Chapter 1848: Chapter 1845: Bank Clerk and Matchstick Man
The other side of the frozen wasteland.
The reconnaissance engineering team from the Control Bureau had initial thoughts similar to Han Dong and his group.
They too search each bunker along the way, systematically breaking through the undead between different bunkers.
Of course, they were unaware of the concept of "Dead Spirit"... Slowly, they began to understand this species through systematic confrontations, with relevant information thoroughly analyzed and documented by the leading ’staff’.
Thanks to the exploration information brought back by the [President] (its avatar, sealed in the deepest layer just like Mr.Teacher, requiring complete control over the B.B.C to be released), the Committee formally determined to designate the shattered dimension of S-01 as a temporary base for those out of control after leaving the Black Tower.
Using the "World Rubik’s Cube" as a stable transmission medium, a steady passage from B.B.C’s deep layer to the shattered dimension (S-01) was opened,
Initiating a large-scale exploration of this vast and mysterious dimensional area with considerable manpower.
B.B.C engineers, combined with rare materials provided by the out of control, also constructed spacecraft capable of long-distance navigation in the shattered dimension.
Including the President’s avatar, the Committee members took out unburdened avatars, less involved in core events, to participate in the reconnaissance exploration.
The reconnaissance engineering team on the frozen wasteland was led by two Originals.
One belongs to the Committee member’s avatar,
The other, though not selected into the Committee, holds equally formidable strength resembling the Deep House which once welcomed Han Dong and others in the deep layer of the Black Tower and handled the Q&A segment.
They proceed in a line, moving through the frozen wasteland.
An individual ’bank clerk’ paves the way ahead.
A ’matchstick man’ at the rear ensures the safety of ten engineers and researchers.
Containment Name: [Bank Clerk]
ID: [Original-146]
Out of control category: Common People
Out of control level: Prince (Jack)
"Containment Procedures": Original-146 is prohibited from contacting any currency with numerical face value such as coins and banknotes.
Under these conditions, Original-146 is allowed a resting room equivalent to a Black Tower Employee, and managers must try to meet their needs in any aspect.
When large-scale data processing is required, Original-146 can be asked for calculation assistance.
"Description": Original-146 is a normal male human wearing a white shirt, grey trousers, and leather shoes, appears between 30 and 35 years old, height and build are within average values, worked lifelong as a bank clerk.
He originated from the large world L-278 (extinct).
The supervision and maintenance cycle of the large world typically lasts 3-5 days, and after some routine maintenance work,
In just four days,
The world lost 80% of its living beings, including all mythical bodies and True Kings (six in total), to death.
The Black Tower promptly activated a special investigation department, carrying out a thorough inspection of the L-278 world, attempting to find intruders stealthily entering across dimensions.
However.
There were no invaders at all,
The massive extinction and fall of mighty figures came from within the world itself.
After layers of investigation, the focus was ultimately locked onto a bank in a common town, where a simple ’bank clerk’ became highly suspect.
Subsequent arrest operations against the bank clerk were unusually smooth,
When the special investigation group broke into his house, this bank clerk seemed to foresee being taken away and was already packing his belongings.
He made only one request, that his everyday clothing and living supplies must be included, or else he would resist at any cost.
After verifying that his luggage had no issues, the request was accepted.
After testing, this bank clerk had reached the ’out of control standard’, designated ID Original-146.
In the Control Bureau’s psychological evaluation area, when asked why he caused world extinction, his responses were recorded via audio equipment, as follows:
"I couldn’t stand the work environment at the time and felt despair and disgust towards the world."
"Could you describe what specifically happened in detail?"
"I was a bank clerk at Miller Bank, diligently worked for twelve years without a single day late, leave, or absence. I consistently completed my tasks on time, and didn’t mind overtime at all.
No matter what I did, Manager Sheriff always found ways to target and alienate me, often picking ridicule over normal work to deduct my salary.
There were also my colleagues Angela and Stede, who always caused trouble over trivial matters,
For example, pretending to accidentally spill coffee on me or my desk, or even deliberately switching documents, putting the ones I painstakingly processed into the shredder.
Nonetheless, I could accept all of this.
Because I deeply loved my job at the bank, every piece of currency I touched brought me immense excitement.
Until recently, I was summoned to Manager Sheriff’s office.
Angela and Stede were also there, fabricating events that never happened, dismissing me for incompetence and tarnishing the bank’s image.
That moment, I felt unprecedented disgust towards the world and effortlessly killed the three of them.
When the bank’s security arrived, they tried to subdue me, and I killed them too.
Eventually, the local police, state police, and military were alarmed, and until all were killed, a group of strangely dressed, superpowered individuals appeared, whom I also killed all.
Thus, it lasted three days, the world finally quieted down, and I returned home to reflect on my actions until your arrival.
May I ask if you could provide a job similar to that of a ’bank clerk’ here? Even if it’s without pay, I am willing, and I will strive to work, saving you from numerous troubles."
...
The above is the containment information of the bank clerk in B.B.C, all evaluations reach safe values, and B.B.C has repeatedly assessed as the ’safest containee’.
As for the other [Matchstick Man], he belongs to a special avatar of a Committee member, with no available information for cars.
"Mr. Matchstick, I think there’s no need to clean the bunkers along the way... The intelligence we can gather from these ’low-level units’ has reached its limit.
Further collection will only leak more of our information."
The bank clerk suggests while turning to look behind.
The ten-person team of engineers and researchers walks closely together, each clutching a match... even unlit, it helps them withstand the extreme cold.
Matchstick Man stays at the back of the team.
His image resembles the gang members that emerged during the British industrial revolution - "Razor Gang".
Overcoat, suit, pocket watch, shoes, newsboy cap, and leather gloves.
Under the formal yet graceful attire is a thin middle-aged man with deep eye sockets.
Whenever and wherever, he can always retrieve a box of exquisite matches from the pocket of his coat.
When the bank clerk raises the question, Matchstick Man also pulls out a cigar, lighting it while slightly nodding, releasing smoke rings.
"Hmm, accelerate towards the center."
Upon reaching the Center of the Frozen Soil,
Standing at the position of a white spire with ’lighthouse’ effects.
Scratch!
Slide a match to light it with one hand, letting it fall freely to the ground.
Logically speaking, a faintly burning match, once touching the icy surface, should extinguish instantly.
However...
The freely falling match continues to burn,
Any material within half a meter range around it, whether snow, ice, or solid rock, steel will be instantly incinerated.
Under the feet of the crowd,
A bottomless black hole was thus burned out.
Seemingly leading directly to the Temple Nest of the dead spirits.