Chapter 207 Poaching with a High Salary?

Chen Xueming led a group of dejected researchers, marching grandly toward Dormitory Building No. 9.

The faces of these researchers were filled with bitterness and anxiety.

They didn't want to come at all; they were completely coerced by Zheng Siyuan and the others.

Under Lu Jiaming, they were the core, the treasures; though the work was a bit tiring, they had no worries about food or clothing and held a respected status.

Who knew they would be coerced by force by this traitor named Zheng Siyuan, forcibly "kidnapped" to this hellhole.

What would happen to them here?

Would they be treated inhumanely?

Would they be exploited like slaves?

At the thought of this, a chill ran through their hearts.

"Old Wang, what should we do... I don't want to stay here..." a young researcher whispered to an older man beside him.

The man called Old Wang looked equally grim; he sighed, "What can we do? Didn't you see how ruthless that Zheng Siyuan is? For weaklings like us, resisting is a dead end."

"But our research... without the 'energy converter' at the center, many projects can't proceed! Won't we become useless here? What good end can a useless person have here?"

These words voiced the deepest fear in the hearts of all the researchers.

The reason Lu Jiaming valued them wasn't just for their knowledge, but because they could operate that special building, continuously creating value for the entire faction.

But now, the rug had been pulled out from under them.

Without that special building, their value would be greatly diminished.

In the apocalypse, what's the difference between a valueless person and a piece of meat?

Just as everyone's hearts were filled with despair, a private message rang out in the minds of many researchers.

A private message popped up.

[Private Message - Lu Jiaming: I am Lu Jiaming. I know your situation; don't panic, and certainly don't do anything foolish.]

[Private Message - Lu Jiaming: You are our core assets; I will never give up on you! Cooperate with them for now, prioritize preserving your own lives, and wait for our rescue!]

Seeing this message, the young researcher's eyes instantly turned red.

Lu Jiaming... hasn't given up on us!

He clenched his fists in excitement and quickly conveyed the news to his companions through glances and subtle movements.

Soon, almost all the researchers who had been 'recruited' received similar messages.

The atmosphere of despair vanished, replaced by a suppressed sense of hope and humiliation.

That's right!

We're just undercover here temporarily!

Boss Lu will definitely come to save us!

We are precious scientific talents; no matter how ruthless this Su Ze is, he wouldn't dare do anything to us easily!

Just think of it as... spending a few days in prison!

Carrying this mindset of "enduring humiliation for a greater cause,"

the researchers' expressions actually became much calmer, even taking on a tragic air of "facing death with equanimity."

They were prepared to accept the harsh reality.

Soon, Chen Xueming brought the thirty-odd people to the corridor of Dormitory Building No. 9.

When they saw the dormitories with doors violently destroyed and hanging crookedly from their frames, the small spark of hope they had just found was instantly doused with cold water.

It's over.

Are they being made to live in these run-down dorms without even doors?

If monsters spawn at midnight, wouldn't they be the first to die?

They don't value our lives at all!

Everyone's hearts sank to rock bottom.

However, just as their faces turned ashen, Chen Xueming waved his hand and shouted to the few subordinates following him:

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up! Fix all the doors! One room per person, don't be so slow!"

A few subordinates immediately stepped forward and began working on a damaged Dormitory door.

[Consumed Wood x100, Dormitory Door repaired!]

A system notification sounded in the ears of the researchers standing nearby.

They were stunned for a moment.

They... fixed the door?

They have a bit of a conscience, at least.

But as soon as that thought surfaced, Chen Xueming's impatient voice rang out again.

"Is it finished just because it's repaired? What did the boss say? Safety! Safety is the most important! Upgrade them! Use as many resources as it takes! At least to Level 4!"

"Yes!"

Level 4 doors were upgraded one by one.

The whole process was seamless, taking less than half a minute.

The researchers were collectively dumbfounded.

They just... upgraded them like that?

What... what kind of extravagance is this?

"What are you staring for? Move it, move it! All rooms, upgrade them all to Level 4!!"

At Chen Xueming's command, his subordinates immediately split up to take action; the sounds of upgrades were constant.

The researchers watched helplessly as one dilapidated Dormitory door after another...

turned into indestructible Level 4 doors in just over ten minutes.

This lavish scene made them feel like they were dreaming.

It wasn't that their side didn't have Level 4 doors, but they didn't have this many!

"Alright!" Chen Xueming clapped his hands, looking at his masterpiece with satisfaction, then turned to face the completely bewildered experts seriously.

"Everyone, this will be your home from now on! Six people per room, take your pick!"

He cleared his throat and continued to announce:

"As researchers, you will be primarily responsible for scientific research."

"So, first: you don't need to participate in most combat missions. Your duty is to conduct research!"

"Second: food, water, and all kinds of living supplies will be provided in unlimited quantities!"

"Third: if you need anything for research—as long as it's reasonable and useful to the main force—whether it's materials or equipment, just give me a list. If we have it, we'll give you as much as you need! If we don't, we'll find a way to get it for you!"

Chen Xueming's words hit every researcher's heart clearly, word by word.

The entire corridor was dead silent.

Everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief.

No combat?

Unlimited supplies?

As many research materials as needed?

This... this treatment, compared to when they were under Lu Jiaming, was... not just a little bit better!

And it was six people per room, unlike in the building where twenty or thirty people were squeezed into one.

In the World Financial Center, the rule was that after clearing a specific small area, a "Dormitory" could be formed with no limit on the number of people, but the more people there were, the more monsters it attracted at midnight.

Furthermore, although their survival supplies were distributed daily, it was only bread and fresh water.

Food-wise, each person got five loaves of bread a day.

As for combat, they also had to join in during emergencies.

And this was already treatment that other players envied!

Meanwhile, they had originally prepared themselves to suffer and endure humiliation.

As it turned out, reality had given them a huge surprise.

A young researcher couldn't help but whisper to his companion, "Is... is this a dream? I feel like we weren't captured, but rather poached with a high salary?"

The companion beside him nodded blankly and muttered to himself, "Will Boss Lu... still come to save us? Or rather... do we even need him to?"

This thought was like a seed, quietly taking root and sprouting in many people's hearts.