AZI Volume 1 Chapter 5

Mirrored Moon Café, a café located in the third ward of GC012.

The exterior of the location can only be described as inconspicuous—for it is located within an alleyway.

Meaning this isn't a place that a random person would just wander into—unless they were looking for it specifically.

"Wel- oh a lot sooner than expected."

Greeting Long Hua who had stepped into the café is Zhou'er—who is dressed in an outfit that is reminiscent of a maid.

"Tail again?"

Passing by Zhou'er, who had her light brown hair tied into a tail, Long Hua smiles.

"Something wrong with it?"

"No. It suits you."

A tinge of red appears on Zhou'er's cheeks from hearing a compliment instead of an expected rude remark.

"…Would you not?"

"Isn't it the job of the senior, to tease his younger co-worker?"

"You're only a year older."

"So, you're 17 this year?"

"It's rude to just point out a lady's age like that."

"A true lady wouldn't mind."

The interior of the café is designed to give off a classic air that is meant to be aesthetically pleasing to those with such tastes.

A total of 12 tables, each equipped with four chairs.

The counter however doesn't resemble that of a café at all—for numerous bottles of alcohol decorates its walls.

Below the alcohol rack is where all the coffee beans are located.

"Where's the Owner?"

"Here."

From the entrance that leads into the back, walks out a man—who looks to be somewhere in his mid-twenties.

Dressed in a classic bartender outfit that is made up of a black vest over a white shirt; his dark hair reaches down to his waist. The texture of his hair would surely look far more fitting on a woman than a man.

This is the Owner of the Mirrored Moon Café, whose real name and age are up for anyone to guess.

"Congratulations on graduating."

"Now that I think about it, not having to walk between the third and sixth ward for work does seem like something worth celebrating about."

Walking over to the counter, Long Hua pours himself a glass of water.

"For the time being, the Guild has no plans to assign you to anything."

Guilds, these are organizations that provide Sinners with living necessities, such as, a run of the mill job—outside of military service—and a functional place to live in. They are easy to join, but difficult to get out of—depending upon the type that one enters.

"So, a break? Does sound nice, since I'll probably be using that time to get used to work in the Disciplinary Bureau."

"Emergencies may come up depending on the situation."

"Those tend to pay well, so let me know."

"Would you two quit talking about the Guild? It feels chilly when you do."

"Apologies."

"I'll go get changed."

It didn't take long for Long Hua to change out of the remainder of his school uniform, and into a white dress shirt that is layered over a black vest.

And having put on the appropriate attire, work in the café begins.

"Welcome, is it a table for one?"

As this café isn't located in a very conspicuous location, the place is rarely ever busy.

At a glance, one would think this café to be a local business that is funded mainly by the money of its loyal regulars, which isn't very far from the truth, so long as its main function that is to act as the branch office of a Guild remains unseen to the general populace.

"Hey, Long Hua."

"What?"

As Long Hua washes the cups and dishes, Zhou'er sits in front of the counter with an expression of curiosity.

"Is S09 really that different from an ordinary high school?"

"Why are you asking that now of all times?"

"Research paper. I want some direct references to work with."

"Oh? So, your grade is dependent upon my answer? Makes me want to throw in a few exaggerations."

"Don't."

"Hmm. Other then most of the workers there being made up of military personnel…- Let's talk about the food first. You know those MREs and common canned fruits?"

"Yeah."

"That's what we are made to eat there."

"All the time?"

"All the time. If we're lucky those MREs… I think 30 percent of the time aren't expired."

Thinking of this, Long Hua really did feel like it was good riddance on his part from having graduated today.

"You saw how I didn't come in the door with my usual jacket on today? We were made to give that up after drawing the ballots."

"Seriously?"

"If they were more shameless about it, they'd probably order us to walk home naked. You know how at an ordinary high school, you'd have both a winter and a summer uniform? That uniform is the only one we get, and the material it's made from is also on the cheap side as well. Other than that… Right, we get called by numbers and not actual names."

Having said this, Long Hua places his plastic name card onto the counter table.

"1029-874. Hm? Is it just me or do these numbers look…?"

"They are. If you rotate the two and seven, they resemble an N and U respectively. Eight and four is up for interpretation, but they can act as an H and A. The Guild did a few things to get me the numbers that would most resemble my name in pinyin."

"Would you have forgotten your own name in the four years since enrolling had you not?"

"I probably would have. Since I've been through so much hardship, be sure to treasure me as much as possible."

"How about no? Clearly, you're lying about that."

"Ai, you young folks really don't know how to respect the elderly."

"You're not even that old…"

"Hmm I think the moment you need to do math to figure out your own age, is when you become an old man. Hey, how's life in the second ward?"

The third ward that this café is located in, is a ward that focuses on entertainment, so it's intended to be the center of business for this city.

At the same time, it is the ward that holds this city's main port, which is heavily focused on receiving imports from the outside world.

"Life in the second ward is… Normal, I guess?"

The second ward is a ward that is focused on housing for families. Sinners are banned from entering this ward—unless, they have special permission to be there.

Even the Disciplinary Bureau offices that oversee this ward, are made to position themselves at the edge of its borders—where a wall runs across it and the second ward.

"The first ward is right beside the second ward. Don't you think that's awfully convenient?"

The first ward is focused on providing general education to non-Sinners, with most of its land made up of schools and dorms.

As this ward is bound up together with the second ward through a border wall, Sinners are also banned from entering there without special permission.

"The sixth ward is where S09 is. What do you think is around that?"

"Hmm the fifth ward and the seventh ward…"

"Why do you think the fifth ward is made up of mostly labs?"

Restaurants, apartments, and general stores can be found throughout all the wards, but compared to the first and second ward, the ones found in other wards are generally smaller in size—for they are built to service the working class that all gets off at varying hours of the day.

"…"

An unpleasant expression appears on Zhou'er's face towards this question upon realizing the answer.

"Sinners aren't treated like humans depending on the higher-ups' demands. Our bodies are a lot stronger than the average human. Doesn't that just make us the perfect guinea pigs to test experimental drugs and the likes on?"

To live in this world's society properly as a Sinner, one is required to serve on the frontlines for five years.

After that, they can do whatever they wish, so long as they are willing to heed to the calls of the government in times of need and stay out of trouble.

"…"

"The seventh ward is made up of mostly power plants. Some Sinners are capable of manipulating electric energy through their Relics."

Shutting off the water and placing the last plate onto the drying rack, Long Hua wipes his hands with a towel.

"If you really want to do a research paper on Sinners, keep what I just said in mind. Also, don't go asking other Sinners for reference. I don't want my first job in the bureau to have to involve a 17-year-old high school girl being brutally murdered by a rogue while on her way home to the second ward."

"…"

Hearing this, and realizing just how high the likelihood of it happening are, Zhou'er's lips quiver with a hint of nervousness.

"Now, now, no need to scare the young lady."

Upon the Owner lightly resting his hand onto Zhou'er's head, the latter snaps out of her nervous state.

"Go clean up the table for me."

"Got it."

As Zhou'er leaves the counter, Long Hua looks at the Owner.

"I was taught that having fears is a good thing, since being on edge makes you far more cautious of your surroundings."

"I seriously do have to wonder just who taught you these things…"

"…"

Truth be told, Long Hua doesn't know the answer to that either.

But whoever this mysterious mentor is, their lessons have seemingly been engraved onto his very soul—making it easy for him to recite them by heart.

"I received something today that may interest you."

"Oh?"