The next day, August 26.
There were two days left until the Blood Worship Cult's invasion.
Cold silver-white walls rose straight into the dome. The metal ceiling reflected a grim, icy light, while the cold white light strips embedded in it provided the entire base with an endless supply of illumination.
Passing through the various buildings and reaching the very back of the base, one could see a silent forest of gravestones.
The fragrance of soil drifted through the air. Row upon row of silver-white metal tombstones stood there, glowing faintly.
They were all cast from some unknown special material that seemed to isolate "contamination." In front of them lay bouquets of chrysanthemums and lilies.
--This was the Resting Mausoleum.
Every Special Management Department branch base had a place like this, specifically for burying specialists who had sacrificed their lives.
The Ash Urn containing Section Chief Liu's ashes had been placed atop a large mass of flowers, resting before the rows of tombstones.
The black-and-white photograph on the urn still showed that stiff, awkwardly smiling, square-faced black man.
"..."
Bai Zhou, who had not slept all night, stood expressionlessly in the middle of the crowd, wearing a solemn black suit for the first time in his life.
These were clothes issued by the organization. He had often seen Section Chief Liu wearing them before.
But Bai Zhou had never imagined that the first time he would dress formally would be to attend Section Chief Liu's funeral.
...Speaking of which, this was also the first time he had learned of the Resting Mausoleum.
Yet the moment he arrived, he felt as though the tombstones were watching him. An inexplicable pressure weighed on his heart.
Perhaps the news of Section Chief Liu's death had affected him too deeply...
The Major stood at the front and delivered a solemn address:
"On this special day, we have gathered here not to bid farewell to a fallen warrior."
"--We are merely returning him to the earth, burying him in this resting place of heroes, where he may find eternal peace."
"Yet the dead are gone. His name, together with those on the other tombstones, will become the backbone of the Special Management Department, a guiding light that illuminates our path through the darkness!"
The Major raised his voice and pointed toward the silent rows of tombstones behind him:
"We control, we contain, we protect..."
"We are the Black Box Special Management Department."
"One Liu Zhen has fallen, and we will take his place and continue forward until the darkness recedes, or..."
"Until our own names are carved into the forest of tombstones behind us and left here in the Resting Mausoleum!"
"..."
Everyone wore black suits and listened solemnly.
At the officer's sharp command:
"Salute!"
Everyone, including the Major, raised their arms in unison. The sleeves brushed together with a neat rustling sound.
A funeral dirge rose into the air.
The Ash Urn containing Section Chief Liu's ashes was buried beneath the Federation Flag.
From that day forward, he would rest here eternally alongside all the other specialists who had sacrificed themselves in the past.
The crowd's gazes focused there, while a silent power gathered among them.
At the Special Management Department, sacrifice was a common occurrence. But as a Level P4 Specialist, Section Chief Liu would not die in obscurity. At the very least, he would receive a funeral like this.
--Especially during this special period.
The Blood Worship Cult was about to attack. Section Chief Liu's sudden death had strained everyone's already taut nerves even further.
The dead could always provide strength to the living. Inspiration and hatred ignited the specialists' fighting spirit.
Only Bai Zhou remained silent among the crowd, staring blankly at the tombstone.
He could not understand.
How could someone who had been perfectly fine when they met yesterday suddenly be gone?
People could never accept a sudden parting. With no warning, there was no chance to prepare themselves mentally.
It was only now, when he watched the Ash Urn being buried with his own eyes, that his numb, dazed mind finally awakened to the reality--
Section Chief Liu was truly gone.
No one would take Bai Zhou out for Hu-La Soup first thing every morning anymore;
nor would anyone lecture Bai Zhou incessantly.
That middle-aged man, who liked showing off his pistol and position and seemed eternally proud of his profession, who was filled with ideals for the Federation,
had finally died on the road to realizing those ideals.
Even now, he had not had the chance to return to the hospital and see his injured daughter.
"Bai Zhou... correct?" A soft, feminine whisper suddenly came from beside his ear.
Bai Zhou turned his head. The first thing that entered his view was Black Cat Detective's round, chubby head and bright, comically wide eyes.
