CLICK!
Putato tossed the keys to Philip and stepped inside, ignoring the other's warnings. He mainly wanted to see exactly what level these monsters were. If they were too powerful, he'd have to demand a pay raise.
"Hey, what's your name?"
The man in the knit hat didn't speak. His face was buried in his hands as he sat hunched over, seemingly contemplating some unspeakable gravity.
Seeing the guy was being uncooperative, Putato directly forced his head up. The vacant eyes quickly found focus.
"Am I truly a prisoner? No need for a name or a face, just like those people whose names I can't call out, existing only for the sake of The City itself?"
"To welcome guests, one must lay a carpet at the door. Am I merely an object to be replaced, needing a scream just to earn a name?"
THUMP.
A low, sudden heartbeat rang out.
Damn!
Putato's expression changed. He retreated warily as the man in the knit hat bloated and grew in the blink of an eye. Rough green skin and pointed ears made him look incredibly grotesque.
He swiftly drew his Blood Sword, the blade leaving the scabbard in a flash to pierce the creature's massive right arm. However, the monster roared excitedly toward the ceiling, swinging a savage, air-ripping palm to swat Putato away.
BANG!
The jagged teeth of the Crusher slammed down, pulverizing the monster's arm without fail and sending it crashing heavily against the wall.
"This place cannot hold me!"
Its frame ballooned again, cracking the ceiling and making the beast even more agitated as it stood upright.
Dodging the falling bricks, Putato didn't hold back either. He drew the massive Spiral Spear and plunged it into the monster's giant chest.
This sensation... I didn't hit the heart?!
In that split second of confusion, the monster reached out with its other hand, intending to crush Putato. Behind him, Philip shouted a warning.
Hematic Pump!
SQUISH!
The Crusher instantly decapitated the monster that took up a quarter of the cell. Its massive head rolled away, even bending the steel bars upon impact. The two cellmates, who had been sitting with their heads bowed, remained curled up on the floorboards even after being knocked over.
"Senior Vanda, are you alright?!"
"Don't worry. But... why does this sensation feel familiar?"
Ignoring the fountain-like spray of blood from the giant's corpse, Putato stood in the rain of gore, trying desperately to recall the transformation scene. He cursed his poor memory for not being able to place why it felt so familiar.
But anything that left an impression on him had to be dangerous!
Turning back to the remaining catatonic inmates, Putato decided not to provoke them further. Though they looked half-dead, they were at least clinging to life.
"Philip, where do you think it will appear next?"
"According to previous analyses, the highest probability is the Diamond Skyscraper."
Philip placed the stakeout list into a sealed bag and handed it to the green-blood-soaked Putato. Recalling the giant's movements just now, he felt he could have handled it, making him feel excited.
After all, there was only one target this time. He could fight side-by-side with Senior Vanda; at the very least, he wouldn't be a burden.
"Then you go back to the inn and wait. I'm going to go try my luck first."
"Aren't we going together?"
Shoving the list into his pocket, Putato looked with a complex gaze at the corpse that had already reverted to a human form. He crouched down to examine the wound left by the Spiral Spear.
"Philip, many questions don't get answers. Sometimes it's protection out of goodwill, sometimes it's malicious concealment, or maybe just an uncertain suspicion."
Putato tore open the giant's chest and was surprised to find its heart was far too small. Compared to its massive body, the heart was smaller than a fist, which explained why he had missed earlier.
Moreover, that heartbeat, so loud it could be clearly heard, was also very familiar.
"Is it because my strength isn't enough?"
Philip, who had been full of enthusiasm, immediately hung his head in disappointment. He felt that Vanda was no different from his master after all, still viewing him as a rookie incapable of handling major responsibilities.
"No! It's because the difficulty of this commission might far exceed Urban Plague!"
Putato finally remembered where he had experienced such a unique sound and method of physical expansion.
The Me Me Me cult!
Whether it was that thumping sound or the reversion to the original form after death, it all matched the effects of the cult's Hammer of Counter-Attack!
"But I can handle monsters of this level!"
"Have you heard of the Me Me Me cult?"
"That Urban Nightmare level cult? I remember the Hana Association recently declared them officially disbanded. Is Grinch a member of that church?"
"I've met their Pontiff before. These monsters look very much like the products of their technology. So, you understand now? This isn't something you can get mixed up in."
Philip's earlier disappointment vanished instantly. He knew the level after Urban Nightmare was Star of the City. No matter how confident he was, he didn't believe he had the strength to face that.
Even back at the Dawn Office, an Urban Plague level commission required the entire team to be dispatched to ensure safety, let alone a commission that completely surpassed the capabilities of a Grade 5 Fixer.
