Among the newcomers, Emma had already identified her first potential teammate—the girl with the wood powers, Amy Case. Her demonstrated bravery during the escape from the rooftop solidified Emma's decision.
In addition to finding a fighting partner, Emma also considered the need for a capable leader to oversee her growing territory. While she trusted the Krank family and valued their contributions, she knew they preferred to work behind the scenes rather than take on a leadership role. Thinking back to the man who had displayed natural leadership qualities, Jared Levan, Emma saw potential in him to take charge when necessary. His name joined Amy's in Emma's thoughts as she thought about the future challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
As the three days flew by, Emma returned to the territory once again, her puppies with her this time. It was time for their monthly check-up, a routine she entrusted to the Kranks while she attended to the survivors. With her puppies safely in the care of the Kranks, Emma gathered the survivors and led them into the mansion she had reserved for herself.
Inside, she directed them to a spacious meeting room, the atmosphere tense with nervous anticipation. Gesturing for them to take a seat, Emma's eyes swept over each of their faces, noting the changes that had occurred in just three days. Their complexions were healthier, their hair less greasy, and their new clothing fit them well. It was clear that they had embraced the opportunity for a fresh start well.
"So, who is willing to stay?" Emma asked, her eyes scanning each face in the room. In just three days, these people had transformed. Their pallid skin had given way to a healthier glow, their once greasy hair now clean and lustrous, and their new clothing fit them snugly.
All but two individuals raised their hands. Emma's gaze settled on them: the boy who had asked for an office job from her and a girl who appeared to be his girlfriend, her arms encircling his waist protectively.
As the room fell silent, the young man spoke up, his voice tinged with gratitude and determination. "We want to express our gratitude for saving us, but we've decided to head to the Aries' base instead."
During these brief three days, he had caught wind on the radio, which was in their temporary house, of a territory established by the government. In his mind, he reasoned that if Emma, a loner in this society, could achieve such remarkable progress in her territory, then a larger territory like Aries' base could only offer even greater opportunities. Perhaps there, he could secure an office job more suited to his education and skills. He didn't want to do any hard physical work; after all, he was a graduate of a prestigious university.
With persuasion, he managed to convince his girlfriend to go with him on this journey. He had attempted to sway the others to join them, but they expressed exhaustion from the constant fear and uncertainty, they were happy with how things were going for them right now. Emma nodded in understanding; she didn't wish to force anyone to stay against their will. "Okay, just understand that once you leave, you won't have another chance to become my citizens again, do you understand?" Her gaze bore into the two individuals, who nodded solemnly in response.
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Heading back outside, the couple used up the remaining points on their card at the store, stocking up on food and various supplies for their journey to the Aries Territory. Emma, drawing from her previous experience, provided them with a detailed map to navigate their way there. Having led her own family to the Aries Base in a past life, she knew its location well. Additionally, she offered them a car from her storage to speed up their journey. Grateful for her assistance, they expressed their heartfelt thanks to Emma before saying their farewells and leaving.
As they passed through the gate, their visitor card automatically vanished from their possession. Emma watched them go with a grin, fully aware of the current conditions at the Aries Base. She knew it was far worse than her base, with scarce resources and barely enough food to sustain its civilians. While there was free food available, it consisted of nothing more than a thin loaf of bread and a bowl of thin soup per meal.
And they weren't even in the farming stage; the only job available was either killing zombies or building the walls around the base. So, these two would essentially serve as her free advertising. Emma knew that once they arrived at the Aries Base, the boy's outspoken personality would inevitably lead him to openly compare the two territories and share his observations with everyone he met. Emma knows she should start preparing for a visit.
Turning her attention back to her new civilians, Emma handed them their new civilian cards. "Your visitor points will automatically transfer to this new card, along with an additional one hundred free points. House rent will be covered for the first month, but thereafter it will cost twenty points monthly." The group nodded in understanding as they examined their new cards.
Emma then gestured for Amy and Jared to step forward from the group, indicating she had something specific to discuss with them. Taking them back to the mansion, Emma led Jared into a cozy sitting area. "So, Mr. Levan," she said as she gestured for him to take a seat. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a new card, placing it in front of him. "Would you like to be the HR of this place?" She locked eyes with him, awaiting his response.
Jared examined the card before him, noticing the addition of a job title under his name: HR. "What would I do in that job?" he asked, curiosity in his voice. After all, this was a new world so he didn’t know how HR works.
Emma chuckled softly. "Well, just like any HR role, you'll be responsible for welcoming new civilians, assigning them housing, giving them a tour of the area, and explaining how things work around here. Additionally, if I have job openings, you'll help me find suitable candidates and ensure they do their jobs. During times when there aren't many new people around, you can assist with planting food or caring for animals, but you will still earn points from that. The monthly salary for this role will be twenty points even if no one new comes, with increases annually. How does that sound?"