Chapter 12 If all of this wasn't a conspiracy...
Fu Qing directly hired him.
Even if an SR (Super Rare Income) is given away for free, and is assigned to cleaning toilets, she'd still be a top-tier cleaner; either way, she'd be the one profiting.
After being hired, staff members can choose to be summoned directly or have the summoning process delayed. Bai Tang was summoned because she had met Fu Qing once before, while Grandma Liu and Bald Uncle Hao were still waiting backstage.
Explaining things one-on-one would be too time-consuming, so Fu Qing simply summoned all three of them together, skipped the system part, and concisely explained the origins and founding goals of Fangzhou University.
Unlike Bai Tang, most people are happy to accept the chance to start over.
Liu Yingchun is a kind and friendly old lady. She started thinking about growing vegetables partly to pass the time after retirement. When she heard that she could spend time with a group of energetic young people, she readily agreed.
Although Hao Zhenye did not refuse, his eyes clearly showed some suspicion after he heard that Fu Qing was the principal.
Leaders who are too young are always hard to trust. Besides, those who survive to the end are bound to be a bit arrogant. If they trusted others so easily, they would probably have died seven or eight times over.
Fu Qing didn't care much. Even if Hao Zhenye thought highly of her, she wouldn't get a bonus. So why bother trying to prove herself?
She distributed the course schedule, gave out dormitory keys, and saw the two off, telling them to go back and figure things out on their own.
Their gaze fell on the last person.
He was a young man with black-rimmed glasses, a refined and gentle appearance, the kind that would easily be lost in a crowd, and an air of student-like innocence untouched by the world.
According to the information, his name is Zhao Yunxiao, he is 26 years old, his intelligence is A+, his physical skills are B-, but his survival ability is an appalling C-.
How did someone like that make it into the top 100?
Fu Qing looked at him in confusion, never expecting that there was someone in the world who could be even more cunning than her.
Zhao Yunxiao's intelligence section is rated S+, with the rating in parentheses stating "Theoretical God of War, Standard Fountain Commander".
It's easy to understand why Fu Qing's intelligence level is S+. Zombies are constantly evolving, and Fu Qing survived to the end, encountering more advanced zombies than others. However, Zhao Yunxiao died earlier than her, yet their intelligence levels were at the same level, which is worth investigating further.
Over time, the number of human deaths has been declining year by year. Initially, there were tens of millions of deaths every day globally, but it was likely that the number would drop to several million within a week. By five years later, a mere few dozen people scattered across a vast landmass, each possessing unique skills, would be even more difficult to "kill."
Although Fu Qing and Zhao Yunxiao were only a few dozen people apart, their deaths may have occurred several months apart.
The two looked at each other, and Zhao Yunxiao's eyes flickered slightly.
Fu Qing looked at his resume.
Zhao Yunxiao's past experience is simple: from 18 to 21 years old, he studied at a top university; from 21 to 22 years old, in his final year of university, he interned at an official institution; almost at the same time as the virus outbreak, he was officially hired by the research institution and became a junior researcher.
His resume didn't list any specific achievements, but Zhao Yunxiao worked at the organization for more than four years until his death.
Fu Qing narrowed his eyes.
This resume is really strange. The organization is very prestigious, and it should theoretically require its employees to have at least a master's degree, but Zhao Yunxiao is only an undergraduate. Moreover, the virus outbreak occurred during a time of chaos, and it doesn't make sense that an official organization would have the time to hire a low-level researcher.
Fu Qing remained silent, which alarmed Zhao Yunxiao. He kept a close eye on Grandma Liu and Uncle Hao's backs until they closed the door and left, leaving only him and Fu Qing in the room. He immediately spoke up.
"Have you bound yourself to the system?"
The question was both startling and abrupt, even surprising Fu Qing.
She remained calm, neither confirming nor denying, and instead asked, "Why do you say that?"
