Chapter 8

After speaking, Anzhe brushed past him, moving straight ahead without waiting for a response. Footsteps did not follow immediately from behind. Only when Anzhe swiped his ID to unlock the door did Qiaoxi hurry over, clamping a hand on his shoulder. "You're really Anze? But you—" With a smooth motion, Anzhe fetched a stack of genetic test reports from the table and handed them to Qiaoxi. "This is...?" Qiaoxi questioned. Noticing the paper on top read "Oppose the Judges' Tyranny," Anzhe leisurely extracted it. Qiaoxi's eyes then settled on the report. "You...?" After a quick glance, he lifted his gaze to Anzhe. "You truly escaped from the abyss?" "I was rescued," Anzhe revealed. "As for the rest, I've forgotten." Qiaoxi's grip on the report trembled, then he managed a wry smile, maintaining eye contact. "I...I'm so thrilled," he confessed, breathless. "I never imagined you could return." Placing the genetic report back on the table, he leaned closer to Anzhe, his enthusiasm barely contained: "How much have you forgotten?" Anzhe took a step back. "Everything," he admitted. "Please, leave my life be." "Do you not remember who I am?" Qiaoxi lowered his voice, "We grew up together." "Thank you." Anzhe remained distant. "Could you leave now, please?" "I—" Qiaoxi was visibly taken aback by such a cold reception, hesitating before softening his stance: "I won't bother you. Rest well. I'll come to see you tomorrow. I'm so happy. Anze, we are the closest kin in this world." Anzhe stayed silent until Qiaoxi turned to leave, gently closing the door behind him. That Qiaoxi would let him go so easily seemed unrealistic to Anzhe, perhaps out of a guilty conscience or mere retreat. Silence reclaimed the room as Anzhe rested against the bed, hugging a pillow, engulfed in a discomfort akin to mist. This unease wasn't for himself but for Anze. The fragility between humans appeared to be just so, no longer was Qiaoxi the closest to Anze. Once he retrieves the spores, he'll return to the abyss, to that serene cave, resting beside Anze's bleached bones, spending his days as a mushroom. Spores. Outside, the night deepened, the aurora unfolding across the dark sky as usual, while Anzhe sat at the desk, turning on the lamp. Firstly, he needed to find a job to stave off hunger. Meanwhile, he searched for any clues about the spores, the only lead being a brass shell. With anxiety, Anzhe reached into his pocket, the fear of losing this small object ever-present—fortunately, it was still there. While a mushroom could hide it within, humans could not; it was too small, always at risk of slipping out. Eventually, Anzhe found a black leather cord in the drawer, hanging the shell around his neck. Also in the drawer was a compact black device. Observing its exterior details, he slowly recollected some information—it was a communicator. Everyone's ID number served as their communication code, enabling distant interactions within the base—outside, there was no signal. After charging the communicator—not that it was needed, but the act of "having power" seemed to bring immense pleasure to humans—he finally settled down, examining the desk. A notebook on the desk contained Anze's writings, beautiful handwriting. Tucked against the wall were about two dozen books, likely Anze's favorites. Anzhe scanned the spine titles and picked up a plain grey-covered book titled "Base Manual." Opening it, the title page bore a single phrase. The interest of humanity supersedes all. Anzhe unconsciously pursed his lips, continuing to flip through. The second page listed the contents: Base Laws, Living Routines, Functional Area Introduction, and Maps. Skipping over the legal section, knowing himself to be a law-abiding mushroom—unlikely to breach any species' laws—he delved into the Living Routines. This detailed the residence area's schedule: Electricity, water, and food supply each morning at six, noon, and evening meals starting at six, with longer electricity provision until nine at night. Each residential area had tall alarm towers, emitting three types of alarms: "Assembly," "Evacuation," and "Emergency Shelter," with distinct sounds for each. Base residents must adhere to these routines and alarm instructions, with other lifestyle aspects left to individual discretion. At this realization, Anzhe puzzled briefly over the notion of merely lying in one's room, adhering to meal and water schedules—the intent behind the base's rules soon became apparent. Although everyone was free to live as they pleased, base life came at a cost, payable. To earn the base's currency, people needed to seek employment or serve as mercenaries, trading valuable external resources for compensation. Yet... with the least hazardous locations providing enough to survive, why extend beyond basic needs? As Anzhe read on, the next section introduced various functional areas. The first area described was "Supply Station," divided into 1, 2, 3 stations, the first two military-owned, at the base entrance and exit, managing currency and military supplies. Upon returning from the wilderness, mercenaries' collected materials were converted into currency at these stations, with lethal weapons and vehicles withheld until their next deployment. Station 3, unlike its counterparts, was centrally located for civilian transactions, allowing currency exchanges for daily necessities, housing, and more. Across from Supply Station 3 was "Free Market," where mercenaries could independently trade non-military finds from human ruins. Below, a note clarified: Note: Free Market is not an official base facility. All actions and consequences are personal responsibilities. Note: Employment or contractual relations established via Free Market are not protected by base law. Consequences are borne by the individual. Aside from this, Anzhe was struck by the word "employment." Meaning, the Free Market also offered job opportunities. Further reading detailed residential areas and the centralized shelter of Zone 8, replete with security measures. Beyond these, areas like City Services, City Defense, and Main City connected to the base's structure, described as comprising Outer and Main Cities—the latter housing crucial scientific, military, and political facilities, restricted without specific passes. After reviewing the base map, Anzhe closed the book. His second discovery, "Supply Station Examination Manual," ignited clearer memories, suggesting Anze's importance in visiting Supply Stations. Why then agree to a wilderness venture with Qiaoxi? Reflecting deeply, Anzhe concluded that was simply Anze's nature. Missing the examination, Anzhe realized Anze would have been bone by then. Yet, it mattered little. Should he survive a year within the human base, a Supply Station attempt might reveal its essence to Anze. Exhausted by extensive reading and briefly skimming the "Examination Manual," sleep beckoned. Rising early to avoid Qiaoxi, he departed the room by four in the morning, heading for Supply Station 3 via train, then to Free Market for work. Disembarking at seven, the morning mist lingered. Entering the bustling Free Market, the aroma of spirits hit him. At the entrance, the lively scene unfolded—mercenaries amidst games and conversations, served by bustling waitstaff, transactions secured with ID cards. Anzhe's gaze shifted from the drink-mulling mercenary to a hunger-stirring soup aroma, to various stalls peddling wares. An enthusiastic vendor's smartphone pitch revealed Anzhe's lack of funds, but his pursuit of employment was redirected to a basement level three by the vendor's guidance. The damp ambiance below, suitable for mushrooms, was offset by the pungent scents mingling in the confined, hive-like space. Here, amidst whispered deals and secret exchanges, Anzhe reconsidered his venture but was suddenly halted by a collision with a strikingly tall woman. "First time here?" she teased, eyeing Anzhe with interest. "Looking to buy or sell yourself?" Plagued by memories of being a "little treasure," Anzhe recoiled, confronting choices and revelations in the underground market's dim light—an awakening to a world of questionable deals and uncertain futures.