I Am Your Natural Enemy

Chapter 3 - 3 Rules

Cai Qidong sat in the command center, contemplated deeply for a moment, and then doubled the size of the search area as he continued to dispatch personnel to look for any unusual signs.

He did not take the matter lightly, nor did he plan to leave just yet.

Doomsday Computer, designated 007, was originally just an ordinary gaming computer.

It was discovered three years ago; the pixel game it contained was found nowhere else.

That unplayable, half-finished pixel game had one sole function: to issue warnings about disasters capable of annihilating vast numbers of Creatures.

Three years earlier, after the Doomsday Computer was discovered, it issued its first warning.

The world boss, Flame Demon, was descending, its destination the Southern Hemisphere of Blue Star.

Adhering to the principle of bold hypotheses and careful verification, they issued warnings to the people there.

Even if it turned out to be a false alarm, it was better than overlooking a real disaster.

Sadly, when the countdown ended and the world boss descended, the people there detected no anomalies.

A few days later, no one seemed concerned anymore.

Because such miraculous items are not infallible, and indeed, they are not always correct.

However, what happened next is known to all.

By the time people in the Southern Hemisphere noticed the problem and mobilized various forces to eliminate the so-called Flame Demon, its power had already ignited a vast expanse of forest. This conflagration burned for a full half year.

During those six months, the number of lives lost was incalculable, and the damage was immeasurable. The smoke and dust billowing into the atmosphere impacted the entire world in ways difficult to estimate.

At that time, Cai Qidong and others aware of the Doomsday Computer realized something. The so-called world boss wasn’t what they’d envisioned: a powerful entity from the moment it appeared, much like in video games.

Perhaps this so-called world boss was very weak initially, weak enough to be ignored even when seen face-to-face.

The confidential investigation in the Southern Hemisphere had basically confirmed a key detail about the Flame Demon. Its strength and ignition range were directly proportional to its astonishing growth rate. When it first descended, it posed a threat as insignificant as a match’s Little Fire Seed.

This time, Cai Qidong was in command. Though the countdown ended without any anomalies being spotted, personnel would remain stationed here, continually searching for clues.

He was bold enough to come because he never intended to leave alive. His duties had already been transferred here.

For at least the next three years, he would be stationed in this region.

「...」

Virtue City Funeral House.

Wen Yan stood at the main entrance, looking up at the large signboard.

This was his new place of employment.

Although this organization might have various well-known issues, they had offered him a position with tenure, and so swiftly that Wen Yan himself was aware many procedures must have been skipped.

Arriving at the entrance, he could already see the large chimney in the back emitting purified steam.

”Xiao Wen, you’re here early.”

Wen Yan turned to see a kind-faced, middle-aged man with half-gray hair approaching, carrying breakfast. The man sported a prominent belly and wore an ill-fitting black suit jacket despite the summer heat.

This was his immediate superior, Director He Jian.

”Good morning, Director He,” Wen Yan said with a smile, a bit embarrassed to admit he hadn’t woken up this early in a long time. ”I’m used to getting up early, so I came a bit sooner.”

Director He chuckled and handed Wen Yan the soy milk and steamed buns.

”Go ahead and eat. Finish it before you go inside, or you might lose your appetite.”

”Ah...”

”What ’ah’? Eat up quickly. We don’t have a canteen here; we all eat breakfast before coming. Once you’re done, I’ll take you inside to officially familiarize yourself with the environment.”

Director He handed Wen Yan the breakfast and waited at the door instead of going in.

Wen Yan realized Director He Jian genuinely meant to wait for him and wasn’t just being polite. So, he hurriedly finished the four buns and drank the soy milk.

Following Director He Jian through the gate and deeper inside, Wen Yan noticed an almost indiscernible burning scent in the air, even after Purification. Despite its subtlety, the smell kept drilling into his nose.

Yesterday, he had only been in the office area in the front yard and hadn’t noticed any smell.

Director He Jian led him on a tour, introducing Wen Yan as they went. They passed the front yard, the condolence hall, the encoffining room, the individual refrigerated coffin rooms, and various other places, eventually reaching an area deeper than the cremation chamber.

Here, built against the mountainside, stood a two-story building.

Director He Jian took out a key, speaking casually.

”Xiao Wen, since you’re new and don’t have much experience, I won’t assign you any complicated tasks for now. Wherever extra hands are needed, you’ll follow along and learn.”

”Okay, I understand,” Wen Yan nodded repeatedly. Besides, they probably wouldn’t trust me with anything too technical anyway; a mistake could lead to disputes, which would be troublesome.

Director He Jian opened a security door on the side of the small building and, detaching a key, handed it to Wen Yan.

”This is the key. Take good care of it and don’t lose it. If you do lose it, tell me immediately.”

Entering the building, the first thing that met Wen Yan’s eyes was a mirror, over two meters wide, directly opposite the main door. Opening the door and seeing his somewhat blurry reflection, he was startled.

The mirror was only two or three meters from the door.

Yet, for some reason, he was startled. Looking at his reflection, which also looked startled, he felt as if the image in the mirror was delayed.

”Over here are the employee regulations. Make sure you remember them well,” said Director He Jian, drawing Wen Yan’s attention to a list of rules hanging on the wall.

He had assumed it might be something like a ’user agreement.’

But when he saw the first item, his expression turned odd.”One. Telling ghost stories at the workplace is forbidden. Mentioning the word ’ghost’ is forbidden. Violators will be dismissed after three such offenses.”

Even the employee regulations need to be ’harmonized’?

He continued to read.

”Two. The use of any fireworks or firecrackers is prohibited. If family members are found setting them off, immediately cover the items with the nearest flame-retardant device and notify the security department for handling.

Three. No one without a key is permitted to enter the old office building. Violators will be dismissed.

Four. Unauthorized entry into the main storage facility is prohibited. Violators will be dismissed.

Five. Speaking or making phone calls in any workroom where a body is present is prohibited. Violators will receive one demerit.

Six. Non-night-shift employees are prohibited from staying overnight at the workplace. Violators will receive one demerit.

Seven. Walking around the workplace after sunset without a flashlight is prohibited. Violators will receive one demerit.

Eight. Climbing the fence to enter the back mountain is prohibited. Violators will be dismissed.”

Reading through the dense list of employee regulations, Wen Yan was a bit dumbfounded. These rules seemed overly strict, with dismissal as a frequent consequence.

He counted them—there were dozens of regulations, and a third of them stipulated dismissal for violation... Was this for real?

He looked at Director He Jian, who had shed his smile and now nodded with great solemnity.

”You’d better memorize them. They are very important. These rules must be followed by everyone.”

Wen Yan’s expression grew serious. He dutifully read through the employee regulations twice more, committing them to memory.

After about fifteen minutes, Director He Jian’s smile returned.

”Let’s go. I’ll show you the rest of the place.”

Director He Jian led the way, continuing further into the building.

As they neared the end of the corridor, Director He Jian’s expression suddenly changed. He glanced at the floor and blurted out,

”Pull me back!”

No sooner had he uttered those words than Director He Jian’s body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.