Upon hearing the purpose behind the other's words, Liu Xiaojing couldn't help but become even more suspicious. "Are you joking? Or is there some other motive? You want me to join... Are you trying to trick me into walking into a trap?"
[...I'm not deceiving you, really! (indignant)]
[The company is a legitimate and lawful entity, so why would we deceive someone who knows nothing? (playful tongue-out gesture)]
[Besides, the issue from earlier has already been resolved on your behalf. You're innocent, and the company has no reason to pursue any hostility towards you. Considering your lack of identity and special circumstances, joining us... would be nothing but beneficial.]
At these words, Liu Xiaojing fell silent. Having wandered around Lianmen Harbor for so long, he understood all too well the importance of having proper identification. It was precisely because of his lack of such documentation that, despite having money, he found himself confined to such dark and unsavory places. Moreover, without legitimate identification, he couldn't even leave the city—this place was no backwater village. Everywhere was equipped with high-tech surveillance, and any form of long-distance travel required ID to purchase tickets.
This was the main reason he had remained stuck in Lianmen Harbor, despite everything that had transpired. If only he had valid identification, he could have fled the moment he received the money. But now, this so-called company had latched onto him.
"Can you really get me identification?" Liu Xiaojing could no longer resist the powerful allure of legitimate papers. He looked up at the computer screen. "What would I have to give in return?"
[Identification is a simple matter for the company's leader to arrange. You won't need to sacrifice anything; just join us. (mischievous smile)]
Liu Xiaojing fell into deep thought again. Considering his special circumstances and the trustworthiness of this company, he quickly deliberated on his next steps. He suspected that he might be an actual zombie—though the connection between the recent zombie incident and his own situation was unclear, the company had certainly taken note of such beings. It wasn't far-fetched to think they might use this opportunity to investigate him thoroughly.
He absolutely didn't want to expose his true nature as a zombie... But without a legitimate identity, he would eventually run out of money while continuing to wander through Lianmen Harbor. Who could predict whether he would fall into a state of hunger because of it? If that happened, it would be too late for regrets.
Liu Xiaojing quickly reached a conclusion. He made his decision.
"Fine. I'll join your company, but you must secure me a legitimate identity, and you can't take away my freedom for any reason. Is that understood?"
[Of course. Aside from the tasks, you'll be free to manage your own time. The company won't impose any restrictions on your personal freedom. (serious)]
"Tasks?" Liu Xiaojing asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
[Yes, tasks. Due to your unique nature, once you join, you'll initially be considered a temporary worker. You can take freelance courier orders whenever you like, but at certain critical moments, the company may assign you mandatory tasks that you cannot refuse. (serious)]
"What kind of tasks?" Liu Xiaojing pressed further, though he wasn't concerned with the term "temporary worker."
[How would I know? The assignments we receive are typically confidential. But since we're a legitimate company, we don't engage in underhanded schemes. The legitimacy of the tasks is guaranteed. At most... they may require a bit more effort on your part. (playful tongue-out gesture)]
Liu Xiaojing hesitated briefly. "So, these tasks are like the people you sent earlier? And the employees can take courier orders to earn money?"
[Exactly. Since you're not a permanent employee, the company won't offer you a fixed salary. How much you earn each month depends on how many courier orders you take. (smiling)]
Liu Xiaojing nodded. "I see. If that's the case, it's not entirely unacceptable. But... you're really not deceiving me?"
[Of course not. The company would never deceive you. Aside from your lack of proper identity, you've done nothing wrong. You haven't acted out of line in any way... The company has no reason to harbor any ill will towards any extraordinary individuals. (serious)]
"Don't you want to know why I don't have an identity? Why I've experienced memory confusion?" Liu Xiaojing asked, skeptical.
[We do want to know, but compared to this matter, your powers and your mindset are more pressing issues for the company. We cannot allow any extraordinary individual to disrupt the order of society. (serious)]
"So, on the surface, you want me to join, but in reality, you're just hoping to use my abilities, while slowly investigating my true identity?" Liu Xiaojing finally grasped the company's true stance.
[Yes, if I were to deny this, I imagine you wouldn't believe me. The company's approach towards you is indeed as you've described, but so what? As long as you haven't done anything out of line, even if the board finds out about your true identity, they won't do anything. (helpless)]
This, however, was not certain. Liu Xiaojing didn't voice his thoughts aloud, but he knew that the company wouldn't take action against an extraordinary individual without cause. But what if, in a strict sense, he wasn't truly an extraordinary individual... or even a human?
Ordinary people could scarcely accept the existence of extraordinary individuals. How could extraordinary beings accept someone even more abnormal than themselves? The odds of that were slim... But now, his options were limited. Joining the company seemed to be the only viable choice.
The company wanted to utilize his powers while gradually uncovering his origins. But why couldn't he, in turn, use the company to his advantage? After all, the company had significant resources and connections in the extraordinary world. With the growing number of strange occurrences, it was likely that he could find something beneficial for himself within that network.
Up until now, Liu Xiaojing had never truly felt connected to his zombie identity. He had always wanted to become someone who could truly integrate into the world. With the company's influence, he believed there might be a chance to find a way to revert back to being human. And, of course, if he could become human again while preserving his powers, that would be even better...
"Fine," he finally said. "I'll join you, but I expect you to keep your promise."
[Hehe, on behalf of the company, I welcome you, Liu Xiaojing. Tomorrow you... huh? Wait! Someone's outside! It's Quanxing! What are they doing here? (shocked)]
[Xiaojing! Be careful! There's something happening outside! (serious)]
"Quanxing?"