Everyone Is 'Eating People'!

Early the next morning. A single day and night remained until the Blood Worship Cult's invasion and Adjutant Han's "next transaction." Bai Zhou sat in the cafeteria, eating fried dough sticks and sipping spicy soup. Having only fried dough sticks felt a bit greasy, but the pickled vegetables were sold out. So Bai Zhou paired them with half a steamed bun. Yet today was different from usual. The normally introverted Bai Zhou took the initiative to sit near a colleague. He struck up a conversation with apparent casualness, inquiring about the organization and Adjutant Han. "Everyone has to look forward. Don't be too sad." "Here at the Special Control Bureau, you really have to get used to colleagues falling in the line of duty." "Besides, it's often the ones in higher positions who end up dying first." The colleague sitting across from him was a burly young man who looked close to thirty. He was one of the rare people in the cafeteria not wearing a suit, perhaps because he was not scheduled for duty this morning. A floral shirt and slippers gave him a breezy, unrestrained air; very few in the Special Control Bureau dared to dress like that. Even the janitors sweeping the floor looked more presentable than him. Yet he was a veteran of the Maintenance Department and one of the eyewitnesses to the earlier "Infirmary Incident." Hearing his words, Bai Zhou blinked. Higher positions were more prone to being sacrificed? He had just been wondering why Adjutant Han had gone to such lengths to target a trusted confidant rather than someone from the ordinary ranks... "I don't understand," Bai Zhou said, appearing humbly eager to learn. "The Major said it best: with great power comes great responsibility!" The burly youth slurped his fermented mung bean milk, a look of blissful enjoyment on his face. "Actually, it really wasn't like this in the past." "Back then, our base was just like the other official organizations—fond of bringing in death row convicts to serve as lower-tier 'expendable personnel.'" "Officially, they were called Rank P0.5 employees." Rank... P0.5? "Simply put, consumables. Used to handle tricky hazards or record experimental data... Anyway, they were all death row convicts." "That practice was always controversial within the government, but at least at our base, it was abolished after the Major arrived." "The Major respects... human rights?" Bai Zhou searched his memory for a moment before recalling how to say the phrase. "Not entirely." The burly youth waved his hand. He opened his mouth wide and took a bite out of the fried dough ring in front of him, leaving a neat semicircular toothmark with a crisp crunch. "The sir simply believes in a meritocratic elite. He felt those death row convicts would drag down the overall morale, making the other commissioners shy away from danger and lose their drive to improve." "So he carried out sweeping reforms at the base, raising the barrier to entry and selecting talent without rigid constraints." "As long as you have real ability, you can earn the Major's favor, but you also have to shoulder more responsibility because of it." "If something happens on your watch and the Major finds out that you, the leader, shrank back from duty, you'll be shot!" "No wonder, then," Bai Zhou said, nodding in understanding. "Speaking of which, our department head, Adjutant Han..." "Does he usually lead from the front, too?" He subtly probed for information regarding Adjutant Han. That effeminate man who constantly clung to a doll was thoroughly mysterious, rarely seen around the base under normal circumstances. If Bai Zhou wanted to uncover any clues about him, starting with a Maintenance Department veteran like this really was the only way. "Not at all!" Yet the man answered without the slightest hesitation. With a loud hiccup, he let out a resonant burp. "Adjutant Han only concurrently serves as acting head of the Maintenance Department. His main duty is assisting the Major in managing affairs." "After all, the Major is far too busy and travels frequently, so Adjutant Han usually steps up on his behalf." Saying so, he instinctively lowered his voice. "Everyone whispers that he and the Major... well, have that kind of relationship." "But he's actually a surprisingly good guy. Everyone has benefited quite a bit from his generosity." A... surprisingly good guy? Bai Zhou narrowed his eyes. "Speaking of the Major, it feels like everyone idolizes him... There must be a reason for that, right?" He suddenly realized that it was vital to dig up information about the Major. Because the Major was the leader here, the most imposing, oppressive figure in the entire base. If what Adjutant Han had done was carried out under his orders— Then the resistance and danger Bai Zhou would face would be ten times greater than he had imagined! Strength... "You bet!" At the mention of the Major, the burly youth gave an immediate, involuntary thumbs-up, his face glowing with animation. "Because the Major is truly beyond reproach—loyal, generous, and with a huge reputation. Whatever kind of hero comes