The Fight for Credit

Inside the Level Seven structure—conference room—on the Bunker's sixteenth floor.

The meeting continued.

"Such excellent medicine, are we really giving it to the lower levels? You all should be well aware... of the value of these medicines."

"We have plenty of Level 5 medicine, but it cannot resolve the epidemics among the lower levels."

The speaker was the director of the Bunker Administration Bureau's Fifth Bureau. The First Bureau director had once been her superior.

The two had privately indulged in quite a few unusual games, the kind that would make jaws drop even in the Desire Tower.

Naturally, this youngest Administration Bureau director in history was highly adept at reading the First Bureau director's intentions.

Level 5 medicine could restore injuries, healing a percentage of a person's wounds.

It was certainly precious, but its effects were relatively slow, and it was almost completely ineffective against illnesses.

Level 4 medicine could only treat minor ailments and injuries. Beginning with Level 3 medicine, and including medicines of even lower grades, they belonged to the category of drugs that, by humanity's understanding, only worked on certain injuries and illnesses.

Of course, Level 7 medicine must also exist. Some had speculated that it might be the "elixir" sought by ancient emperors.

The female director, just over thirty and still full of charm, had made her meaning very clear:

"Are people from the lower levels truly worth spending such good medicine on?"

"Not long ago, our people already arrived on the Bunker's second floor. There were doctors among them, as well as Security Bureau order-maintenance troops."

"Everyone, although there is a great deal of this medicine, and it can indeed ease this epidemic crisis... what about next time?"

"This time it is the lower levels. What if next time it is us? Our lives cannot be compared to those of the lower-level people."

"Without us, the Bunker would fall into chaos."

Silence.

After the female director finished speaking, many people revealed thoughtful expressions.

The Security Bureau's Second Bureau director frowned slightly. The Sixth Bureau director's face had turned livid.

After ten-odd seconds of silence, the Sixth Bureau director was the one who fired back:

"According to the investigation, this epidemic cannot be eliminated by any previous medicine."

"Does everyone know what that means?"

No one spoke.

The Security Bureau's Sixth Bureau director continued:

"It means this is very likely a sign of the Great Devourment. Otherwise, where do you think an epidemic of this scale came from!? Before the Great Devourment arrives, it is always accompanied by disasters."

"This is completely different from that infectious disease caused when one man fucked another man in the ass."

"Clearly, this is a natural-disaster warning before the Great Devourment arrives!"

"Yes, everyone's lives are naturally precious, while the lives of those on the lower levels naturally are worthless. At least under the current circumstances, if lower-level people die, then they die."

"But do not forget that without those people... the Bunker Security Bureau's external affairs division would have no fresh blood."

"And when the Great Devourment arrives, you, and you—none of you will escape."

He paused deliberately, his gaze moving first to the Security Bureau's Third Bureau director, then to the Administration Bureau's Fifth Bureau director.

Normally, those directors would never swallow such an insult in silence. But at the mention of the Great Devourment, their faces went pale.

The Second Bureau director knew that they still needed an external enemy.

Sometimes, humanity's unity still required outside pressure.

Were the Three Towers pressure? They were not. The monsters inside the towers would not enter the Bunker.

In the eyes of the upper levels, the Three Towers were merely farmland—or rather, a forest that could be hunted.

What they truly feared was the Great Devourment. That was a disaster capable of directly affecting the Bunker.

"Everyone's lives are certainly worth more than the lives of those below. But do not forget that those below also serve us."

"What I mean is, they should still be saved."

The Security Bureau's Second Bureau director smoothed things over, turning his gaze toward the Administration Bureau's First Bureau director.

The Administration Bureau's First Bureau director nodded.

"The Great Devourment is indeed terrifying. We truly cannot afford to lose the main force from the lower levels that explores the Three Towers."

"In that case, arrange for the most knowledgeable doctors to begin distributing the medicine as soon as possible, and organize treatment from us at the upper levels."

After he spoke, the Administration Bureau's Fifth Bureau director immediately understood.

"I understand. I will contact the Bunker Media Bureau and increase publicity for this treatment."

The Security Bureau's Sixth Bureau director revealed a disgusted expression.

Logically speaking, this medicine had been brought by a child named Wen Xishu.

But next, it would likely be publicized as the upper levels' achievement.

The Security Bureau's Second Bureau director wore a broad smile, yet everyone knew that this plump Second Bureau director was a textbook example of a man who hid a blade behind his smile.

