Chapter 103 - Recruit

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Sigh!”

Li Bo sighed.

He sat down on the ground with a dejected look.

Several game notifications flashed across the lower-left corner of Fang Heng’s retina.

[Hint: You have triggered a special mission-Meteorite Company employee.]

Mission name: Meteorite Company employee.

Mission description: You have met a Meteorite Company researcher during the apocalypse search. He has a lot of secrets related to Meteorite Company.

Mission requirement: You can try to hand him over to the apocalypse merchant or the Dark Knights, or you can try to recruit him as a member of your shelter.

Fang Heng’s eyes lit up.

He sat on the floor and handed Li Bo a bottle of coke.

“We meeting like this during an apocalypse is also a kind of fate. Would you mind telling me, what happened here?”

Li Bo took the coke and gulped a few mouthfuls before smiling bitterly.

“Thank you. I’m Li Bo, an employee of the notorious Meteorite Company.”

[Hint: Your friendship with Li Bo has increased slightly.]

Having not spoken to his kind for a long time, Li Bo could no longer hold it in. He really needed to find someone to talk to.

Fang Heng listened quietly.

According to Li Bo, he had been recruited by Meteorite Company after graduation to participate in the biological research project related to the T-virus.

A few months ago, his team accepted a mission to enter the prison and use the strong prisoners in the prison to carry out live research on the T-virus.

Unexpectedly, a crisis broke out.

Li Bo took a deep breath and recalled the situation at that time. He was still frightened.

“I was in the laboratory at that time. Suddenly, a group of people ran into the laboratory. They were shouting loudly, saying that the biochemical crisis had broken out.”

“They told me that there was a problem with the Lickers’ cultivation pods. A large number of Lickers who were in the process of breeding escaped from the cultivation pods and attacked the researchers. The virus quickly spread out.”

“I don’t know why this happened either. Under normal circumstances, our laboratory would take strict measures to ensure safety.”

“From then on, the team leader, a few other survivors and I hid in this laboratory and monitored the situation inside Prison No. 1 through external surveillance cameras.”

Li Bo’s expression was bitter.

“After that, the power went out in Prison No. 1, and the internal surveillance system also lost its effectiveness.”

“More than a dozen of us were trapped here. After about a week, there were people trying to go outside to investigate. Some went out in batches, and some went out one by one.”

“No one came back, and only the team leader and I were left in the laboratory.”

“After a few months, we didn’t receive any help.”

“We guessed that the outside world might have already fallen to the apocalypse, and no one would come to rescue us anymore..”

“The team leader gradually couldn’t stand the desperation, so he chose to commit suicide…”

[Hint: Your friendship with Li Bo has slightly increased.]

Fang Heng listened to Li Bo’s explanation and thought about his next choice for the mission.

He knew very well that Li Bo, this NPC, was a special reward for this stage of the prison mission.

If he had used brute force, such as burning down the entire building or using explosives to blow up the building, then, Li Bo would also be blown to death in the building, and the reward would not be available.

Similarly, if the time dragged on, in another half a month, the remaining materials in the laboratory would also be exhausted.

Li Bo would not be able to last long under the state of hunger, and he would soon die.

Then, what should be done with him?

Li Bo was a researcher of the Meteorite Company, a special NPC.

If they handed him over to the Dark Knights, they would definitely get a lot of honor points.

If they let him stay with them, they could let him work in the shelter in the future.

Researchers in the game were very rare! They could conduct research on zombies and create some strange things.

Fang Heng had seen related content on the forums before.

However, supporting NPCs’ research work also cost a lot of money. In the past, only large-scale player guilds and companies had the ability to recruit research NPCs.

Fang Heng thought for a moment and raised two fingers.

“You guessed right. The zombie virus has spread to the entire world. The entire world has been destroyed, and only a few humans are barely surviving.”

“Now, you have two choices. First, I will take you out and hand you over to the Dark Knights.”

Li Bo could not help but interrupt. “What is the Dark Knights?”

“An organization that is trying to save the apocalyptic world. The Dark Knights think that the Meteorite Company is the cause of the apocalypse.”

“You have a lot of information related to the Meteorite Company. You will be very useful to them. If you cooperate, they will ensure your safety.”

Hearing this, Li Bo’s face turned pale, and he immediately waved his hand to refuse. “No, no, no, I’m not going there.”

“Then you have a second choice. Join my shelter.”

“Your shelter?” Li Bo looked suspiciously at Fang Heng. “You can protect me during the apocalypse?”

“Yes, I have the ability to eliminate the Lickers in the prison. Naturally, I have the ability to take care of your safety.”

“Really?”

Li Bo looked at Fang Heng, somewhat doubting Fang Heng’s ability.

He lowered his head and sighed heavily.

Li Bo knew that he had no other choice. Running out alone would only lead to death.

“Alright, I don’t have a choice anyway. I’ll join you.”

“A smart choice. You’re welcome to join.”

Fang Heng smiled.

He could think of other ways to obtain the Dark Knights’ honor points’ mission. However, a researcher was very rare to come by, only one in ten thousand.

This choice was too easy.

[Hint: You have completed the mission-Meteorite Company employee.]

[Hint: Li Bo has joined your team.]

Character: Li Bo

Evaluation: S-

Level: 1

Strength: 3

Physique: 3

Agility: 3

Perception: 4

Intelligence: 11

Will: 3

Current loyalty: 88

Skills: Basic Science (Level 50), zombie research (Level 27), scientific fitness (Level 1), potion-making (Level 17), Licker research cultivation (Level 21), T-virus branch research (Level 22), G-virus branch research (Level 2), efficient reading (Level 17), super learning (Level 49).

Description: Chief researcher at Meteorite Company, awarded outstanding employee for three years in a row.

So awesome!?

An S-rated NPC!

Fang Heng roughly glanced at Li Bo’s attribute status.

Non-mercenary NPCs were different from players. Their non-combat skill levels could often exceed the level of their characters.

However, Fang Heng was a little surprised that they were so much higher.

He didn’t know who was more powerful, him or Qiu Yaokang.

Recruiting Li Bo into the shelter was the right choice!

Fang Heng had another plan in mind.

Judging from his skills, Li Bo seemed to have a deep understanding of Lickers.

When he was done with his work, would he be able to rebuild the underground laboratory in Prison No. 1?

He would see if he could get the Lickers to come out.

Maybe he could find a way to transform his zombie clone into a Licker?

The Licker was the strongest creature among the Tier 2 mutated zombies.

In fact, it was more of a threat to the players than the slow-moving vine zombie!

In a one-on-one fight, the vine zombie was no match for the Licker.

Li Bo noticed that Fang Heng was constantly sizing him up, and there was even some eagerness in his eyes..

He couldn’t help shrinking his neck, feeling cold air coming out of his back.