Chapter 40: A Special Reward

Just as the investigators were finishing their conversation with the two young people who had experienced the extraordinary event, an official car pulled up directly in front of the entrance of the Investigation Branch. The fourth participant of this talk arrived right as the previous topic came to a close, a familiar face to everyone present.

He was a middle-aged man with a square face and a distinct mole on his upper lip: Wang Shuokang, Director of the Records and Management Department at the Municipal Research Bureau.

Upon learning that the anomalous capture at Housing Estate No. 13 was directly related to Rodi, he had decisively rushed over.

As Director Wang took his seat, the focal point of the conversation naturally shifted toward him.

"Ge Wenzhu, is your questioning here finished?"

"Please go ahead, Director Wang."

"Ahem, then I will get straight to the point. It seems my assessment was correct: someone among you is extremely special, possessing a constitution that easily triggers 'accidents.'

To encounter another accident merely half a year later, and with the entity being a basically mature mimic at that, it proves that giving you the 'Marginalization Item' in advance was the right choice."

The class monitor asked with curiosity, "Besides us, are there others like us who are prone to encountering accidents?"

"There are dozens of similar cases across the country. Some individuals are even more extreme than you, encountering such incidents once or twice a month.

Of course, this characteristic has not yet been formally defined, and in some other research bureaus, it is merely attributed to coincidence given the large population base.

There is some logic to their view; according to statistics, the frequency of [Psychological Corners] appearing is increasing year by year, the number of mimics is constantly growing, and the probability of ordinary people encountering extraordinary events will only become higher.

In any case, the two of you should try your best to stick strictly to the path between school and home for the rest of the year. I hope you can successfully complete your entrance examinations."

Continuing along the topic of psychological corners, the class monitor asked, "Has the reason behind the formation of the 'Thought Corner' in Ms. Wu Huazhen—the entity we encountered—been found?"

Director Wang tapped his wristband; he had received the "Mimic File" sent from the Research Bureau just two minutes prior.

"Ms. Wu Huazhen had been living alone for over a decade after both her parents passed away. During this time, she had pursued romantic relationships with the opposite sex, but all of them were rejected.

As time went on, she began to doubt her own 'appearance.' Combined with malnutrition and endocrine disorders that led to hair loss, she fell deeper and deeper into self-doubt.

However, she was quite skilled at disguising herself, appearing completely normal in the eyes of others.

Gradually, she began to reduce the number of times she went out and holed herself up for long periods.

She would often sit alone in her empty home, staring blankly into space. Lacking proper hygiene habits, she attracted flies and spiders, eventually developing arachnophobia herself.

Her disdain—even complete disgust—toward her own 'appearance,' her jealousy and longing for beautiful young girls, and her obsession with a lover's wedding—

The accumulation and fermentation of these emotions ultimately gave birth to a corner within her thoughts, allowing her to live as a mimic for precisely one year and five days."

"A full year!"

"Correct, and her hands had already been stained with human blood, bringing her very close to being [Mature]. She is an excellent subject for research, and subsequently, both of our bureaus will provide you with substantial rewards.

To survive against a thing like this is a testament to both of your exceptional abilities. This experience will be clearly documented in your files."

Rodi, however, was not interested in the true nature of mimics. Or rather, through last night's ordeal, he had already roughly deduced the reason behind the formation of the entity's corner.

He was much more concerned with the so-called rewards. Director Wang seemed to see right through his thoughts and immediately spoke up:

"Rodi, being able to skillfully wield a 'Marginalization Item' while still a student, and even confronting a genuine mimic head-on, already makes you exceptionally talented.

If I were to reward you with another Marginalization Item, it would very likely exceed your capacity to handle it.

Considering your family situation, I can apply to grant you a generous financial reward and a housing quota.

Although you will most likely leave the residential complex where you currently live once you advance in your education, I still advise you to move away from there right now. After all, this is already the 'second' extraordinary event to happen in your complex, isn't it?"

"The second?" The class monitor was startled. Rodi hadn't mentioned this to her before, though she immediately recalled that the occupancy rate of Housing Estate No. 13 was indeed very low.

Rodi's reply, however, was unyielding: "My family and I have already discussed it. With only one semester left, moving now would involve too many complications and inevitably affect my studies. I will move out after I graduate."