Her fingertips traced Zhao Yunxiao's resume, and suddenly a strange thought popped into her mind. Fu Qing's heart skipped a beat. She looked up, observing Zhao Yunxiao's expression, and then, without waiting for his answer, she said confidently, "Because you also have a system?"
"Or rather...did it ever exist?"
Zhao Yunxiao was stunned.
His body trembled uncontrollably, and he made an expression that was worse than crying: "You, you're too smart."
Fu Qing didn't reply, feeling a slight sense of relief.
Since she can have a system, others can too. Zhao Yunxiao's resume shows that he worked at the organization for more than four years after the virus outbreak, but Bai Tang's freelance experience stopped at the point of the virus outbreak, and she has been "staying at home" ever since.
This at least shows that the official agency continued to operate for more than four years after the zombie outbreak.
And this institution "happens" to be a biological products research institute.
The rest is a simple deduction. Zhao Yunxiao's exceptional admission to this institution indicates he must possess some unique ability to compensate for his lack of formal education. And during a zombie virus outbreak, what is most important to a vaccine research institute?
Of course, it's information related to zombies.
This corresponds to the exceptionally high "intelligence" score on Zhao Yunxiao's ability list. He didn't acquire intelligence about zombies after joining the official organization; he was recruited because he possessed intelligence.
Less than five minutes after they met, Fu Qing saw through his biggest secret at a glance. Zhao Yunxiao had nothing more to hide and told her everything in one breath.
"That's right. On the afternoon of the zombie virus outbreak, a voice suddenly appeared in my mind, saying that I was bound to some kind of system, and that the world was about to end, and my mission was to do my best to prevent the extinction of humanity."
"The system works by allowing me to absorb a spore from the corpse of every zombie I kill, which deepens my understanding of that type of zombie until one day it has no secrets left from me."
"—But that's just a theoretical statement. I never actually reached that point until the day I died," Zhao Yunxiao added dejectedly.
Fu Qing listened silently.
This is clearly a growth-type cheat ability. Although it is not as powerful as those cheat abilities that directly grant superpowers in the early stages, once you survive to the late game, this ability has no upper limit.
In the early stages, it might only help Zhao Yunxiao understand the weaknesses of different zombies, but in the later stages, as the understanding deepens, it might help in the research and development of a vaccine.
Compared to individual strength, this is the way to save humanity.
If our understanding of zombies continues to delve into the microscopic realm, will Zhao Yunxiao one day break through some world barrier and directly become a god? With a flick of his hand, he could make zombies disappear directly from the particle dimension, blah blah blah.
...Anyway, that's how most male-oriented novels are written.
When Fu Qing thought of the vaccine, he had already guessed what Zhao Yunxiao would say next, and sure enough:
"But I've never even killed a chicken. If I got this cheat code, of course I'd hand it over immediately!"
After he proved his knowledge of zombies, he was placed under heavy protection.
Because Zhao Yunxiao was just a fragile college student with surprisingly poor athletic ability, he basically stayed in the research institute for the next four years, waiting for people to bring waves of zombies over for him to kill.
They cannot use firearms, nor can they tie them up to restrict their movement; they must be killed by hand after a fight.
Of course, all of this was carried out under strict protection. Once it was discovered that Zhao Yunxiao was no match for the zombies, the zombies would be killed immediately.
"My strength is really too poor. I can't kill more than a few in a day. Later, I finally managed to thoroughly study the basic zombies, but I didn't expect the zombies to evolve again." Zhao Yunxiao's tone became more and more somber.
Just as viral mutations affect vaccine development, the evolution of zombies will also affect Zhao Yunxiao's abilities. He must kill stronger zombies to obtain the latest information.
All the major shelters were overrun in less than six months after the outbreak of the virus, but this research institution persevered for more than four years. Zhao Yunxiao didn't need to elaborate on the sacrifices made during that time; Fu Qing could sense it from his heavy tone.
He is a "failed protagonist" who would never be depicted in a novel.
Fu Qing also subtly realized that she had once been just a "passerby" in this story.
