A New Last Will

"You look like you're floating on air, like you..."

"Your kidneys gave out?"

Early that morning, Section Chief Liu appeared with a silver-white metal Briefcase in his left hand and a Stainless Steel Thermos clutched in his right.

The moment they met, he was startled by the heavy Black Eye Circles on Bai Zhou's face.

"—There shouldn't be anything in our base that affects the healthy development of young people for sale, right?"

"You know, Section Chief... I'm adjusting to the time difference."

Bai Zhou forced a stiff smile, but his lifeless eyes looked exactly like the eyeballs of dead fish forgotten in the bottom of a freezer for half a year.

"Oh, I forgot. Every day in the Reflection Ruins Realm is thirty-six hours."

With Bai Zhou staring at him so directly, Section Chief Liu inexplicably felt a chill run through him.

He could not help reminiscing about the Evening City youth he had first met, whose eyes had been clear and whose words had been simple and honest.

"Actually, you don't have to smile."

Couldn't ask for anything better.

So Bai Zhou decisively wiped the smile off his face.

Even maintaining that expression made him feel exhausted.

This energy-saving lifestyle, reducing his energy consumption like this, had already lasted three days.

At the same time, Bai Zhou's late-night special training had also gone on for three days.

—Three days!

God knew how he had survived those three days.

The elegant, mysterious seeker of knowledge he had imagined did not exist.

There was only a victim of cramming education, so exhausted he swayed while walking and wanted to vomit whenever he saw mysterious symbols.

Before formally studying Moon Ember, he had to build a foundation. Thus, Bai Zhou swung his blade two thousand times every night, miserably doing so for three nights.

If his swinging posture or breathing rhythm was even slightly off, Ya would sternly smack his palm.

"Imagine a swallow flying before you, then Slash it down... Leave yourself no room to think. Let swinging the blade become your instinct!"

—However, this was merely the "secret technique," or rather, the "physical fitness" portion.

After practicing with the blade, he still had to learn drawing—

Starting with sketching eggs.

Then he had to copy all manner of mysterious symbols, quickly and precisely.

If he drew even one crooked line, he would have to face Ya's terrifying abyssal stare.

"Almost. Why is it almost again?"

Ya's face remained expressionless, his tone cold.

"If even one line is crooked, a Ritual meant to heal becomes murder, and an attack method becomes a way to make ice cream cake."

"A protective talisman could also turn into something that invites trouble. Even walking down the street, bird droppings would curve through the air to hit you."

"—You wouldn't want to keep vomiting slugs from your mouth while purifying your own contamination because of a symbol error, would you?"

...After drawing Stars, he still had to memorize Star Charts with no blind spots from every possible angle.

Stargazing was supposed to be romantic, but Bai Zhou felt that counting Stars had given him trypophobia for the first time in his life.

—Even sleep became a luxury during this period.

Because when Bai Zhou finally finished training and was about to pounce onto his bed, turning into a wild koala and sleeping like a beast—

Ya casually pulled out a Crystal Ball from who knew where.

Bai Zhou was required to place the mysterious Crystal Ball, which constantly emitted cold white mist, beneath his butt and replace sleep with cross-legged meditation.

Although the Crystal Ball was freezing cold and painfully hard against his backside, he had to admit that the "meditation" Ya taught him was truly remarkable—

Not only could it greatly restore his mental energy, it could also bring his breathing into resonance with the pulses of spirituality within his body, easing physical fatigue and gradually strengthening his constitution.

But just last night, Ya had added another requirement to train his mind.

After meditating, he was required to try bending a spoon from a distance with his mind.

Bai Zhou thought that was complete nonsense.

—Yet inside his hidden Dormitory, he still spent half the night glaring at the plastic soup spoon he had brought back from the Cafeteria after eating mapo tofu that afternoon.

That was why Bai Zhou seemed especially listless today.

"Open your eyes, young man!"

Section Chief Liu patted Bai Zhou's shoulder twice.

"Young people should have the vigor of youth, like the sun at eight or nine in the morning. What kind of state is this? This is unacceptable!"

"Alright, I'll take you to the Cafeteria for breakfast. Once you down a bowl of authentic Hu-La Soup, you'll have energy for a whole day of work!"

He had said the same thing yesterday.

Following Section Chief Liu, Bai Zhou had already drunk Hu-La Soup for three days.

After the initial newcomer training, following the tradition of veterans guiding newcomers, every new recruit was assigned their own "master" to follow around and familiarize themselves with the work.

