AZI Volume 1 Chapter 8

Having parked his bike, Long Hua—whose outfit consists of a fur-hooded black coat with a pair of black jeans and dark sneakers, walked towards the entrance of a three-floored white building.

This is one of the numerous labs that make up the fifth ward, and this one in particular is owned exclusively by Nián Pharmaceuticals Inc. often shortened as NPI, and is also the Guild that Long Hua is affiliated with.

Above the entrance of the building is the company's logo—that is the character for year.

The first floor of this building serves as a hospital with over 200 patient rooms, while ten rooms are used for basic health checkups.

Five of the second floor's rooms are used strictly for surgical operations, while the rest of the rooms along with much of the third floor are used for research purposes.

"Here to see Dr. Jing Yao."

Walking over to the counter, Long Hua takes out a black card from his wallet and slides it onto the reception counter.

The young lady dressed in the outfit of a nurse scans the card quickly before returning it through the opening on the transparent glass screen.

"She's expecting you on the third floor, room 06."

"Thanks."

Taking the black card back, Long Hua walks over to the elevator, and waits for it to arrive at the third floor.

Arriving onto the third floor and finding the room had been easy enough, and upon entering Jing Yao's office—

"Is a checkup really needed this soon?"

"Of course it is. Especially since you're going to need the papers for your first day at work."

Sitting on a rolling chair is a woman in her early twenties with short silver hair and is dressed in a lab coat over a white dress shirt and black pants. Her eyes are an elegant shade of green.

Despite the woman possessing a face that would make others of the same gender envious, her default expression ruins that with how cold she appears.

This is the guest researcher of NPI, who is in charge of this research lab and hospital, Jing Yao.

Aside from Jing Yao's desk and computer, the center of her office is occupied by a motorized medical examination chair.

Mounted onto the ceiling of this room, and positioned above the chair is a movable lamp.

Other than that, there are two rolling stools for a patient and family member.

"Work for the Disciplinary Bureau?"

"They'll take whatever excuse they can to send Sinners to the frontlines. If your medical reports aren't up to date, then off you go."

"…Don't they still need some around to guard the city?"

Asking this, Long Hua takes off his coat revealing a white shirt beneath the layer and seats himself on the examination chair, while Jing Yao walks over to him and shines the lamp directly onto his face.

"Frontlines need more manpower than the cities. Open your mouth."

Doing as told, the easier portion of the medical examination is finished quickly, and upon its conclusion a nurse walks in with blood drawing equipment.

"Need some of your blood. Everything's been prepared beforehand, so you can expect the results in five minutes."

"Get it over with then."

With the blood drawn and taken by the nurse, Long Hua sits himself onto one of the spare rolling stools.

"So have things been busy on your end?"

"Hospital work is on the lighter side, which is a good thing, I suppose? Our operating rooms here don't see much use since we specialize in one field."

"Is that really something that a doctor should ask if it's good?"

Towards this question, Jing Yao shrugs her shoulders as she inputs Long Hua's examination results into the computer.

"And you? Anything feeling odd lately?"

"Not really."

"Have you used your Relic recently?"

"Yesterday. Before that was a week ago."

"Why did you use it yesterday?"

"Five assassins came at me for cheating during the ballot drawing."

"They really are quite desperate for manpower, aren't they?"

As the two talked about the recent events in their lives, the lab results for Long Hua's blood were eventually sent over through email.

"Well?"

"Hazard Level 230."

The higher a Sinner's Hazard Level is the stronger they are, but it also means the less stable they tend to be.

One to 1,000 are the standard values, while anything higher than 1,000 is enough for the Sinner to be considered a potential danger, and should be placed on a watchlist.

Those that are beyond 2,000 run the risk of—

"If I recall, Apotheosis is anywhere between 2,000 to 2,499."

"Correct."

The Sinners who undergo Apotheosis are deemed as an extermination target by the Disciplinary Bureau for upon Apotheosis, they would have already lost their minds, making them impossible to be reasoned with.

"So, I'm still fine then?"

"I'd still try to use your Relic as little as possible. Remember-"

"Those that have their Relics as a part of their body tend to raise their Hazard Levels faster. I remember."

"Anything that riles you up emotionally can also result in the level being raised."

Rubbing his neck, Long Hua frowns.

This is the spot where his branding that takes on the form of a bar code like tattoo is located.

Such tattoos are present on all Sinners, but locations vary from person to person.

It goes without saying that most Sinners tend to hide these tattoos as a means to avoid being treated with disdain while out in public—where the majority are non-Sinners.

"Want to hear a funny story?"

"Knowing you, it's probably not going to be funny, but let's hear it."

"Two weeks ago, a family of three came to my office. Their six-year-old daughter had "Sinner's Branding," they asked me, what's wrong with her, and what's the cure for this illness."

"Ahahaha…"

Shaking his head, Long Hua finds it difficult to suppress his laughter at the twisted nature of this story.

"So, what happened to that girl in the end?"

When a bar code tattoo appears on a child, who is six to seven years of age, the former's parents are often left with only one of two choices.

They either keep the child and live with them outside of the second ward, or sell that child to the government for money.

"They sold her."

"Figured as much."

Most tend to opt for the second option, as living environments outside of the second ward are harsher, and the money that the parents can get out of the deal tends to be decent.

As these tattoos commonly appear on children of six to seven years of age, six to seven is often the most stressful period of parenthood for couples.

"Ai, Jing."

"Hm?"

"You want to go out for dinner sometime?"

Towards this question, Jing Yao pauses the movement of her hands across the keyboard, but rather quickly she would resume her task, and answer—

"We're not in such a relationship."

"It's been five years since we came to this city. Don't you think it's worth celebrating over some drinks? At this point, we've known each other for almost… Uh ten years?"

"A bit more than that actually."

Truth be told, Long Hua can't imagine himself ever entering a romantic relationship with someone else as—

(I was taught women are nothing but trouble, so entering a relationship with one requires some seriously thinking.)

Thinking of this, Long Hua can't help but frown on the inside. His instincts told him that he should try to avoid a romantic relationship as much as possible, else he would be made to suffer for it dearly.

"…"

Thinking for a bit, Jing Yao moves, and clicks the mouse twice, bringing up her schedule, and replies—

"I'm free this Sunday."

"Alright then. Where do you want to meet?"

"Third ward is the only place we can meet, let's see… How about the Archaic Wind?"

"Talk about expensive."

"You're treating, aren't you?"

"I was taught that there's nothing better than to be treated to a meal with someone else's money. Well fine, Archaic Wind it is, so long as you promise to treat me to something else later."

"Deal."

As the medical reports are printed and handed over, Long Hua leaves with them in hand.