The passerby survived to the end and thus became the protagonist, starting a new story.
...Is this the system's purpose?
Rewind the timeline and rewrite the ending?
“I no longer have any special abilities, but I still retain my understanding of zombies. I know most of their information and weaknesses. If you need, I can tell you everything, including the students, without holding back,” Zhao Yunxiao said.
No wonder he didn't ask for a salary.
Although Zhao Yunxiao was timid, his immediate decision to hand over the golden finger showed that he was kind and selfless by nature.
Fu Qing patted him on the shoulder and simply said "thank you," and Zhao Yunxiao's eyes immediately reddened.
“It’s okay, I’m glad I can do it again,” he said with a sigh of relief.
Fu Qing felt that what he really wanted to say was that he was happy that he didn't have to be the "protagonist" this time.
After recovering, Zhao Yunxiao took the keys and left, repeatedly assuring everyone before he left that he would prepare his lessons well, looking like he was ready to work through the night.
After being relieved of his burden, he seemed more relaxed than when he first appeared.
After seeing Zhao Yunxiao off, Fu Qing opened the management panel.
Including her, Fangzhou University currently has a total of five faculty and staff members.
A shut-in, a good-for-nothing, a fierce bald man, and a seventy-something-year-old woman... the lineup is truly unbearable to look at.
Unfortunately, I'm really short on funds, so I can only make do with what I have for now.
Fu Qing got up and stretched a bit, then heard a knock on the office door.
After saying "Please come in," a head tremblingly poked its head in.
Upon meeting eye contact, the owner of the head flinched.
"Principal, we would like to apply for withdrawal from school."
The girl, her eyes red, whispered as she pushed open the door, revealing three more people standing behind her.
Fu Qing didn't say anything, let them in, asked for their personal information, and then readily agreed to their withdrawal application.
The light on the side of the watch face swirled around and then quickly dimmed, and the tightly fastened strap clicked open automatically.
"Give me the bracelet, you can go back now," Fu Qing said after the formalities were completed.
"It's that simple?" one of the boys said in disbelief. "Shouldn't they be advising us to think it over again or something..."
He stopped talking halfway through, clearly remembering what Fu Qing had said in the auditorium.
Given this principal's personality, he probably wouldn't actually try to persuade him.
“I’ve said everything I needed to say. Since you dared to come here, you must have thought it through carefully.” Fu Qing put the bracelet into the drawer, without blaming or mocking, her tone calm and natural. “Dropping out of school is no small matter. You had the courage to make this decision, which in itself surpasses many others. But I want to remind you that since you’ve made this decision, you should also be prepared to bear the consequences—whatever the consequences may be.”
A chill ran through the four of them.
They found each other on a forum. Several people who also wanted to drop out of school secretly gathered in a corner of the campus and discussed for two hours before finally mustering the courage to come over together.
During those two hours, they spent a lot of time denouncing how inhumane today's simulation exercise was, how it was another trial of the principal, and how they imagined it all as a conspiracy theory.
During the discussion, the four reinforced each other's ideas, and in the end, even those who were initially wavering became determined to drop out of school. In their eyes, Fu Qing had even lost his human form and become a monster with a blue face and fangs.
The boy who just spoke was 13L, the first person on the forum to say that the exercise was inhumane. Before coming, he had secretly found a dagger and tucked it into his waistband.
The person who firmly believed this was a conspiracy by the principal, 51L, was also among the four. At this moment, he was listening to Fu Qing speak with his mouth slightly open.
He was already prepared for a heated debate with the principal, and had even prepared several drafts in his mind, just waiting to expose her "true colors".
All their preparations were in vain, as Fu Qing let them go so easily, leaving 51L feeling powerless, like punching cotton.
If this really was a conspiracy, why didn't the principal try to keep them?
For the first time, he felt a sense of doubt.
A kind of dreadful doubt.
if……
What if all of this wasn't a conspiracy?
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