Chapter 10

"Ha ha, Mr. Jiang, are you satisfied with this one?"

The weather on the wasteland was very strange. It was clearly summer, but occasionally it would become as cold as late autumn. Dense radioactive dust blocked most of the ultraviolet rays, making abnormal weather a common occurrence in this world. If the radioactive dust, which looked like clouds, did not dissipate, the temperature here would drop even further.

Especially in the morning, the chill was particularly noticeable.

Wearing a windbreaker, Jiang Chen had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a resume, scanning it. The fat man standing beside him was already bald, and his age was enough to make him Jiang Chen's father. At this moment, he was nodding and bowing, flattering Jiang Chen.

In this survivor camp, which was centered around absolute freedom and capitalism, those with subcrystals were the bosses. Although he didn't know Jiang Chen's background, offending a customer would definitely not end well for the boss.

Moreover, Jiang Chen was a man of status.

Following Sun Jiao's suggestion, Jiang Chen fabricated a fictional identity for himself—General Manager of the Fish Bone Canned Food Production Company. In this wasteland, apart from the leaders of various factions, there were only two types of people with the highest status. One was the arms dealers, and the other was the food producers.

These two items were highly profitable, after all, most of the soil could no longer be cultivated.

As for why the company was called Fish Bone, it was naturally for convenience. The canned food Jiang Chen brought was mostly Fish Bone brand, and he even began to consider whether to buy the Fish Bone Canned Food Production Company after making some money. This would save him the trouble of having to erase the production dates with sandpaper every time...

"... Zhang Tianyu, former vice president of Walker Technology, proficient in economic management and electronic product development planning, once led the development of the Walker P7 smartphone, which was popular in Asia..." Jiang Chen smiled, a vice president? How ironic, "Ahem. Mr. Wang Yi, I need someone skilled in computers and capable of physical labor. Why did you bring me a vice president?"

Although it was regrettable, this general manager was eliminated. He didn't need anything like corporate strategy or business plans.

For some reason, eliminating the so-called general manager felt damn refreshing... Of course, Jiang Chen's face showed no emotion.

"Sorry, sorry, please wait a moment!" The talent market administrator, Wang Yi, hurriedly nodded and bowed, then turned and ran into the file room to continue selecting.

Sighing, Jiang Chen looked at the ragged people in the slums.

Among them were families. Men of working age and women who were still physically capable would enter the industrial zone to work, exchanging their labor for a few cheap nutrient solutions and a small iodine tablet, struggling to survive with their families or alone.

If they encountered illness...

Jiang Chen looked at the radiation clouds in the sky, the light that penetrated them was unhealthy.

Soon, the fat man, Wang Yi, ran out of the file room, handed a stack of resumes to Jiang Chen, and wiped the sweat from his bald head with a smile.

These resumes were dusty, and the marks of recent cleaning were visible. In this wasteland, there was no shortage of high-tech talent, even to the point of being excessive. After all, producing bullets didn't require very advanced technology, and no one would pay for new computers or smartphones.

Jiang Chen carefully examined the materials in his hand, frowning from time to time.

"Mr. Jiang, are you... unsatisfied?" Wang Yi asked cautiously. This was after all related to his commission, his only source of income.

"There are a few whose technical skills are not bad, but..." Jiang Chen pointed to a section at the bottom of the resume, which read "criminal record," "Why did you pick all criminals for me?"

Lu Haitao, IT worker, sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing 15 nutrient solutions, engaged in physical labor in an organic synthesis furnace.

Li Kaiming, former project manager of Feixin Technology, sentenced to 17 years in prison for a gun robbery, engaged in physical labor in a bullet factory.

...

Wang Yi's face contorted, showing a smile that was more painful than crying, and he spoke in a tone that was almost pleading.

"Mr. Jiang, I have no choice! I really have no choice!"

After hearing Wang Yi's explanation, Jiang Chen understood.

It turned out that not all the refugees in the slums were free. Those who could be traded as commodities were naturally those who had lost their freedom. Each person who had received welfare in the slums was, in name, the "property" of the Sixth District, similar to serfs in the old society. Every person with the ability to work was forced to work in the factories, while those without the ability to work were kept as a population reserve, to be used as cannon fodder when necessary. As for the free refugees, they were mostly poor but could manage to survive on their own, so they didn't need to receive welfare.