He felt that the thing looked even more swollen and round than the last time he had seen it... and, of course, even cuter.
Deputy Han, holding the Black Cat Detective Doll, appeared beside Bai Zhou.
The arrival of such a "big shot" caused the surrounding specialists to make way for them.
"I've always doubled as the head of the Black Box Maintenance Department. Old Liu was my friend for many years, as well as the subordinate I valued most."
The Black Cat Detective's whiskers swayed as Deputy Han spoke gently.
An excessively heavy yin aura swept over him, and Bai Zhou quietly shifted sideways without showing anything on his face.
"Recently, he often mentioned you to me. It was obvious that he admired you."
"You were able to break through to Level P3 this time because I fought for it on your behalf."
Only then did Bai Zhou understand.
So the "backer" Section Chief Liu had mentioned
was this Deputy Han, who looked... well, rather effeminate?
"Now that Old Liu is gone, perhaps you'll be the one to take over his duties in the Maintenance Department."
"Tomorrow, find some time to come to my office and collect your Magic Potion."
Deputy Han gave Bai Zhou a deep look.
"I hope you can advance to the Transcendent level soon and grow more quickly."
"Don't let down the trust I've placed in you, or Old Liu's efforts on your behalf."
After saying this, he hugged the Detective Doll and turned to leave.
...So he had come just to say this?
Bai Zhou wanted to speak, then hesitated, then wanted to speak again. In the end, he called out to Deputy Han:
"How did Section Chief Liu die?"
"Hmm?"
Deputy Han stopped and looked back.
After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Of course he was killed by the Blood Worship Cult."
"He was carrying out a mission when he was targeted by one of the Blood Worship Cult's mad dogs. His death was horrific..."
At that moment, the Major on the platform also raised his arms and shouted:
"The Blood Worship Cult!"
"It was the Blood Worship Cult that killed Section Chief Liu!"
"And afterward, they'll kill even more of us!"
"--Revenge!"
The Major's powerful voice rang in everyone's ears.
"Revenge against the Blood Worship Cult!"
...And so, every specialist's eyes reddened.
"That's right! Revenge!"
"We must have revenge!"
"Wipe out the Blood Worship Cult completely!"
The voices rose like a tide, and the crowd seethed with fury.
The nearly fanatical desire for revenge stirred everyone's high spirits.
Yet Bai Zhou, mixed into the crowd, merely remained silent, standing out from the others.
He was puzzled.
Yesterday afternoon, Section Chief Liu had still been busy helping him arrange his promotion to Level P3, acting all mysterious.
He had even said he would give Bai Zhou a surprise. He had not seemed troubled or under any pressure at all.
Yet by eight that night, he had already died outside, on his way to carry out a mission?
What time had he received the mission?
Even a suicide squad would not be in such a hurry. One could still have a meal before being beheaded.
Bai Zhou said nothing. He only stared at Section Chief Liu's tombstone, deep in thought.
"..."
Suddenly, his whole body jolted, and his eyes slowly widened.
--No!
Something was wrong!
Bai Zhou swept his gaze over the rows of tombstones in the Resting Mausoleum, and his heart suddenly seemed to miss a beat.
At last, he realized where the subtle sense of incongruity he had felt ever since arriving came from.
...In the quiet, peaceful Resting Mausoleum, flower petals could be seen scattered across the ground.
The silver-white tombstones, each engraved with the life stories of heroic specialists, stood silently, spotless and reflecting the light from the sky.
But there was a problem.
Were they not too "clean"?
"..."
Bai Zhou's face tightened. He forcibly controlled his expression, revealing nothing unusual in front of the others.
Yet a chill shot straight from his spine to his brain.
--There were corpses and ashes, so there should also have been "Last Wills."
Just like the Corpse Pit in the Ruins Realm, where Last Wills covered the ground.
Even the Blood Worship Cult's "Doctor" had exploded with a Last Will upon death.
Yet only in the Resting Mausoleum...
So many specialists from the Special Management Department, countless Transcendents who had sacrificed themselves, and Section Chief Liu, who was unquestionably a Transcendent--
how... how had Bai Zhou not seen a single Last Will?
Where were their Last Wills?!
Before you continue