Chapter 60: Students Are Wonderful!

Chi Wannian’s company had begun recruiting new members.

The news spread swiftly among the refugees. Even though the positions offered extremely generous compensation, very few people actually applied.

After all, in just the last two or three days since these self-proclaimed “company” thugs had arrived in the Panshan Scenic Area, they had already killed over a hundred refugees. When they forcibly conscripted refugees to attack Villa 36, five or six hundred more died.

Among them, one or two hundred were shot in the head by Su Miao, over two hundred were killed in a massive explosion, and another two hundred or so perished in a mudslide. Those with minor injuries weren’t even counted.

The refugees harbored a deep hatred and terror toward the company.

And yet, there were still some who wanted to join.

In the villa where the student group had gathered, Director Tang Ke looked at his students, anxiety written all over his face.

Several students who were taken yesterday to build the trebuchet had died in an explosion, and the physics teacher, Mr. Wang, who led the team, had yet to recover from the shock.

From the survivors' accounts, Tang Ke learned that the company people privately referred to them as “slaves.”

Tang Ke was furious, but without a gun—and even if he had one, he didn’t know how to fight—he could only stew in silent rage.

But he never imagined that a few students would volunteer to join the company.

“Mr. Tang, if none of us are in the security team, what happens if our classmates are bullied?”

“That’s right, Mr. Tang. Just let us go. We’ll be fine, really.”

The two who spoke were Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui.

Both were top students.

If not for this natural disaster…

Tang Ke sighed inwardly, his gaze fixed on the two. “Lu Xuechuan, Xiong Hui, don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. But do you really understand what you’re getting into?”

“One careless move and you’ll end up with your brains blown out by Su Miao, or worse, tortured to death by the company if they find out your intentions.”

“This isn’t some hardcore game you’ve played before. It’s much more brutal than anything you’ve seen in a game.”

“Don’t think for a second I don’t know—you’re doing this for Zhao Xue.”

Zhao Xue had been taken by the company the day before yesterday, supposedly because the boss, Chi Wannian, wanted to see her. She never returned, nor did the other girls taken with her.

Both Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui liked Zhao Xue.

They thought they hid it well, but under the director’s gaze, everything was laid bare.

“Mr. Tang, some things just have to be done,” Lu Xuechuan said resolutely.

Xiong Hui added, “Yes, Mr. Tang. We haven’t eaten all day for a chance like this!”

Tang Ke looked at them for a long moment, then said, “Fine. Go, but be careful. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. If anything happens, come back immediately.”

Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui nodded solemnly, said their goodbyes, and left.

Watching their retreating backs, Tang Ke clenched his fists. As a teacher, he couldn’t even protect his own students.

…

At the company’s recruitment center.

Bai Rui wore a dark expression. The boss had kindly given these slaves an opportunity, but they weren’t making use of it.

So far, only thirty had signed up. It was an insult to both the boss and himself.

It was all Su Miao’s fault—slaughtering so many at Villa 36, nearly getting Bai Rui himself killed, and causing the current predicament.

“We’re here to sign up.”

Just then, Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui walked in.

Bai Rui glanced at them—students. Excellent.

The boss had said students were like blank canvases, ready to be shaped however one wished. Brainwashing them would be easy.

That was why, when conscripting slaves for the attack on Villa 36, they’d taken people from all over the resort except these students, who remained untouched.

The only incident was the explosion during the trebuchet’s construction, which killed a physics teacher and some students.

Barring accidents, many of these students would become company mainstays in the future.

The boss would be very pleased to hear students had signed up.

“Write your names here,” Bai Rui said, looking the two sturdy students over with increasing satisfaction. “No need for you to do patrols—head to logistics.”

“Remember, the logistics department is a plum assignment. Do your work well, keep your hands clean, and you’ll have plenty to eat and drink. If there’s a girl you like, just say the word—someone can carry her home for you.”

“But if your hands aren’t clean, you’ll lose them. Understand?”

Their eyes lit up, and they nodded eagerly.

Bai Rui chuckled.

Students—so easy to read. Just look at how hungry they were. Assigning them to logistics would ensure they remembered his kindness.

The warnings, of course, were to assert his authority.

After all, the boss despised corruption above all else.

After registration, a member of the operations team led Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui to the logistics department.

Due to the material shortages, newcomers like them simply tied a company ribbon around their arm to signify their membership.

On the way, they wisely refrained from asking about Zhao Xue and the other girls.

They believed that now they had joined the company, finding Zhao Xue and the others would only be a matter of time.

They were in no hurry.

But when they arrived at the logistics department, they froze.

Because there they saw Zhao Xue. That bracelet on her wrist was unmistakable.

Zhao Xue lay there, stripped bare, sprawled naked and bloodied on the butcher’s table.

On any other day, this might have been the scene from countless dreams—but never as a corpse.

Xiong Hui’s eyes turned red on the spot.

Lu Xuechuan grabbed Xiong Hui’s hand, warning him not to act rashly.

At the edge of the table, several burly butchers were handling the corpse, one of them saying with a laugh, “Damn, this body still smells sweet. Makes me want to have some fun.”

The butcher across from him, chopping up the body, retorted, “Don’t talk crap here. Did you forget what happened to the last guy who tried messing with the boss’s food? Sliced three thousand times before he died, absolutely terrifying.”

The butcher standing before Zhao Xue’s corpse shuddered. “Damn! That memory still scares me. Besides, the boss is in a bad mood—dinner still needs to be served…”

“Enough nonsense!” the other butcher snapped, bringing his cleaver down. “Get to work. If you talk any more, you’ll end up on the dinner table. With all these new corpses from the resort, we’ve got plenty to keep us busy.”

…

Lu Xuechuan and Xiong Hui couldn’t hold it in—they both threw up violently.

The sound of retching drew the attention of the butchers at work inside.

“What are these two doing here?”

A member of the security team came over and asked.

“They’re new to the security squad, assigned here by Group Leader Bai Rui. Students,” the escorting officer replied.

The guard nodded. “Understood. Go stand watch by the kitchen. Do your job well.”