Edge of the Apocalypse

Chapter 89: Chapter 84: Seizing the Slacker’s Lifeline

It turned out that even Yu Dong, a master of persuasion, was helpless against a stubborn mule.

Yu Dong explained the benefits of teamwork and the dangers of being a lone wolf to Sun Shan. Using their recent confrontation as a starting point, he launched into an impromptu, ten-thousand-word speech on the theme "humanity’s strength lies in unity."

In the end, Sun Shan just glared and said, "So what?"

"I don’t want to run with you guys. I just like being by myself."

"Is a team always a good thing? If you guys hadn’t insisted on coming out to kill zombies, would that high school student have died?"

At these words, Yu Dong, who had been speaking nonstop, fell silent.

The other team members looked at Yu Dong, especially Liu Ye’ye. She gently tugged his hand, conveying her silent support through the warmth of her palm.

Everyone knew Yu Dong had been feeling down for the past few days because of Yan Yikai’s death.

Zhao Youcai’s eyes turned cold.

"And here I thought he was some kind of talent... Turns out he’s just an arrogant fool. If we don’t go looking for a fight, a fight will find us sooner or later! If that guy hadn’t had a gun, we would have been fine! This is our own country—who would have thought someone in a residential complex would have a gun? Could you have predicted that? Hindsight is 20/20."

Sun Shan smiled nonchalantly.

"That’s why I don’t go out. What’s wrong with just lazing around at home? I can collect water when it rains, build a fire to cook a meal, and on a nice day, just lie around and soak up some sun. It’s great."

"Besides, did you forget what the government notice said? ’Self-isolate and wait for rescue!’ No matter how tough you think you are, are you tougher than the entire country? I’m just going to wait for the government to handle this. Until then... I’m just treating it like I’m on vacation."

"I’d advise you to stop messing around. We should all just lie low. Trust me, these zombies are a joke. Once the country gets back on its feet and reorganizes the army, they’ll clear everything up in no time. I’m more worried I won’t get enough of a break before I have to go back to work..."

Sun Shan laid out his point of view with great conviction.

Huang Zhiqiang mulled it over and, to his surprise, found that it made some sense.

Yu Dong nodded as he listened. He wasn’t afraid of someone having a conflicting viewpoint; he was afraid of them not sharing their thoughts at all.

"It would’ve been much better if you had just communicated like this from the start."

Sun Shan said, "So you wouldn’t have attacked me, right? I really shouldn’t have written those words... It’s actually pretty embarrassing when I think about it in the middle of the night. I just wanted to scare you off."

"Not necessarily. We’d still have attacked you. But... it’s always good to be able to communicate. It lets us get to know our neighbors sooner. Sun Shan, this has been a good chat. You’ll stay here for a while. We’ll provide you with food and water while we discuss things for a few days."

"A few days??? What are you discussing? It wouldn’t even take that long to dismember me, would it?"

"During this time, please don’t do anything rash. Don’t try to leave. Otherwise... I will kill you."

After speaking, Yu Dong led his group out of Apartment 102. He threaded a chain through the eyebolt left in the wall from when they’d trapped and killed zombies at the door, sealing it shut.

Sun Shan was left behind, a chill running down his spine. He knew... that Yu Dong would really kill him.

He had seen Yu Dong kill someone at the door.

After interrogating Sun Shan, the group of six went upstairs for a meeting.

"What does everyone think?"

Yu Dong asked casually.

This time, they didn’t exclude Qiao Ping. They all sat down on the sofa in Apartment 501, forming a circle to talk.

Yu Dong felt that ’from now on, I can probably include Qiao Ping in any meetings that don’t involve my status as a Reincarnator.’

In the time they had spent together, Qiao Ping had mostly earned the team’s trust.

However, she hadn’t been present for the interrogation on the first floor, so she didn’t offer an opinion, waiting quietly for others to speak first.

Zhao Youcai glanced around the circle, figuring it was appropriate for him to speak next.

"Dongzi, this Sun Shan is skilled. He’s a carpenter, capable of building deadly weapons and traps. The man has talent... but he’s not a team player. He doesn’t grasp the reality of the situation, and he’s incredibly stubborn. I think we should spend the next few days talking to him more. It would be best if we can persuade him. If he’s truly of no use to us... then we eliminate him. Don’t leave a lingering threat."

If they let such a disobedient lone wolf go, Zhao Youcai felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly.

