CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: PREPARING FOR RECRUITMENT

After finishing breakfast.

Lin Yi first headed to the Commercial Building camp, where he smoothly acquired agricultural tools from the Scar-faced Leader.

Then, he rushed to the Louvre.

On the way, he helped Solomon become a Professional.

The skill Solomon acquired was Stone Skin, once activated, although the skin doesn’t actually turn into stone, it can resist ordinary sword attacks.

However, if you want to resist bullets, you’ll need to level up to at least First Level 5 and gain Skill Points.

Ever since the zombie tide attack, the camp area of the Louvre has been significantly reduced.

The areas originally on the outskirts of the camp are now swarming with zombies.

These zombies provide Solomon with ample fighting opportunities. Through battle with zombies, Solomon successfully reached the First Level 2.

Lin Yi also transported Chen Youyou to the real world to help her level up.

During this period, he participated in the process, now he’s about 75% of the way to the Experience Points needed for the next level.

"The coin drop rate has been significantly weakened," Lin Yi muttered to himself.

He had just killed over twenty zombies but had only obtained six coins.

Nowadays, the Louvre looks somewhat desolate.

To be exact, there are far fewer tents on the refugee square, clearly, many people have decided to leave the camp in hopes of finding a safer place.

Yet, some continue to cling to newcomers, begging for food and even offering services in exchange.

Suddenly, a young woman, skinny to the bone, ran up to Chen Youyou and tightly grabbed her hand.

"Chen Youyou, is that you? Do you remember me? My tent used to be right next to yours!"

"Sophie?" Chen Youyou almost didn’t recognize her.

The woman in front of her looked extremely haggard and emaciated, her hair rough and full of grime, her skin dirty.

"Yes, it’s me, Sophie! I’m begging you, do you have anything to eat? I haven’t eaten in a long time... please, I’m begging you!" Sophie pleaded desperately.

Lin Yi shifted his gaze from this woman begging to Chen Youyou, asking, "Do you know her?"

"Yes, Boss. We lived very close at the time; we often chatted..." Chen Youyou seemed very conflicted.

She wanted to help Sophie, but it wasn’t her decision to make, and she didn’t want to burden her boss with additional troubles for this matter, so she dared not ask Lin Yi.

"Does she have family?" Lin Yi continued to ask.

"No. Her husband died trying to find food for her. She’s a good person; she even helped take care of my sister..."

"Alright, she can come with us, but make it clear to her that she won’t have any special treatment because of you."

Chen Youyou smiled broadly: "Thank you, Boss!"

Then she helped the woman up and quietly explained the rules of the shelter:

"Sophie, we can take you to our camp, but you have to do farm work. It’s not easy work, but it’s safe there, and there’s enough food."

But if you break the rules, then... to keep the camp’s secrets, they’ll eliminate you.

If you’re not ready to accept these conditions, you should stay here. Once you go, there’s no going back."

"I..." Sophie looked at the people around her, everyone’s eyes were filled with despair, hunger, and fear of death...

She gritted her teeth and made a decision: "I am willing! Life here is harder than death."

"Alright, then come with us, but try to stay quiet and not cause trouble when leaving the Louvre. We have important things to take care of here."

After saying this, Chen Youyou turned to Lin Yi: "Boss, she agreed to our terms."

Lin Yi nodded, then prepared to move forward.

At this moment, a man from afar ran up and knelt before him: "Please, take me with you too!"

Others heard what the man said and immediately started clamoring, causing the crowd to almost lose control in an instant.

Lin Yi frowned, somewhat displeased.

Seeing this, Solomon stepped forward and activated his Stone Skin skill, then stomped hard on the ground.

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, a large pit appeared on the ground, with cracks like a spider web spreading all around.

The crowd quieted down immediately.

Solomon retreated, standing behind Lin Yi.

"Today we’re here to recruit talent. But if you keep making a fuss here and causing trouble, then there will be no opportunity."

Lin Yi’s gaze was stern as he looked around at everyone: "All of you, quiet down and take some time to think about what skills you have, what you can do."

With that, he directly led the three through the tent city and into the Louvre.

During this time, not a single person dared to make a sound.

Inside the Louvre.

Soldiers were already on high alert, seemingly waiting for Lin Yi’s arrival.

As soon as Lin Yi appeared, the soldiers quickly approached and courteously escorted him and his group to the second floor.

"Ah, merchant! So glad you’re back." The chubby bureaucrat had a businesslike expression on his face.

Lin Yi teasingly said: "It seems you’ve been doing well lately..."

Remembering the last meeting, the man’s face was as pale as paper, his expression was full of anxiety and unease, like a man plagued by severe illness.

But looking now, this fat man not only had a few new gold jewelry pieces on him.

Even the walls of his office were adorned with several seemingly ancient paintings.

Upon hearing Lin Yi’s words, the chubby bureaucrat’s face showed a proud expression, slightly raising his chin.

He said with a hint of bragging: "My superiors are very pleased with my results in repelling the zombie tide invasion and handling the aftermath."

"Yeah, yeah..." Lin Yi forced himself to smile outwardly, responding perfunctorily.

This guy, last time he wasn’t like this, calling him incompetent and panicked wouldn’t be overstating it.

The chubby bureaucrat clearly sensed Lin Yi’s change in demeanor; he was slightly angry and embarrassed, momentarily speechless, only able to hurriedly change the topic.

"Ahem... So, what did you bring me this time? More potatoes? Alright, I’ll buy them, how much do you have?"

Lin Yi smiled again, slowly extending five fingers, gently waving them.

"Five tons? Wonderful... wonderful... I’ll prepare the place right away." The chubby bureaucrat was like a clown, rubbing his hands and dancing in excitement.

He couldn’t wait to grab the phone and quickly contacted his subordinates.

In just a moment, he successfully cleared out a warehouse, specially set aside for the incoming potatoes.

After arranging it, the chubby bureaucrat turned around with a courteous demeanor, asking Lin Yi for instructions: "I’ve arranged everything, should we go now?"

"Alright, but I have two more transactions."

"Two transactions? Please, tell me... I’m listening." The chubby bureaucrat put on a serious and sincere expression.

Lin Yi raised one finger: "First, I need farm tools, as many as possible."

The chubby bureaucrat pondered for a moment, then negotiated: "No problem, I’ll send people to the warehouse to try and grab as many as possible, does every tool count for a pound of grain?"

Lin Yi thought briefly, thinking the condition was reasonable, nodded, indicating agreement.

Then, he extended a second finger and continued: "Secondly, I want to take some refugees from you, we need more workers."

Upon hearing this, the originally calm face of the chubby bureaucrat—instantly showed a troubled expression...