Hive Level 1, Community Center.
Leon stood behind a temporary desk with a thick stack of documents in front of him.
Each cover had a striking red logo—the umbrella of the Umbrella Corporation.
Twelve researchers sat around him with mixed expressions: anticipation, curiosity, and doubt.
“Sign this…” Leon pushed the documents forward.
“And you will be official employees of the Umbrella Corporation.” Dr.
Edwin Jenner picked up a contract and flipped to the first page.
His brow slowly furrowed.
The contract was very thick.
The terms were very detailed.
And— “Salaries are exchanged for points earned through work or contributions?” He read aloud: “Lifelong service to the Umbrella Corporation?
No arbitrary job-hopping or betrayal of company interests?” He flipped to the back, and his expression changed.
“Violators will be treated as biochemical experimental subjects?” He looked up at Leon: “This…
this is simply inhumane.” “Edwin?” His wife, Candice, leaned in.
“What’s wrong?” Edwin handed her the contract and lowered his voice to explain his dissatisfaction.
After reading the contract, Candice fell silent for a few seconds.
Then she smiled.
It wasn’t a mocking smile, but a gentle, helpless one.
“Honey…” She held her husband’s hand.
“Look around.” Edwin looked up.
They were sitting in the spacious hall of the Community Center.
Through the glass windows, they could see the artificial sky and neat villas outside.
The air was fresh, the temperature comfortable—everything was so…
normal.
But what about outside?
“This world…” Candice said softly, “Humanity is nearly extinct.
Where else is there a company for you to jump to?” Edwin opened his mouth to argue but found he had nothing to say.
“Even if there were…” Candice continued, “Is there any with higher technology or better treatment than this Umbrella Corporation?
Look at this underground base—we worked above it for twenty years without ever knowing of its existence.
They could build an eleven-story underground city right under our noses.
This kind of strength…” She paused, smiling as she patted her husband’s hand.
“Besides, do you think the concept of ‘job-hopping’ still exists?
It’s full of Walkers out there.
Our only way out is to survive here, research a vaccine, and save humanity—isn’t that what you’ve always wanted to do?” Edwin looked at her and remained silent for a long time.
Then he sighed and picked up a pen.
“You’re right.” He signed his name and handed the contract to Leon.
“I’m in.” Leon took the contract and smiled slightly.
Next, one after another.
Dr.
Green signed.
Several other Old Professors signed.
The young researchers all signed as well.
Twelve contracts, all signed.
Leon put away the contracts and opened the system panel in his mind.
[Detected twelve researchers have completed their employment contracts] [Employee files updated] [Name: Edwin Jenner] [Position: Senior Virologist] [Loyalty: 72% (Foundational Trust)] [Family Members: Candice Jenner (Wife)] [Name: Candice Jenner] [Position: Biochemistry Researcher] [Loyalty: 81% (High Identification)] [Family Members: Edwin Jenner (Husband)] [Name: Abraham Green] [Position: Director of Virology Department] [Loyalty: 68% (Wait-and-see State)] [Family Members: None (Widowed, children out of town)] …
Leon looked through them one by one, silently noting each person’s loyalty value.
Most were between 65-75, in a state of “basic trust but still with doubts.” Candice was the highest at 81%; Dr.
Green was the lowest at 68%.
Not bad.
At least no one was below the 60% “danger line.” Leon closed the panel and stood up.
“Alright, everyone.
From now on, you are members of the Umbrella Corporation.” He pointed to the area behind the Community Center.
“The dormitory area is over there.
One villa per person, take your pick.
The labs are on the third basement level, but you can’t enter for now.
We’ll wait until my permissions are upgraded.
For now, everyone rest.” The twelve people stood up and walked toward the villa area.
Leon watched their retreating backs, a slight smile playing on his lips.
System-produced, must be high quality.
These researchers were his first batch of capital to establish himself in this world.
After handling the researchers’ affairs, Leon took the elevator back to the first floor.
In the CDC hall, eight survivors were huddled together, discussing something in low voices.
Seeing Leon come out, they immediately fell silent.
Leon walked up to them and scanned them.
A bald, burly man.
A middle-aged woman.
Two young men in their early twenties.
A taciturn middle-aged man.