Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

"I suppose this victimized girl is the reason you came here, Silva. Since you brought her here, it means you don't intend to take her with you. So, are you irresponsibly entrusting her to me?"

It's a lighthearted joke, or a tacit understanding that needs no words.

"No, there is no one more suitable than you."

Looking directly into those dark eyes, Silva spoke slowly and deliberately, her words filled with unwavering trust.

After speaking, she gently took Charlotte's arm and pointed at her, speaking frankly.

“She is Zelena, the head of the church’s branch in Tingen. You can call her Ms. Z. Well, she’s a strong-willed, capable, but rather cunning person.”

"Heh, Silva, I was just trying to find a balance between being too sharp and too weak. Would 'skilled' be a better word?"

His lifeless posturing was something Zelena had long been familiar with, having worked with him for a long time. She was used to accepting it and was also adept at treating others with different faces.

Just like now, the curve of her lips disappeared, and she spoke to Charlotte with exceptional gentleness.

"Being able to come here as an outsider means you've already come into contact with hidden knowledge. Sylva's intention is to have you join the Arbitration Court of the Tingen branch, to write for the goddess, so that you're within each other's sights and can reduce the chances of accidents. As you gradually become more familiar with each other and broaden your knowledge, you can then decide whether to embark on the extraordinary path."

"After all, civilian personnel are a valuable resource for us."

Listening attentively to the former's plea, Charlotte actually knew on the way there that Silva wouldn't take her away from Tingen to the church headquarters. A high-sequence extraordinary being out of control would pose an undeniable threat, and the other party's ability to come and go freely was tantamount to having the word "special" written all over their face.

This was not unexpected. She was happy to stay in Tingen, letting her main body live in seclusion while her puppet indulged in the world.

Therefore, rather than speaking out at an inopportune time, she wanted to ask—

“Ms. Zelena, why do you refer to yourself as Z, or why does the church use letters to refer to people’s names?”

Upon closer inspection, the black-haired beauty paused for a moment, and after a long while, she explained with a strange expression.

"On the one hand, this is a convenient abbreviation for the heads of different regions. On the other hand, to embark on my path, one must abandon one's own existence in deeper meditation, and transform and reject the outside world in ascetic practice, seeing oneself as a symbol of the goddess walking in the world. Only in this way can one find an anchor and avoid getting lost in the dark night."

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Sequence Six and Beyond the World

Symbols representing deities walking among the earth.

As Charlotte silently murmured the former's choice of words, a sense of unease suddenly arose within her.

By abandoning one's own existence and willingly becoming a trace of one's conduct in the world, is this anchor point for stabilizing one's mind and body something that one abandons or something that is planted by others?

Perhaps seeing Charlotte bowing her head slightly and pondering for a long time, Zelena moved closer, patted her shoulder, and said softly:

"You don't need to think too much. Becoming one of us includes clerical staff as well. If you are having trouble calming down, you can engage with those absurd and terrifying things in another way, namely through pen and ink and sight and hearing. A warrior who wields a pen is also a warrior."

The woman with black hair pulled out the back of her chair, then placed her palm under her petticoat before sitting down, using her buttocks as a cushion to gently press against the fabric, revealing a voluptuous figure.

"Thank you for your guidance. So, to whom does Ms. Sylva belong?"

Sitting diagonally opposite each other, Charlotte, though having guessed the general idea, still had to ask questions as a newcomer.

"Her situation is somewhat special. Do you need me to explain it to you, Your Excellency, Sword of the Goddess?"

Glancing at the white-haired figure leaning against the white wall, Zelena curled her lips into a half-smile and teased him.

"trouble."

She turned her head and muttered something, and before anyone knew whether she was complaining or asking for a favor, Zelena picked up the conversation and chuckled naturally.

"Are you going to trouble me? Well, that's just your personality."

A thick stack of documents was pushed in front of Charlotte, and the beautiful woman sighed with a touch of melancholy.

“Generally speaking, the arbitration tribunal has corresponding branches in various places. Its job is to be stationed in the local area and manage supernatural events that endanger the public. However, some perpetrators are good at moving around to multiple places to confuse the public, which causes a lot of inconvenience.”

"For this purpose, the Church has established the position of Swordholders. They are elites selected from numerous operations, and some even possess some of the sealed artifacts. Their mission is to rush to the aid of remote and dangerous counties and cities, and to track down and capture the villains they are concerned about without restriction."

“And Sylva is the best of them all. With that crimson sword, she can even cross the ladder and compete with the high-sequence extraordinary beings.”

Just as Zelena was about to elaborate, feeling quite proud, Silva coughed lightly and turned to walk back the way she had come.

"I'll leave that girl to you. You should have a better idea of ​​where to place her than I do."

The ripples in her voice concealed a rare shyness.

As the slightly heavy footsteps faded into the distance, Zelena lowered her gaze again, carefully examining the blonde girl in front of her.