Director Wang stared at Rodi, suddenly thinking of something.

"In that case, I have one more special reward option. During last night's event, you slashed Wu Huazhen with your weapon, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Take it out and let's have a look. Perhaps it has undergone some changes; after all, a zombie's traits are not limited to hardening alone—there is also another vital trait: [Blood Sucking].

Allowing it to taste high-value blood of its own kind might trigger a special reaction."

Hearing this, Rodi instantly perked up, the last vestiges of his sleepiness forcibly suppressed.

From the end of the incident until now, he hadn't had the chance to inspect the zombie blade.

Untying the shroud,

Rodi paused for a moment himself.

He knew this blade better than anyone else: the originally lifeless blade body had now become somewhat active, with several of its nerve pathways even pulsing faintly.

"As expected, after tasting the blood of a mimic with a longer lifespan, it has become even more bloodthirsty.

How about this! I'll make the decision for you right now. When the Research Bureau processes Wu Huazhen, we will extract the cranial cavity blood that flowed through her pituitary gland.

This blood will be stored separately to feed this blade of yours."

"How much will there be?"

"At most 100ml, and you will need to come to the Research Bureau in person to let it absorb the blood right before our eyes... The reason is simple: blood-sucking increases the risks for you as its wielder, and we must ensure you can still control this blade.

You'll receive a call within five days.

Does that satisfy you regarding the reward?"

"Thank you."

Ge Wenzhu, the investigator standing nearby, was well aware of the dangers of such an approach, let alone the fact that the recipient was merely a high school student.

Yet, upon seeing the expression on Director Wang's face, he swallowed back the words he had intended to say.

"Then what is my reward?" the class monitor asked impatiently.

Director Wang didn't seem as interested in Wu Wen. "Your reward can follow the standard procedures of the Investigation Bureau.

I'm sure the reward won't be shabby, right, Wenzhu?"

Without a word, Ge Wenzhu placed a red-header document flat onto the table.

《Assistance Reward for the Capture of 'Wu Huazhen (Anomalous)'》

Due to your significant contribution during the capture process, you may choose one of the following rewards:

1. An internship opportunity at the Jupiter Investigation Branch upon normal graduation.
2. 8 million rubles in assistance funds.
3. A set of basic investigator combat gear (simplified version).

The class monitor had assumed there wouldn't be anything particularly good, but upon reading the text, she decisively placed her finger on the number [3].

"Can you really give me something like this?"

Ge Wenzhu nodded. "Since it is written in black and white, it will certainly be given to you. This decision is made in light of your outstanding performance, and naturally, we also hope you will actively participate in the investigator screening process in the future."

"Great, I'll consider it~ By the way, when can I pick up this suit?"

"It will be custom-made based on your physical examination information from this morning. Our bureau will send someone to deliver it directly to your hands later.

The custom-making process will take anywhere from 3 to 5 days. Upon delivery, a specialist will also explain the wearing requirements and basic functions of the clothing in detail."

"That's wonderful!" The class monitor raised both hands high, as if celebrating some form of victory.

Director Wang raised a hand to signal, "Alright~ Both of you have worked very hard. There will be a dedicated vehicle at the door to take you home safely. Get some rest."

With the departure of the young people, the two adults initiated a private conversation.

"What do you think, Wenzhu? The young talent our Research Bureau set our eyes on in advance is quite something, isn't he? To survive under such circumstances and even inflict a certain degree of injury on a mimic of this level is unprecedented.

We hope you can help keep this kind of genius confidential; otherwise, the higher-ups might step in and poach them directly.

In my view, making his information public only when this fellow reaches adulthood is the best course of action for both us and him."

"Does Director Wang mean that the written description of this person should be downplayed in the incident report?"

Director Wang quickly raised a hand. "I never said that~ I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. After all, this is a matter for your Investigation Bureau."

Ge Wenzhu naturally understood Rodi's potential; he also wanted to secure such talent for the Municipal Bureau.

"By the way~ Director Wang, which of them do you think is the individual prone to triggering 'accidents'?"

Director Wang did not answer verbally. Instead, he pulled a detailed personal file from the briefcase he carried with him and placed it flat upon the table.

As Ge Wenzhu picked up the file and began to examine it, his pupils gradually widened.

"This..."

Director Wang simply raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.