Chapter 120

Chapter 120

In Orlandu, on Church Avenue, to the left of the Kaogin Forest Park stood the headquarters of the Inspection Bureau.

The bureau's building was a square-shaped structure with a vast area, divided into different zones. The personnel had designated areas they were allowed to access, which could only be entered with their employee cards.

For the hundred and tenth time, Beauty Is Justice pondered why she had chosen to become a 996 office worker in the game.

It all started like this.

Recall when Black Cat's speculation on the forums led many players to bet that the Inspection Bureau would be the starting point for the main storyline of this game version. Indeed, it convinced quite a number of players to infiltrate the bureau as undercover agents.

Beauty Is Justice was one of them. Unlike most players who chose to work as investigators, she opted for an administrative role. She earnestly attempted to uncover some crucial information within.

And now, here she was, working a 996 schedule in-game, questioning her own sanity.

With a heart full of resentment, Beauty Is Justice logged onto the player forums. As usual, the forum was buzzing with new posts, especially those from veteran players sharing their daily missions in Mida. It made Beauty Is Justice's eyes turn red with envy.

Some bored players had apparently summarized the distinctive features of the three maps.

Arkham: Daily Academy Life + Hub for Major Events + Solely Recognized Headquarters of the Secret Church

Orlandu: Traditional Questing and Dungeon Crawling Hub

New Port: Cultist Simulator

In summary, the gameplay had indeed become diverse. Initially, some players joined the Bureau of Investigation merely to secure their spots for the main storyline quests. However, with the main quests delayed, players began to idly take on missions and engage in group activities out of boredom.

Beauty is Justice sighed, leaving the forum to chat in their private group.

--- Beauty is Justice enters the "Kissing My Beloved Wife and Kicking Veteran Players' Butts" group---

Beauty is Justice: Anything special happening today?

Cafeteria Lady: Today's menu in Sector A cafeteria includes creamy seafood pasta, breaded pork cutlet, cheese meat sauce baked pasta, grilled tenderloin steak, and chocolate brownies.

Security Guard: The grass is hungry.

Janitor: I'm so hungry, I'm so hungry, I'm so hungry.

Beauty is Justice: Not asking for recipes here!

Beauty is Justice couldn't help but laugh and cry. Oh, right, she had forgotten to mention that the regulars in this small group were all newbies who had chosen the Orlandu map and were also undercover agents for the Bureau of Investigation. They could easily exchange information at any time. However, over time, the group had gradually turned into a casual chat platform.

Not all players who joined the Bureau chose to be investigators. Some opted for unique roles that allowed them to stay in this location, such as those mentioned earlier.

Out of curiosity, Beauty is Justice had once asked them if they felt stifled working in the game.

Canteen Lady: Not at all. I've been dreaming of this profession for a long time, but my family strongly opposes it in reality.

Security Guard: I'm here to experience retirement life ahead of time. So far, it's not bad. Once I get fired in real life, I'll find a real security job and slack off every day.

Janitor: Let me tell you, don't underestimate cleaners. I already know the layout of every floor's toilets, and it'll definitely come in handy when the main storyline unfolds!

In short, they were all talented individuals. Whenever Beauty is Justice felt overwhelmed by her 996 work schedule, seeing these cheerful eccentrics would lift her spirits, and she'd enjoy an extra bowl of rice during canteen meals!

By the way, the Bureau of Investigation's canteen was really delicious! The game's sense of taste was incredibly realistic; one wouldn't gain weight in reality while eating in-game. Beauty is Justice always asked for a second helping.

Glancing at her wristwatch, she saw that lunch break was almost here. The moment the time arrived, she stood up promptly.

"Lotreta, oh, are you going to have lunch now?"

Just then, their superior emerged from the office, noticing Justice Is Beauty standing up. She smiled and said, "Would you mind if we join you?"

Justice Is Beauty pondered for a moment before replying, "Sure, let's go then."

The others in the office watched in astonishment as she followed their strict supervisor, Judith Fremont, the renowned Inspector, to the cafeteria.

"How have you been settling in here?"

"Mm-hmm, it's been pretty good," Justice Is Beauty replied casually, her mind wandering to the new delicacy mentioned in the group chat. "Can we go to the A-block cafeteria?"

The Audit Bureau was divided into four zones—A, B, C, and D—each requiring an employee card for access. As an intern, Justice Is Beauty's movements were restricted to Zone B.

Judith chuckled. "Interns aren't usually allowed there... But alright, let's make an exception today. We'll have lunch there for now."

As they chatted and laughed, they arrived at the cafeteria. While waiting in line, Justice Is Beauty deliberately chose the player's counter. The cafeteria lady generously scooped a large serving of cheesy meat sauce pasta onto her plate. The official employee in front, who had just received his meal, glanced doubtfully at his own portion before comparing it to Justice Is Beauty's. He approached the cafeteria lady to argue, "Hey, why does this girl have so much more than me?"

