As soon as they stepped into the recruitment room, they were greeted by a middle-aged woman in glasses and a pristine white lab coat.
Medeia’s eyes flicked to her name tag: Shuri Kamizaki.
Shuri smiled at them, her eyes curving into crescents moon, exuding the kind of warmth that felt just a little too welcoming.
"What a lovely day to have two applicants at once!" Shuri stood from her desk and approached them with ease, as if she had done this countless times before.
Behind them, the door suddenly slammed shut with an unexpected thud, making Medeia flinch slightly.
Her instincts kicked in, and she immediately scanned the room.
Like the corridors outside, everything was white. The walls, the floors, the furniture—hell, even the book covers and coffee cups were white.
What the hell is wrong with these people? Is someone here obsessed with the color white or what?
Shuri’s office wasn’t particularly large. It was clean, sterile, and almost minimalist. A simple desk, a chair, and bookshelves lined with various research journals and documents.
However, what caught Medeia’s attention wasn’t the office itself, but the room next to it.
A glass wall separated it from the main office, giving them a clear view inside.
There was an examination chair, one that looked eerily similar to something you’d find in a dentist’s office, sitting right in front of a large, high-tech screen.
Along the walls, rows of sealed cabinets stood in perfect alignment, most likely stocked with medical supplies or something far worse.
Medeia narrowed her eyes.
Was this some kind of torture chamber?
Was Shuri planning to electrocute their brains until they fried like overcooked meat?
Ugh. If that was the case, Shuri would also shave all her hair off right now. There was no way in hell Medeia was going to end up bald like a kappa.
But more importantly, she had to make sure Shuri never got a reason to make her remove her helmet.
Because really ... what kind of military man would have waist-length hair?
Unless he planned to become the soldiers’ entertainment, Medeia couldn’t think of any other reason.
"So, you’re Sergeant Harlow, and you ...." Shuri tilted her head slightly as she studied Medeia. "Corporal Cross? Why are you wearing a mask and helmet indoors?"
Lucian spoke up before Medeia could react. "He can’t talk for a while. Last week, a bug latched onto his neck, and now it hurts whenever he tries to speak."
Shuri’s expression shifted to mild concern, but Lucian leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.
"That’s also why he prefers to wear a hat and mask," he whispered. "The bugs ate part of his skin and... well, let’s just say his face is ruined and he’s bald now."
Medeia stiffened, suppressing the urge to gag. That explanation was disturbing as hell. Even thinking about bugs crawling on her skin made her shudder.
"Oh no ... that sounds awful!" Shuri gasped, genuinely sympathetic. "But are you sure you want to work here? Shouldn’t you be resting instead?"
Without missing a beat, Medeia grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, quickly scribbling down:
"I heard the food here is better than usual. Maybe it’ll help with my recovery."
Shuri nodded in understanding. "That’s true. The food here is of higher quality because everything has to be sterile. However, if you want good meals, you’ll have to work hard. Are you sure you can handle it in your condition?"
Medeia straightened her posture and nodded firmly, as if to show her unwavering determination.
Shuri chuckled softly. "I suppose food is the best motivator for people." Then, adjusting her glasses, she continued, "Before you can start working here, you both need to pass two important tests."
"What kind of tests?" Lucian asked.
"Simple. The first test is just answering a set of questions on the screen." Shuri gestured toward the adjacent room. "And the second is just a short interview and a vitamin supplement. That’s all."
"I promise the test is extremely easy." Shuri smiled widely, but for some reason, Medeia found it unsettling.
"Who wants to go first?" Shuri asked.
"I’ll do it," Lucian answered quickly, not hesitating for even a second.
Shuri nodded and gestured for him to follow her into the other room, leaving Medeia behind to wait in her office.
Lucian took a seat as instructed, but the moment he did, the glass wall suddenly turned opaque, blocking Medeia’s view entirely.
Her instincts kicked in immediately.
In a split second, she was already out of her chair, ready to kick the door down, but she stopped herself halfway.
If she acted recklessly now, infiltrating the base would become much harder. Especially because Shuri seemed to be an important figure here.
But what the hell was happening there?
Medeia exhaled sharply and forced herself to sit back down, tapping her foot anxiously against the floor.
What if something bad was happening to Lucian?
But ... this was Lucian. A high-rank mutant. The same man feared by veteran soldiers.
Still, uncertainty gnawed at her.
’System, can you tell me about Shuri’s ability without me seeing her directly?’ Medeia asked the system.
[Just look at her picture, Host.]
Medeia’s pupils darted around the room until she spotted a framed family photo sitting on Shuri’s desk.
[Name: Shuri Kamizaki
Ability: Nervous System Alignment (Grade-A) — Effect: The owner can make a person feel more relaxed or more focused while performing a task.
It wasn’t exactly a dangerous ability, but what if she could make Lucian lower his guard, making him vulnerable to an attack?
Before Medeia could worry any further, the door suddenly opened only five minutes after Lucian had gone inside.
What? That was way too short for a proper test.
Her gaze immediately shifted to Lucian, scanning him from head to toe.
He looked completely fine.
"The test was short, wasn’t it?" Shuri asked casually.
Lucian chuckled, his expression as easygoing as ever. "I don’t even think it felt like a test."
Medeia let out a quiet breath of relief. Lucian was still himself, unlike a monotone puppet like the soldiers outside.
So ... maybe the test really was harmless?
"Corporal, it’s your turn now."