Forgot to bring it

The boss sighed. “Ah, you’re all so bored. Instead of dwelling on such things, you’d do better to focus on earning contribution points. Sustenance will soon become a real issue.”

Chi Bai interjected, “That shouldn’t be a problem, should it? There will always be tasks to complete; they wouldn’t possibly let us starve. Besides, I have some insider information to share.”

He settled onto his bed, his mysterious demeanor compelling someone to ask, “What kind of insider information?”

Chi Bai folded his arms across his chest, lifting his chin slightly with a triumphant air. “Ah, you’ve certainly come to the right person for this,” he declared, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces surrounding him.

A satisfied smile touched his lips as he continued, “When I went to log my contribution points, I overheard them talking about a recruitment fair happening tomorrow. You should all quickly consider what skills you possess that could be useful and find a suitable position to interview for.”

“Really?”

“Do you know what positions are available?”

Chi Bai: “Uh… I’m not entirely sure about that.”

“…Then what kind of insider information is that?”

“Exactly!”

“I thought it was some big secret.”

Chi Bai bristled. “Who said it doesn’t count? Knowing early means preparing early, which undoubtedly increases your chances of success!”

While Chi Bai spoke, Tang Hao remained engrossed in his own personal panel, constantly refreshing the main lobby interface for any useful updates.

Suddenly, a red notification dot began to pulsate on his private chat interface.

He tapped it, revealing a group announcement that had just been posted in the district chat.

[Announcement: @Everyone, a public recruitment fair will be held tomorrow at 8:00 AM in the stadium hall. Humanity’s survival needs your strength. Whether it’s combat, technology, or logistics, there’s a place waiting for you!

List of Recruitment Positions

#[Armed Defense Squad]

Responsibilities: Patrol and vigilance, combating mutated entities, protecting resource points

Requirements: Physically fit/Experience with cold or hot weapons preferred

Benefits: Double rations + 8-person communal dormitory, 100 contribution points/day

#[Medical Emergency Team]

Responsibilities: Wound treatment, research and development of anti-infection agents

Requirements: Medical background/Knowledge of herbal medicine

Benefits: Priority access to medical resources + 4-person communal dormitory, 150 contribution points/day

#[Mechanical Engineer]

Responsibilities: Generator repair, modification of defensive structures

Requirements: Knowledge of electricity/mechanical repair

Benefits: 8-person communal dormitory, 150 contribution points/day

#[Agricultural Cultivator]

Responsibilities: Planting radiation-resistant crops, managing underground greenhouses

Requirements: Experience in farming/animal husbandry

Benefits: 8-person communal dormitory, 100 contribution points/day

#[Intelligence Scout]

Responsibilities: Exploring ruins, marking dangerous zones

Requirements: Strong sense of direction/Fast runner/Able to draw maps [Note: Requires leaving the base for external missions]

Benefits: 8-person communal dormitory, 200 contribution points/day

#…]

The same vital information was simultaneously disseminated across district groups in every province and city nationwide.

Bases were now being established on a district-by-district basis, a direct consequence of the magnetic storms induced by the mysterious green light.

With the internet and electricity successively failing, humanity’s technological capabilities had plummeted, leading to severe shortages of virtually every resource.

Water, the very essence of life, was predictably scarce, but even staple ingredients like meat and vegetables were in critically short supply.

The widespread power outages rendered refrigerators useless, meaning any remaining perishables would spoil within days.

Thus, cultivating self-sufficiency through farming had become the paramount objective once basic safety was secured.

For the time being, they were confined to spacious environments like stadiums, which offered strategic geographical advantages, facilitating both escape and defense.

While there was talk of constructing dormitories nearby to improve living conditions, the future remained entirely uncertain.

Some might question why they didn’t simply reside in hotels, but the answer was straightforward: hotel rooms were far too constricted.

Such confined spaces would make evacuation difficult during emergencies and significantly increase the risk of accidents with a large population.

Consider, for instance, a scenario where zombies swarmed both ends of a corridor—how would one escape? By leaping from a window?

Constructing new buildings necessitated dedicated work teams, just as mechanical engineers were indispensable for repairing weapons, agricultural machinery, and medical equipment.

Doctors were crucial for treating injuries, and even psychological well-being required attention.

It was from these pressing needs that such specialized roles emerged.

Chi Bai had no idea what specific positions other districts were advertising, but he surmised they were likely quite similar.

Such formal, administrative-laden prose certainly wasn’t something the simple-minded Lei Yi could have penned.

It was more probable that he had merely forwarded an official announcement from higher authorities, or perhaps Liu Yang had ghostwritten it for him.

As Chi Bai stroked his chin, his thoughts drifted aimlessly, lost in a whimsical reverie, until an odd sensation on his hand abruptly interrupted him.

‘What was this? It felt somewhat coarse, almost stiff. Could it be… stubble?’

He walked out of his room and into the shared bathroom, where he peered into the mirror.

Sure enough, a faint, prickly stubble had begun to sprout on his chin.

It was only then that Chi Bai belatedly realized, ‘Oh, hell! I completely forgot to bring my razor from home.’

‘The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind!’