You were supposed to hoard supplies, why the heck did you hoard zombies!

However, the skepticism and disdain in their hearts vanished the moment they saw the five banknotes with a face value of one hundred exchange coupons.

In its stead, surged intense greed and envy.

Five hundred exchange coupons.

This was enough to supply a team with resources for several months.

They went out early and came back late every day, risking their lives to clear out zombies, and yet they could barely earn a dozen exchange coupons.

After accounting for the consumed resources, what was left wasn't even enough to buy a crooked knife.

They would need to save up for at least ten days to half a month to afford one.

Therefore, to everyone present, this five hundred was a vast fortune, enough to stir the dark desires tethered in their hearts.

Soon, the way they looked at the three people changed.

Fierce, greedy, envious.

The yearning for supplies swiftly inflated everyone's desires, including their leaders, Liu Bing and Gao Feng.

The two of them hadn't formed a team in the safe zone by luck.

It was genuine strength.

And ruthlessness.

There were no surveillance cameras in the room, and even fewer people could be seen on the streets below.

That meant even if they killed them, no one would know.

The company would have no way to hold anyone accountable.

But hesitation was apparent in the flickering gazes of both men.

After all, if the three had not lied, they were now properly registered as official employees with the company's management.

If anything happened, the company would surely investigate thoroughly for the sake of its own reputation.

The hundreds of security guards and the folks from the Combat Department were not to be trifled with.

The key was that the other side had guns.

If the investigation did trace back to them, it was likely none of those present would survive, unless they took the resources and ran straight out of the safe zone.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo seemed completely oblivious to the danger around him, continuing to eat.

"Slurp..."

"Smack smack..."

The steaming instant noodles might have looked bland, but when paired with that can of luncheon meat, they became irresistibly aromatic.

Soon, everyone's attention shifted to this luxurious bowl of noodles.

A bowl of hot noodles was rare, but not precious.

But a can of meat was different.

Its value was twenty times that of the bowl of instant noodles.

Even if a scavenger in the safe zone found such a thing, they'd mostly take it to the logistics department to exchange for instant noodles or bread, rarely indulging themselves.

The sound of people swallowing their saliva soon filled the air.

But Lin Mo showed no intention of sharing.

He wolfed down the bowl of noodles in a few minutes, and having belched satisfactorily, he looked at everyone with an apologetic smile and said,

"Sorry, it's been so long since I've had meat."

Everyone cursed in their hearts, you think everyone has a huge sum of five hundred like you? Eating a bowl of noodles and pairing it with a can of luncheon meat?

Rich people are really obnoxious!

"What about you?"

"How long has it been since you last ate meat?"

Lin Mo, entirely unmindful of their envious glances, calmly swept his gaze over each person.

No one answered, and the room fell into an unusual silence.

Including Liu Bing and Gao Feng.

One had a daughter to feed, and the other had elderly parents; each day, their family needed to consume at least five to ten coupons' worth of resources.

Eat meat?

Don't make them laugh.

Just having enough to fill their stomachs was good enough.

Meat, drinks, all of those were luxuries nowadays.

Even for the best-treated arsenal factory workers, they'd get to eat meat only once a week at most.

So, to them, Lin Mo's question was nothing but sheer mockery.

Anger started to glint in everyone's eyes.

"Did you call us here just to show off?"

Just as Liu Bing was about to signal his subordinates, he heard Gao Feng's voice by his ear.

He thought carefully and suddenly understood something.

As expected, Lin Mo immediately shook his head and said, "I'm not that bored."

"I've already said so before."

"I just want you to work with me for the company."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the can on the table, still containing some meat juice.

"Such a can is worth at least twenty bucks each."

"What if I say that each of you, every week, could have at least one to eat?"

Each person?

Every week?

At least one?

The others were momentarily stunned.

Another meaning of his words was that everyone present could save at least twenty bucks a week.

With both teams added together, there were over a dozen people, totaling more than two hundred exchange coupons?

That's enough to trade for several sets of the newly released protective gear at the weapon shop.

After all, the useful things aren't limited to shields now.

There were breastplates, shoulder guards, wrist guards, leg armor, and even wire mesh gloves, among other body armor.

These items might seem ancient, but they were actually very effective.

Because most fights were close combat, the zombies' teeth and claws, or even the weapons in the hands of other survivors, were the biggest threats.

A suit of aluminum alloy body armor could effectively prevent injuries in these vital areas.

It was extremely useful, whether for individuals or groups.

It was just that nobody could afford it.

That was exactly why scavengers nowadays just found some iron sheets and leather, roughly stitched them together into makeshift armor.

But the protection offered compared to the gear made by the company was worlds apart.

The crowd exchanged glances, clearly all thinking along these lines.

Yet their eyes shared mutual doubt.

Is there really that much reward?

Lin Mo had no intention of explaining, and continued in his calm and unhurried manner:

"I know what you're thinking," he said.

"But even if you kill us, you'll only get these five hundred bucks."

"How much would each of you get? Not more than twenty or thirty bucks."

He paused for a moment as he reached for the five one-hundred bills grouped together, the scent of the ink almost tangible. Your journey continues with empire

No matter the time, such patterned paper always managed to ignite everyone's desires.

"But have you considered?" he asked.

"Can you even spend these five hundred bucks if you have them?"

This question undoubtedly hit a nerve, touching the very fears in their hearts.

The moment they were wanted by the company and had to leave the safe area, those five hundred exchange coupons would instantly become worthless to them.

This new type of currency was only valid within the company's stores.

It was unacknowledged outside.

"But if you listen to me, things will be different," he added.

"These five hundred bucks won't be the last."

"There will be a second time."

"And a third time."

As Lin Mo spoke, he suddenly stood up and walked to the window, his gaze falling on the shadows lurking in the darkness like beasts at a distance.

Those skyscrapers used to be the symbols of this city and the country's prosperity.

But now, they were a breeding ground for monsters.

"You must have noticed," he said.

"The zombies now are different from before."

"They run faster, are stronger, and sometimes they even turn around to flee."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bing immediately retorted with some disbelief, "So what?"

"They'll still die if you chop off their heads, right?"

But Gao Feng, standing to one side, made no sound, clearly having realized what Lin Mo meant.

That was, the zombies outside were evolving.

Just like the ones in the company.