Chapter 22 Nausea Chen Mi took a deep breath, put away the communicator, and...

After entering Zone C, Shen Mi was so busy that he didn't have time to rest. For several days in a row, he didn't arrive at his dormitory until after curfew.

The working environment here is much better than in Zone E. At least she's no longer surrounded by dust every day, and the air she breathes is no longer that stuffy black dust. She has her own room, and she no longer has to queue to take a shower; she can shower whenever she wants.

Those unpalatable meals were no longer a daily nightmare, and there was no longer any worry about the mine collapsing at any time.

Life in Sector C was indeed much better than in Sector E. However, Shen Mi was not blinded by these "sugar-coated bullets." She clearly remembered her true purpose for coming here, whether for her own mission or for others, she was determined to find the evidence hidden in Cullen's office.

What bothered her was not only these things, but also the system she was bound to. It hadn't appeared since the last mission was issued, and had been resting in her mind like an old man, only occasionally showing a brief moment of lucidity when it was in good condition.

She hadn't contacted Danheng and Savare these past few days and couldn't help but worry whether they missed her.

She took out the simple communicator that Danheng had given her. Before leaving, Danheng had specifically taught her how to use the device. To contact them, she only needed to press the corresponding number of times on the button; if she wanted to arrange an appointment for nine o'clock, she would press it nine times.

"Why don't we meet today and I tell them I'm doing well here?" Shen Mi was thinking about what to say when she met them when she suddenly heard someone outside calling her to a meeting.

She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was Wednesday, which meant she would be entering Cullen's office for the first time.

Shen Mi took a deep breath, put away the communicator, and placed it in his pocket, looking forward to meeting Dan Heng tonight.

Shen Mi swiped her name tag and arrived at the office door without any hindrance. Her access was limited to this point; beyond that, she would need someone to escort her inside.

Shen Mi stood outside the office door, waiting quietly.

The surroundings were silent, except for the sound of synchronized footsteps coming from the distant corridor.

Shen Mi waited and waited for Sang Li for a long time, and couldn't help but wonder if he had been tricked by the messenger. But when he looked at the clock on the wall, the number on it was indeed Wednesday.

Why hasn't Sang Li arrived yet? Just as she was wondering if something had gone wrong, footsteps broke the silence.

She turned her head and saw a figure walking from the other end of the corridor. Although they had only met once, Shen Mi felt that the person was Kulun.

His footsteps were slow and steady, carrying an undeniable aura. Kulen strolled over with an unintentional ease, as if he could always control the rhythm of everything.

Kulen was dressed in a dark uniform, his face gentle, but his eyes held an unfathomable depth. He smiled slightly, seemingly apologetic for Shen Mi's waiting, and even quickened his pace slightly.

If one hadn't witnessed firsthand the evil deeds committed by the dogs he kept, anyone would probably have thought he was a kind and benevolent elder, much like a father.

"6013, why are you standing here waiting?" Kulen's voice was deep, carrying a gentle yet undeniable concern. "Come on, let's go inside."

Look, he clearly knows why you're standing here, but he still pretends to ask you a question.

Shen Mi took a half step back, leaving a safe space between the two of them, nodded, and said in a somewhat flat voice, "Thank you."

Then, she subconsciously met his gaze, and seeing the look in his eyes, a strange unease welled up inside her.

Kulen remained oblivious to the pressure he was putting on her, still smiling. His deep eyes were like two pools of water, seemingly able to see through everything. He said casually, "You've come at the right time. Today's meeting isn't urgent. You don't need to come so early next time. Sang Li should be here soon."

Kulen's pace remained slow; he seemed in no hurry to go in, but stopped beside her with a leisurely air. His hand suddenly rested lightly on her shoulder, and Shen Mi immediately felt a heavy pressure. The hand appeared unintentional, but the touch made her heart leap.

She instinctively shrugged, trying to shake off the inexplicable pressure, but Cullen's hand didn't immediately move away; instead, it tightened its grip. His tone remained gentle, but the invisible sense of control made Shen Mi even more uneasy.

"You've been waiting for a long time, haven't you?" Cullen's voice was deep and gentle, with an almost unusually intimate tone. "I thought you would be getting impatient."

Shen Mi felt as if fingers were gently caressing her shoulder, and her heart raced. She tried to stay calm and forced herself not to pay too much attention to the discomfort caused by that hand.

Her back suddenly stiffened. Shen Mi took a deep breath, shook off Kulen's touch, moved to the side, forced herself to look directly at the other person, and said in a calm voice, "It's okay, I just arrived."

Kulen smiled, seemingly oblivious to her aloofness, and said more casually, "Actually, the working environment in Zone C is pretty good, isn't it? At least it doesn't have the dust and oppressive feeling of Zone E. I've always felt that a better environment makes people feel better." His gentle tone carried a certain enigmatic meaning, as if he knew her far more than he showed.