However, these were the rules from ten years ago. Now, Wanghai City had formed a stable "ecosystem," and mutants and zombies no longer attacked the survivors' living space without reason. Without external threats, the Sixth District's need for serf-like refugees had greatly decreased.

To deal with the excess population, the Sixth District's authorities had no choice but to get involved in the human trafficking business.

They provided the necessary "connections" to fixed "agents," who then sold the excess refugees from the slums. These refugees were often bought by mercenaries or trade caravans, used as bait to test dangers or lure prey. In short, those who were bought had no good fate.

No one would waste nutrient solutions on useless people.

Thus, those who were allowed to be sold were often either those who had no value and could not work, or criminals.

Jiang Chen began to feel a bit stuck. He didn't really want either of these types of people.

Those with bad character were hard to control, and those who were physically weak were hard to maintain.

"Actually, Mr. Jiang, don't worry. When these people are sold, they will be fitted with electronic collars. If they do anything to harm your safety, hehe," Wang Yi seemed to see through Jiang Chen's concerns and explained carefully, making a gesture with his fingers at the end.

In that case... Although still a bit worried, there was no better option. Jiang Chen sighed and decided to pick one of the criminals who looked acceptable.

Just be careful.

"010342, stop, or you will be shot." A cold voice came from the door, and Jiang Chen glanced over.

A soft impact sensation came from his leg, and Jiang Chen was stunned, looking down.

"I'm sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation. I know computers, please, buy me." The girl spoke very quickly, her eyes alternating between fear and pleading.

Held by this small, thin body, Jiang Chen first reached for the weapon on his back out of caution. However, when he saw the soldier in combat gear signal him not to be agitated and aim his gun at the girl, Jiang Chen decided not to draw his weapon.

The soldier pulled the thin girl away like a chicken, and Jiang Chen frowned but said nothing.

Although he felt sympathy, he was more concerned about the girl's intentions.

What if it was a plot by the Ashworm Mercenary Group?

"Hehe, really sorry, the slums are always full of people eager to go to their doom." Wang Yi hurriedly bowed to apologize and signaled the soldier to quickly take the girl back to the camp.

Jiang Chen noticed a watch-like device on the girl's wrist, which was now flashing red. Once a "slave" who had received welfare left the slums, this alarm would activate, and the on-duty soldiers would be instructed to capture them.

"What will happen to her if she is caught?" Jiang Chen asked casually.

"Sent to a labor camp." Wang Yi shrugged, such things happened every day, and he was already used to it.

"Can such a young child work?"

"Actually, she's not that young. Generally, people over 16 years old will be fitted with a restriction bracelet to prevent them from leaving. This girl is just underdeveloped," Wang Yi smiled, "Let's not talk about this, Mr. Jiang, do you want to choose...?"

"I'll take that girl." Jiang Chen sighed.

Such a thin girl, if she enters a labor camp, she would probably die from the intense labor in a few days...

Jiang Chen had seen many corpses and had even killed people with his own hands. But no matter what, he couldn't bear to watch a little girl be sent to hell.

Besides, it seems to be because of me... Jiang Chen convinced himself.

Perhaps this is conscience? A luxury.

"Huh?" Wang Yi was stunned, looking at Jiang Chen with a strange expression and leaning in.

"Hehe, Mr. Jiang, if you like this type, there are more options, hehe, I have some ways to get you even better ones..."

"You talk too much."

Wang Yi shivered at the cold expression on Jiang Chen's face.

"Yes, yes, no problem." Offending a big spender was not worth it, Wang Yi hurriedly nodded and bowed.

"How long will it take to complete the procedures?" Jiang Chen didn't want to waste words with this man.

"About a day, please tell me your address..." Although the girl had committed a serious offense by leaving the slums and was technically a criminal, she was still in the process of being approved for sale. Getting her out directly was not easy.

"Two subcrystals, I'll wait here."