As far as Bai Zhou knew, the Commissioner ranks of these "senior masters" were basically around Level P2 Specialist.

But perhaps because Bai Zhou's constitution was unusual, or because what he had said before the Black Room had left a deep impression on Section Chief Liu—

In any case, he had been lucky enough to have Section Chief Liu personally supervise his internship. His starting point was a cut above everyone else's.

...But likewise, Section Chief Liu's standards were also the highest.

Although Bai Zhou had discovered through actual interaction that Section Chief Liu was fairly approachable, he became deadly serious at work. With a dark expression, he tolerated not the slightest mistake.

Thanks to him, Bai Zhou had become completely familiar with his work and gained a preliminary understanding of the Special Management Department.

...The road to the Cafeteria was bustling with people.

Commissioners in Suits walked in groups, while Commissioners in trench coats hurried along with Mechanical Briefcases.

At the plaza where the Black Robe had been executed, Bai Zhou saw those familiar White Coat researchers again, stretching their arms and legs, twisting their hips and waists.

The broadcast from the recorder was Earth-Shattering. When they danced in the evening last time, it had played The Federation Calls. This time, for morning exercises, it seemed to be playing something called Seven-Colored Sunshine.

Fully armed Soldiers patrolled past. Every one of them was burly and tall, their heavy Military Boots thudding loudly against the ground, their eyes sharp as if hunting prey.

But upon seeing Section Chief Liu, they all stepped aside by the road and saluted him.

Section Chief Liu returned the salute, and Bai Zhou copied him.

"The security department answers directly to the military, and the soldiers here are career servicemen who never retire."

Only after the patrol had gone far away did Section Chief Liu speak.

"But our Commissioners aren't bad either. Every Commissioner above P2 enjoys the status of a Federation Civil Servant and receives special allowances."

"Section Chief, look..." Bai Zhou suddenly blinked and raised a hand to point into the distance. "What's going on over there?"

Far away, beneath the hazy morning fog, a patrol team seemed to be in some commotion.

Then the crowd parted. Several people seemed to rush out in a panic, carrying several stretchers.

—But when they emerged from the thick fog and drew near, Bai Zhou suddenly jolted awake.

Because he realized these people did not seem human.

At least, they were completely unlike the Blue Star humans he knew, more closely matching his initial image of "aliens" in this place.

At first glance, they looked like several Skeletons haunting the depths of the fog. But upon closer inspection, they turned out to be even more terrifying and incomprehensible "creatures."

On their expressionless Pitch Black faces, a pair of protruding glassy eyes gleamed with eerie light.

Their noses, reflecting a dark metallic luster, resembled enormous upturned pig snouts. Two twisted spiral hoses coiled around each nose in symmetrical formation.

—Just as Bai Zhou had seen.

—The evil ghosts in the mist, draped in trench coats, came running toward Bai Zhou and the others alongside the rolling fog.

No...

Bai Zhou quickly replaced "ghosts in the mist" with a more fitting term, because he seemed to have seen similar descriptions in Fairy Tale books as a child.

"—Pig-Nosed Demons!" Bai Zhou blurted out.

"Cough! Cough, cough!" Section Chief Liu staggered where he stood, coughing nonstop despite not having smoked.

"Those are Gas Masks! They're Commissioners returning from fieldwork for the Special Management Department!" He shot Bai Zhou a vicious glare.

"...I'll explain Gas Masks to you later. Wait here first!"

As he spoke, he hurried over.

"What happened?!"

As he spoke, he helped lift a stretcher and jogged anxiously alongside the group.

"—Isn't it that damned Dead Sea Scrolls again?"

The stretcher-bearing group jogged past Bai Zhou.

One "Pig-Nosed Demon" answered in a muffled voice, and his complaining words drifted over.

"We're looking for the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Blood Worship Cult is searching for it like mad too... So didn't we just Crash Into each other?"

"Too many brothers have been injured lately because of this Ghostly Thing."

"Who knows what the higher-ups are thinking..."

The group moved farther away, and their discussion gradually faded.

Leaving Bai Zhou standing there in a daze.

—What had they just said?

Dead Sea... Scrolls?

—[Ha, no one would ever think that beneath the Great Tree in front of Yongning Life Care Center on Dongxing Road lies the Dead Sea Scroll they want... They'll never dig it up in their entire lives!]

