Chapter 4: Is it the World that Changed, or the Memories
My purpose in coming to the Security Business Handling Center was, of course, not just to see Shang Shu and seek inner solace; after confirming Shang Shu's trust, I had more important things to do.
“Eh? You want to query the records of officially assigned government departmental missions starting from a week ago and expiring yesterday?” Shang Shu was somewhat surprised by my request; she had thought I was here for a mission to alleviate my financial difficulties, not expecting it to be something like querying mission records, which was of little significance to a mercenary.
“Yes, because there are many things I need to confirm, and perhaps I can find out the truth about why I've become like this from them, so I'll have to trouble you.”
What bothered me most was that overly realistic dream, the change in the necklace, and the changes in my body…… Although it sounded absurd, I strongly suspected that all of this might be related to that dream, and what if, that wasn't a dream at all……
“Oh! I understand.”
After hearing my request, Shang Shu immediately reached out and pressed a spot on the small square tabletop between us.
Following a soft ‘ding’ sound, the originally ordinary tabletop suddenly sank slowly from the middle, and a small rectangular black screen was slowly raised by a mechanical support from the gap created by the sunken part of the tabletop.
My astonished gaze was fixed on this display screen, following it from the bottom until it was fully raised, never leaving it; half a second later, the black screen gradually lit up, and although the words were upside down from my perspective as I sat opposite, I quickly recognized the words displayed on the screen——‘Personal Service Terminal’.
What was this?!
Could it be that this seemingly unremarkable tabletop in the meeting room was actually such a high-end technological product?
I had been in a meeting room a few times before, but I had never known that the tables in these individual meeting rooms concealed such a mechanism, nor had I ever heard any rumors about such things from any channel; this was truly incredible.
However, soon after noticing my expression, Shang Shu thoughtfully explained it to me: “Just yesterday, the handling center upgraded the equipment for the meeting rooms, and these terminals installed inside the meeting room tables are just one of the results of the upgrade, twelve units in total.
Any individual inquiries no longer need to go to the database; they can directly query the database through this type of terminal. Although it's still a trial machine, its efficiency is quite high.”
Shang Shu was highly enthusiastic when talking about these things; it was clear that as a service staff member, she had a very favorable impression of this small panel that saved her a lot of time and effort.
While speaking, Shang Shu extended her index finger and pressed it on the ‘fingerprint unlock’ area on the display screen. After a series of reading confirmations, ‘Unlock successful: Service Personnel Number 24’ appeared on the screen. After a brief black screen, a light blue interface became the main color tone of the display.
I looked with considerable curiosity at this device, which was quite novel to me,, the base government rarely paid attention to the construction of the outer city districts, yet now the Security Business Handling Center had, uncharacteristically, installed twelve of them at once.
This abnormal behavior of the Chu Sheng City Base Government was truly rare: “Didn't they say there were financial difficulties recently? Where did the base government get the spare money to do this?”
“Huh? You don't know? This is part of the ‘Chu Sheng City Public Service Construction Plan’.”
“Oh, Public Service Construction Plan…… Huh?” It was originally a subconscious repetition from me, but when I suddenly realized the meaning represented by this familiar name, I was completely stunned, and the expression on my face gradually became incredulous.
I certainly understood what the so-called ‘Chu Sheng City Public Service Construction Plan’ was all about; it was a new round of construction plans announced to the public by the Chu Sheng City Base Government two months ago. According to official claims, it was a plan aimed at improving ‘Public Facilities’, ‘Civic Education’, and ‘Public Venues’.
There was nothing wrong with such a plan to improve people's livelihood, but the problem was…… in my memory, this plan had been suddenly announced as temporarily suspended three days ago to make way for large-scale material stockpiling by the base government.
This wasn't the main point; rather, the reason the base government implemented large-scale material stockpiling was precisely for that large-scale military operation to eliminate the witch ‘Tyrant’ in the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area three days later!