...
Walking alone through the streets of N Nest, Putato could feel a very distinct sense of alienation. Despite many pedestrians around, most had dark circles under their eyes and remained silent. Passing through a commercial street, he barely heard a single human voice.
Passing a private high school on the list, he could clearly see banners hanging from large balloons floating in the sky.
[Year One is the vital starting phase!]
[Year Two is the more vital bridging phase!]
[Year Three is the most vital final sprint phase!]
"Dammit, a non-stop sprint for three years, huh!"
Putato now felt that Grinch was very likely a resident of N Nest; otherwise, they wouldn't be so hell-bent on social revenge.
After visiting three locations in a row, Putato arrived at the Diamond Skyscraper as the evening sun set. It was a tetrahedral glass structure, quite aesthetically pleasing compared to the monotonous buildings surrounding it.
Upon entering, he saw a deep black plaque listing the various companies residing in the building by floor. The company occupying the most floors was Suicide Express, taking up about six floors of space. It was hard to imagine how booming their business must be.
Suddenly, Putato saw someone standing inside a closing elevator wearing a massive, dark green pointed hat. Their head was bowed slightly, making their face completely invisible.
Putato had a sudden flash of intuition; he sensed something was off about this person. He'd only experienced that kind of blurred recognition effect with Roland. What ordinary salaryman would wear such distinctive gear to work?
Grinch?!
Before Putato could move, the mysterious witch-like figure suddenly raised their head and stared at him. The green skin didn't look grotesque at all; instead, it felt fresh and comfortable, like a forest at dawn.
"Putato, long time no see."
DING.
The elevator doors closed completely.
"Wait!"
Putato rushed to the elevator and pounded the buttons, but he watched the numbers on the display climb until they stopped at the eleventh floor: the office of the Suicide Express Corporation.
Who was that? They actually recognized him.
Could it be another lunatic from Green Journey?!
But he was clearly dressed as Fixer Vanda now, with his eye wrap and bandages providing perfect concealment. It wasn't like he had a red "Putato" sign floating over his head for everyone to see.
Frustration and doubt filled his heart, but he immediately recalled the 'Unfettered' order he'd issued.
"Sir, do you need assistance?"
Ignoring the receptionist's query from afar, Putato stepped into the elevator that had just opened and quickly pressed the button for the eleventh floor, his heart racing.
Putato tried to recall the person's appearance but found he simply couldn't remember, no matter how hard he tried. The only impressions left were the green skin, the massive pointed hat, and a height that nearly brushed the elevator's frame.
Fortunately, Philip was reliable. Putato hurriedly pulled out the sketches from the sealed bag. Looking at the abstract drawings, he felt the blurred artwork exuded a strong sense of alienation.
This person was Grinch!
"Damn! Are they about to go on another killing spree? Could they be a survivor of the Me Me Me cult? But only Pontiff Encore should know about me. Is The Head's cleanup work as leaky as a sieve? How did this slip through?!"
At this moment, Putato felt that ABC Corporation's janitorial work was truly shoddy. He braced himself as the elevator chimed, stepping out the moment the doors opened.
A wall of chaotic, indistinguishable noise flooded his mind. Rows of workstations were filled with busy customer service reps. There was no sign of Grinch.
"Hey! Have you seen this person?!"
Putato rushed to the company reception desk and pulled out the sketch. However, the receptionist merely looked up and pulled out a registration form.
"Hello, please register first if you are here for a job interview."
The Grade 3 Fixer certificate was slammed onto the desk with fury.
"Do you know about Grinch? That super-killer from N Nest is right here. Answer me, quickly!"
The woman looked up in surprise upon hearing this. She raised her hand, then lowered it; opened her mouth, then closed it. Her sluggishness made Putato boil with rage.
"Speak!"
"That... you have to register first!"
Snatching the registration form, Putato impatiently scribbled the name "Vanda" and looked back at the receptionist.
"And may I ask the purpose of your visit?"
"I'm looking for Grinch, dammit!"
Putato watched in disbelief as the receptionist tapped a few keys on her keyboard before replying in a standard, regrettable tone.
"Apologies, our company does not have an employee named Grinch."
"Are you even human?! Can't you understand plain speech?!"
Tossing this lunatic aside, a frantic Putato patted the shoulders of two customer service reps near the door to ask them. To his disbelief, they also stared blankly at him without speaking, eventually panicking and notifying their supervisor.
Putato looked at the two reps who had resumed taking calls and the fake-smiling supervisor who had just emerged. He felt like all these people were robots. He'd told them a cold-blooded killer was here, yet their brains couldn't even process it.
