Trolley Problem

"We can talk about anything-your troubles, your worries. I imagine you sometimes want someone to confide in?" Wang Lei looked perfectly at ease as she said gently, "My job is to counsel you and assess your psychological state."

Zhou Ze suddenly realized that he did not actually need to put on an act. No Class-D Personnel would feel kindly toward anyone in this organization. Being full of resentment was the most natural response.

"Is that necessary?" Zhou Ze gave a silent smile. "I may technically be an employee here, but I've never felt that I was treated as a 'person.' What difference does it make whether I'm mentally healthy?"

"I deeply sympathize with what happened to you, but I truly have no power to change anything." Wang Lei sighed softly. "All I can do is listen and offer counsel. Perhaps you could try thinking of me as a friend."

Sympathy? For a death row inmate?

How hypocritical...

When Zhou Ze remained silent, Wang Lei spoke softly again. "I know you still have your guard up around me. That's perfectly normal. Perhaps we could take a different approach. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

Honestly, Zhou Ze did not want to talk about anything. The more he said, the easier it would be to slip up. But whatever her goal was, she probably would not let the matter drop.

I might as well go along with her...

Zhou Ze glanced at the desk on the other side of the glass. His personal file lay openly beside Wang Lei's hand. He could clearly see his photograph and name on the document.

Is she trying to show me how much she knows about me...?

Perfect, Ms. Wang Lei. You might know who I am better than I do...

Zhou Ze looked away, but his attention remained fixed on the document beside her hand. His lips moved hesitantly before he slowly began to speak.

"My name is Zhou Ze. I'm twenty-two. As for why I became Class-D Personnel..."

Zhou Ze was halfway through his stiff introduction when his words abruptly stopped.

Because he saw the following written in the document:

[...In 20▇▇, during a burglary, caused the death of a suspect in the heat of the moment after the suspect broke into his home and attempted to sexually assault his younger sister. While in custody, following assessment and consultation, voluntarily signed the 'Special Personnel Service Agreement' and became Class-D Personnel...]

He was not a death row inmate at all...

Even without knowing the specifics of the case, Zhou Ze knew that it had not been settled.

Because he had actually experienced something similar before transmigrating.

Yes, Zhou Ze had killed someone.

On his way home from work, he had happened upon a criminal threatening a woman with a dagger. Zhou Ze had acted decisively, plunging a newly purchased pair of scissors he was carrying into the criminal's chest.

His motive had been to help someone in danger, and the weapon had been a newly purchased work tool. He had killed the man with a single strike and had not pursued him. Clear surveillance footage had captured the entire incident, and the court had ultimately ruled it self-defense and acquitted him. Public opinion online had been overwhelmingly supportive, too. It was the outcome everyone had hoped for.

But this world's Zhou Ze had signed the agreement and become Class-D Personnel before a verdict was delivered.

Even those few lines were enough to suggest that something shady must have happened during the process.

Signing away his freedom and choosing to become Class-D Personnel under those circumstances clearly made no sense.

No wonder Wang Lei sympathizes with what happened to me. She must know something about it...

No... wait... what if this file is fake...?

Or what if what it says doesn't match what actually happened...?

With something of his own to hide, Zhou Ze found the possibility increasingly plausible. He had better not offer too many opinions on the matter. Staying silent was the wisest choice.

That was close... I nearly gave myself away... Zhou Ze's heart pounded uncontrollably.

Seeing Zhou Ze fall silent again, Wang Lei looked into his eyes, her voice so gentle that she seemed to be soothing his wounded soul.

"I know you must be full of resentment, perhaps even despair toward the world. That's perfectly normal, Mr. Zhou Ze..."

She paused, then continued, "After all, you're completely different from the Class-D Personnel who committed unforgivable crimes. But reality is cruel. When there's a shortage of Class-D Personnel, the Anomaly Containment Facility activates a temporary recruitment protocol, drawing additional personnel from people whose crimes are relatively minor...

"I imagine you weighed your options very carefully before making this choice. Unfortunately, that agreement never tells you what this work actually entails..."

Does that mean this temporary agreement offers some sort of compensation to the people selected...?

Still, I'd better stop dwelling on this subject... Zhou Ze thought.

"Is it all right to tell me these details?" Zhou Ze changed the subject without expression. "I am Class-D Personnel, after all."

"It's fine, Mr. Zhou Ze. Our entire conversation is being recorded. Counseling is different from interrogation. We aren't on opposing sides," Wang Lei said softly. "I can answer your questions. As I said earlier, you should try to think of me as a friend."

