Long Yuehong's lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but all he could manage was a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I don't think I'm the 'chosen one.' More like the 'cursed one,'" he muttered under his breath.
His voice was so soft that Jiang Baimian tilted her head but still failed to catch his words. She didn't press him to repeat himself, instead laughing lightly.
"Moving on, we'll start a variety of training sessions soon—shooting, hand-to-hand combat, wilderness survival, and the operation of exoskeletons and bionic armor, among others.
"Anyone who fails to meet the standards will be kicked out of the Old Task Force and reassigned to another job."
Long Yuehong's previously gloomy expression brightened at her words.
"But," Jiang Baimian continued, her eyes shifting to Shang Jianyao, "if anyone slacks off intentionally during training or doesn't give their best effort, I'll note it in their personnel file. And you know what that means."
Incorporating such a blemish into an employee's record virtually guaranteed a subpar reassignment. Accumulate three of these, and exile to the wastelands awaited.
Shang Jianyao maintained his serious expression, unfazed.
"If someone can't even handle training, how can they hope to save the world?" he declared with conviction.
Bai Chen, seated quietly on the long sofa, couldn't help but glance at the young man again. Was there something wrong with his head? Despite his decent looks, his words made her question his sanity.
She turned to Jiang Baimian and hesitated before suggesting, "Team Leader, after the training sessions, we should conduct thorough physical and psychological evaluations. On the wastelands, it's all too easy for people to crack under the strain and develop mental disorders. It could cause serious problems down the line, so we need to mitigate those risks in advance."
"Good idea!" Jiang Baimian snapped her fingers. "The only issue is... could you speak up a bit? I almost didn't hear you."
"Yes, Team Leader!" Bai Chen replied in a loud, raspy voice.
Satisfied, Jiang Baimian continued, "In any case, those who complete the training and pass my evaluations will significantly improve their survival odds on missions. Anyone who isn't up to standard won't remain on this team to face dangers they can't handle. Every worker is a valuable resource to the company; they won't discard you before squeezing out every ounce of your worth."
Long Yuehong let out a breath of relief. His initial fear began to dissipate, though Jiang Baimian's blunt honesty left him feeling slightly wounded.
Bai Chen frowned, her doubts resurfacing. Was the team leader just as off-kilter as Shang Jianyao?
Her straightforwardness bordered on disconcerting.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Shang Jianyao applauded enthusiastically.
"Well said!"
Jiang Baimian's smile froze for a moment. She then turned to Shang Jianyao.
"I'm starting to think you're a bit... unconventional. Are you sure you're suited for the Old Task Force?"
"Isn't that a good thing?" Shang Jianyao replied earnestly. "When everyone else is downcast, negative, or despairing, there's someone who can still smile, stay passionate, and entertain the group." He beamed.
Jiang Baimian raised an eyebrow, surprised by his reasoning.
"Well, that was... surprisingly normal of you to say."
"I've always been normal," Shang Jianyao said, sitting upright.
Jiang Baimian chuckled. "Alright then. How exactly would you entertain us?"
After a moment of thought, Shang Jianyao announced, "The Golden Coast Grass Skirt Dance."
"...Looking forward to it," Jiang Baimian replied perfunctorily. "Where'd you learn that?"
"At the Entertainment Department's year-end performance," Shang Jianyao said without hesitation.
"Ah, I missed that one!" Jiang Baimian clapped her hands in mock regret.
Bai Chen, listening to their exchange, began questioning her decision to join this team. Her gaze shifted to Long Yuehong, whose expression mirrored her own mix of confusion and doubt.
Am I the only normal one here? Bai Chen tugged at her scarf, trying to conceal her face entirely.
After a brief discussion about year-end performances, Jiang Baimian glanced at the black electronic watch on her wrist.
"Time's running short, and we've got training soon, so I'll keep it brief."
Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen instinctively looked at her watch. Jiang Baimian waved a hand dismissively.
"I traded two cans of braised beef for this from a wastelander. He found it among some ruins, but it was broken. Fortunately, I know a factory supervisor who introduced me to an electronics engineer. I used some contribution points to get it fixed.
"No need to be envious—you'll have plenty of chances to scavenge once we're out in the wastelands. Right, Bai Chen? Weren't you a scavenger yourself?"
"Team Leader, could you not use such... unflattering terms?" Bai Chen sighed softly.
"I was a relic hunter. Technically, not even that. I rarely ventured into the deep ruins—they're too dangerous. Mostly, I picked up scraps in the outer wastelands or areas already cleared of major threats."
Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong nodded, recalling their textbooks' description of relic hunters—a profession born in the aftermath of the old world's collapse, dedicated to recovering artifacts, books, and other resources from urban ruins.
Jiang Baimian gave a thumbs-up.
"Loud and clear this time."
She laughed.
"Of course, there are new electronic watches being produced, but they're rare and mostly found in First City. Who knows when we'll get a chance to go there?"
The mention of First City darkened Bai Chen's expression, as if dredging up unpleasant memories. She pulled back into the sofa's armrest, saying nothing.
Jiang Baimian clapped her forehead.
"Ah, I promised to keep it short and ended up rambling. On to the main point—your benefits!"
Turning to Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong, she said, "You're both classified as D1 employees, like anyone in an entry-level position. That's 1,800 contribution points per month. However, we also provide meal subsidies.
"Here's how it works: Four days off each month, with training on the rest. On training days, you'll eat at the small cafeteria nearby—three meals a day, two portions of specialty meat dishes included, totaling half a pound. Each portion costs just one contribution point. You can eat it all at once or split it between meals.
"On days off, you'll get an additional 25 points per day, equivalent to the price of half a pound of raw pork. That's 100 extra points per month.
"In total, during training—excluding field exercises—you'll earn 1,900 points monthly.
"Field training comes with free supplies and an extra 30-point daily stipend. If you're injured, all medical expenses are covered. Should you be permanently disabled, the company will provide free biological prosthetics."
She looked directly at Long Yuehong.
"If you die, there's a death benefit—80 months' salary.
"In short, for employees below D7, our team's benefits are unmatched. And once you complete training and pass the assessments, you'll be promoted to D2 immediately. Other roles might take a year or more for the same advancement."
Long Yuehong felt a flicker of hope amidst his earlier despair. If he could survive the initial missions, the future seemed bright.
"As for you," Jiang Baimian addressed Bai Chen, "your current benefits remain unchanged for now. But you'll also receive meal subsidies and field stipends. Once you complete training and pass the tests, you'll become an official employee."
Bai Chen nodded, her demeanor calmer than before.
Jiang Baimian flexed her fingers.
"This morning's training is weapon identification, disassembly, and reassembly."
"We've already learned that!" Long Yuehong blurted out, recalling their basic education.
Jiang Baimian smiled.
"You've only learned the company's standard weapons. Next, Bai Chen will introduce you to various guns from different factions and ruins.
"Out in the wastelands, you'll often lose your weapon or run out of standard supplies. You'll need to know how to repair whatever you find and make the most of available ammunition. The more skills you have, the better your chances of survival."
She clapped her hands.
"Alright, head to the nearby bathhouse and change into your uniforms. Then, report to Room 15."
She gestured to the uniforms neatly stacked on the coffee table.