Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 3 – Special Circumstances
“Hurry, hurry, hurry! Get the spiritual energy detector ready! Director Hua… Hua Qiling is bringing ‘Pale’ over soon!”
“What? You haven’t used it in so long you’re not sure about its accuracy? What’s the margin of error… Less than average? Is that supposed to be a reassuring answer?”
“Actually, we can use multiple detectors simultaneously to minimize the error, it’s just… it’s…”
“It’s what?”
“It’s rather energy-intensive…”
“Go prepare it!” A near-roar echoed, then he turned to another person. “Is the suppressor assembled yet?”
“Boss, are you sure we need this? This is used to restrain ‘Ruin’ level mutated monsters…”
“Of course! If we had a device to restrain ‘Peril’ level monsters, we wouldn’t be using this damn thing!”
“Boss, you misunderstand. I mean, isn’t this a bit… cruel?” The underling assembling the suppressor muttered. “Miss ‘Pale’ isn’t a ‘Ruin’ level Calamity Infected, is she…?”
Luo Yan had briefly appeared in public when she arrived in Yan City but was quickly settled in the apartment.
Nominally, she was free to move about, but in reality, she was constantly monitored… However, since Luo Yan rarely left the apartment, spending her days watching the wind, rain, and sun, the surveillance wasn’t really necessary.
Although the “Peril” level disaster had a significant impact on Yan City, few knew the true details.
Besides the higher-ups, only the Disaster Response Department, responsible for handling disasters, and the Apprehension Department, involved due to the Dawn members, knew the specifics. Other departments only had a vague understanding.
Therefore, the members of the Oversight Department, responsible for assessing and handling “Calamity Infected,” had little understanding of why “Pale” was considered dangerous.
The middle-aged man, addressed as “Boss,” crossed his arms, sneered, and kicked the talkative underling.
“So much nonsense! Just do your job and stop blabbering!”
“Okay.”
The underling rubbed his head, his face full of grievance, and continued working.
The boss turned away and muttered,
“Sometimes, appearances can be deceiving… This Miss ‘Pale’… isn’t simple…
“She’s far more dangerous than a ‘Ruin’ level monster.”
The boss could only hint at this. He had been ordered to maintain secrecy and couldn’t reveal too much.
The laboratory was filled with a tense, busy atmosphere. After all, it had been years since Yan City had experienced such an event, and the Oversight Department’s functions had rarely been utilized.
After the Oversight Department’s nervous preparations were complete, Hua Qiling brought Luo Yan to the laboratory.
Hua Qiling, in her combat attire and high ponytail, strode into the lab, her casual greeting breaking the serious atmosphere.
“Old Nie, are you in?”
The boss—Old Nie—twitched his brow, suppressing his annoyance.
“Director Hua Qiling, this is a formal occasion. Please use my formal title… show me some respect.”
Hua Qiling looked at Old Nie strangely. “Respect? You?”
“…Just pretend I have some.”
“Fine,” Hua Qiling didn’t bother arguing and carefully led a petite figure into the laboratory. “This is Miss Luo Yan.”
Old Nie’s breathing quickened slightly, his gaze shifting to the figure beside Hua Qiling. The other Oversight Department members also looked on curiously.
Luo Yan was still wearing her simple gray dress from the town, and as instructed by Hua Qiling, she had lowered the brim of her hat, concealing most of her striking features.
Therefore, the “Pale” they saw seemed like an ordinary village girl.
“Hello, everyone.”
Luo Yan curtsied slightly and greeted them softly.
Her voice was pleasant, but ordinary.
Through the thin veil, they could vaguely see that she was beautiful, but nothing more.
—”Pale” seemed different from the rumors.
The Yan City higher-ups’ secrecy surrounding Luo Yan had spawned many strange rumors: that a single glance from “Pale” could be fatal, that her words could bewitch and control people, even that she ate people…
Mostly a mix of truth and fiction, although even the true parts were likely just lucky guesses.
Old Nie, as Director of the Oversight Department, naturally knew more about “Pale.”
…And it was far more alarming than the rumors.
Causing death with a glance, bewitching people, eating people… these were nothing. This girl could single-handedly contend with a “Peril” level disaster monster!
Old Nie didn’t dare to be careless, but he also didn’t dare look directly at Luo Yan. He lowered his head slightly and welcomed her inside.
“This way, Miss Luo Yan.”
He then glared at the other Oversight Department members, warning them to be cautious.
Hua Qiling, worried that Luo Yan might misunderstand the numerous strange devices in the laboratory, stayed by her side.
“Miss Luo Yan, don’t worry, these are harmless.”
Luo Yan understood the underlying meaning and chuckled softly.
“No, I’m just curious.”
These cold, metallic devices were completely new to Luo Yan. She could vaguely sense the energy within them, flowing in specific patterns and orbits, seemingly producing different effects.
Before Luo Yan could examine these energy flows further, she was led to a chair.
Hua Qiling sat beside her, and seven spherical devices appeared before them.
Luo Yan: “…”
Hua Qiling: “…”
Old Nie: “…Miss Luo Yan, please place your hand… uh, which one first?”
“Any of them, Director Nie,” a member of the Oversight Department mumbled. “She has to touch them all anyway.”
Except for Old Nie, all the other Oversight Department members were wearing full protective gear, the thickness comparable to old-era spacesuits.
This wasn’t standard procedure, but simply because “Pale’s” reputation was rather intimidating. Without Old Nie’s instructions, they had all donned the highest level of protection.
“I don’t recall the ‘Calamity Infected’ assessment requiring seven spiritual energy tests…”
Hua Qiling’s left eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
“This is a special circumstance…”
Old Nie said with a forced smile.
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