Fack Documents

The four-wheeled carriage rolled steadily toward the city, its wheels gliding over the immaculate white-tiled roads.

Inside the carriage were two rows of seats facing each other. Large, translucent mirrored windows adorned either side, veiled by thin screens. Once drawn open, they unveiled a breathtaking view of the city bathed in the golden hues of morning.

Beside the road stood poles of iron and steel, supporting the intricate web of electrical wires, and doubling as sources of light for moonless nights.

Most of the buildings were constructed from stone and concrete, rising four to five stories high. Their rooftops were clad in weather-worn red tiles, their color fading with age and time, meticulously arranged at a slant to allow rainwater to cascade effortlessly down their surfaces.

The upper floors of these structures primarily housed apartments, while the ground levels bustled with shops and restaurants.

The residential balconies varied—some plain and unembellished, others adorned with vibrant flowers. On several of them, women could be seen engaged in their morning stretches and exercises. Yet, a common element remained: the black iron railings that framed every balcony.

Resisting the urge to gaze at the rejuvenated ladies clad in minimal attire, Jay forced his attention back to the conversation inside the carriage.

"The first step will be to prepare some documents for you," Mr. Nell explained, glancing at Jin.

"What kind of documents?" Jin asked, his voice flat but curious.

"Well, you see," Nell began, folding his arms, "every Awakened individual is required to report to the ARC—Awakened Registration Centre—within ten days. And clearly, you don't even have proof that you're even a human, do you?"

"I suppose not," Jin replied calmly.

"Exactly. That's why we'll be forging some fake original documents for you."

"Is that even possible?" Luke questioned, raising a brow.

"Of course," Nell said with a crooked smile. "In our great corrupted empire, money can buy anything."

As he finished speaking, the carriage came to a halt in front of a building that stood out from those around it.

Its entrance was encased entirely in glass, lending it a sleek and exclusive appearance. Above the doorway, a nameplate hung with the words: Gollrich Agency.

The process of documentation normally took several days—then a few months to a year for them to finally arrive by post.

But with the divine powers of money and corruption, not only was the process simplified, it became virtually instantaneous. Within the span of half an hour, Jin was already holding a paper bag filled with all his completed documents.

The contents included a fabricated birth certificate dated seventeen years ago, a full academic history, and details of a fake lifestyle. Everything was false—except for his name and a description of his appearance.

Curiously, they hadn't used a camera, which Jin knew existed, nor did they commission a painted portrait.

The documents merely contained a written description of his features.

So, Jin wondered why they didn't just use a camera—it would've made the process far more secure and efficient.

But after some thought, he concluded that cameras were likely far too expensive to be used for such routine matters.

It wasn't as if he was ungrateful for the convenience of a new identity.

But the price—just like the process—was anything but simple.

Jin even noticed what seemed like a glint of tears in Mr. Nell's eyes when he saw the final bill. But Jin had nothing to do with that, so he simply ignored him and turned his attention to the documents, which stated his age as 17—even though he was already 39.

Then again, I haven't aged since I turned 17.

Now that he thought about it, even the future version of himself still looked 17—despite being thousands of years old.

***

After completing the documentation, they proceeded to a new destination.

The carriage ride lasted half an hour before finally coming to a halt in front of their next location.

The delay wasn't due to distance but rather the congested streets. It was that particular hour when affluent merchants paraded their lavish carriages en route to their enterprises.

Not to mention the fools who crowded the roads, too dense to move aside even when a beast-drawn carriage nearly trampled them. No wonder fatalities caused by such vehicles had been steadily rising.

Stepping out of the carriage, Jin found himself standing before an unfamiliar structure.

It was even more exquisite than the agency they had visited earlier. In truth, it resembled less a conventional building and more a grand mansion crafted in opulent architectural style.

This was the headquarters of ARC.

Guards patrolled the premises, draped in dark blue capes. They were city guards—Unwakened, yet dutiful.

Upon reaching the gate, Mr. Nell exchanged a few words with the guard. After a brief inspection, they were allowed to pass—greeted by a mixture of pitiful sympathy and silent reverence in the guards' eyes.

Of course they were. The Non-Awakened often looked upon the Awakened as beings of a higher order.

Nodding to the gatekeeper, Jin entered the building alongside the others.

A chandelier made of shimmering blue crystal hung above them like a frozen star. Below it, a long corridor stretched ahead, leading to a row of small service windows, behind which clerks awaited, requesting all necessary documentation.

