More than three decades before the outbreak, a global pandemic killed over 12% of the world's population. The majority of those who died from the virus were later found to have a specific genetic mutation that increased their vulnerability. The Wagner family, who controlled one of the largest media companies in the world, had this genetic mutation prevalent among most of its members.
Laurenz Wagner, was just a child when the pandemic took the lives of his father, mother, and two siblings, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents.
Laurenz was brought up with the expectation that he would work in the family business. He wasn't a high-ranking member of his family, so, he had to attend the university owned by his family to form connections. He majored in media production with a minor in human psychology. Upon graduation, Laurenz chose not to work for his family's company. Instead, he worked under one of his late father's old friends, who also taught at his university. His starting position was production manager. Had he chosen to work in his family's company, he wouldn't have started lower than an executive producer.
Over time, he rose through the ranks, and before the age of 45, he became in charge of a news company that was the lead competitor of his family's business. His company eventually took over most of the market and became the new leading news provider on the continent.
When the outbreak happened, Laurenz Wagner's company was one of the first to estimate the danger that the world was facing. Being one of the few people with crucial information, he got early access to the emergency shelter known as Miller's Circle. He only received one invitation, as he wasn't married and had no children. Though he had three girlfriends, they were deemed invaluable by the shelter's organizers.
In the first few weeks inside the shelter, Laurenz got to know an ex-theater actress named Anneli. He grew close to Anneli, and they formed a strong relationship. Anneli was a single mother with two children who also got invited to the shelter. Her children had demonstrated high intelligence and technical skills in college, making them deemed worthy of survival.
Laurenz, along with Anneli, joined Egon's group early on. Her two kids decided to wait and head to the shelter the next day. Of course, as you know by now, they didn't come the next day. Anneli was heartbroken for a few hours, but being a strong, independent woman who needed no man in her life, she focused on the practical side of life and moved forward.
They stayed with the Cline family for the first two months before moving out when they were invited to lead the Rations Department after the newly elected council was formed.