Shen Mi did not respond. The two days seemed like a casual chat between old friends, but Shen Mi always felt that his "familiarity" was really annoying.

Kulen continued walking unhurriedly, his hands behind his back, as if all his actions were upright and virtuous. Shen Mi had no choice but to follow closely behind him, although with each step she felt increasingly uncomfortable, as the stench emanating from Kulen seemed to surge towards her like a tide.

The corridor lights gradually dimmed, and the surrounding space seemed to become even more oppressive. Shen Mi felt as if every step she took was leading to an abyss from which there was no return. Her heart pounded faster and harder in her chest, as if the whole world was beating to this uneasy rhythm.

Kulen's voice continued to echo in her ears, "You see, I think as people live longer, they will understand that the influence of the environment on people is actually invisible, and it can give people a sense of belonging. 6013, do you agree?"

His tone was gentle, yet it was like an invisible net, subtly drawing her into his rhythm. Shen Mi frowned slightly but didn't respond, only nodding perfunctorily.

She understood that Cullen wasn't waiting for her answer; his words were merely a means to create an invisible sense of control, a feeling that was gradually eroding her and trying to dominate her.

As they walked toward the conference room, Shen Mi's heart pounded faster and faster. She understood that the distance between them was no longer just a matter of physical proximity, but rather that Kuren was drawing ever closer to her with that invisible force. Every step he took brought her a tense sense of pressure; the feeling of his hand on her shoulder lingered, though it no longer touched her, the unease it brought was inescapable, like a heavy stone pressing on her heart.

Every word he said put pressure on her.

People arrived one after another, and Sang Li was the last to arrive. When she saw Shen Mi, she raised her eyebrows with pleasure, clearly not surprised at all to see Shen Mi in the office beforehand.

The meeting began, and Shen Mi tried her best to focus on the content in front of her, but she couldn't shake off the uneasy atmosphere.

Kulen sat at the head of the conference table and began to explain the upcoming work arrangements in a gentle and slow tone, as if he were talking about something perfectly normal.

Her gaze wandered discreetly, subtly surveying every corner of the conference room, silently noting down the office layout in her mind.

The conference room walls were a cool gray, exuding a somber atmosphere. The room was bathed in the harsh light of incandescent bulbs, which, while dazzling, did not create a bright ambiance but instead instilled a sense of oppression. Several abstract paintings hung on the walls on either side, their simple color schemes, mostly gray and black, seemingly calm yet subtly filling the air with a heavy atmosphere.

The surrounding tables and chairs were made of dark wood, giving them a heavy and antique feel. Several documents and some untouched tools were neatly arranged on the tabletops. Several metal pen holders beside the table looked spotless, with each pen arranged in a uniform order, as if nothing could break the rules.

Shen Mi noticed a large display screen at the other end of the conference table. The screen was blank, silently awaiting the continuation of the meeting. Next to the screen was a control panel, seemingly for adjusting the temperature and lighting; it was easy to operate, but also lacked any sense of warmth. A faint smell of disinfectant mingled with the musty odor of wood, and the entire space felt devoid of any warmth.

In the center of the table, there was a small metal device, presumably a microphone for receiving sound. Several cameras hung above the microphone, watching the entire room intently, seemingly recording everyone's every move.

Her gaze continued to the corner, where there was a large metal cabinet. The cabinet doors were tightly closed, with no markings on the surface, and a lock on top. Next to the cabinet were several heavy folders, piled up somewhat haphazardly, yet still maintaining a sense of order.

Shen Mi instinctively remembered her purpose in coming here—she had to find the evidence hidden in Kulen's office, and every detail in this room could be what she wanted.

Her gaze fell on Kulen again, and she saw that he was still talking to himself. The managers around him occasionally nodded and took notes. The atmosphere was peaceful, but Shen Mi still felt disgusted by the contact just now. She was too disgusted to look at him.

Chen Mi's gaze quickly shifted from Kulun to the window. The window was slightly dusty but otherwise transparent, revealing a hazy, gray landscape outside. The distant, indistinct buildings and boundless wasteland created a sense of oppression.

Shen Mi tried hard to suppress the discomfort in her stomach and forced herself to concentrate. She noticed that every item in the room seemed unusually neat and orderly, as if conveying an inescapable sense of order. Even though it was nonsense, the people around her nodded numbly, and he even seemed smug.

As the meeting continued, she grew increasingly anxious, feeling uncomfortable under the gaze and with a churning stomach.

Kulen's voice came again: "Next, we will begin discussing the next steps in the production plan for Zone C."

He smiled slightly, his gentle tone as kind as an elder's, yet Shen Mi's unease deepened. She lowered her head, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of the table, trying to ignore everything around her; all she wanted was to end the meeting as soon as possible and leave.

A note from the author:

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Next up is Chen Mi's counterattack! Counterattack! Counterattack!!! Thank you Ling Gui for the nutrient solution!!!

Savare: I miss you. [Pity]