Dongxing Road, Yongning Life Care Center!

Dead Sea Scrolls!

He might actually know the answer to this one?

—Only now did Bai Zhou understand.

The "they" here referred both to the "Authorities" represented by the Special Management Department and to the Blood Worship Cult.

But the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls, which had both sides desperately searching and fighting until their heads bled...

What exactly was it?

Just as he was thinking, heavy footsteps sounded beside him.

Section Chief Liu returned, smoking and exhaling clouds of smoke, his expression unreadable.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Section Chief Liu called to Bai Zhou. "Come on, I'll take you to breakfast."

The Cafeteria was not as noisy as it was at other times. Only a small number of people sat scattered throughout it.

It seemed that most people were not in the habit of eating breakfast.

"Come on, come on. Freshly fried Fried Dough Sticks, eat them while they're hot."

Section Chief Liu carried over a basket of Fried Dough Sticks. Tiny oil bubbles still sizzled across each one's surface, and their fragrance instantly spread through the air.

"Eat seven first. If that's not enough, get more."

On the other side, Bai Zhou came over carrying two bowls of Hu-La Soup and handed one of them to Section Chief Liu.

Bending down to sit, Bai Zhou picked up his chopsticks and casually asked, "What was that just now...?"

After a brief silence, Section Chief Liu sighed.

"They were a Field team... Level P3 Specialists and a small number of elite Level P2 Specialists are qualified to form teams and carry out field missions."

Section Chief Liu's expression was somewhat gloomy.

"Some time ago, the Blood Worship Cult lost something. It has quite a background; it's extremely precious extraordinary knowledge."

"The higher-ups of the Authorities somehow obtained a few clues and attached great importance to it, arranging a series of operations for this matter."

As he spoke, he glanced at Bai Zhou. "The Blood Worship Cult's Stronghold in Evening City was accidentally discovered during that process and eliminated along the way."

"—Now, it isn't just Branch 36, nor even just the Special Management Department."

"The various agencies and departments of the Authorities throughout Tinghai City are searching."

"Of course, the Blood Worship Cult is also looking for it, and plenty of conflicts have broken out between both sides over it."

"The losses have been severe. Branch 36 alone has had quite a few colleagues injured... Of course, the Blood Worship Cult has suffered even worse."

At that point, Section Chief Liu paused. He slowly leaned forward, drawing closer, and lowered his voice.

"Actually, quite a few higher-ups believe that this item may have already fallen back into the Blood Worship Cult's hands."

"The way they're still acting like they're searching may simply be a smokescreen meant to mislead the Authorities..."

That really wasn't the case...

Bai Zhou muttered inwardly.

Dongxing Road... It should be somewhere within Tinghai City, right?

Although he had no way to learn more about the Dead Sea Scrolls, if it was worth mobilizing both sides on such a grand scale, then its value was beyond doubt.

Then if he could reach that address, that thing... would be his?

Bai Zhou fell into thought.

Level P2 and Level P3 Specialists could conduct fieldwork...

Though he pondered inwardly, his expression did not change.

Bai Zhou slurped down a mouthful of vinegar-laced Hu-La Soup while picking up a Fried Dough Stick with his chopsticks.

"With old grudges and new debts combined, the Blood Worship Cult is frantically challenging the Federation's bottom line!"

Across from him, Section Chief Liu's face reddened.

"The Authorities have long wanted to wipe out those scourges in one stroke, but the Blood Worship Cult is too secretive and has too many Strongholds. They have never been able to find the Blood Worship Cult's headquarters."

"The higher-ups are worried that if they fail to kill the snake, they'll suffer its bite instead. If the Blood Worship Cult completely goes underground, it will become even harder to deal with. This has happened before..."

In the end, Section Chief Liu could only viciously bite into a Fried Dough Stick to vent his anger.

"But the Blood Worship Cult has now reached an almost crazed state in its efforts to retaliate against the Authorities."

"Those whom heaven wishes to destroy, it first drives mad. The crazier they become, the more likely they are to expose themselves."

Section Chief Liu sneered.

"I think these cockroaches hiding in the shadows won't be able to run rampant much longer!"

"Indeed." Bai Zhou nodded in agreement. "The Blood Worship Cult... tsk!"

The true culprits behind everything in Evening City!

If he ever got the chance...

Bai Zhou opened his mouth and viciously bit into the Fried Dough Stick before him.

With a crisp "crack," its golden, crunchy shell shattered, leaving a huge bite mark in its surface.

