more attention to the police station."
Merle blinked, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.
Wu Fan glanced at him. "Spit it out."
Merle chuckled and lowered his voice. "Boss, I've been wanting to ask—those supplies… were they really transported by subway? Where does this subway go? I've never seen a train before."
Wu Fan took a deep drag of his cigarette and flicked off the ash.
That's a good question.
Of course, he couldn't say he obtained them through the system.
From the very beginning, Red Queen had cooperated with him to stage a "secret subway transport" cover story.
Every day, they placed the exchanged supplies on the subway platform at the entrance of the Hive, claiming that headquarters delivered them via the underground railway.
With Red Queen watching, no one dared investigate where the tunnel led.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask," Wu Fan said. "Red Queen is watching."
Merle shrank back and stopped asking further questions.
But he still didn't leave.
Wu Fan looked at him. "Is there anything else?"
Merle hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Boss, I just don't understand… why do we take in those elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people? Those old men and women can't even walk. What can they do? It's just a waste of food and medicine."
Wu Fan looked at him without speaking.
He took a drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaled, and leaned back in his chair.
"Merle…" he said. "Do you consider our Umbrella Corporation a friendly force or an evil force?"
Merle paused for a moment, then thought and replied, "Not good, not bad… just a normal force?"
Wu Fan grabbed a folder on the table and pretended to throw it.
Merle quickly dodged, covering his head with his hands. "Hey, hey, boss, don't hit me!"
Wu Fan slammed the folder onto the table, glaring at him.
"Normal force? We are researching a virus vaccine! We are humanity's last hope! And you call us a normal force?"
Merle immediately stood straight, embarrassed, no longer daring to joke.
Wu Fan lit another cigarette, his tone softening. "You think I took in those old people out of kindness?"
Merle blinked. "Isn't that right?"
Wu Fan sneered. "Yes and no."
He stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the quarantined elderly people.
"Do you know what the outside world is like right now?" he said.
"Without laws, without government, without order, survivors either kill each other like wild beasts or hide like rats."
Merle nodded. He knew that already.
"But…" Wu Fan turned back to him. "There are still people who retain their humanity. 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 outside.
"Those elderly people are our storefront."
Merle froze. "Storefront?"
"Right," Wu Fan said. "What kind of people will a place that takes in the elderly and treats the vulnerable kindly attract? It will attract those who still retain their humanity—kind, upright, and willing to help others. These are the people we need."
He flicked his cigarette ash.
"If we only recruit fighters or young people, what kind of people will come? Desperate criminals, inhumane elements, robbers who kill and steal. Would you dare let those people into the base?"
Merle scratched his head, beginning to understand.
Wu Fan continued, "Those elderly people are a signal. They tell outsiders: this place is safe, this place has humanity, this place is worth joining. They don't need to do anything. As long as they are cared for, they are the best advertisement."
He paused, then emphasized:
"And why do you think those young people caring for them—their families and caregivers—are doing this? They could abandon them and survive alone, but they didn't. These are the people we truly need."
Merle remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he chuckled. "Boss, you capitalists really have all the brains… you've calculated everything."
Wu Fan rolled his eyes. "This is strategy, not a scheme."
Merle quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, strategy."
Wu Fan returned to his desk, sat down, and lit another cigarette.
"Remember, when you see those elderly people in the future, greet them properly. Be polite and respectful. Treat them like your own grandparents, understand?"
Merle stood at attention and smirked. "Understood! I'll make sure they're well taken care of! I'll call one 'Grandma' and two 'Grandpa'!"
"Get lost," Wu Fan said.
Merle turned to leave, but at the door, he turned back. "Boss, those cigarettes were really good. Do you have more next time?"
Wu Fan picked up the folder again, ready to throw it.
Merle ran off laughing.
After the door closed, the office became quiet.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, smoking and looking out the window.
Downstairs, the elderly were being led into the quarantine area. Some were in wheelchairs, some were being helped, and some were holding children.
Although they moved slowly, everyone had a smile on their face.
He remembered what he had just said.
Storefront.
Yes, sometimes kindness is a strategy.
He stubbed out his cigarette and reopened the system panel.
I still need a lot of points.
But at least, the direction is right.