The Confrontation / The Test

"Yanlu clearly outlines the rights of the infected, but in reality, discrimination and hostility are still rampant."

Talulah stated, "Discrimination against those infected cannot be stopped by the law."

Ch'en, however, thought of Jie Zhen and the others.

They were clearly the group closest to Yan Lu, yet they disregarded the inclusion of the infected. Even the Qilin, whom they considered "rigid," would not hesitate to abandon the infected when faced with a life-or-death decision for an ordinary person.

"Speaking of this..."

What else do you want to say?

Talulah, instead, took Ch'en's hand and said, "Don't be afraid to seek medical help!"

"They don't give injections."

Yes, it's just surgery.

Chapter 234 Clash

"... Please rest assured, Miss Chen, we absolutely will not..."

Ch'en barely listened to what the little rabbit was saying.

Draco vividly described the surgery, which made Ch'en was not afraid of the operating table, a little apprehensive when she saw the Rhodes Island uniform.

She stole a couple of glances at Oute, then a couple more at Kal'tsit, trying to find even a hint of the mad doctor in these two.

The more I look at it, the more it resembles it.

However, as Ch'en stared at the pencil marks and mini notebook peeking out of Oute's pocket, she felt that something was off.

Does it look familiar?

It looks familiar, that's why!

Wait, where were we?

It's all Little Tal's fault... How can I be at ease after hearing about that surgical scene!?

Left with no other option, Ch'en replied, "Thank you Rhodes Island for everything you've done for us."

"... Huh?" Amiya blinked.

While Rhodes Island has indeed done a lot, Ch'en deserves her thanks...

But Amiya has already addressed the issue of non-infected individuals in the slums.

Oute cautioned, "Regarding the issue of restraining non-infected individuals in the Lower City, we must define the jurisdiction in advance."

"That's right, just as Doc Otter said!"

How did we get to this topic?

Amiya glanced at Oute and said, "The services Lungmen purchased from Rhodes Island do not include the 're-employment' issue for non-infected individuals."

"Reemployment Center" was the nickname that Oute gave to Rhodes Island's private prison. However, in the Yan, entrusting prisons and law enforcement to private operation was still too unorthodox. To avoid anyone in the government using this as a pretext, Wei Yenwu tacitly accepted this view.

Therefore, the issue of "re-employment" here is essentially a question of whether Rhodes Island bears law enforcement responsibility towards the ordinary residents of the Lower City.

Of course, it can also be phrased differently: Does Rhodes Island possess law enforcement powers to control or influence ordinary residents of the Lower City?

"As an integral part of the Lower City, whether infected or not, everyone should be included in the purchase of security services," Ch'en refuted Amiya's statement.

Strangely enough, while still in the Lungmen Guard Department, although Ch'en did not go to the office to oppose Rhodes Island taking away some of the Lungmen Guard Department's power like Swire, she was far from being very supportive.

Now, things have gotten even worse; she's even planning to entrust the ordinary people of the Lower City to Rhodes Island!

In this way, Rhodes Island's law enforcement presence has been completely overrun by the Lower City...

"We lack sufficient funds and training," Amiya deflected. "The office has enough manpower to deal with the infected, but not enough to cover the entire Lower City, including the uninfected."

"Lungmen will provide more job opportunities."

According to the contract, Lungmen will pay its operators salaries based on the number of operators stationed at Rhodes Island Lungmen Office.

The money went through a loop at Rhodes Island before being distributed to the operators.

"The operation of Rhodes Island itself requires a large number of personnel, and the number of operators available for the offices is already limited."

Ch'en focused on "positions," emphasizing quantity, while Amiya shifted her focus to "quality."

Wei Yenwu's arrangement regarding Rhodes Island was to forcibly bind the Rhodes Island to Rhodes Island, compelling it to transform from "nomads" into "settlers," in order to provide Lungmen with long-term, high-quality Originium Infection treatment services. Not to mention, Rhodes Island has already proven its capabilities in the military field.

In this situation, using the slums to tie down these good-natured people is like winning two rounds of the Lungmen.

Ch'en continued to develop this line of thinking, finding many interesting excuses.

"Rhodes Island can certainly recruit new talent from Lungmen. We will provide Rhodes Island with a certain amount of subsidies for every Lungmen- native office employee."

"Furthermore, regarding training... practical experience shows that Rhodes Island has considerable expertise in militia training. Most of the skills learned in militia training can be fully utilized in police work." Ch'en paused, then continued, "Operator Swire has a good relationship with the office, and I believe she will be able to provide Rhodes Island with ample and professional police training in future work."