Now Zhou Ze truly could not quite figure out the young woman's attitude. Her sincerity did not seem feigned.

He considered for a moment before asking, "Ms. Wang Lei, you seem very sympathetic to what happened to me?"

"Of course. Empathy is the most basic quality a competent counselor must possess." Wang Lei nodded and said evenly, "I think anyone of sound mind would consider it unreasonable for you to become Class-D Personnel for such a reason."

Zhou Ze suddenly remembered the guard captain who had reminded him to stay calm before the last experiment, as well as the young guard who had just brought him here and whose attitude had been so intriguing.

"Heh... thanks very much." Zhou Ze shook his head with a rueful smile. "So why do you help them do evil? Is it just for money? I doubt I'm the only person this has happened to."

To Zhou Ze, both this organization's methods and its goals constantly revealed its evil nature.

Although he had personally experienced only one deadly crisis, that was enough for him to imagine the inhumane experiments this organization might be conducting behind the scenes. In those hidden dark corners, scenes far crueler than anything he had witnessed might be unfolding.

What reason could possibly excuse such behavior?

"The Anomaly Containment Facility is a cold machine, but the gears that keep it running are people of flesh and blood..."

Zhou Ze saw no guilt in Wang Lei's eyes, only an unwavering conviction that was difficult to describe.

She spoke softly. "Naturally, we joined the Containment Facility because we agree with its ideals to some extent. I have always believed that I'm contributing to a great cause."

Wang Lei's manner, as though she were stating an unquestionable truth, left Zhou Ze briefly bewildered.

The young woman's speech and bearing clearly reflected a higher education. She hardly seemed like someone who could easily be manipulated or brainwashed. Nor did this seem to have anything to do with religious faith. What, then, sustained her conviction?

"Oh? I'd like to hear more." Zhou Ze adopted an attentive posture.

"Mr. Zhou Ze, I imagine you don't know what sort of organization the Anomaly Containment Facility really is?"

"Of course not," Zhou Ze answered honestly.

"The Containment Facility is far older than you might imagine. Its history spans almost the whole of human civilization. You must understand that a truly brutal, unjust power could never have survived through all those long years."

But that's only your side of the story... Zhou Ze judged inwardly.

Wang Lei paused, then continued, "The Anomaly Containment Facility operates covertly around the world, with the objective of containing anomalous objects, individuals, and phenomena. Its operations are free from interference by the jurisdiction, authorization, or mandates of any major national government.

"We work to maintain normalcy so that civilians around the world can survive without falling into fear, suspicion, or a loss of faith, and to preserve humanity's autonomy against threats from extraterrestrial sources, other dimensions, and outer space."

"Uh... that sounds..." Zhou Ze opened his mouth and shifted in his seat. The chains on his wrists and ankles clinked sharply with the movement.

He really had not expected Wang Lei to begin by attributing such grand ideals to the organization. It all felt rather too remote.

"Like something out of a fantasy?" Wang Lei smiled faintly.

"Yes..." Zhou Ze shrugged. "I thought it would be a little more down-to-earth..."

"Simply put, the Containment Facility exists to ensure that the vast majority of humanity can live in a relatively normal, peaceful world, and that human civilization can continue," Wang Lei explained.

"Even if they're living a lie?" Zhou Ze raised an eyebrow.

Wang Lei nodded. "Yes. I can tell you with certainty that if the truth about the world were made public, society would descend into unprecedented panic and chaos. That could very well lead to the collapse of human civilization. So, to ensure that most of humanity can live in this 'normal' world, preventing certain truths from spreading has also become part of our mission."

"It's hard to imagine those words coming from a woman who calls herself a counselor," Zhou Ze could not help remarking wryly.

"Here, apart from the lowest-level maintenance workers and cleaning staff, most of us know very well what we're fighting for."

"That doesn't include Class-D Personnel, does it? Even if Class-D Personnel give their lives, no one will acknowledge them." Zhou Ze's words were pointed.

"I'm sorry... but I think you know that wasn't what I meant." Wang Lei lowered her eyes.

In truth, Zhou Ze bore no ill will toward Ms. Wang Lei, nor was he interested in protesting injustices against those death row inmates.

The crux of the problem was that Zhou Ze was now a pitiful D among Ds.

"Ms. Wang Lei, you seem to have avoided the most important issue. There are undeniably people like me among Class D personnel..." Zhou Ze paused, then continued, "And none of this explains why you conduct human experiments."

At that, a hint of appreciation entered Wang Lei's gentle gaze.

