Working Records in a Weird World - 83

 

| WRIAWW | Be Nicer to Him Next Time | 83

When working for the boss, Number 5 gave it his all.

Unlike Bluebeard, the Matchmaker weird didn't require brainwashing. As a native weird being of Guiyi City, especially one newly transformed, she might be fierce but knew when to yield.

Especially after Zong Le leaked a bit of his aura to intimidate her, she became completely docile, answering every question truthfully during interrogation, making the process remarkably smooth.

Because of her cooperative attitude and full confession, she qualified for lenient treatment.

Bluebeard, on the other hand, was a veteran S-level survivor with formidable mental defenses. Number 5 spent several times longer breaking through his psychological barriers before beginning the brainwashing process.

Throughout this, Zong Le waited silently on a bench in the corridor.

The former head of the medical department stood nearby, initially planning to report recent hospital affairs. But upon noticing the dark-haired young man's pensive expression, he wisely held his tongue.

As a subordinate, reading the room was essential, especially knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.

Yet Zong Le didn't want him to get his salary so easily, so he asked "Chief, how would you define if someone is good or bad?"

When stumped by a question, it was only logical to seek others' opinions.

"Ah?" Caught off guard, the chief stiffened before hesitantly answering: "Those who do good are good, those who do bad are evil?"

"It's too vague." Since Zong Le had always distinguished them this way, he rephrased: "Do you think I'm a good or bad person?"

The chief broke out in a cold sweat.

He realized this was a trick question with no right answer.

In the Guiyi City, the definition of good and bad meant the opposite. Good people are not used to praise people, but a word to curse people. But the chief remembered that their new dean had a history of mental illness, and after taking office, he announced that he would be a harmonious and friendly hospital that provides patients with the most meticulous services.

Privately, everyone discussed that the dean might have cognitive disorder. If so, if he said that the dean was a bad person, wouldn't that be like trying to flatter a bull by patting its back? It would kick him in the face.

Forget it, it was do or die anyway.

Steeling himself, the chief blurted out, "Y-you are, of course are a good person!"

He cautiously glanced up to gauge the dean's reaction. Zong Le seemed rather pleased, which meant he'd guessed correctly.

"Dean, is there something troubling you?" the chief asked carefully, hoping to avoid another heart-stopping question.

"Well, yes, I have a question. If someone claims they're not good, yet they haven't actually done anything bad, would you consider them good or bad?"

"Why would this person say they're not good?" the chief inquired.

"Because he likes to use others to achieve his own goals. He pretends to be a good person in front of others, but in fact, he doesn't care about these people at all. He is also hypocritical and often does inexplicable things."

"......" The chief thought to himself, Seriously? That's it?

In their morally upright Guiyi City, such behavior didn’t even come close to qualifying as "bad." By local standards, one would at least have to stab a few people and commit several offenses listed in the criminal law to barely earn the label "a bit bad."

Even then, they might not meet the threshold for trial in the city’s intermediate court. People like this have a problem with their worldview, and are no different from good people.

"Actually, I think the person you're describing definitely doesn’t qualify as a bad person."

Not only is he not a bad person, but they wouldn’t even make the list! The criteria for being labeled "bad" in Guiyi City were extremely strict! Not just anyone could earn the title, many were eager to be selected!

"Besides, it’s not always necessary to categorize someone as good or bad. There’s a gray area in between. Perhaps the person you mentioned falls into that category? Of course, this is just my humble opinion, you can take it with a grain of salt."

Though the chief was merely used reasoning that Guiyi City citizens use, his words unexpectedly opened Zong Le’s mind to a new perspective.

"Ah! That’s another way to look at it!" Zong Le exclaimed, as if a lightbulb had lit up above his head.

He had been stuck in a mental dead end, obsessively trying to define Joshua, only to trap himself in the process.

In reality, as the chief had pointed out, it is not necessary to force people to be classified into a certain existing camp. He could belong to his own category, or simply exist in the in-between.

With this realization, Zong Le finally understood.

Joshua might be the first person he’d encountered who could not be defined by common rules.

If Zong Le was a cat, then Joshua was a tangled ball of yarn, complex, multifaceted, and impossible to unravel.

Although he manipulated others for his own gain, there was no denying that over the years, 1st had saved countless lives within the Infinite Space. Whether his kindness was an act or not, the end result remained unchanged.

Did the means truly matter that much?

"No wonder he said I was biased against him... Hmm... I suppose I was, a little."

Zong Le thought that if there was a next meeting, he would change his attitude toward Joshua.

He hadn't quite figured out how to measure that "bit bad," but to express his apology, he felt that next time perhaps he could take the initiative to add him as a friend next time?