Ch'en refuted Rhodes Island's excuses point by point, seemingly determined to pin the blame on Rhodes Island.

Kal'tsit sighed inwardly: everything was exactly as Oute had planned.

The Lungmen staff worked diligently to transcribe their conversation. It is believed that soon all of this will serve as material for Lungmen's local history and a means for the government to understand Rhodes Island.

The cat began, "Furthermore, regarding Mr. Wei's previous inquiry about hair loss..."

Ch'en's eyelids twitched, and she dismissed the clerks again. "Get out."

The clerks suppressed their laughter and left the meeting room with great interest.

Considering the meeting itself alone, this was the first time today. But if we consider using the time before the meeting to kick people out and talk to them individually... then that first time was actually her meeting with Talulah.

"Specter, could you go outside and keep watch too?" Oute said to Specter on his left.

Unlike Ch'en's departure, which was quite a commotion, Oute really needed Specter's help to guard the area.

The nun released Oute's left hand and nodded.

"Based on our contract with Governor Wei, Miss Chen, your medical record will not be preserved in the normal manner," Kal'tsit said. "Nominally, it will be recorded as a rare genetic condition of hair loss in dragons."

"... Are you serious?"

"This is Governor Wei's request."

Ch'en covered her face and blurted out angrily, "I'd rather have the reputation of Originium Infection!"

Indeed, no matter what, Ch'en is still a young woman...

"The hair loss problem that Governor Wei consulted about." Seeing that Ch'en didn't understand, Kal'tsit repeated it.

"His?"

"His."

He really should take some clothes off...

Kal'tsit continued, "Key data regarding your condition will be recorded as Governor Wei's hair loss. Your Originium Infection testing will also be limited to a small number of Rhodes Island members."

Oute added, "In reality, besides those of us in front of you, only a handful of operators will participate in the testing as a precaution."

"Is this also what Commander Wei needs?"

"He only specified the contents of the case file, as well as the principles for protecting your medical information."

Seeing Ch'en's expression, Talulah also stood up.

"I'll go outside and take a look too."

However, faint laughter could still be heard through the crack in the door that wasn't closed properly.

Ch'en closed her eyes and said, "Okay!"

When exactly will the testing be conducted? How will the testing be performed?

"You can use the excuse of signing a new contract to come to the Rhodes Island main ship."

Chapter 235 Test

"Isn't it a bit absurd to spread those rumors on Rhodes Island, Mantra?" asked the Human Resources Department Mind Lash Demon at the bar.

The person she was asking was... Fydia, the "old lady".

Dark white hair fell from Phidia's shoulders, with a hint of blue at the ends. Her face still faintly showed traces of her youthful beauty, which, with the passage of time, had transformed into a dashing and heroic air.

A tremor of the spirit replaced Mantra's response: [I was merely fueling some gossip.]

[As for the other rumors... unfortunately, they were spontaneous.]

"That's one of the worst things ever... Someone else came and asked me if Mind Lash Demon can actually read minds, and how many brains he eats a day." Mind Lash Demon, slightly drunk, slumped on the bar and "complained."

While the window of opportunity presented by the Reunion Movement is indeed very narrow, and many Elite Operator cannot return in time, this does not include Mantra and ■■■.

Mantra knew perfectly well that these things had indeed happened, but it wasn't worth the HR manager intentionally getting drunk to find out the details.

[What else is going on?]

The Mind Lash Demon narrowed his eyes to a slit, trying to hide his sobriety behind the haze created by alcohol.

"After being struck by two Catastrophe in succession, many refugees in Chernobog have begun to seek religious solace..." She paused for a moment, then said softly, "I'm a little skeptical of what I've seen; I need your help to check it again."

[What is it that even our Mind Lash Demon find difficult to handle?] Mantra asked, somewhat surprised.

"I can't find the mastermind behind this." Mind Lash Demon closed his eyes and, unusually, chose to drink another glass.

With a slender index finger hooking the handle of the glass, she held the large glass in a posture that made it extremely easy to spill.

Glug glug.

Only foam with a malty aroma remained in the glass.

"I've reviewed many active targets, but there are no issues—as you said, it could all be spontaneous..."

[Let me state upfront that I'm only responsible for that photograph, and I didn't take it.] Mantra's squinting eyes showed no sign of opening. [However, do you have any valuable information about that "Specter"?]

"There's nothing to gossip about," the Mind Lash Demon said irritably. "Kal'tsit's explanation is to maintain her personality stability."

[That sounds a bit unethical.]

As a psychologist, it is certainly unethical to take advantage of this favorable position to attack a patient.