[Sigma District, Director's Office of the Police Department]
"Tell the chiefs of the police departments in each district to crack down on the church organizations that have been especially active lately according to these standards. Make sure to grab hold of them like grabbing the neck of a squawking rooster. We have to clamp down on their arrogance."
"Yes, Director Olov."
"You may leave. Put up the rest sign. I want to be alone for a while."
"Yes."
The middle-aged man in a suit bowed to Olov and turned to leave the director's office.
Olov stood up and locked the door, then tossed a red disc the size of a button into each of the room's four corners.
Buzz!
After several vibrations, a pale red barrier covered the room.
Olov made a cup of strong coffee and set it beside his desk.
Then he sat down and tapped his black wristwatch several times in a steady pattern.
Several projected screens instantly appeared in front of him.
At the center of each screen was a person whose face was blurred into black-and-white blocks. Their backgrounds were also obscured.
Only a three-digit number appeared in the upper-right corner of each projection screen.
Olov glanced over them.
Including himself, everyone from [002] to [009] was present.
002 spoke first, "Quite rare today. Aside from 000 and 001, everyone is here. I'm sure you've all noticed that we have a newbie today. This is 006, who just joined us. The previous 006, Qi Tian, withdrew, and that position has been vacant for a long time. I'm honored to have found another friend among the sea of people whose experiences and goals are the same as ours."
"002, did you call us here because you have something important to announce? If not, I'm leaving."
004's projection flickered, and an impatient voice interrupted 002's introduction.
Before 002 could respond, 005 spoke.
"004, you've been getting a bit full of yourself lately. I'd advise you to tone it down."
"005, what are you talking about? How am I full of myself?"
005 continued, "Others may not understand you, but I see you clearly. I know exactly what you're planning."
"Aren't you thinking that Qi Tian doesn't have much time left? Among his descendants, only Qi Jiangnan showed promise, but he's been missing for two years and is probably buried somewhere in the wilderness by now. Once Qi Tian dies, the Qi Legion is bound to fall apart, and the Safe Zone will definitely change. Then it'll be your time to make your move."
"004, let me tell you this. It's true that fortunes change, but it won't be your turn to take control. We're together for the development of humanity, not for your struggle for power and profit."
004 shot back, "And what gives you the right to talk about me? Have I done any less than you have? Stop acting like... wait, are you still holding a grudge? How many times have I told you? The candidate you found for the Eye of the Divine Crow died by accident. It had nothing to do with me."
"You know perfectly well whether it was an accident or not."
"So that's it..."
"Enough. Stop arguing," 002 interrupted them, "Today's meeting was proposed by 007. 007 asked me to organize it so everyone could get together, catch up, and chat."
"007 organized it?", 004's voice carried disdain, "He asks for it, and you organize it? I took time out of my schedule to attend this meeting, and now you're telling me it was organized by 007? 002, you're joking, right?"
Hearing 004's increasingly hostile tone, even the usually mild-mannered 002 could not hold back.
"004, watch your attitude. 007 was helping build the Safe Zone with us before you even joined."
"Enough with the seniority talk! We all awakened sequence abilities around the same time. Who's really that much better than anyone else? If 007 is so qualified, then why don't 000 and 001 have to attend? A meeting organized by 007 doesn't seem worth attending to me. I've got other things to do. Goodbye."
Beep!
With the sound of a connection being cut, 004's projection screen suddenly disappeared.
Only seven silent people remained.
Olov slowly spoke.
"002, do you regret putting so much effort into helping 004 take power through the coup?"
002 remained silent.
Olov continued, "I told you long ago that your old imperial balancing tactics wouldn't work in the apocalypse. With sequence abilities growing unchecked, nobody is completely controllable. Now that you've watched 004 go from obeying you to turning into an ungrateful traitor, do you finally believe it?"
008, who had remained silent until now, also spoke, "I think 007 was right. When Qi Tian was still 006, everyone expressed dissatisfaction with how he never took action. But if you ask me, 004 is even worse than Qi Tian."
"After Qi Tian's grandson died, he lost heart. He knew that his path no longer matched ours, so he chose to leave and gave up the position of 006. But what about 004? Without Qi Tian keeping him in check, he's become more and more overbearing. He's practically turned into a villain in power."
"A villain? 008, that's an interesting choice of words," 009 also voiced his opinion, "I'd say you intellectuals are still too polite. You're openly cursing 004, but you're not getting to the point. So let me be the bad guy and tear away the cover."
"I've been sick of 004 for a damn long time."
"He sells out friends for personal gain and forgets those who helped him. Back then, he handed his wife over to his former superior and played the obedient cuckold, then turned around and kissed 002's feet to climb higher. What the hell is he?"
"When Qi Tian was around, he'd at least pretend and listen to what everyone had to say. Now that his power is secure and Qi Tian has left, he can't even be bothered to keep up the act. Let me make this clear first. Even if the information from the Third Safe Zone is true, I don't want to work with someone like 004. He makes me sick."
Hearing the others condemn 004, 005 laughed and said, "Since everyone has a problem with 004, let's not just talk about it. How about we hold a death vote?"
003 asked, "A death vote? You mean..."
"Anyone who wants 004 dead votes in favor. If more than half vote yes, we'll find a way to kill him. The previous 003 died because a death vote passed, and 007 killed him. Now I'm initiating a death vote against 004. Who's in favor?"
002 spoke, "005, you're being too rash. Setting aside the fact that 000 and 001 aren't here, this vote doesn't mean much. Even if it passes, 004 won't be easy to kill. If he dies, it will definitely cause turmoil in the Safe Zone. The losses to the humans living there would outweigh the gains."
"If we don't kill 004 now, he'll do even more harm to humanity later," 009 snorted, "I vote yes."
008 spoke, "002, stop holding onto illusions about 004. After what he said today, does he still look like someone willing to contribute to humanity? He's already turning into a parasite from the old society! I vote yes."