The cafeteria lady rolled her eyes and replied matter-of-factly, "You should be grateful I gave you any at all. Besides, trembling hands are a natural instinct for all cafeteria ladies."

Permanent Staff: ?

Justice Is Skin-Deep suppressed a laugh, carried the tray back to Judith's table, and acted as if he hadn't noticed the deliberate departure of the permanent staff from the area.

"How's work treating you? Are you enjoying it?" Judith asked.

Justice Is Skin-Deep frowned. "Don't talk about work during meals; it ruins the appetite."

The investigator sitting beside him gasped, staring at Justice Is Skin-Deep with a horrified expression. But what surprised him even more was that Judith didn't seem bothered by the intern's retort. Instead, she chuckled and said, "You're right. I won't then."

Investigator: ...

He put down his cutlery and discreetly joined a group chat for investigators. While Judith wasn't looking, he snapped a blurry picture of her back.

On Business Today: What's going on? That new intern and Inspector Fremont – I've never seen her so friendly.

Bonus: Does she have connections?

Saving for Retirement: Doubt it. If she did, we would've heard about it by now. She's just an intern.

Surrendering their phones: How peculiar. It was the first time I've seen Fremont, an Inspector, dine with someone on a personal level.

Inspectors, belonging to the higher-ups of the Investigative Department, were responsible for overseeing investigators after they completed their missions. They assessed if any misconduct occurred during the mission, the severity of the violation, whether psychological counseling was needed, and the duration of isolation, among other tasks.

Consequently, few investigators had a fondness for Inspectors. Imagine surviving a life-threatening mission only to be greeted not with comfort or rewards but a cold interrogation from the Inspectors. Rather than treating them as heroes, they were viewed as ticking time bombs in society. It was unbearable for anyone.

Though everyone understood that Inspectors were just following orders, like any other worker, they instinctively kept their distance.

That's why the investigators listening in were so astonished when an intern dared to sit and eat with Fremont, seemingly oblivious to the office gossip and status differences.

Justice by Face didn't know she'd gained a reputation among the investigator NPCs, nor did she care. After all, it was just a game. Could she really expect to tremble before her superiors like a real employee? Impossible!

Judith, noticing Justice by Face was almost done eating, asked, "Aren't you curious why I said today is an exception?"

Swallowing the last bite of her tender steak, Justice by Face casually replied, "Why?"

"Because today is your official conversion day," Judith said, handing her a document. "If you choose to stay, would you be interested in starting as my assistant?"

A sharp cough came from a nearby investigator. Justice by Face took the conversion contract, surprised. "Me?"

"Yes," Judith said, her gaze filled with admiration as she looked at Justice Is Beauty. She had first noticed the girl when she publicly confronted a supervisor and exposed his embezzlement of company funds to maintain an affair, all in a sarcastic tone. Naturally, the supervisor was transferred, and there were plans to dismiss the intern as well. However, Judith intervened and kept Justice Is Beauty, seeing a younger version of herself in the girl.

Both were principled, unyielding, and not very adaptable. Moreover, the fact that Justice Is Beauty had uncovered the supervisor's misconduct (which was actually found by a cleaner in the restroom trash bin) demonstrated her sharpness and resourcefulness.

Unfortunately, Justice Is Beauty had no interest in becoming an investigator, but Judith still intended to groom her for a more prominent role.

Justice Is Beauty blinked. Had she just been promoted?

"Great, thank you, Sister Judith."

"Judith?" Judith was taken aback.

"Um, I think that name sounds cuter. My apologies, Ms. Fremont."

"No, you can call me Judith." Judith pondered the name, not quite understanding its charm, but glad to foster a good relationship with Justice Is Beauty.

"Finish your meal and leave. Let's do the medical checkup today, so we can finalize your regularization process tomorrow."

"Absolutely no problem."

Walking side by side out of the restaurant, Justice Is in the Face eagerly shared the news in the group chat.

Justice Is in the Face: Hey guys, I've made it! Starting today, I'm an official assistant! No more menial tasks for me!

Cafeteria Lady: Congratulations! It seems the workplace reforms are paying off. That made me laugh.

Janitor: You got promoted with that attitude? That's a miracle.

Justice Is in the Face: Hehe, thanks to the janitor's help last time, I was able to find leverage on that manager.

Justice Is in the Face: My next step after getting promoted is to go to the internal hospital for a checkup, just as you all predicted. And Ms. Judith will be accompanying me.

Janitor: The internal hospital, huh? Perfect. I've long suspected something fishy going on there. In the cleaning staff group I infiltrated, we also discussed issues with the hospital. This could be worth investigating. Maybe it's time we started taking action.

