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Chapter 19: Don't Ask, It's an Explosion (Part 2)
Chapter 19: Don't Ask, It's an Explosion (Part 2)
"Hmm... Indeed, it was just an accident."
Looking at Wen Yan comforting her sister and seeing the noticeable improvement in her complexion, Lyon felt a slight relief from the burden on his mind. He smiled and agreed.
...
Indeed, the previous day's incident involving an Out-of-Control Infector that affected three to four to five hundred people had become an accidental explosion after Lyon shot and killed the "culprit," and Senior Emma submitted the incident report.
According to the Red-Haired Director, an incredibly high-ranked anomalous creature was hidden beneath the headquarters of the Virgin Cleanup Bureau.
Once the bureau's employees completed their cleanup tasks and submitted their reports, the rules of this anomalous creature would activate, rewriting the memories of most of those involved. This incident, for instance, was altered to appear as a gas explosion.
In Anna's memory, the gas pipeline in the hospital ruptured first, causing the initial explosion. This blast coincidentally shattered the storage room containing anesthetics, which quickly spread through the ventilation system, affecting hundreds of patients and medical staff.
The second explosion occurred on the sixth floor, where the Headmaster's Office was located, and the fourth floor, where the Intensive Care Unit was situated. The director of the Red Brick Road Hospital was killed instantly, and the ICU, where Anna was located, was left in ruins.
Fortunately, Anna had smelled the leaking gas and acted quickly, leading two nurses to safety by climbing out the window. She narrowly escaped with her life, but not without sustaining leg injuries from the falling shattered glass. One of the nurses suffered severe injuries, with multiple joint dislocations all over her body.
Just as the third explosion was about to occur, Lyon, who had come to visit her, arrived with his colleagues and managed to shut off the gas valve, preventing a more significant disaster and saving the lives of the hundreds of people in the hospital.
...
Indeed, this supposedly extraordinary anomalous creature, while "fabricating" the story to cover up the incident, even considered the mental well-being of the bureau's employees. It specifically left Lyon and his colleague's "accomplishments" intact, ensuring they received the respect they deserved for saving lives.
Even more bizarrely, to facilitate the bureau's reporting to higher authorities, the creature went as far as implanting memories in the victims, making them believe that the bureau had previously sent investigators to the Red Brick Road Hospital due to complaints of overcharging. This not only showcased its thoughtfulness and human understanding but also a slight lack of shame.
Upon hearing such an absurd operation, Lyon, understanding the difference between "procedures" and "artificial intelligence," instinctively questioned the anomalous creature. Its ability to be so "flexible" clearly indicated its own intelligence, and Lyon felt there was something amiss, that it wasn't merely following rules.
However, Lyon received a response from the Red-Haired Director, confirming that the creature indeed had a mind of its own, or rather, it was a mind itself.
This high-ranked anomalous creature capable of distorting memories was originally a Demon God who had descended without proper preparation and was captured alive. After the bureau eliminated it, they discovered its exceptional memory-altering abilities. They decided to extract its brain and place it within an anomalous object called the Illusion Amphora, creating a specialized anomaly for wrapping up large-scale incidents.
However, due to the extreme danger of its ability to modify group memories, strict conditions were set for its use. It required the approval of over half of the twelve directors to activate, and it could only be used in extremely dangerous situations. The rest of the time, it remained hidden underground, operating on its own.
...
So, what exactly constituted an "extremely dangerous" situation? Or to put it more bluntly, would an attack on the Virgin Cleanup Bureau be considered extremely dangerous?
As the Red-Haired Director spoke, Lyon almost instantly understood the definition of "danger" and resolved a significant doubt—why would the nations of this world allow the existence and cooperation with an organization like the Virgin Cleanup Bureau? It seemed they had no choice but to cooperate! After all, this memory-altering Demon God's brain alone was enough to make any ambitious kingdom envious, and who knew what other bizarre objects the bureau might be hiding given its unknown historical length?
And through this message, Leon had indirectly learned of the immense power of the Cleanup Bureau, leaving him with the certainty that he would be tied to this mysterious organization for the rest of his life.
Standing at the forefront of humanity's defense, having access to the world's secrets, and possessing abilities far beyond ordinary people—these factors alone made it hard for him to refuse, not to mention the Bureau's high pay, excellent benefits, and its status as a formal organization within the kingdom.
Especially the issue of formal employment, Leon had heard that in the capital's dating market, those with official positions were highly sought after, regardless of gender.
Hiss... Hold on, didn't I prepare to be single for life? Why am I suddenly thinking about dating? Could it be that I've been stimulated by something today? Or, as Black Sheep said, have I reached an age where I'm feeling restless?
"Bro? Bro! What's wrong?"
After calling out to Leon several times without a response, Anna, who was holding a bowl of fish soup and sipping it delicately, blinked in confusion.
Leon's expression alternated between solemn seriousness and a slightly embarrassed smile. The frail young girl thought for a moment, then placed the creamy white fish soup back on the bedside table. She raised her right hand to cover her lips, which were glistening with oil, and coughed softly, her voice barely audible.
"Hmm?"
Hearing the suppressed cough that had been a constant companion for the past two years, Leon reacted instinctively, instantly snapping out of his wandering thoughts.
He quickly turned his attention to the girl on the bed. Seeing that Anna had only coughed once, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he reached for the soup bowl on the nightstand and, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, "I was just thinking about work-related matters and didn't pay attention to you... Did you just cough? Did you choke? Should I feed you instead?"
"No... Hmm..."
Upon hearing the cough, Leon immediately looked over. The frail girl's eyes warmed slightly, and she shook her head, about to say that she hadn't choked. But seeing the spoon already at her lips, she decided not to refuse.
She leaned on Leon's arm and propped herself up, leaning back against the cushion he had brought. The frail girl rested against the headboard and began to sip the fish soup that Leon fed her.
For some reason, although she had just drunk most of the soup by herself, she now found herself gently coughing every now and then. With Leon's concerned inquiries, she smiled faintly, shook her head, and then slightly parted her moist lips, contentedly awaiting the next spoonful of soup...
Mom and Dad, are you still watching over me?
If you can, I hope you'll make this bowl of soup last a little longer, so that my brother can stay with me for a while longer. But not too much longer, just a few more spoonfuls...
"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound of knuckles tapping on the glass interrupted the frail girl's prayer.
The two in the hospital room turned towards the sound and were surprised to find a girl with red eyes standing outside the door.
The young girl, with her doll-like face, seemed to be around the same age as them, probably sixteen or seventeen. She wore a mature-looking suit and skirt, and a delicate nameplate hung from her chest.
Judging by her appearance, she seemed to have already started working, perhaps even for several years. But for some reason, she exuded a sense of awkwardness, as if she wasn't quite used to this outfit.
"I'm from the gas company. I was the one who signed off on the inspection of the hospital's pipelines. I... I'm so sorry!"
After receiving permission from Leon and Anna, the girl with slightly swollen eyes cautiously pushed the door open and entered. Without saying a word, she immediately bowed at a ninety-degree angle towards Leon, her eyes welling up as she spoke:
"This whole incident is my fault!
If I had been stricter during the inspection, perhaps the pipeline wouldn't have exploded, and your wife wouldn't have been injured from the fall! Rest assured, I will provide compensation that will satisfy you!"
(End of Chapter)
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