The shuttle drove through the town towards the border, where a huge lineup of military forces stood guard. They disembarked one by one. As they got out the door, they were all informed to line up in front of a small stand to collect a form.
After which an old general took charge of them, guiding them through the process.
The aging man stood on a high raised stool, glancing at them all through his narrowed eyes. "I'll cut to the chase. I'm Gus. You all will be under my command for the following days. Your shift timing is set from 9 am to 2 Pm. it will be alternated after a month to the second shift 2 Pm to 7 pm."
"You will not have any weekends. You will be provided free breakfast and lunch after each shift. It can be redeemed then and there or you can use it whenever you please," he went silent letting the words sink in.
Yue slightly nodded at this. The shift system will be efficient. The workers are only made to work for five hours, which is a normal time. Their bodies won't tire and they won't have to take breaks. As for the weekend, it will be hard to process people at first but it too was a good thing.
The faster the walls were built the easier it will be to guard the settlement.
The old general cleared his throat loudly. "Listen, this form you all have in hand is mandatory. Fill out your details. And... if there are people amongst you guys with special abilities, write them down too.
Everyone next to him mumbled amongst themselves.
Ability user was not a rare thing. But to identify and to discover one's own power is difficult.
Most of the people did not even know what ability was until the second month of the apocalypse where a small identification test was done for all the surviving humans.
"I have," the young woman suddenly raised her hands up high. "I can manipulate the soil,"
The old general and the other soldiers quickly took down her name and made her stand separately. "Those with abilities will be paid more. As for the payment system, normal workers will be given five tokens per day; one token can be exchanged for a single meal. The ability users will be provided ten tokens per day,"
The young woman had a prideful expression as she looked at the crows upfront. But the crowd was not too happy.
Pens were distributed and the hundred or so workers started filling up their details.
Yue sighed, tugging at Fan Xui's hands. "Don't reveal anything," he whispered ever so softly.
Fan Xui nodded holding his hands tightly.
It would be detrimental to reveal their abilities now after the general mentioned preferential treatment. Such things during the end of the world will only Fan the ire of the normal people and the undiscovered ability users.
Even now he could feel the crow glaring at the woman who was gloatingly smiling at them.
'I need to talk to uncle and Qian about speeding up the test on others....'
If many ability users were revealed he was prepared to expose his own as well. as for now, he wanted to remain a powerless person.
Yue and Fan Xui handed their forms with only basic information written on them. the ability section was left empty.
"Okay, now all of your line up and follow me orderly. Silence should be maintained when you are on the premises. Anyone causing an unnecessary ruckus or sounds will be removed from the worklist and will not be paid. Now separate yourself into groups of four,"
The crowd just peered at each other confused.
Sighing, the old man gestured for the soldiers. They rushed forward and drew cross lines forming small square sectors. "Just get into one of them. I need four in one got it. No fighting,"
Yue stepped into the eon nearest t him, Fan Xui naturally followed. Two other girls immediately jumped into their square with bright smiles on their faces. They both kept throwing flirty glances towards Fan Xui who only had his eyes revealed.
'Goodness sake, why are there so many bees and flies around this guy..' he glared up at him through his glasses.
Fan Xui smiled down gently adjusting the glasses up his nostrils. "They are too big,"
The girl silently squealed.
Yue quickly glared at them, but his glare's effect just went away as he was wearing sunnies that hid his eyes completely.
"Everyone in their squares? Good, every square will be assigned a soldier who will take care of your safety. They will be taking care of the zombies out there so that you all can peacefully work."
A soldier fully dressed in army gear joined them.
Yue glanced at this guy peculiarly. The man in sight glanced back and winked at him.
It was none other than Bohai.
"Bohai," he silently exclaimed.
He gestured for him to remain silent pointing to the general who was glaring at them.
"Now get moving, we have work to do!" he hurried them along to the wall.
Presently the broken down cars and other vehicles were used to barricade the roadways. A five-foot-tall wall was already under construction.
As they walked close the growling, scratching and screaming of the zombies became prominent. Also, the stench of rotting meat engulfed the air.
Many started to dry heave holding their breath.
"For Christ's sake, don't be children!"
Yue glanced at everything nearby. A huge stack of bricks and a huge mount of cement was close by being mixed by a special machine.
The bricks looked like they won't be enough to finish the wall though. but for now, it will be enough to at least barricade themselves safely behind the walls.
Yue and Fan Xui got to work.
In the four of them, two of them were assigned to bring in the cement and the bricks. And two of them will be stacking the bricks.
Yue glanced at the two girls. They both were looking at soldiers waving and smiling.
'So unreliable.' He leaned towards Fan Xui. "you go up, I'll bring the bricks."
"Will you be able to handle it?" he worriedly held his hands.
"I'll be fine,"' he had the strength to lift a darn truck. The bricks won't be much of a struggle.
The ones stacking the bricks were given special gear to secure themselves to the hooks that were already embedded on the walls.
Fan Xui strapped himself up and started the work.
Lifting a crate of bricks he sighed. The sun was shining brightly…
'It's a new day… any small changes can make us stronger.. I hope… I hope my knowledge can bring change to this place.'