Lifting the Crown in the Gloom (Second Update)

On the way out, even though the base was always kept at a constant temperature, Bai Zhou inexplicably felt a chill run through his entire body, his limbs stiffening.

It turned out that it wasn't just him watching Deputy Han; Deputy Han had been watching him just the same.

It seemed that after "eating" Section Chief Liu, he was now impatient to "eat" him as well.

...Could the "fresh goods" that Deputy Han told Baldy to come and collect tomorrow night include him?

If that were the case, the reason why Deputy Han had been so inexplicably good to him and so desperate for him to become an Extraordinary was easy to find.

--But why exactly?

Why such impatience?

With so many people perfectly fine, why did it have to be Section Chief Liu and him, a new recruit?

Did the two of them do something, or was there something special about them worth "eating"?

What he was most uncertain and worried about was whether "eating" him was Deputy Han's own idea, or the intention of the Major behind him.

...A web of mysteries intertwined in Bai Zhou's mind, leaving him deeply anxious.

Even though he was walking through the familiar base, surrounded by a bustling crowd.

Bai Zhou couldn't feel a shred of security.

Although everything he passed was the same as it had always been, in Bai Zhou's eyes, the feeling was completely different from before.

When the armed patrol teams saw him, they still smiled and greeted him.

Their stark white teeth were bared.

--These were the tools they used to eat people.

Since they were capable of eating people, there was no reason they wouldn't eat Bai Zhou.

The towers stood silently.

The gray and black buildings were mute, and the Commissioners passing by were impeccably dressed.

And the Slogans visible everywhere were so resonant and righteous.

...Who could have imagined that they could hide another unknown, Bloody Mouth?

A fake honey trap:

A stranger caters to your preferences.

A real honey trap:

The leadership values you, the organization pays you, the world respects you, and your comrades shout about never abandoning you, all while your spirit is dedicated to fighting for the Federation.

--Who wouldn't be confused by that?

But the truth was that this base was always eating people, and the next turn might be Bai Zhou's.

Perhaps this was also part of the truth of the Mystic World on Blue Star--

A world that eats its own.

Even if ordinary Commissioners suspected something, they could only choose to "remain blissfully ignorant."

Otherwise, what else could they do?

The massive profits were enough to blind them, leaving them no time to think too much.

Even if Bai Zhou were to stand up right now and shout, exposing the darkness of the Special Management Department and the ugly face of Deputy Han...

Then, where was the evidence?

Not to mention how many people would believe him.

Before they were willing to believe Bai Zhou--

All the people involved in this incident, whose numbers and strength were unknown, would immediately use any means necessary to crush Bai Zhou.

Then, everything would return to tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened.

Tomorrow, Branch 36 of the Special Management Department would once again be the beautiful, harmonious, and united Branch 36 of the Special Management Department, striving for justice!

Perhaps becoming an "Extraordinary" was the threshold that symbolized "fattening up," leading to being eaten;

But the ordinary bottom-tier workers who lacked the aptitude to become "Extraordinary" were instead able to profit from it continuously.

Above this were the informed beneficiaries.

Below this were the uninformed beneficiaries.

--So now, who was the "newcomer" caught in the middle of everyone?

It was Bai Zhou!

Perhaps, the day he was discovered to have a high-resistance pollution constitution, he had already become a tempting piece of "fat meat" in the eyes of the higher-ups.

Bai Zhou shivered on the spot.

Fortunately--

The funeral of Section Chief Liu allowed Bai Zhou to discover everything in advance.

No one knew that he was a Level 1 Adventurer.

He was a Destined One who had mastered the Moon Ember Sacred Oath Slash, carried a Mechanical Spear-Gun... and had Ya behind him.

Was a Level 1 Destined Adventurer strong enough?

It was passable.

But in a base teeming with talent, there was certainly no shortage of people stronger than him... such as the Major and Deputy Han.

However, Bai Zhou felt...

No matter how powerful a force might be, if it is constantly displayed in the open to be schemed against, the building will eventually collapse one day.

No matter how weak a force might be, if it is hidden deep enough to be underestimated, it can still pry loose the giant boulders at the summit.

--Because it is weak, it is powerful.

Only by winning through surprise can one return in triumph!

Returning to his dormitory and setting down the Intelligence Potion, Bai Zhou discovered that Ya was not in the room.

Thus, changing into his uniform, Bai Zhou hurried out once again.

...Although he possessed trump cards for surprise attacks, one could never have too much hidden power.

Bai Zhou needed to be stronger.

Because Deputy Han had already set his sights on him.

Now, it was not just Deputy Han; his enemies also included everyone standing behind him.

Not just for the sake of Section Chief Liu, but even for his own sake, he had to prepare for the worst in the near future.

--This base, he feared, was truly becoming impossible to stay in for much longer.

But if that were the case...

He still had some final things to do!