"Dear visitor, are you here for a job interview or business cooperation?"
"I'm looking for Grinch!"
"Apologies, our company does not offer 'finding people' services. We ask for your understanding."
"You're all idiots! Get out of the way!"
Refusing to deal with these lunatics any longer, Putato patrolled the various offices. Almost every customer service workspace was arranged identically. Surprisingly, the supervisor didn't chase after him to stop him.
After scouring the entire office area, he finally found the tall woman walking between the desks.
Her dark green pointed hat nearly brushed the ceiling, casting a large shadow on the floor. Grinch wasn't swinging a scythe and slaughtering everyone; instead, she walked past each customer service rep, gently patting their shoulders and softly telling them to wake up.
"So you are Grinch!"
"Hey! How do you know me?!"
Gloved right hand clenched, the massive Spiral Spear manifested in Putato's hand. He stepped forward to block Grinch's path, yet even staring directly at her, her features remained blurred.
"And you lot! Do you have zero situational awareness?! You all want to die here, is that it?!"
Seeing the customer service reps still frantically answering calls, Putato raised the Spiral Spear and smashed the desk on his right. The three people working there stood up in a panic, glared at Putato, and anxiously called for their supervisor, standing rooted to the spot.
"It's useless, Putato."
"You think they don't understand? Or that they can't see? They know everything. They simply choose to be prisoners, terrified of leaving their cage because they can't imagine being on their own, just as a slave can't imagine life without a master."
"I know what they're thinking right now. They must be cursing this damn company and this damn job, even fantasizing about tearing people like us into pieces. They probably want to set fire to everyone and this Diamond Skyscraper."
"But they tell themselves they can only go this far and not an inch further, let alone take a single real action."
"Those who keep working at Suicide Express are 'excellent' employees who follow the rules to the letter."
The room was still noisy with the sound of customer service calls. Putato, gripping the Spiral Spear, let out an angry laugh.
So, none of you are afraid of death?
He reached into his Lucky Can, pulled out a grenade, and tossed it to the side.
HISS!
The tear gas grenade detonated instantly. The office erupted in shocked screams. Every single customer service rep, unable to bear the gas, scrambled and fought to flee the office, causing a wave of chaos.
"Putato, you're still the same."
"You not only have the courage to break out of the cage, but you also want to reach out and help. It's a pity you don't understand these people, who pull their heads back into their shells like snails."
"Are you a survivor of Green Journey?"
"Green Journey? What's that?"
This answer shocked Putato. He grabbed a thumb-sized piece of wood and tossed it to confirm the truth.
[If Grinch is a member of Green Journey, the wood will land face-up.]
Looking at the rough underside of the wood, Putato spoke again in disbelief.
"Then how do you recognize me?!"
"See? You only recognize 'Grinch' and have forgotten me. I'm not someone who strictly demands everyone remember everyone else, but the truth is that in The City, you must actively manifest yourself to avoid becoming an easily replaceable carpet."
"Those ordinary people lack the courage and ability to scream. That is why they aren't remembered by The City, nor do they leave behind a mark of life's freedom."
"Stop spouting so much nonsense!"
Seeing that everyone had left, Putato slowly stepped forward, preparing to act.
"I used to be an employee of Team Eight at Welfare Funerals. I worked diligently for five years, then was laid off because of poor performance. But our team handled solitary deaths; how could we have 'performance'?"
The tall woman lowered her head, her massive pointed hat instantly concealing her face and chest.
Putato felt that her sense of alienation was like standing in another world entirely. She was within reach, yet felt worlds away.
"Unable to maintain my lifestyle, I had to move to The Backstreets. Unfamiliar with the place, I was quickly extorted by a Syndicate. Fortunately, I ran into a man from the Void Fist. He slaughtered all the Syndicate members and declared the area under Void Fist control."
"But Void Fist didn't allow any dissent or freedom; everything was confiscated by them."
"I escaped eventually, but I was penniless. I gradually became one of those rats I used to look down on or fear from afar. I never thought a person could live with just a dumpster."
"Actually, you can't. Luckily, before I starved to death, you gave me a sandwich to tide me over. After that, I occasionally received gifts from you. I've always been grateful, watching you leave and return home."
"And as for the freedom I have today, it's thanks to the scriptures you threw in the trash."
Putato stared in disbelief as Grinch pulled out the Me Me Me cult scripture he had taken from the Smiling Faces, along with that propaganda pamphlet. His mind was a tangled mess. He never imagined that throwing away a piece of trash would lead to something this significant.
Moreover, what did this have to do with her special abilities and her committing massacres?!