As more information was leaked, the captain's face grew paler and his body began to tremble slightly, as if enduring immense pain. Wisps of black mist surged from his body, resisting the chain-like patterns continuously appearing on his neck.
Yue Shi knew exactly what was happening. This wasn't his first time dealing with Lab 0. This was clearly a curse—leaking information had triggered its effects.
The kind Yue Shi couldn't bear to see him suffer such torture; he was determined to grant him a release.
“Answer one more question. What is the specific date of Su Yuanhe's departure?”
“How could I possibly have the clearance to know that!”
The captain looked to be on the verge of a breakdown. His ability was the manipulation of black mist, which had the effect of suppressing and isolating mental contamination. It could also suppress curses to a certain extent.
He had personally used this mist to trap Subject 017 earlier, and now he was doing his best to combat the curse placed upon him by the Curse Master.
“Do you really not know?” Yue Shi asked again.
“I really don't.” The captain was spiraling. He shouldn't have revealed everything just because of a simple threat; he wasn't usually so spineless. But today, for some reason, his psychological defenses had been easily breached, and he had been led by the nose.
He was clear-headed now and realized the other party likely possessed some form of mental interference ability.
However, it was already too late.
“You've lost your value. Get ready to be on your way,” Yue Shi said.
The captain closed his eyes, a single tear rolling down his cheek. “You promised... you wouldn't torture me.”
“Of course, I always keep my word.” Yue Shi's tone was tinged with a hint of joy. “Seeing how cooperative you've been, I've even felt a bit of compassion. I want to let you live.”
“You're willing to let us go?!” The captain snapped his eyes open, a glimmer of hope shining within them.
“It's impossible to just let you go that easily. A painless death or living on the edge of death after I teach you a lesson—which do you choose?”
“Living, of course!”
“Good!” The smile on Yue Shi's face grew increasingly exaggerated.
Half an hour later...
A delicious fragrance suddenly wafted through a street in the Chaos Zone. The scent was incredibly enticing, and countless starving vagrants began to gather toward its source.
Eventually, they discovered a roasted whole sheep in an abandoned building.
One sheep was skewered on a massive grill, cooked to perfection, the air thick with the smell of meat and spices.
The other two 'sheep' had been stripped bare, their limbs broken, their tongues removed, and their bodies drenched in sauce.
The vagrants drawn by the scent hadn't had a full meal or tasted meat in years. Their eyes turned green with hunger. The aroma was like a tempting devil, quickly eroding any hesitation in their hearts.
Once the first person started eating, more followed suit. If they missed this feast, who knew when they would eat their fill again?
One sheep was clearly not enough to go around. Looking at the other two sheep that were still alive, the vagrants hesitated for a moment. But these two sheep had been intentionally drenched in sauce and smelled heavenly. Moreover, their skin was fair and tender—they looked delicious.
Eventually, the two sheep were hoisted onto the grill by the vagrants, tears streaming from their eyes.
Agonizing, gut-wrenching, a fate worse than death.
The ravens perched on a nearby withered branch watched until the three sheep were devoured until nothing remained. Only then did they flap their wings and depart.
When Yue Shi left, the captain and Xiao Zhang were still alive, merely suffering from some injuries. He considered this fulfilling his promise to let them live.
As for what happened afterward?
What did that have to do with him?
It had been quite a hassle to find spices, start a fire, and build a makeshift grill in the Chaos Zone. Fortunately, not a single bit was wasted; the vagrants had enjoyed a hearty meal.
“I really am a kind boy.”
The sun had already set, and the crescent moon was slowly rising. Yue Shi cheerfully made his way back toward Amber City. As the dim moonlight bathed him, countless creative ideas for tormenting people surged through his mind.
Vrrr—
The vibration of his phone interrupted Yue Shi's bloody fantasies.
It was a message from Ling Xun. He had already sent several messages asking about the containment status of The Reveler and reminding Yue Shi to stay safe.
However, Yue Shi had been so immersed in the art of barbecue at the time that he hadn't replied.
“Containment of The Reveler failed. The members of the unknown organization were completely wiped out, with no survivors. The only good news is that The Reveler's path was forcibly changed. It has now gone deep into the Chaos Zone and likely won't pass through the city again,” Yue Shi typed and sent.
Ling Xun replied almost instantly: “Are you hurt?”
Yue Shi: “I'm fine. I'll be back later.”
Ling Xun sent a Shiba Inu sticker.
After walking leisurely for a long time, Yue Shi found the Investigation Bureau car parked by the roadside. Two men who had had their eyes pecked out by ravens lay on the ground nearby. Their faces and bodies were covered in scratches of varying depths, and they had bled out completely.
Petty thieves even dared to touch an Investigation Bureau vehicle. Fortunately, Yue Shi had left the ravens to guard it. After two were brutally killed, the others didn't dare approach.
By the time he drove back to the Investigation Bureau, most people had already finished work, with only the night-shift colleagues still at their posts.
Ling Xun was waiting for Yue Shi in the office. The two shared a brief exchange about the situation. Yue Shi had already prepared his story on the way back, mixing eighty percent truth with twenty percent lies.
After listening to Yue Shi's description, Ling Xun couldn't help but sigh. “The members of that unknown organization can be said to have benefited Amber City. Since I don't know their identity, I can only thank them in my heart. This crisis is officially over for now. Remember to write a report and give it to me tomorrow.”
Yue Shi waved his hand. “No need for tomorrow. I can get it done now.”
With that, he sat at the computer, opened a document, and his fingers flew across the keyboard. Like a slick veteran slacker, he quickly edited a standard, formulaic report at a mind-boggling speed.
After saving the electronic document, he started the printer, printed a hard copy, and handed it to Ling Xun.
Ling Xun took the report, stunned, momentarily unsure of what to say. When he looked down at the content, he was even more speechless.
The entire report made no mention of that unknown organization. It only stated that under the unremitting efforts of the entire Investigation Bureau, a crisis was nipped in the bud. It claimed the Amber City Investigation Bureau would serve the citizens more diligently in the future, giving their all to protect the lives and property of the public.
After a long silence, Ling Xun finally squeezed out one sentence: “Nicely written.”
Yue Shi smiled. The atmosphere at the Amber City Investigation Bureau was indeed quite lax, but he actually liked it. He just wasn't sure if the Bureau headquarters was the same way.
Rate on N.U.