They had managed to get in through the security bars on his first-floor window this time, but they wouldn’t be able to do it again.

Huang Zhiqiang said, "Youcai, you’re being hasty again. I don’t think this Sun Shan is really a threat. He’s just trying to lie low and stay out of trouble. He’s no danger to us. All his preparations are defensive; he has no intention of attacking. From his perspective... we’re the invaders. If it’s not a big deal, we should just let him go."

"Besides... I also think it’s enough if we just clear out the zombies in our residential complex. We should leave the rest to the government. With Kai dead, our team is already down a person..."

Zhou then voiced his opinion.

"Let me add my two cents. I think there’s a problem with our complex’s perimeter wall... Three meters is too low. If enough zombies gather, they can easily climb over. If we could get him to help us build some fortifications—to raise and reinforce the wall—it would be a huge boost to our future security. His craftsmanship is excellent."

The memory of the massive zombie horde swarming over the wall the other day made Zhou Jian Country’s skin crawl. Even though Yu Dong had used a rainstorm to defuse that crisis, the vulnerability still preyed on his mind.

Liu Ye’ye said, "I agree with Teacher Zhou. Our complex’s walls definitely need to be heightened."

Shen Xinyi added, "I don’t think Sun Shan seems like a bad person... If it were me, I probably wouldn’t have dared to go outside either. It’s all just a misunderstanding. Why don’t we just have him help us build some defensive fortifications? If he agrees to that condition, we can let him go. What do you think, Captain?"

Listening to the others’ opinions, Qiao Ping began to organize her thoughts. When she saw Yu Dong’s head turn toward her, she realized it was her turn to speak.

After composing herself for a moment, Qiao Ping sat up straighter.

"From what everyone has said, I’ve gathered that this Sun Shan is the type of person who just wants to ’lie flat’ and avoid responsibility. People like him... well, there are a lot of them in my office, actually!"

"It’s especially common among young people with no connections. When they see no path for promotion, they choose to ’lie flat.’ They’re not proactive, they don’t take responsibility, and they push work off on others. They clock out on the dot every day, avoid internal drama, and free their time and energy from their jobs to focus on personal interests. For instance... some of my colleagues were writing web novels or creating short-form video accounts."

"So what do you do with a colleague who has no desire for promotion? If you try to give them work... they’re unhappy and it’s a pain to manage them. If you don’t... they’s still taking up a headcount. Fire them? ...They haven’t done anything wrong, so it’s not that serious. In that sense, his situation is quite a lot like Sun Shan’s."

Hearing Qiao Ping’s explanation, Yu Dong was intrigued. ’This is a whole social ecosystem I’ve never encountered before.’

"So, Sister Qiao, what would a... leader, like yourself, do?"

"Normally, there’s not much we can do with people like that. After all, we all work in the same place... we see each other every day. Outside of work, we might even have a decent personal relationship. As long as they aren’t too out of line, we just let it go. If things get really bad, we just transfer them to another department. But..."

At the word "but," all eyes focused on her.

"But, if you absolutely have to use him, if there’s no one else to do the job, then there is one ultimate trump card..."

"What is it?"

"Performance reviews! The annual review is their lifeline. Failing it two years in a row is grounds for dismissal. It’s rare for a manager to actually fail a subordinate... but if someone stubbornly refuses to do their job, you use the review to nail them. Give them one ’unsatisfactory’ rating, and I guarantee they’ll be obedient the next year, doing whatever they’re told."

"This scenario rarely happens, though. It’s too messy. Most people, after a few warnings, won’t let it get to that point and will voluntarily take on some work."

Yu Dong listened with rapt attention.

"Interesting... Your world certainly has a lot of little tricks."

Seeing that Yu Dong was on board with her line of thinking, Qiao Ping presented her conclusion.

"So, this Sun Shan is the ultimate responsibility-dodger. If we find ourselves in a position where we have to use him... then we just need to control his lifeline. We confiscate his food and water. If he’s willing to take on some work for the team, we issue him supplies. If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get anything. That way, he’ll have to cooperate."

"Furthermore, after our show of force, Sun Shan has been cowed. I don’t think he’d risk resisting, knowing we have guns and equipment. It’s too dangerous for him, and it goes against his fundamental principle of ’lying flat’... whereas doing a little work is, at the very least, safe."

"This way, as long as we hold his lifeline in our hands, Sun Shan will have no choice but to work for the team. We may not be able to win his heart, but having his hands on our side is good enough."

"Captain, what do you think?"

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