Chapter 38: A New Face, an Old Problem

This was how I ended up.

I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

Barely, a head peeked out from the very bottom.

A cascade of snowy black hair draped over my shoulders. The person in the mirror, however, was staring at ‘my’ own elegant silhouette with an expression of utter disdain.

A slightly youthful face, adorned with perfectly sculpted and delicate features.

From my own aesthetic perspective, this was undoubtedly the type of beauty that made one want to raise a banner, pin them to a bed, and engage in repeated acts of intimacy.

But alas—

This damn body belonged to me.

“Tsk.”

A clear, melodious voice, like the chime of silver bells.

‘Could I at least have my husky voice back?’

****

“Pfft.”

After learning that I was not his daughter, the man seated across from me laughed without a shred of decorum, making me want to grind my teeth until they squeaked.

He wore a brandless suit and a pair of non-prescription black-rimmed glasses. His youthful face was marred by dark circles under his eyes and an inexplicable air of age, significantly lowering his appeal.

The Transcended’s disdain for mortals, coupled with my simmering anger, compelled me to speak with a sharp edge.

“Go ahead and laugh, Mr. Lu.”

I bowed subserviently, offering a helpless salute to Councilor Lu.

‘Such is the nature of a benefactor.’

‘Damn officials, damn money, damn museum.’

As an “outposted” employee, my professional guidelines even mandated that I maintain a smile in this situation.

‘Haha, smile, I must.’

“Don’t force yourself,” Lu Zhichuan said, smiling at me as if genuinely concerned.

Without hesitation, I adopted a deadpan expression.

“Pursuant to our cooperation agreement, I, Han Ruoyu, a Tier-3 Researcher from the Museum, am at your service.”

‘That was merely official jargon.’

In truth, I had been collaborating with this scoundrel in fine clothes—or rather, this impeccably dressed Councilor Lu—for over two years.

Unlike previous targets who practically demanded I be glued to their side twenty-four hours a day, at least Mr. Lu had a basic level of trust in Dawn City’s public security.

To put it plainly, as long as it didn’t involve the factions in Hope City, virtually no one in Dawn City’s power circles would consider assassinating someone with a Transcended to be a good idea.

Rather, our contractual security services were essentially just a contingency against unforeseen events.

“So, how is the matter I entrusted to you progressing?”

Councilor Lu’s index finger idly stroked the handle of his teacup as he asked with a hint of interest, “Was it *that thing* that turned you into this?”

My expression stiffened slightly.

“That thing” referred to the task Councilor Lu had commissioned: the elimination of residual derivatives of [Mental Disintegration]. As compensation, the remains would be left to the Museum for research before they naturally dissipated.

It was a reasonable transaction, and dealing with such residuals was indeed the inherent duty of the Museum’s Transcended.

But.

“Yes, it was caused by an anomalous object inadvertently released by my assistant during a routine containment inspection.”

I turned my head, shooting a fierce glare at someone cowering and trembling by the entrance.

Then, with a sigh, I let out my exasperation.

“As for your mission, Councilor Lu, I am currently tracking it and have already discovered suspicious traces of activity.”

“I hope you can understand that I am in a complete mess with this current body. Not to mention, just determining whether my current state counts as a work injury, or if it can be reversed by an anomaly, will take half a day’s trouble.”

“My purpose in coming here today is to request a month’s leave in advance. After this mission concludes, I might need to have one of my colleagues take over—”

“Ah, that’s no problem.”

Lu Zhichuan narrowed his eyes, then waved his hand decisively.

“If it’s just for a month, I happen to have someone in mind.”

“Oh?”

I was rather surprised.

“May I be so bold as to ask if the other candidate is from the Tower or the Academy?”

“A friend.”

Lu Zhichuan spread his hands, seemingly to allay my concerns.

“That’s good then…”

I nodded, thinking, ‘At least for now, it’s best not to lose this meal ticket.’

“Then I shall take my leave.”

I rose from my seat, preparing to summon my useless assistant, who was beyond help, to depart.

However, Councilor Lu called out to me at that moment.

“Researcher Han Xia… please wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

A hint of displeasure touched my features as I sat back down.

“Could you check your internal records for me? Have there been multiple ‘Calamity Sacrifice’ incidents recently?”

“Why do you ask about this?”

“To be precise, I encountered two such incidents in quick succession.”

I shot up from my seat.

“Researcher Han, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to pack my bags.”

I stated, my face devoid of emotion.

“I believe it is absolutely necessary for me to provide Councilor Lu with continuous, twenty-four-hour personal protection.”

‘Damn it, someone’s eyeing my meal ticket!’

****

Despite my best efforts and pleas, Councilor Lu Zhichuan ultimately did not approve my request for personal protection.

To be honest, it was hard not to feel angry.

Consequently, my mind wandered, and I nearly collided with a young girl leading her younger sister upstairs.

“Um…”

My assistant, who still couldn’t meet my gaze, sidled closer and whispered beside me.

“Why would Councilor Lu be in danger?”

“…” I paused, taken aback. “…How long have you been with the Museum?”

“A Tier-1 Researcher, just two months.”

‘Hmph, well, figures. It’s only natural that someone with such little experience would end up assigned to me.’

“Let me think—you know about the ‘Calamity Cultists,’ right?”

“Uh, an illegal organization composed of fanatics who attempt to extract Transcended abilities from Calamity remnants, or simply fanatical cultists.”

“Just remember them as self-proclaimed geniuses who are actually fools, and deranged madmen. Their narrow understanding of ‘faith’ typically extends no further than live human sacrifices.”

“Hiss… the overflow from a live sacrifice, if not promptly cleared—so a ‘heart’ corrupted by calamity would attach itself to Mr. Lu Zhichuan?”

“Exactly, it’s like a chain reaction,” I said, clutching my head in exasperation. “As a result, Mr. Lu’s ‘value’ will increase, making him an easier target for those people, who might even design rituals specifically for him.”

‘If Councilor Lu Zhichuan insists on seeing this through, then one can only pray: either his friend is powerful enough, or I arrive on the scene swiftly enough.’

“All in all, I need to accelerate the dragnet.”

I narrowed my eyes, briefly sharing my next steps with my assistant. “If Councilor Lu’s words are true, and the frequency of Calamity Sacrifices is increasing, then it’s highly probable that they are inextricably linked to these so-called Mental Disintegration derivatives.”

“Understood.”

The assistant nodded.

****

A little while later.

As we walked along a sparsely populated street, the assistant suddenly drew abreast of me.

“Um… my apologies, Researcher Han Ruoyu.”

“…”

I turned my head to look at them.

It was an utterly unremarkable face.

I had no intention of memorizing that face. After all, based on my personal experience, faces like theirs rarely remained by my side for more than three months.

‘Would I truly blame them?’

‘No, I wouldn’t.’

“You have no need to apologize to me.”

I met their gaze, then pressed my index finger against their lips.

“After all, I never even intended to learn your name. For both you and me, in the face of the unexpected, everyone is expendable.”

‘Indeed, nothing truly mattered.’

Even the most seasoned researchers would one day falter before the most ordinary of anomalies.

Moreover, the role of a researcher was both the lowest barrier to entry among Transcended branches and the one with the fastest attrition rate.

To a degree that most people would not normally even consider.

That life was lighter than anything else was the very first lesson a Museum researcher learned.

****

Such was indeed the truth.

It wasn’t until half a year later, when the assistant stripped my clothes clean off, that I finally remembered to ask their name.