Cafeteria Lady: Finally...!

Security Guard: About time! I was starting to think this was really just a security guard simulator game.

Security Guard: What should we do then?

Janitor: The key is 'Beauty is Justice'. We need access to the top floor of the hospital. Judith holds a high position in the Audit Bureau, her clearance should be enough. I recall your 'Skillful Touch' is quite impressive, right?

Beauty is Justice: Mmm... I see.

Janitor: Alright, I'll support you. When you find any clues, remember to share them with us.

Beauty is Justice: No problem at all!

Beauty is Justice's original intention remains unchanged. She climbed the ranks and earned promotions in the Audit Bureau precisely to uncover leads.

According to the information the Janitor has gathered, entry into the inner hospital isn't easy, and this may be the only chance.

She will surely succeed in finding leverage against the Audit Bureau, unlocking the main storyline, and earning a substantial reward. Then, with a large contribution, she can join the Secret Church and surpass the old players in Lane's esteem in one fell swoop.

After that, she'll get to meet her beloved Lane wife!

Mmm, judging from her player ID, Beauty is Justice is a pure beauty worshipper. Whoever looks the best, she supports, having had countless virtual husbands and wives during her time in the entertainment industry. But currently, her favorite is Lane from "Fates Reversal."

The Audit Bureau had its own hospital, situated right beside the main building. There was no need to leave the premises; one could simply use an internal passage to reach it. Halfway there, they encountered a man with brown hair who seemed to be engaged in a serious phone conversation.

"Director... um, still nothing..."

Spotting Judith approaching, the man paused his conversation, holding the phone to his ear with a forced smile. "Isn't this Inspector Fremont?"

"Secretary Kurt..." Judith's eyes narrowed. "Is there something you need?"

"Not really," Kurt replied with a fake smile. "I just heard that our people are under your investigation. That doesn't seem quite proper, does it?"

The Inspectorate typically oversees investigators, whereas the Secretariat is an autonomous unit, separate from the entire auditing system and directly under the Director's jurisdiction. Few are privy to their exact duties, except that they act in accordance with the Director's directives.

"During previous internal meetings, it was mentioned that the Secretariat's responsibilities should be clarified," Judith stood her ground against Kurt, "and your people have committed multiple severe violations, including intimidating innocent civilians, arson, and suspected murder. Many investigators have reported these incidents to me."

"Your words echo back to you," Kurt replied coldly, his snake-like gaze sweeping over Justice Is Beauty, who followed Judith. Unaccustomed to such treatment, Justice Is Beauty stared right back at him.

"…" Kurt, clearly unused to such audacity from an intern, was left speechless and simply walked past them both.

Judith couldn't help but laugh as she patted Justice Is Beauty on the shoulder, "Well done, don't be intimidated by him."

Justice Is Skin-Deep was perplexed. "What's there to be afraid of?"

He thought he was already showing remarkable restraint by not rushing forward with his weapon drawn.

After the main storyline and the recently concluded dungeon, everyone knew that the Chief Inspector was no saint, and that the Inspection Bureau was plagued with issues. Not drawing weapons was the greatest show of respect players could offer.

Judith, however, seemed to interpret Justice Is Skin-Deep's behavior as naive courage. She watched Kurt's retreating back with a gleam in her eyes.

Was Kurt on the phone with that mysterious Chief Inspector just now?

Meanwhile, after walking a short distance, Kurt turned off his mute button.

"Still can't get through to the Chief? What's going on over there? It's not even the usual time for him to be asleep, is it?"

"I have no idea," said the voice on the other end, filled with panic and unease. "This has never happened before. The Chief would never vanish without a word... Sir, what should we do?"

Kurt took a deep breath. "Calm down. We need to be extra vigilant in the Chief's absence. Under no circumstances can we let outsiders find out about his situation. Business as usual for daily operations, but step up the patrols underground. We can't afford to have anyone disturbing the Chief."

"Understood."

...

On the other side, Justice Is Beauty had already arrived at the internal hospital within the bureau with Judith. The array of high-end equipment inside was dazzling. "The interns have already undergone physical examinations during their onboarding. Now, we just need to add a mental health check. Don't worry, as long as you don't have antisocial personality disorder or any severe mental issues, you'll generally pass."

Judith seemed familiar with the place and led Justice Is Beauty into the psychiatric treatment area. Before entering, Justice Is Beauty glanced at the slogan posted outside out of curiosity.

'Preserve Your Sanity, Maintain Your Humanity'

The psychiatric treatment area didn't seem much different from an ordinary mental institution, except for its more advanced facilities and colder decor. Moreover, it was crowded with patients. Justice Is Beauty noticed that almost all the inpatient rooms were occupied.

"Are all these people investigators from the bureau?" Justice Is Beauty couldn't help asking.