The Security Bureau was borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, and the people received treatment as well. That was all very good, but the Second Bureau director did not want Wen Chaohua's secret to become known to others.

To go one step further at the pinnacle of power, sometimes one had to be more selfish. Only then would he have a chance, in this lifetime, to reach the Elder Council.

He craved advancement too deeply.

Under the current circumstances, both the Security Bureau and the Administration Bureau had decided to save people. But Wen Xishu and the others had not changed their stance.

Therefore, he had to find a way to use outside forces to first remove Wen Xishu from the First Bureau's control.

The Second Bureau director silently stroked the bracelet on his wrist as he waited for his subordinates to get to work, his smile growing increasingly benevolent.

Wen Xishu was suffering.

The first stage of interrogation was fatigue interrogation.

So-called fatigue interrogation involved constantly asking Wen Xishu all sorts of questions, over and over again, then gradually destroying his logic through one or two slips.

But Wen Xishu's logic was not destroyed. On the contrary, he pissed the interrogator off badly.

"Wen Xishu, do not think you can get away with pretending to be crazy. This time, the upper levels do not care whether your brain will be damaged."

Wen Xishu looked at him and suddenly said:

"You're from the Security Bureau?"

"Of course."

"You might get better results if you had Liu Jinsen interrogate me."

"I may as well tell you that I am Xie Changfeng of the Bunker Security Bureau's First Bureau. My rank is higher than Liu Jinsen's."

Xie Changfeng seemed rather pleased as he mentioned his rank.

"The people from the Second and Sixth Bureaus are a bunch of bottomless scum who only care about climbing towers. Especially the Sixth Bureau. They are not qualified to interrogate you."

Wen Xishu nodded.

"Then why not use that stuff instead? Truth serum works better than you do. I have nothing to say to you."

"Your interrogation methods are like a woman's."

"Really, either replace yourself with Liu Jinsen, because this has nothing to do with rank. Even if you became Bunker Chief, my contempt for your intelligence would not lessen."

"Or use truth serum. Do not force yourself. Or perhaps dance and disgust me? Maybe then I will talk. But if you want to play mind games with me..."

Wen Xishu did not finish the rest of the sentence. He merely let out a deeply mocking snort.

He had already learned some things. Just as he had expected, the Bunker Security Bureau was not united internally, and the positions of its six bureaus were complicated.

That meant his chances of survival had grown a little greater.

But he also understood that this interrogator harbored some hatred toward the Wen family. He would likely be unable to hold on much longer.

After all, truth serum would instantly destroy his mental defenses.

So Wen Xishu intended to provoke the other party with words, first creating the logic that using truth serum meant he was incapable, thereby delaying the moment when the medicine broke through his defenses.

Xie Changfeng truly was enraged and began beating Wen Xishu. He spewed filthy curses, but... he could not curse better than Wen Xishu.

As far as Wen Xishu was concerned, getting beaten was nothing much.

He remembered this Xie Changfeng, whose rank was even higher than Liu Jinsen's.

He could just beat it back out of him tenfold someday.

Wen Xishu was being interrogated by people from the Bunker Security Bureau's Third Bureau.

Yet on the second floor, the Bunker Security Bureau's Third Bureau and the Bunker Administration Bureau's Fifth Bureau had not forgotten to profit from Wen Xishu.

After the upper-level officials in the conference room settled on their final policy, doctors on the second floor quickly began entering the hospital. Following a brief assignment of posts, they started distributing medicine.

And publicity quickly began on the second floor as well.

"Our Bunker Administration Bureau and Bunker Security Bureau have always been seeking ways to resolve this epidemic crisis."

"Our hearts are connected with yours. We will always serve everyone!"

"Serving our countless fellow citizens in the lower levels is our unwavering purpose!"

Twenty-four vehicles drove about with loudspeakers, broadcasting continuously.

Following the directions one after another, people arrived before the Level Six facility hospital and formed enormous lines.

They were all patients awaiting treatment.

But something unexpected happened—the upper levels did not receive their gratitude.

No matter how the upper levels promoted themselves, the instant people received the medicine, the fact that it "belonged to Wen Xishu" could not be denied.

That was the best publicity.

What the upper levels had never expected was that publicity for Wen Xishu had actually begun even earlier than their decision.

And that had to start with an insignificant little person.