However, according to Shang Shu's explanation, the development of reality was completely different from my memory: this plan had continued to be implemented, until now……
“Sister Shang Shu, has the government issued any warnings about ‘witches’ recently?”
“Witches?” Shang Shu, who had been looking down at the display screen, looked up, appearing very puzzled, “No, not at all. If you want to know, you can go to the bars and ask around; there are quite a few rumors about that.”
Rumors from the bars? Of course, I wouldn't believe such a source of information; as a mercenary, I knew very well how low the credibility of such rumors, originating from the mouths of mercenaries, was. How could valuable intelligence possibly be spread so wantonly?
That is to say, up until today, the base government had not revealed any intelligence related to witches…… However, in that so-called dream, the time when the base government announced information about witches to the residents of Chu Sheng City was also three days ago.
I suddenly understood; it wasn't just today's memory, but at least the memories of these past three days had all developed some kind of error, or deviation…… at least regarding the understanding of the ‘Chu Sheng City Public Service Construction Plan’ and ‘witch intelligence’.
But this…… how was this possible?!
Then where exactly had the problem occurred? Besides this point, what other differences were there? Three days ago, why hadn't Chu Sheng City terminated this plan to stockpile strategic materials? Could it be that the military operation that had caused such a stir in Chu Sheng City had really suddenly disappeared? How much of my memory was different from reality?
A chill ran down my spine; no matter how comfortable the soft sofa beneath me was, it made me restless and unable to suppress the unease in my heart.
Were my memories confused, or had this world…… undergone an unknown change?
If it were the former, where the brain, due to some stimulus, deceived itself by weaving stories and affected the memory, then how could the change in my own gender be explained? This wasn't a mental issue; it was a real, tangible change. Shang Shu's initial perception was strong proof.
But if it were the latter…… What kind of power had caused this change?
I dared not believe in such a power that transcended common sense, but didn't everything that had happened to me precisely indicate that this world did indeed possess unnatural forces that were difficult to explain with common understanding?
I had originally come here seeking answers, but up to now, not only had I not found any clues, but the confusing mysteries were also increasing.
No…… even if such a rare large-scale military operation was suddenly canceled three days ago, it would inevitably leave some traces. I urgently needed to find clues that could match my memory……
“Found it.”
“!”
Just as I was pressing my aching brow, Shang Shu had already found all the mission assignments according to my request.
She rotated the free-standing support beneath the display screen, and the screen flipped to face me, displaying all the various mission assignments that met my requirements.
The small display screen was densely packed with text; each column of information represented a brief introduction to a mission: including the client, mission classification, general content, remuneration, whether procedures like signing a contract were required, the effective period of the assignment, importance level…… and other important information.
My gaze shifted; the total page count in the bottom right corner made me gasp inwardly——1/401.
Calculating based on six mission information slots per page, there were at least two thousand four hundred mission assignments here. Even a cursory review would consume a considerable amount of time and effort; this was not a workload I could complete alone in a short period.
“A Jing, what kind of mission assignment are you looking for? Can I help?” Noticing the worry on my brow, Shang Shu immediately and eagerly wanted to share my burden.
“But…… won't this delay your other work?” I did remember: according to the regulations for the second floor, the personal service time for a Level 2 mercenary by a service staff member here had to end within half an hour.
The right to infinitely extend personal service time belonged only to individual mercenaries above Level 2 or operatives with backgrounds in large corporations or the government; as a Level 2 mercenary, I, logically speaking, did not have such a right.
“It's alright, the supervisor here is very kind. After explaining the situation and submitting a written request, the service time can be extended.”
Shang Shu appeared unusually proactive, and her reply also exceeded my expectations; in my impression, the management regulations of government-related institutions had always been rigid. Could the management here be so lenient?
However, since she wanted to help, I wouldn't be polite either; having an assistant was indeed a rare help, especially a professional skilled in this type of work.
“Then I'll have to trouble you…… thanks.”