A hint of awkwardness flashed across Judith's face. "Well, sort of. You should've seen this clause in your contract when you joined the bureau. If you encounter any psychological issues during work, you'll receive free inpatient treatment, diagnosis, examination, medication, and surgeries. Since they're all free, quite a few investigators without any actual issues tend to stay here after missions, and there are even psychiatrists to chat with daily."

"You'll end up here sooner or later anyway. Might as well come early and grab your preferred bed."

A voice interrupted their conversation. Judith looked up at a golden-haired head peering over the railing on the third floor, her expression helpless. "Bill, don't scare the newcomer."

Bill chuckled. "This isn't scaring, it's a maxim here, my dear Inspector Judith. Oh, is this the new recruit? So adorable! Would you like to open a bed next to me? The room next to mine has an excellent location; sunlight streams in through the window every morning."

Beauty is Justice assumed this person was the one Judith mentioned, who often exploited free psychological counseling. Just as she was about to respond, Judith placed her hand on Beauty is Justice's shoulder and looked up at Bill, saying, "I won't allow my staff to stay here anymore."

Bill fell silent. He gazed into Judith's eyes for a prolonged moment before she lowered her head and led Beauty is Justice briskly inside the building.

The moment they entered, Judith released Beauty is Justice's shoulder and pointed at the consultation room in front of her. "Wait here for a bit. The doctor should be arriving soon. Don't wander into other areas, especially not above the third floor. I have something to attend to, but I'll come back for you shortly."

"Okay," Beauty is Justice answered obediently, raising her paw to bid Judith farewell. The young girl's well-behaved demeanor made Judith unable to resist ruffling her hair before she turned and left.

The instant Judith was out of sight, Beauty is Justice's expression changed. With a clear objective in mind, she headed for the elevator. A cleaner dressed in uniform walked towards the same direction. "Excuse me."

After exchanging glances, Beauty is Justice decisively followed the cleaner. The cleaner led her to a blind spot without surveillance, removed their cap, and asked, "Did you get it?"

Beauty is Justice nodded and took out an ID card from her chest pocket. It read 'Judith.' "Fortunately, I managed to tap my way to level 40."

The cleaner chuckled and produced another set of cleaner's clothes and a Bluetooth device from their own pocket. "Here, keep this. I'll monitor the area. If anything happens here, you need to come down immediately."

"Got it."

Beauty is Justice swiftly changed her clothes, her face glowing with excitement. "This feels like being a spy."

"Be confident, we're spies for the Secret Church," the janitor escorted Justice Is Beauty to the staff elevator. "Go on, explore from top to bottom. Start with the highest level – I suspect that's where the most secrets lie. You'll need an ID card to access it, and neither of us has the clearance. The elevator won't take you straight there. Remember to get out at the ninth floor and take the stairs."

"Understood."

Justice Is Beauty nodded, and once she was dressed and inside the elevator, the janitor kept a watchful eye around them.

Following the janitor's instructions, Justice Is Beauty alighted at the ninth floor and found the staircase. As he said, an ID card was required to reach the top floor, and fortunately, Judith's credentials were sufficient.

The corridor on the tenth floor was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the floors below. Justice Is Beauty pushed down her hat brim and, after emerging from the stairwell, surveyed her surroundings warily.

Surrounded by emptiness, perhaps owing to it being lunch hour, Yan Jiushi activated screen recording, capturing every detail on this floor.

This place seemed more like an experimental zone than a psychiatric clinic. Justice saw no patients here, and her fear of a monster suddenly popping out made her movements cautious and slow as she approached the nearest room.

It resembled an ICU, with a person lying in the center of the room, hooked up to an intricate web of medical equipment. Beauty was Justice even spotted what seemed to be an array-like structure among them.

Before she could examine it closely, the figure on the bed in the middle suddenly stirred, turning its head toward the direction of Justice Is in the Face. She was startled by the sudden movement.

Assuming my cover was surely blown, but to my surprise, upon witnessing the allure of the person outside the hospital room, there was still no reaction from them.

"Intelligence Check: Great Success"

"You observe him hooked up to an intricate web of machines, his skin pale and his eyes dry, suggesting he's been here for quite some time. A label reads 'KN108' by his bedside."

"Inspiration Check: Success"

Justice of Appearance's vision blurs momentarily. She catches a vague glimpse of a crimson tube connected to the person on the bed. The tube appears to be alive, pulsating like a vein within a body. She can vividly see the red clot and the twitching muscles. As she stares too long, the tube trembles and detaches itself from the patient's body, seemingly of its own accord.

The tube, no, it can't be called a tube, for none have rows upon rows of fang-like orifices with no other discernible organs. It seems to have developed an interest in her, severing its connection to the patient and moving closer to Justice of Appearance.