along, they have to address him as big brother." "—Because calling him big brother gets you silver!" Saying so, he winked at Bai Zhou. Confused, Bai Zhou asked, "What do you mean?" "Look at this, and look at that." The youth pointed to the fermented mung bean milk and fried dough ring before him, then pointed to the spicy soup in front of Bai Zhou. "The cafeterias at other bases aren't free. They're expensive and taste awful, and it's take it or leave it." "—At our base, the entire cafeteria is completely free, reimbursed out of the Major's own pocket!" "His own pocket?" Such a massive cafeteria, feeding over a thousand people... paid for by one person? "You might not believe it." "Aside from essential operational subsidies, every base is actually dirt poor." The youth nodded, drained the bowl of fermented mung bean milk in one gulp, and wiped his mouth with a satisfied swipe of his hand. "—'Live frugally, endure hardships' used to be our slogan back in the day." Live frugally? You certainly live well, but there is nothing frugal about it. Bai Zhou shook his head. When they went out tearing through the streets, passersby stared so hard their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Noticing Bai Zhou's skepticism, the youth chuckled. "The Major hails from a prominent chaebol family in Tinghai City, a genuine scion of an elite lineage." "He's not short on cash." "It's only because the sir is willing to shell out money that everyone enjoys such a good life today!" "—The Major's kindness can never be repaid!" A free cafeteria, all the luxury whenever they went outside... Bai Zhou had experienced all of it. Yet he had never imagined that this was not standard organizational protocol, but something brought by the Major. No wonder almost every commissioner, not just Section Chief Liu back then, wore an expression of deep reverence whenever the Major was mentioned. When you were eating their food and taking their handouts, it was hard not to show respect! Yet... why? Bai Zhou had never believed that pies fell freely from the sky. He had never believed it before. And now, he was inclined to suspect that the pie concealed a bomb disguised as a cherry. "Essentially, anyone who isn't stingy with money inevitably has higher pursuits, and the Major is no different!" Having eaten and drunk his fill, the burly youth sprawled comfortably across the cafeteria bench, nodding knowingly. "He feels the Special Control Bureau is too rigid, and that the entire government apparatus is dreadfully inefficient." "That's no way to confront the occult. Look at the Blood Worship Cult—just a single cult, and they haven't been resolved after all this time." "So, the sir has his ideal blueprint. He wants the entire Special Control Bureau to operate under our current model." "—He wants to make the official departments great again!" Pausing briefly, he added, "To that end, he needs to rank first in performance among the Special Control Bureau's thirty-six branches so he can be promoted to a higher post." "—He can provide us with every possible support outside of work, but in return, we have to risk our lives earning merits to hoist him up." "Mutual benefit, you see." He winked at Bai Zhou. "The Major isn't my idol, but I think that's totally fair." "Having him rise to the top is better than anyone else." "—Besides, who gives out more than he does?" "That is true," Bai Zhou said with solemn respect, forced to agree with the logic. If you ate someone's food and still refused to do the work, that would be going too far. What was more, he was merely asking you to do your job well. —This sounded completely unobjectionable. Almost too spotless. —Could such an unobjectionable person truly keep someone like Adjutant Han as his right hand? Bai Zhou did not think so. Was this Major disguised so thoroughly that he had deceived everyone... Or was this chaebol scion merely ambitious beyond his depth, unknowingly undermined and hoodwinked by Adjutant Han? After all, wasn't the Major constantly busy and traveling, leaving Adjutant Han to manage things in his stead? Bai Zhou hoped for the latter, but the former was by no means impossible. He needed to observe further... At the same time, he quietly observed the man before him. This talkative fellow who loved his fermented mung bean milk and fried dough rings likely represented the views and attitudes of a good portion of the ordinary commissioners. In all probability, their sense of belonging to the organization was genuinely strong, and they truly believed from the bottom of their hearts that the Special Control Bureau was an organization standing against the occult in the shadows for the citizens of the Federation. This might at least indicate that the vast majority of commissioners had nothing to do with Adjutant Han's dealings... That allowed Bai Zhou to breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness. At least not everyone had rotted through... Distinguishing who was an enemy and who was an ally was vital to Bai Zhou right now. —He could not truly make an enemy of the entire world, could he? Clatter, squeak... The