"Mr. Zhou Ze, you're intelligent and rational, which makes me regret your circumstances all over again. Though I've tried my best to avoid it, you still seem to have placed yourself on the opposite side from me..."

The young woman sighed softly. "Are you familiar with the trolley problem?"

The trolley problem was a classic thought experiment in ethics and moral philosophy.

A runaway trolley was heading down a track. Five people were on that track, and if the trolley continued, they would certainly die. You stood beside a junction, holding a lever that could change the trolley's course. If you pulled the lever, the trolley would switch to another track, but there was one person on that track.

Now you faced a choice: stand by and let five people die, or actively change the trolley's course, sacrificing one person to save five?

"I am." Zhou Ze raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that I'm the person tied to the track, an expendable object?"

Wang Lei did not agree with his interpretation. Instead, she asked, "Then, Mr. Zhou Ze, what do you think is the fundamental reason the trolley problem provokes debate?"

After a moment of silence, Zhou Ze answered flatly, "Because the people answering the question aren't tied to the tracks."

Wang Lei briefly froze, then chuckled. "Your answer isn't quite what I expected, but it really does... cut straight to the heart of it."

"Miss Wang Lei, since we aren't tied to the same track..." Zhou Ze shrugged. "No, you could even be the person holding the lever. That means you can never truly empathize with me."

"Then, Mr. Zhou Ze, do you believe the work we Containment Facility employees do is completely safe?" Wang Lei countered.

Zhou Ze instinctively remembered the two security personnel who had died in the last incident.

No... I shouldn't have that memory, so I have to agree with her now...

Before Zhou Ze could speak, however, Wang Lei added, "In fact, apart from a small number of sites, employee casualty rates remain extremely high at most facilities. We've been tied to the same track from the very beginning. You're simply closer to the train, while I'm farther away..."

Zhou Ze stared for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "You're moving the goalposts, Ms. Wang Lei."

"Yes, I am. By comparison, Class-D Personnel have no freedom or dignity whatsoever in the Containment Facility."

Wang Lei openly nodded in acknowledgment, then changed tack. "But that's not what I'm trying to express. I'm talking about the reality we face... In fact, what's tied to the other end of the track often isn't five people, but the entire world..."

She gave a soft laugh. "Whether it's a question of philosophy or sociology, human society has to exist before there's any value in discussing it, doesn't it?"

For a moment, Zhou Ze was speechless.

He knew very well that once the topic shifted from individual rights to humanity's survival, there was no point in arguing further. Such a weighty issue had little practical meaning for Class-D Personnel like Zhou Ze, who might not live to see tomorrow.

This counselor seemed to want to give some value to his life, which could end at any moment, or perhaps she was simply giving him a way to vent his emotions.

"Of course, all of that is from the Anomaly Containment Facility's perspective..." Wang Lei's voice softened again. "As a friend, I would join you without hesitation in condemning their madness and depravity."

"Thanks, though it sounds like you're sentencing me to death..." Zhou Ze raised an eyebrow and gave a mirthless smile. "After listening to all that, I'm almost ready to lay down my life for the cause."

At that, Wang Lei could not help smiling as she shook her head. "Mr. Zhou Ze, it's hard to imagine that you've retained a sense of humor in these circumstances. In fact, from the very beginning, I felt that your psychological state was different from that of other Class-D Personnel...

"Most Class-D Personnel I've met display either extreme fear and anxiety or complete numbness and despair. Yet you've maintained considerable clarity of thought and emotional stability. That's very rare in my professional experience."

"So do you often counsel Class-D Personnel?" Zhou Ze asked in puzzlement. "What's the point, exactly?"

"Hmm... not very often. As far as I know, certain experiments have specific requirements concerning the psychological state of Class-D Personnel," Wang Lei answered frankly.

"Do you mean I'm about to undergo one of those experiments?"

"I can't give you a definite answer. That information is beyond what I'm allowed to know." Wang Lei picked up the teacup beside her and took a small sip. "Apart from that, is anything else troubling you or causing you stress?"

"One last question. If you were speaking as a friend..." Zhou Ze's gaze flickered as he asked pointedly, "Do you have any advice for me?"

"Unfortunately, no matter what perspective I take, I can't offer you any worthwhile advice..."

Wang Lei sighed softly. She looked into Zhou Ze's eyes for a long moment before continuing. "Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Zhou Ze, but you don't seem particularly afraid of the reality you're about to face... That's good. Truly."

"All I can do is wish you well. I hope you always live to see another sunrise..."