Her face was beautiful and her demeanor was graceful, a beauty cultivated by a life of luxury; her melancholy and faint breath were the result of the sorrow brought on by her experiences.

She should have been the most captivating canary at the ball, but she was wronged, her family was broken, and now she has come here to find out the truth and to seek protection.

The feeling of pity had not yet left her, so Ms. Z naturally took it for granted that she would show the former more care.

"Although Silva didn't say it, I can roughly understand her thoughts. Stepping into the extraordinary realm will sometimes lead to illusions and rootless ramblings. Since you have witnessed them, you can understand the horror and temptation. When the mind is damaged, it is very likely to get lost in the ocean of consciousness and become an out-of-control monster."

Taking a sip of hot tea, Zelena's tone turned desolate as she said:

"The most common incidents we handle each year are those involving extraordinary individuals going out of control, and a large portion of these are former team members of ours."

"Ah, every gain comes at a price. Extraordinary power is the root of disaster. The so-called extraordinary are nothing more than a group of pitiful creatures constantly fighting against danger and madness."

"So, before making a final decision, I'd like to ask what you think."

The corridor outside the window was closed off, the stone walls were cold, and the lights inside the room shone brightly and yellowishly. The beautiful woman's retelling echoed in this environment, like raindrops rippled on Charlotte's heart.

She had heard such words from Ms. Mosang long ago. She knew the dangers of the extraordinary, but she was also confident in her own abilities.

So, raising her eyebrows, Charlotte said solemnly:

"My coming here demonstrates my resolve. I don't want to fall into danger again in ignorance, only knowing how to cry silently. To your question, the only answer I can give is yes."

"After joining, I will learn the relevant knowledge, clarify the hidden dangers and potential risks of extraordinary individuals, and then, if the opportunity arises, I will make a prudent decision, so that at least I will not lament my powerlessness when disaster strikes."

After listening to these words, Zelena nodded slightly, expressing her agreement.

"It seems you have a very clear mind, which is a very good quality when dealing with matters. As you said, becoming extraordinary requires careful consideration, not only for yourself but for all of us. All the churches are equally strict in this regard."

"Therefore, even though I owe you a favor, I will first place you in an administrative position. After you have been observed and have made contributions, I will ask for your approval and then give you the potion to guide you through the promotion ceremony. This is a necessary procedure, and I hope you will understand."

After apologizing, the beautiful woman laid out the document she had just copied and placed it in front of Charlotte's eyes.

"This is the contract document, regarding confidentiality clauses and a series of related provisions. Of course, in addition to these constraints, there is also the salary part that everyone is concerned about. Well, in this regard, our funding is jointly guaranteed by the church and the tax authorities. Newly hired clerical staff receive a weekly salary of about five pounds, plus a one-pound surcharge."

As if concerned about the former's feelings, Zelena thoughtfully added words of comfort.

"Afterwards, as seniority increases and corresponding merits are earned, salary will gradually increase."

"For civilian staff, the contract is valid for up to five years. If you wish to leave after that, you can leave normally, but you must sign a lifetime confidentiality clause. You cannot leave Tingen without our approval, and you need to register with the local church as soon as possible if you move to another city."

The salary was quite reasonable, even better than the generous offer from the old detective. After all, the danger of being on the front lines facing a hidden entity was self-evident.

"I'm OK."

"Then let's sign it."

Charlotte picked up the dark red fountain pen and ink from one side, and placed the pen tip in the corresponding position on the contract. After pausing slightly, she finally wrote down her name.

Charlotte Earl.

Paper and pen intertwined, ink stains spread, Zelena retrieved the contract, took out a seal from the drawer, and stamped it at the end and several key points.

After doing all this, she stood up, gently spread her five fingers, and placed them flat in front of the other person.

"Welcome, from now on you are one of us."

Charlotte whispered, extending her fingertips to touch him lightly.

"Should I address you as Madam, or by your appropriate title?"

"When you're working, you call it position."

"Of course, in your free time, you can call me Lena more affectionately."

Her dark eyes shimmered, and she pursed her lips, as if reminiscing about the past through this name.

"Actually, I wasn't born in Hastings. It's because of my past experiences that I prefer to use a character like Z to refer to my present self."

After this exchange of pleasantries and formal introduction, Charlotte followed up on the previous topic by asking Charlotte about the things she was concerned about.

"Ms. Z, how many people are there in the arbitration tribunal in Tingen, along with my colleagues? Or, may I ask, how far have you progressed on the extraordinary path?"

“Supernatural events are few and far between, and extraordinary individuals are even fewer. The entire branch only has ten official members, including myself, and if you're included, that makes a round number. As for the latter—”

She exhaled softly, dispersing the wisps of steam rising from the porcelain cup. Lowering her voice, she looked up and saw her reflection in the water.

“I am a Sequence Six Extraordinary, a Mystic.”

P.S.: Thank you all for following this far. The day after tomorrow is also a brand new day of the new year. First of all, I would like to say my blessings and thank you for your company. Also, it is time to give myself a fresh start.