The next two days were calm and peaceful.

Ankang Prison had become much livelier than before with the arrival of new inmates. Every morning, a large group would accompany Zong Le on his jog. The Butcher even resumed his old trade of cooking, setting up a canteen in the compound to handle breakfast and dinner.

To say the least, the Butcher's culinary skills were truly impressive, his soups were exceptional. The aroma from his daily cooking even attracted people from neighboring compounds to come and buy, making his business thrive.

What was truly unsettled, however, was the Infinite Space.

Everything unfolded exactly as Joshua had predicted. The survivors who returned from the mission immediately posted the super juicy gossip they had witnessed on the forum, each title more sensational than the last.

[Snatching Love! 1st Takes The Talented Newcomer from Bluebeard in Full View—Who's This Heartthrob Backer?]

[Talented Newcomer: Could Rely on Looks, But Chooses to Rely on Strength Instead]

[Bluebeard vs. Joshua—1st Crushes Him in Charm, Public Humiliation.]

[Two S-Levels Face Off in Peak Showdown. If It Were You, Who Would You Choose to Leave With?!]

No matter where, people's interest in scandalous news always runs highest. Especially this time, with all three participants being figures of extraordinary status, any one of them alone would have been a hot topic.

Many survivors who participated in the mission vividly described what they had seen: Bluebeard first invited the talented newcomer, who gladly accepted, only for this very act to anger Joshua, who then took talented newcomer by the hand to assert his dominance and led him away.

Of course, there were a few objections. Many from the Temple Army spoke up, insisting that their 1st would never take a fancy to anyone, let alone someone of the same gender.

[Our Lord saw the talented newcomer in a tough spot and stepped in to help.]

[Exactly. Everyone here knows what kind of scum Bluebeard is. Our Lord is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see a survivor, especially a junior he admires, end up in such a situation.]

[But there was another male favorite Bluebeard had his eye on at the scene, why didn't he help him?]

Unfortunately, this reply was drowned out in the Temple's Army overwhelming presence, with no one paying it any attention.

"What the hell!" A dissatisfied shout rang out in the cozy lounge with its crackling fireplace.

This was No. 79 on Infinite Space's streets—the Temple Home. Though the Temple Army wasn't an official organization, they always had a gathering spot. Survivors who worshipped 1st would often gather here, referring to it as "home," to exchange intel or share information.

Originally, everyone had agreed that such trivial matters didn't warrant asking Joshua to specially open a separate space in the Temple, so they pooled their money to rent a place from the main system as their regular meeting spot.

"Although the talented newcomer is indeed outstanding, how could our lord possibly fall for him?"

"The rumors on the forum are getting more and more ridiculous. To even mention Bluebeard in the same breath as our lord, it makes me sick just hearing it."

"Yeah, besides. The newcomer can barely protect himself now, right? I heard that since he didn't agree to any of the invitations from the three major guilds, and the rumors he messed up his skill enhancement points. His reputation has plummeted."

......

Amidst countless discussions, Bai Shao sat alone at the bar, his gaze vacant.

The bartender noticed the silent S-level customer and asked warmly, "What would you like to drink?"

"Anything is fine," Bai Shao replied slowly after a long pause.

He was still in a state of mental blankness, questioning his very existence, and barely responsive to his surroundings.

While 99.9% of survivors in Temple were angrily denouncing the slander against the 1st on the forums, only Bai Shao knew the truth, every word on those forums was accurate.

After connecting the dots from past events and seeing today's big news, his long-suspended heart finally gave out.

The person he respected so deeply was actually gay!

This realization struck like a blade, shattering Bai Shao completely.

"Your drink is ready."

"Thank you."

Bai Shao picked up the glass and downed it in one go.

He felt that he was in a very good state now, and his soul was at peace.

Had Lord Joshua noticed? Recently, he hadn’t summoned him to the Temple, nor assigned him any tasks. With Lord Joshua's degree of intelligence of the brain power faction, the smallest details couldn’t escape his notice.

Just then, another S-level sat down beside him with a drink. "Bai Shao, are you drinking alone? I heard you were paired with that talented newcomer on a mission. What’s your take on him? Is it true that he messed up his enhancement as rumored on the forum?"

His alcohol-numbed mind stalled for a moment before responding, "No. In terms of ability, he’s actually quite good."

"Really?" The S-level gave him a skeptical look. "Well, let’s hope this newcomer lives up to Lord Joshua's expectations."

"Hah." Bai Shao forced a hollow laugh.

Almost everyone believed that Zong Le, as a newcomer that Joshua was optimistic about, would eventually join the Temple Army’s forces.

Only Bai Shao knew the truth.

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