"Beep--"

Bai Zhou arrived before the door of a low, gray building, took out his newly exchanged Level P3 Specialist ID card, and swiped it at the door.

Black Box Maintenance Department, newly promoted Sector Supervisor, Bai Zhou--

He had arrived at his loyal Third Sector of the Black Room.

The worker began his "routine work" with an expressionless face.

Walking through the pitch black corridor, the surroundings were silent and empty. Bai Zhou patrolled the area, passing by the iron gates of one Black Room after another.

As a supervisor, he had the authority to come to the Black Room at any time to inspect the black boxes.

--Anyway, he wouldn't be staying in this hellhole for much longer...

He had to take full advantage before leaving!

Although only one day remained, Bai Zhou was not without opportunities to continue growing stronger.

He was going to use the convenience of his current position and duties to extract every possible benefit to arm himself.

Taking the organization's things to fight against the organization?

That was perfectly reasonable.

--Otherwise, how could he live up to his new identity as a P3 supervisor?

Had he not worked so hard to climb the ranks in the organization just to enjoy the fruits of victory today?

As a highly dangerous and special department like the Black Box Maintenance Department, if a P3 supervisor were bold enough, the things they could do would be unimaginable to other specialists.

Because this was the position closest to the black boxes.

At first, Bai Zhou had wanted to secretly pack up and take away all the black boxes in the sector.

Unfortunately, when formulating the specific action plan, Bai Zhou discovered that the difficulty of this task was quite immense, so he had to regretfully give up.

But there was one thing that was quite easy for the current Bai Zhou--

With a "click,"

Bai Zhou stopped in front of Black Room catalog number F-13777.

The introduction for the Johor Laurel Crown was plastered densely across the black metal door.

Accompanied by a "clatter," Bai Zhou took out a large ring of brand-new keys, found the corresponding one, and unlocked the door.

With a "creak"--

Bai Zhou slowly walked into the narrow, dim Black Room.

As he closed the door behind him, he looked up and saw the black box resting in the center.

[Containment Measures: Place the Crown in sealed distilled water. Direct starlight is strictly prohibited. The Crown must be kept in a dim environment isolated from external light at all times.]

[Appendix: The water must be changed and the seal reapplied every seven days.]

"--Today is the seventh day."

Bai Zhou picked up the bucket from the floor and placed it on the platform to the side.

This was what he had ordered his Subordinate to place in the Black Room in advance last night.

"Time to change the water."

On his first day in office, Supervisor Bai Zhou began his work with "utmost diligence."

As a Level P3 supervisor in the Maintenance Department, he certainly didn't need the guidance or supervision of a senior like a newcomer would.

Completing the maintenance of the Black Box independently was a perfectly normal task.

Unfortunately, the corridor of the Black Room was silent and empty right now...

Otherwise, anyone who saw the newly appointed Supervisor working so passionately and diligently would have given a thumbs up and praised Deputy Han for truly picking the right person.

With a "click,"

Bai Zhou held his breath and slowly opened the sealed Black Box.

A sealed water tank appeared before his eyes.

It was a glass cabinet filled with distilled water, with a golden crown resting quietly at the bottom, appearing deathly still in the dim light.

A... Crown of Thorns.

The submerged, thorn-shaped metal crown was layered with ancient, intricate, and magnificent patterns. Twelve sharp spikes grew from it, with an arc between every two spikes, their tips meeting as if cradling something.

Although he had already obtained a "Jurassic Pass" from it once, this was still the first time Bai Zhou had witnessed the true appearance of the Crown of Thorns.

It was also the closest he had ever been to the crown.

His gaze involuntarily shifted toward the object floating above the crown, something impossible to ignore.

--It was also his greatest motivation for being promoted to a Level P3 sector supervisor.

[Even though the Divine Era has long been shattered, I still hope someone will bathe in blood to wear the crown and become the new... Golden King]

The ancient blood-red text was right before his eyes, fragmented and blurred.

Yet, both its presence and the overwhelming pressure it exuded far surpassed the clear Last Will left behind by Empress Irene back then.

Divine Era Shattered.

Bathe in blood to wear the crown.

Golden King.

How was one supposed to fulfill this Last Will?

And if it were fulfilled, what would happen?

Bai Zhou had no interest in becoming some Golden King right now, as the base didn't seem to be lacking in gold.

But since it sounded so formidable, there was no reason he wouldn't get "Good Stuff" after fulfilling the Last Will.

--Even if it were just something on par with the [Jurassic Pass], that would be enough!

Perhaps it could directly help Bai Zhou break the deadlock!

That was exactly why he had come today.

...Staring at the crown resting in the distilled water tank, looking at that string of mysterious, ancient words.

Bai Zhou stood silent in place, pursing his lips as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

He did not drain the water, nor did he change it.

With a "splash"...

Something was lifted out of the water tank.

A pair of hands, in the dim light, cradled the crown.