Pushing through the crowd, Zhao Xingping finally saw the contents of the announcement.
[Notice Regarding the Sanctuary's Latest Arrangement for Survivors]
"In light of the increasing number of survivors at the sanctuary, new arrangements are now being made."
"The sanctuary will categorize survivors into permanent residents and transient personnel. Permanent residents include but are not limited to municipal staff, patrol teams, and regular workers. Permanent residents must comply with the work arrangements of the sanctuary and will enjoy higher benefits, such as housing allocation and medical guarantees, among others."
"Among them, Awakeners, those with combat skills, or firearm experience can apply to join the Patrol Team, which offers higher benefits. However, they must also fulfill their obligations."
"Those with management experience can apply, and after passing an interview, can become municipal staff with corresponding benefits."
"The sanctuary imposes no restrictions on transient personnel, but similarly, transient personnel do not receive any benefits. If transient personnel wish to acquire supplies, they can use Source Crystals to purchase from the sanctuary or exchange for supplies by completing tasks periodically published by the sanctuary."
After reading the announcement's contents, Zhao Xingping pondered while slowly walking out of the crowd.
Many people around were discussing it.
Some survivors appeared worried, "The sanctuary no longer provides a full meal, does that mean we'll go hungry again in the future?"
"Probably not," responded a hesitant companion, "Didn't it say that after becoming permanent residents of the sanctuary, the benefits are higher? We're sure to become permanent residents."
"Though that's what it says, how much are these benefits really? With the communal meals gone, I always feel uncertain about it."
Zhao Xingping approached and greeted the two.
They were all people working in the sanctuary, recognizing each other even if not familiar.
Zhao Xingping disagreed with their views, "The sanctuary said it would provide food based on performance. If you simply calculate based on the past workload, you'll find that we'll receive more food than before."
"Not only that, it said that as long as we work hard, not only can we eat to our fill, but also eat better, with more food varieties, even tobacco and alcohol. It's exciting just to think about it."
After thinking it through, the other two nodded in agreement.
From this perspective, the reform in the sanctuary was beneficial for them.
"However, it said we must obey work arrangements. The sanctuary wouldn't use us as cannon fodder, would it? Like using us as bait to attract Demonized Beasts."
At this, the survivor seemed to recall some regrettable past experience and shivered involuntarily.
Zhao Xingping laughed heartily, "Take it easy, life is **. If the sanctuary wants to force us as cannon fodder, it could have done so long ago, and we wouldn't be able to resist. Why go through such complicated steps? From my point of view, this reform is simply because there are more people in the sanctuary now and it can't be managed as casually as before."
Though they hadn't been in the sanctuary for long, how the sanctuary treated survivors was visible to all.
Zhao Xingping continued, "Plus, you saw in the announcement that as permanent residents, we also have medical guarantees. Medicine! Once we survivors fall ill, the sanctuary is actually willing to provide us with medicinal treatment!"
His voice carried a slight tremor.
In the apocalypse, many survivors didn't die from Demonized Beasts nor from hunger, but from illnesses that couldn't be treated effectively and timely in the harsh environment, with minor ailments escalating to serious illnesses, causing death in pain.
Everyone understood the value of medicine!
It was far more precious than food!
To fight for a small potion, even causing deaths, wasn't uncommon in the wilderness.
A sanctuary that could provide medicinal treatment to ill survivors was something Zhao Xingping had never heard of.
It seemed unbelievable to him, yet also very... fortunate.
Villa area, in front of the castle garden.
"Director, it's alright for the others, but will there really be people joining this Patrol Team?"
The Patrol Team had the highest benefits but also the most stringent requirements.
Generally, sanctuaries have similar defensive forces, but aren't as strict, mainly for internal patrol and oversight, and assisting in defending against Demonized Beasts from outside.
However, on the announcement.
Requirements like those Director Tang added, regularly participating in activities to hunt Demonized Beasts, completing a certain amount of training weekly, and periodic assessments with dismissal for those who don't meet standards...
Chen Haiping thought it was a joke.
Engaging in battle with Demonized Beasts was inherently extremely dangerous, in desperate situations some survivors might choose to join, but in the sanctuary now, as long as one isn't lazy, they can get enough to eat and wear. How many people would choose to join the Patrol Team in this case? Chen Haiping had his doubts.
Currently, the Patrol Team counted only four people.
Captain Luo Zhe, himself, and two ordinary people with barely acceptable marksmanship, made up the entire Patrol Team. Among them, it was mostly Captain Luo Zhe searching for supplies outside and hunting Demonized Beasts daily, occasionally followed by him on these hunts.
Chen Haiping felt those most suited to join the Patrol Team were the Awakeners. Only they possessed the capability to resist when encountering Demonized Beasts outside. Unfortunately, these Awakeners, once they mastered their powers, became arrogant and distanced themselves from the sanctuary. Why should they risk their lives for its sake?
During Wang Tai's period in the sanctuary, the peak force famously had seventy to eighty Awakeners, yet less than half truly obeyed Wang Tai.
Chen Haiping also observed in recent days that among the current sanctuaries' Awakeners, apart from a few with good characters, or those who successfully awakened with the sanctuary's help, the rest were likely parasites hindering the sanctuary's development.
In such circumstances, Director Tang still demanded completion of certain training volumes, regular assessments, and dismissal for inadequacy.
Chen Haiping thought it was madness.
"Old Chen, don't be skeptical, there'll be at least a handful, and that's a squad in itself. Naturally, there'll be a second, third, and numerous others. That's how the Patrol Team's scale will rise."
"But even Awakeners can choose carrying jobs. With their strength, they can easily earn enough rewards. Why would profit-driven people join the Patrol Team?"
Luo Zhe, beside him, was incensed, "These people are like cowards, what use are they!"
Tang Yu would say they had their uses. After all, they've been fed for so long to set an example, haven't they?
The pig has been fattened; time for slaughter.
Without comparison, how could the sanctuary exhibit its strength?
Tang Yu stopped Luo Zhe, then looked at Chen Haiping, "The Patrol Team has unique roles. Only because there are few members now, it's easier to join. In the future, it won't be easy... You must know, whether for organizing regular hunts or completing sufficient training, these are exclusive benefits of the Patrol Team."
Chen Haiping was immediately bewildered.
[2018 Wishing all dear students a Happy New Year, good health, and all the best... (rest of the 8,888-character greeting omitted ←_←)]