sound of an oversized cart rolling across the floor creaked and groaned, as if straining under the weight of an immense burden. Following closely behind was a series of crisp, orderly footsteps. A sudden hubbub broke out among the crowd in the cafeteria, instantly turning lively. "Adjutant Han is here!" A voice called out from somewhere, causing Bai Zhou's muscles to tense like a bristling cat. Slowly rising alongside the burly youth opposite him, he quietly looked up— "Here I am, everyone~" The effeminate voice was unmistakably distinctive, like that of a man without an Adam's apple. Flanked by several burly men in suits and still hugging his Black Cat Sheriff plush toy, Adjutant Han swept his gaze across the cafeteria and gave a nod. "Let's start handing them out to you all first. There's plenty for everyone." As he spoke, the suited brutes behind him began hauling cases off the massive cart and onto the floor. "The Major knows how hard you've been working lately." "First came Section Chief Liu's funeral, weighing heavily on your hearts, and now you must brace for the Blood Worship Cult's impending invasion, keeping your nerves frayed." "To reward everyone, and also to inspire each of you to cast aside life and death just like Section Chief Liu and fight for the Federation..." Adjutant Han winked. "The usual rule: a little something for everyone." As the words fell, the cases were opened one by one. A golden glow burst forth. One crate was packed with neat rows of gleaming gold bars. Another was crammed with thick stacks of high-denomination gift cards. Yet another was stuffed with luxury watches and car keys. Neat piles of bright red property deeds were laid out on the floor. All sorts of valuables, an assorted bounty. If you could imagine it, it was there. The most primal greed stimulated the nerves of every commissioner in the cafeteria. Heavier, raspy breaths rose and fell across the room. "Over the next few days, the base will certainly be under lockdown." "But once the lockdown is lifted, everyone gets two days off. Go out and enjoy yourselves however you like!" With a soft chuckle, Adjutant Han waved his hand. "Come on, come take them!" "Take whatever you like, as much as you want—there's more than enough!" "—This is all thanks to the kindness of the Major!" Whoosh— The crowd erupted. "Long live the Major!" "Long live Adjutant Han—" "..." Men shouted until their faces flushed red and the veins on their necks bulged. So this was why Adjutant Han was so well-liked. Who wouldn't love the God of Wealth? "Ayy~" Yet their cheers were smilingly corrected in time by Adjutant Han. "Not 'Long live Adjutant Han.'" He gently raised his new Black Cat Sheriff plush doll into the air, speaking with pious reverence: "It's: 'For the Major.'" "—'For the Federation!'" As those words landed, it was like a boulder crashing into the center of a river. Surges rippled, spirits soared. Everyone cheered and chanted along. Chants of "For the Major!" and "For the Federation!" swept through the hall in endless waves. The burly youth in front of Bai Zhou was cheering along as well. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, shoving his way into the throng before Adjutant Han, terrified of being too late to get a share. "..." Only Bai Zhou remained frozen in place, his face deathly pale. He had originally planned to pretend to be like the rest and go over to grab something too. Yet his eyes had immediately locked onto... several large open briefcases on the cart. The items in those briefcases were what everyone was dividing up. Dividing them feverishly, snatching them madly. Everyone seemed to have completely forgotten that just yesterday they had attended a sorrowful funeral; their excitement was through the roof. This was an abandoned, delirious frenzy. Judging by their practiced, uninhibited manner of grabbing the loot, one could tell this was not the first time they had participated in such an event. No wonder everyone loved the Major, and everyone praised Adjutant Han. —When someone treated them this well, they naturally held it close to heart. Of course, the temptation was indeed enormous; their behavior was only human. ...Yet Bai Zhou recognized those briefcases. Back in the Resting Cemetery, what Adjutant Han had traded for with the so-called "Human Material," with "Liu Zhen"... —Weren't they these very briefcases? Bai Zhou shuddered. Looking down at the "free" breakfast on the table, a wave of nausea suddenly surged in his stomach. At this moment, everything before his eyes seemed to turn alien and strange. Even the half-eaten steamed bun in his hand... Seemed stained with human blood. A chilling macabre shudder rushed straight to the crown of his head. The spectacle resembling demons dancing in revelry made Bai Zhou dizzy. Before this, Bai Zhou had scrutinized for so long, probing again and again... All to find out who Adjutant Han's accomplices were, and which commissioners were clean and innocent. Yet only now did he vaguely realize. In this base... Perhaps there were no truly innocent people left. Everyone... Everyone— Was "eating people"!