It means adjusting your mindset and returning to the state you were in when you first started writing the book.

I will no longer update every other day; I must ensure daily updates (I told myself this).

Also, here's a recommendation for a friend's book. The title is below. Feel free to check it out if you're interested, but don't forget me!

"Strange Disqualification"

Finally, say to yourself—

Come on.

Chapter 100: Like a Dream, People of the Past and Present

"Of course, even extraordinary beings are not that powerful. Without preparation, they can hardly defend against direct bullets, let alone artillery. It's just that in some aspects, they are more mysterious and harder to defend against than guns and cannons."

"If you intend to become an extraordinary person someday, try to remember what I have said today, as it will help you avoid danger when necessary."

Taking a sip of hot tea, Zelena then lowered her pen and began to write on the unprocessed document, one stroke at a time.

"Thank you for reminding me, Ms. Z. I will keep it in mind."

She nodded slightly; she had already learned most of the hidden basic knowledge from Mo Sang.

Although the original body temporarily transferred the Arbitrator's spirituality to Watson, Charlotte had defeated extraordinary individuals multiple times in the previous month despite being mediocre. She was well aware of the upper limits of low-sequence abilities and would never do anything unwise.

As for the talk of hidden dangers, in reality, those noisy babblings and delirious murmurs are like a cold wind brushing your ears; they are annoying but not a big deal, and disgusting but not harmful.

"Yes, reason and calmness are the best weapons against extraordinary power. As for when there will be an opportunity for promotion, it depends on the right timing. For example, you may provide key information for our case, or you may perform exceptionally well during the probationary period and gain recognition from everyone."

"Of course, an exceptionally outstanding talent, or a top-down decree, could also be an exception to the established norms, and no one can say for sure."

Without stopping what she was doing, Zelena was also flipping through the pile of documents nearby as she spoke.

"This covers the basic knowledge of extraordinary individuals. Afterward, you will need to study systematically with Pederin for a period of time. As for the matters that still need to be emphasized, you might use the relatively new term 'internship' to describe them."

It was a lighthearted jest.

"As for the assignment of duties and their specific implementation, let me give you a brief introduction to the clerical work of the arbitration tribunal."

The rustling of turning the pages faded away, and the beautiful woman sat up, walked to the doorway, and pointed to the long corridor that led inward, saying:

"The management of the ledgers, the purchase of necessary items, and the receipt of supplies from the church and the police department are all handled by dedicated personnel who take turns, with two days off each week."

"The remaining three civilian staff are Yuffie, Melvis, and Pederina. The former is responsible for receiving visitors, cleaning the corresponding rooms, and writing case documents and declaration lists. The latter two are responsible for guarding weapons, materials, and document archives, as well as sealed items, and strictly registering entry, exit, retrieval, and return. Each person takes turns resting one day a week. In addition to Sundays, there are also night shifts and rest rotations, all of which are negotiated by themselves."

"I do the same job as those three?"

Suppressing her thoughts, Charlotte began to confirm her future position and responsibilities.

After all, she is a person who enjoys pleasure, and too much complicated work would probably make her lose interest.

"Let's leave it at that for now during the observation period. As for what happens after that, we'll make a final decision based on your performance during that time. Of course, for someone like you who graduated from the Department of Languages ​​at the University of Turin, there might be a suitable and easier job available."

"Now that we're here, you can imagine that we'll frequently come into contact with documents and artifacts from the Age of Gods and even earlier. Many cults and heresies try to gain power from these things, and sometimes, they themselves are also strange inducements. Grammar can often help us better understand the hidden meanings in those words, whether they are admonitions or temptations."

University of Turin?

Charlotte couldn't help but find it a little funny when she stumbled upon this experience in a remote corner of her memory.

For the original owner, that period of time was extremely distressing, boring, and tedious, so much so that even the remaining impressions were extremely faint, and only by careful recollection could one find a trace of it.

She's such a pampered little flower.

In reality, it is rare for noble children to attend university. They generally receive knightly and court education in order to inherit titles and lands. However, the Earl family is different from the former. They achieved a leap in class before becoming nominal nobles. Before that, Charlotte had been supported by her parents and entered college in a strict manner to enrich her resume and make up for the predetermined deficiencies in her status.

As for Zelena's knowledge of herself? Although her parents, who were sent to the gallows, and her escape from prison were not exactly famous, her outstanding appearance made her a topic of conversation in the newspapers, and anyone who paid attention could find out most of what she knew.

"To some extent, we do lack a colleague who excels in linguistics. Those dry and tedious facts require repeated study to truly memorize. People are often only good at learning at one age. In the past, we would invite professors from the college to collaborate, but this carries the risk of leaking secrets and could also lead to unpleasant experiences for those professors."

"So, although Silva's introduction was quite abrupt, and most of our team members are from within the church, it's a good thing to have professionals join us and work together with Ze, especially since you're a beautiful girl."

"Just like the green plants by the window, simply observing them can calm the mind and bring a sense of comfort."