—Crispy as hell!

The cold Black Room. The silent corridor.

Beneath a long row of dim blue hanging lamps, Bai Zhou and Section Chief Liu carried out their routine patrol.

Everything was steeped in unsettling silence, but according to Section Chief Liu...

In a place like this, only silence could put one at ease.

If anything made even the slightest noise, it would not just be Section Chief Liu and Bai Zhou suffering—the entirety of Branch 36 would be dragged down with them.

Bai Zhou followed one step behind Section Chief Liu and watched him twist open the lid of his Thermos with a series of creaks.

Steam curled upward. He took a gulp of scalding tea, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

"Ha..."

Section Chief Liu let out a soft, satisfied breath.

His Thermos of Strong Tea always seemed to be steeped full of Goji Berry and American Ginseng Slices. Around its stainless-steel body was a ring of black lettering, nearly faded away: "Grateful Return, Limited Gift."

In truth, the keychain at his waist had faded too. Its paint was mottled and blurred, clearly having been used for a very long time.

Only the crisp Suit Uniform he wore was immaculate and presentable, obviously maintained with great care.

—Of course, perhaps his wife took care of it for him.

A middle-aged man who lived simply and frugally, occasionally rather stingy.

And... a good person.

That was Bai Zhou's impression of him.

After all, Section Chief Liu ate all three meals in the Cafeteria. When he left, he would even pack dinner for the whole family, claiming it was to save on food expenses. Whenever he could take a small advantage, he never let the chance pass.

Section Chief Liu instinctively wanted to spit out a tea leaf, but realizing he was in the Black Room, he began chewing it instead.

In the vast Black Room corridor, Bai Zhou could hear only their echoing footsteps and Section Chief Liu's wet smacking as he chewed tea leaves.

They turned corner after corner and passed Black Room after Black Room. Peering through the doors and windows, Bai Zhou saw strings of familiar Last Wills.

There were also the Last Wills above two old acquaintances, [Legacy of Blood Thirst] and [Johor Laurel Crown].

Though only Bai Zhou knew that [Johor Laurel Crown] had not the slightest connection to Johor. The discrepancy in the information was absurdly huge.

Still, it was understandable. Archaeology was like that—half its conclusions had to be guessed.

This made Bai Zhou wonder: a thousand years from now, if later generations excavated things from today...

Would they mistake fantastical stories from novels for the real history of their ancestors, and regard cat trees as instruments for torturing domesticated animals?

—Wait!

Bai Zhou's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

—Where did that Last Will come from?

How could there still be a Last Will above that Crown?

He had seen it with his own eyes: the Last Will had shattered and rushed toward him. Otherwise, where would the Golden Pass have come from?

With a smack, Bai Zhou stopped walking.

"What is it?"

Seeing Bai Zhou stop, Section Chief Liu halted as well and asked in confusion.

"...Nothing. I just thought of the time I ate Small Cake here last time."

Bai Zhou forced a smile. "I'd just left Evening City then. It was the best Small Cake I've ever had in my life."

"It's fine. You can eat it whenever you want from now on. The Cafeteria is free anyway."

Section Chief Liu did not suspect anything and instead consoled him. "Still, young people should eat less sugar. Commissioners from the Special Management Department need to pay attention to their physical fitness."

"Mm." Bai Zhou nodded, his expression unchanged.

Then, while Section Chief Liu had turned away, Bai Zhou swiftly shifted his gaze toward the silent Great Door of the Black Room they had just passed...

Peering through the door's window, Bai Zhou indeed saw a new scarlet Last Will suspended in Mid-air above the tightly sealed Black Box.

"There really is one... When did it appear?"

Bai Zhou was puzzled, his heart filled with uncertainty.

...That Blood Letter Last Words had initially been extremely blurry, as though veiled by a layer of misty water.

Now, it merely floated high above in silence, overlooking everything beneath it without a sound.

Yet the very instant he saw it, Bai Zhou felt an ancient, mysterious, weathered aura pounce at him with bared fangs and claws, enough to suffocate him.

The longer Bai Zhou stared, the clearer that blurred Last Will inexplicably became.

At last, a huge, eye-catching Blood Letter Last Words unlike any he had seen before, ancient and weathered, slowly emerged as though surfacing from the water...

It said—

[Even if the Divine Age has long since shattered, may someone still undergo Blood-Soaked Coronation and become the new... Golden King!]