Chapter 61: Lin Feng Lv16, External Recruitment Interview

The massive construction project had drawn in most of the able-bodied refugees, leaving women to handle logistics tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and providing physical relief to ease the day's fatigue.

For the refugees, this was one of the best paths available.

Many who fled would die en route—some from malnutrition, others falling behind without transportation, and many from unnatural causes.

The hardships and darkness of the journey were only understood by those who experienced them.

Even reaching a safe area, survivors often found themselves destitute.

Thus, the construction of fortress lines held significant importance, providing work-for-relief opportunities to save refugees.

Additionally, many of the million workers remaining would likely participate in the Wu City battle, providing logistical support to the soldiers in the fortresses.

Tasks included transporting ammunition and tending to the wounded.

The Thirteenth Army's leadership believed that many young people, inspired by a sense of duty and the propaganda films being prepared, would enthusiastically enlist.

Directly participating in humanity's war for survival.

This gradual approach, with some incentives and promises, was more effective than forced conscription.

Otherwise, the Thirteenth Army's leadership wouldn't have agreed to bring a celebrity to the frontline and assign an awakener squad for her protection.

Even if Jiang Yuner had significant backing in the Federation's capital, her influence couldn't extend to the Thirteenth Army thousands of miles away.

Especially as the stakes rose, the authority of frontline commanders grew.

Lin Feng understood he couldn't entirely avoid this trouble.

Jiang Yuner's presence was not only due to her media influence but also backed by the Thirteenth Army's leadership and possibly the Federation's military.

Even Qin Hu had to swallow his pride and repeatedly ask for Lin Feng's help.

While he couldn't refuse the protection mission, Lin Feng wouldn't indulge them.

He couldn't act openly, at least not publicly.

Provoking the paparazzi would lead to countless nasty rumors.

Their words could turn black into white, and they preferred to turn white into black.

Thus, Lin Feng needed people unrelated to him but somewhat trustworthy.

As he pondered, the workers on the fortress construction site caught his attention.

He recognized familiar faces—Shen Jie and his group of young students.

They were over sixteen but hadn't graduated high school, and with low enhancement levels, the management bureau hadn't recruited them.

Having no other path, they joined the grand project after benefiting from Lin Feng, eventually crossing paths with him again.

It seemed like a special fate.

Lin Feng decided to give them another chance.

It depended on how much they were willing to sacrifice for a dignified life.

Closing the camper's window, Lin Feng checked his stats. After two level-ups, he was now Lv16, just a few evolution points away from the late first-tier stage.

"Lin Feng, Lv16/19"

"Health: 120, Physique: 119, Spirit: 118"

His Lv16 autocannon was at upgrade points: 6/8, needing to kill two more Black Spinal Bugs for a minor leap and new attributes.

He initially planned to eliminate two Black Spinal Bugs at the service area, gaining two pairs of mandibles, safer than dealing with them in the bug territory.

However, the unexpected arrival of the paparazzi complicated things.

His plan to kill two bugs for the autocannon upgrade and gather ten pairs of mandibles for camper enhancement was disrupted.

Revealing live bugs was out of the question.

But Lin Feng wouldn't let the paparazzi hinder his upgrade progress.

Chen Yanyan, aware of the situation outside, felt Lin Feng's words were more accurate than ever, sharing his concern.

Lin Feng held her hand, signaling reassurance. He would handle it.

...

The armored camper's windows had two layers of screening, preventing anyone from seeing Lin Feng's face.

However, Shen Jie and his group at the construction site knew who was inside, which was why they volunteered for the service area.

This outpost, not part of the frontline, and disconnected from the three defense lines, was an auxiliary project, offering lower benefits and no direct path to enlistment.

With sufficient manpower, the Thirteenth Army adopted a scarcity strategy, tightening recruitment with various restrictions.

Priority was given to veterans, college students, and those under forty.

Importantly, the most diligent workers could enlist directly, train in the rear, with full provisions and stipends.

While joining the army meant fighting bugs in the fortress, surviving required fortifying the defense line.

Anyone slacking off would face accountability from peers.

The rule-makers were wise, but to Shen Jie and his group, these rules seemed insurmountable.

Due to their age, they were less developed physically than adults in their twenties. High school life had left them in poor health, struggling with manual labor.

Older workers took advantage of their youth, assigning them the dirtiest and most dangerous tasks.

Shen Jie's Lv3 enhancement prevented overreach, but his companions were injured or bedridden from exhaustion.

Recently, the camp's men eyed the girls with increasing aggression.

Shen Jie knew that inaction would lead to their small group's disintegration.

After discussing with Zhang Liying, they requested a transfer to the service area, seeking a new path.

Their purpose was not to toil on the construction site but to find the powerful awakener, hoping for another chance.

Lin Feng's power had left a lasting impression.

Seeing the armored camper return, their excitement was palpable, their admiration unwavering.

Until the foreman summoned them aside.

Expecting reprimands for laziness, they were surprised when the pockmarked former Haicheng foreman smiled awkwardly:

"You've got a benefactor."

"See over there?"

Shen Jie looked to the former management bureau office, the place that had rejected them.

"Someone important needs young people."

"Go see if you get lucky. Better than suffering here. I heard you've been enhanced three times—what are you doing here?"

The foreman, chewing betel nut, spat before leaving, having fulfilled the woman's request.

Shen Jie and the group exchanged glances, then hesitantly approached the inn entrance, nerves high.

Dusting off their hands and wiping their dirty faces, they entered.

They saw the woman from the recruitment office, on the phone.

Seeing the young men and women, Han Yuxin waved a pen, signaling them to wait.

After finishing her call with Hu Fei, she stood, leading Shen Jie and the group to the recruitment desk.

Besides filling out basic information, an interview was required.

Of course, this was for low-level enhancers. For awakeners like Lin Feng, Han Yuxin handled the process herself.

The familiar interview setting tensed Shen Jie and his group. This might be a precious opportunity, but another rejection would crush their spirits.

"Don't worry; this isn't a management bureau interview. It's an external appointment."

"Like a temporary worker not in the records, but with the same benefits."

"Interested?"

Recalling Lin Feng's instructions, Han Yuxin smiled.

Shen Jie nodded, swallowing hard.

"Good. Answer the following questions honestly. No lying or embellishing."

"First question."

"Have you killed anyone?"