Mr. Nell provided everything they asked for without hesitation. The lady who received the documents cast a pitiful glance at Jin—one he intentionally ignored.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder: What the hell did Mr. Nell put in those papers?

After a few hours of seemingly unnecessary waiting, the same lady returned, politely requesting that Jin follow her. Oddly, Mr. Nell also began preparing to accompany them.

Luke offered Jin a silent nod of approval, while Jay muttered a casual "All the best." Jin didn't need the encouragement—but accepted it anyway, as though following the script of a novel.

The lady, smiling brightly, led Jin—and of course, Mr. Nell—into a modestly furnished, open room.

"The first procedure was the interrogation. I've already taken care of it," Mr. Nell said with a self-assured nod.

"Interrogation? For what?" Jin asked.

"To understand the circumstances surrounding your death," he replied, narrowing his eyes. "It's not a pleasant process. They verify the Mark of Rebirth. Most people prefer not to recall it."

"Why? Isn't that part of who they are?"

"If only more people thought like you," he sighed.

"Oh? And here I thought all Awakened possessed unshakable minds."

"The mind is a fragile construct," Mr. Nell murmured. "Strength alone isn't enough to guard against madness."

After a long pause, he continued.

"Remember this place, Mr. Jin. It's not just where Awakened receive their identity. It's also where they're hunted."

"Hunted?"

"Yes. Not all Awakened align themselves with ORDER. Circumstances differ for everyone. Those who don't comply are branded as criminals—targets for bounty hunters. Some even lose their minds after death and rebirth."

"I see…"

Somewhere during their conversation, they arrived at another open chamber. In the center of the room hovered a floating orb, pulsing gently with a strange, ethereal glow.

"Now, if you don't mind touching the stone," the lady said, gesturing for Jin to step forward. "But be careful—it's fragile."

"Yes, please do be careful," Mr. Nell added with a nervous chuckle. "My salary wouldn't come close to covering the cost of that artifact. It's expensive."

'Artifact? An artifact of what kind?'

The question surfaced in Jin's mind, prompting him to subconsciously raise his guard. He didn't know what the orb truly was, but without spiritual energy, he had no real alternatives.

So, extending his hand, he pressed half his palm against the orb.

The moment his skin made contact, the orb flared with light.

"Confirmed—pure human," the lady noted, scribbling something onto a document. "Please wait a moment. I'll fetch your identity card."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room.

"What did she mean by 'pure human'?" Jin asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The ORDER only accepts pure humans as Awakened," Mr. Nell explained matter-of-factly. "There are other forms of humanity—like beastkin. They're not permitted inside human cities."

"Beastkin… I think I've heard of them before."

"Yes, they're almost identical to humans—technically they are human. But their method of Awakening is… unorthodox."

"Unorthodox? In what way?"

"It's said they perform a forbidden ritual—consuming the heart of a beast. In doing so, they Awaken… but also become part beast themselves."

'How interesting…'

The information felt fragmented—missing critical details. But Jin knew this wasn't the time for questions. They had arrived at the place where he and Luke had once stood.

To his surprise, the lady had already returned—holding his identity card in hand.

"That was fast," Jin remarked.

"It was pre-made," she replied with a polite smile. "We just needed to confirm your bloodline before issuing it."

'They checked my bloodline?'

Jin's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously. A sharp wave of killing intent flickered in his mind.

'Killing her would be best…'

He began preparing to strike. He had no weapon, but the woman was clearly a Hollowed—human without soul. Even in his current state, eliminating her would be simple.

"I hope his bloodline was pure."

A new voice spoke—cutting through his rising bloodlust like a blade of clarity.

'What?'

"Of course. He's clear to proceed," the lady responded, her tone now more formal.

"Thank you, madam," Mr. Nell said, bowing respectfully.

He placed a hand gently on Jin's shoulder and gave him a subtle blink.

In that moment, Jin understood.

Mr. Nell hadn't followed him out of curiosity—he had come to conceal Jin's bloodline. He had been protecting him all along.

"Then we'll be taking our leave," Mr. Nell added smoothly. "Thank you again for your assistance, madam."

With that, Jin and the others exited the ARC office in silence.

***

Some time after they had left, the woman who had attended to Jin suddenly clutched her head as a wave of pain surged through her skull. It was sharp—blinding—like needles threading into her mind.

Her breath hitched. Her vision blurred.

Then, like waking from a long, silent dream, something snapped.

Her eyes widened, glassy with confusion and fear.

"What…?" she whispered, her voice hoarse. "What just happened…?"

The room felt colder now. Emptier. As if something had passed through—and left a part of her behind.