Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Investigation Team
The two made their way down via the emergency stairway on the left side, and along the way, Nalan Shuo took the time to explain the layout of the building to Yang Xiao. The first floor housed the basic office area, medical area, and living area. The second floor was the activity zone for the investigation team, the third floor contained the Chief’s office and several administrative department offices, and the fourth floor was used for the storage of some important items and documents.
"In summary, the areas on the second floor and above are key to the Patrol Defense Bureau. They are also the core for handling supernatural events and are defended most strictly," the two were stopped by a door blocking their way.
"The access control here is stringent; unrelated persons are not allowed anywhere near it. You must have a pass card, and each card only allows access commensurate with the holder’s clearances. Like this place here, with two secured doors equipped with scanners — this is the first one, and there’s another one beyond it. As the highest-ranking officer of the headquarters with Chief Level authority, my special pass card can open every single door here."
While speaking, Nalan Shuo fished out a black card from his pocket and lightly swiped it on the sensor to the right side of the second-floor emergency stairwell. After a beep, the door slowly opened.
But in the next second, he was stunned, and so was Yang Xiao. Right outside the door, a few meters away, crouched a beggar in ragged clothes, with a hole at the back of his trousers, rummaging through the trash bin at the corner of the corridor.
The beggar held an iron hook in one hand and a tattered burlap sack in the other, bulging with contents. He quickly hooked a soda can out of the trash, stood up, stomped the empty can flat vehemently, picked it up, and tossed it into the sack. Then, he walked to the second secured door, took out a card almost identical to the one in Nalan Shuo’s hand, and swiped it across the sensor with a casual flick.
"Beep!"
The door opened, the beggar scratched his buttocks and dragged the sack filled with bottles and cans through the door. Soon after, the door closed again.
Yang Xiao was gobsmacked as if he had been hit by the door, and Nalan Shuo’s handsome face was twisted. It seemed as though he realized something, and using his prized black card, he opened the second door and chased after the beggar, "Xi Men, what the hell are you up to?"
Upon hearing this, the beggar turned around to look at Nalan Shuo and Yang Xiao. He was a very young beggar, with messy hair and eyes filled with distress. "Director, do you... do you want this bottle? If not, give it to me. There’s no helping it; the pay is too low, and bonuses have flown away again. I’m picking up cans to make ends meet. You can rest assured, Director, I try not to waste work time and won’t bring shame upon our investigation team."
After he spoke, the young beggar took the bottle from the Director’s hand, then also turned to Yang Xiao, who obediently handed over his water bottle.
"Cough... cough cough cough..."
Suddenly, a severe coughing sound came from behind a partially closed door. Nalan Shuo stopped hassling the beggar and led Yang Xiao towards the door.
A metal plaque of the investigation team was hung on the door. Pushing it open, inside was a vast office with seven desks, yet it was eerily empty at the moment. Only one man was half-lying on one desk.
The man wore square-framed glasses, looked pale, and was dressed in a plaid shirt that clearly was a size too large, wrinkled all over. Next to him was an IV stand, currently hooked up to him—it appeared as if he was ill. As he coughed violently, he was on a phone call.
"Mom, don’t worry about me. Although most of my bonus has been deducted, I... at least we are part of a formal unit. Cough... cough cough cough... Mom, don’t cry, I’m fine. No need, no need to send me money for treatment. Although I’m seriously ill, I... I can hang in there. Alright, the Director is here now, I’ll stop talking; otherwise, he’ll get unhappy."
On the partition of the man’s desk was also hung a white cardboard sign with alarming words: "Zhuge Ghostwriting: I solemnly promise to ghostwrite all kinds of task reports, leaders’ speeches, professional articles, science and engineering graduate theses, and primary and secondary school holiday homework (except for Chinese and English). Revisions and after-sales service included, with discounts for bulk orders, URGENT!"
Suddenly, he heard strange noises coming from the office next door, which wasn’t exactly next door but to the west inside this same office space, with another door labeled as the Captain’s office.
Nalan Shuo was the first to walk over, with Yang Xiao following behind him. As they got closer, the odd sound inside became clearer — it was a woman’s voice.
"Little rascal! Is this tiny bit of salary all you drip, huh? Am I not proactive enough? Speak up, am I too gentle with you?!"
"Watch how I deal with you! Is it forceful enough, huh? Do you like it?"
Yang Xiao: "??!"
Nalan Shuo took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and saw a private office with a yoga mat on the floor. A girl was straddling a life-sized robot cat plushie, her long legs wrapped around the robot cat’s neck, applying a brutally violent grappling technique that was distorting the plushie’s head.
Yang Xiao suddenly noticed a piece of white paper stuck on the robot cat’s face. The paper had a face crudely drawn on it, and he couldn’t help but think it bore a striking resemblance to Director Nalan at his side.
Seeing their director enter, the girl who was executing her finishing move stood up somewhat embarrassedly, quickly tore off the white paper from the robot cat’s face, crumpled it up, and said, "Oh my, Director, you should have given a heads up before coming. Look at this mess, I was just practicing my grappling techniques."
Nalan Shuo snorted coldly, "Were you preparing to grapple me?"
"How could you say that, my beloved director? My reverence for you flows like the endless river, uncontrollable. Apart from the fact that my bonus this month was just a few dimes, everything else is flawless."
The girl looked to be about 25, with very fair skin and long hair draped over her shoulders, dressed in simple casual attire; she had a lovely smile. If it were not for the brutal choking technique she had just displayed, and the harsh and aggressive words she’d used, one would find her quite gentle.
At that moment, the beggar from outside and the sickly man also came over. Nalan Shuo gave the girl a stern look and said, "Who’s to blame for the bonuses being gone? Shirking your duties every day, hiding when there’s trouble, no achievements means just a basic salary. No amount of fuss from you will change that. Among the seven Patrol Offices in Rongcheng, your performance is consistently the worst. Aren’t you ashamed? Do you live up to the organization’s trust in you?"
The girl replied cheekily with a grin: "Don’t get mad, Director. It was already the worst before you recruited us."
"Still talking back!" Director Nalan stood up straight, "As one of only two Chief Level Chiefs among the seven Patrol Offices in Rongcheng, I find this extremely embarrassing!"
After admonishing them for a bit, Director Nalan seemed to realize that Yang Xiao was still there and refrained from continuing his tirade. The girl was quick to seize an opportunity, turning the conversation towards Yang Xiao with a raised eyebrow, "Oh, who’s this handsome young man? Are you new here?"
"Yang Xiao, pleased to make your acquaintance," Yang Xiao said politely.
The girl reached out her hand generously and said with a smile, "Beibei, currently the acting leader of the Lin’an District Patrol Office’s Supernatural Events Investigation Team."
The man dressed like a beggar also squeezed in and spoke up with a grin, "And me, and me, my name is Xi Menxiu!"
"Zhuge Zhijie," said the man who ghostwrote homework during summer and winter breaks, with a wooden expression.
Director Nalan’s expression softened slightly, "Let me introduce him—that’s Yang Xiao. Starting today, he will be joining the investigation team as your new colleague. In view of Yang Xiao’s outstanding performance in the Nightmare World and my comprehensive assessment of him today, I have tentatively decided to appoint him as the acting team leader of the investigation team, with Beibei as the deputy leader. Do you have any objections?"
Yang Xiao: "!!!"