"Mr. Jiang, after all, the legal procedures..."

"Three subcrystals, I mean a tip." Jiang Chen said impatiently. Why so many problems? Civilization doesn't exist, so don't talk to me about the law.

"Yes! I'll get it done right away!" Wang Yi ran back to the file room, needing to immediately contact his "connections."

Although this fat man looked sloppy, his efficiency was quite high, of course, all for the sake of the subcrystals.

Jiang Chen only waited for half an hour before seeing a soldier bring the girl back to the gate.

In just half an hour, Jiang Chen noticed a bruise on the girl's face.

Wang Yi noticed Jiang Chen's unnatural expression and came over with a smile.

"Hehe, Mr. Jiang, the physical examination took some time, but it was for your safety, please understand." He smiled apologetically, leaned in closer, and whispered in Jiang Chen's ear, "Don't worry, the inspector told me. She's still a virgin, hehe."

Jiang Chen slightly turned his head, this guy was like a mobile heat source and smelled bad.

As he placed the transfer fee and tip, a total of 5 subcrystals, on the table and signed the agreement, Jiang Chen's name was now on the contract. From this point on, the girl with the number 010342 had no connection to the Sixth District.

"What's your name?" Jiang Chen glanced at the bruise on the girl's left cheek and the blood on her arm, slightly turned his gaze, and sighed.

The bruise was probably from a gun butt, although it wasn't his fault, he still felt a bit guilty.

"Yao Jiayu." The girl answered obediently and timidly, but her voice was stiff with fear.

"Do you know computers?"

"I do!" The girl suddenly raised her voice, but then lowered her head and spoke softly, "I have a B-level evaluation in the virtual education system. I am confident in both programming and hacking."

"Oh? Why are you so destitute?" Jiang Chen looked at the little loli with a slight surprise. At 16 or 17 years old, to achieve this level would be considered a genius in the present world.

However, in the post-apocalyptic world, this seemed to be quite common. The simplified virtual education system eliminated unnecessary general education and provided specialized training based on each person's talents. After spending a few years in a growth chamber, one could achieve outstanding results in a specific field. Anyone who grew up in a shelter had received similar education. Getting a B-level evaluation was already a good level.

This little loli, Yao Jiayu, clearly came from a shelter, but for various reasons, she had ended up here.

This was a common situation. When the resources in the shelters were exhausted, the people inside would often choose to leave and find a new home. Most would choose to enter such survivor bases.

"Many people in the slums can do it." Yao Jiayu's cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, feeling guilty, but then, as if worried that Jiang Chen would be unsatisfied, she mustered the courage to look up.

"Although my abilities may not be the best, my potential will not let you down... and, and I am very obedient... I will not resist whatever you ask me to do, and I will be very gentle..."

By the end, the girl's face was flushed, either from excitement or embarrassment.

Seeing Yao Jiayu desperately trying to sell herself, Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile.

He didn't care about the subcrystals he spent. Like money, it had to be spent.

"Relax, you don't need to be so nervous to work for me."

Seeing Yao Jiayu nodding nervously, Jiang Chen suddenly noticed her clothes.

The thin material clung tightly to her frail body, and it seemed that the people in the slums all wore such one-piece suits. When she left the camp, all her "assets" were confiscated, including the old coat she had worn.

"Are you cold?"

The girl shivered and shook her head.

At this moment, Jiang Chen realized that the girl was not shivering out of fear of him, but because the weather was indeed cold.

Sighing, Jiang Chen, to Yao Jiayu's surprise, draped his windbreaker over her shoulders.

"Don't catch a cold, it's hard to treat here."

Jiang Chen didn't say anything warm, but the girl quietly lowered her head, and a hint of a happy smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, hidden by her messy and greasy hair.

"...So lucky."

"Huh?" Jiang Chen tilted his head.

"Nothing, nothing."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen smiled and didn't press further. Doing a good deed made him feel a bit better, perhaps this was a characteristic of a civilized person.

Yao Jiayu secretly glanced at Jiang Chen's smiling face, then timidly lowered her head and wrapped the collar of the windbreaker.

So warm...

What she didn't say was that she