On the podium, the teacher stood, with the projector’s PPT shining onto the whiteboard. Though partly blocked by the teacher, a few words could still be seen: Anti-Cult and Anti-Illegal Organization Education Theme Class Meeting.
They barely covered the content—just took a few photos to pass the inspection—then the teacher switched to the next slide and continued taking pictures for the new theme.
But back then, bored as she was, Xia Yang still remembered some things about the “Sequence Council.”
The Sequence Council was founded 3,500 years ago by Vederson Orede. From its inception, the organization operated under the banner of saving humanity and destroying the Bestial, committing crimes, developing members in various countries, influencing and controlling governments, endangering the safety of people’s lives and property, colluding with the Bestial, and intending to destroy humanity’s future development.
Xia Yang lowered her head, followed Gadelia into the car, and dared not say a word.
After all, gangsters might only want your money—but the Sequence Council wanted both your money and your life. Who knew what these lunatics would do!
“Catch.”
Gadelia tossed a Sequence Council-specific communicator to Xia Yang.
“I’ll only take you to the drop-off point. After that, you go in and take the assessment yourself. Survive, and you join the Sequence Council.”
“This communicator is proof that you were recommended for entry. If you lose it on the way, you’re as good as dead.”
Gadelia wouldn’t personally bring Xia Yang into the stronghold in Yu City.
That would mean Xia Yang becomes her person.
But in her eyes, Xia Yang was nothing more than a tool to show Zhou Ming what the Sequence Council was.
A tool should know its place.
Besides, the Sequence Council’s benefits were enough to secure Xia Yang’s comfortable life for the rest of her days.
Arriving at the outskirts of Yu City, Gadelia parked the car near a shabby little inn and told Xia Yang to get out.
“Go inside, hand that over to them. After that, follow the arrangements.”
Her voice was cold, without even turning her head.
Xia Yang walked cautiously into the inn, gripping the communicator tightly in both hands.
“Welcome. Do you have an appointment?”
As soon as she entered, a young man leaning against the front desk drinking asked.
“Um… that…”
Xia Yang handed over the communicator, her voice trembling.
“I’m here to take the assessment…”
The young man glanced at the communicator, frowned, and said, “What about the person who recommended you? Didn’t they come? On a mission or something?”
Joining the Sequence Council required a recommender.
Only someone at least at the Executioner level could recommend a newcomer, and they had to personally bring them to the assessment site.
“I… I don’t know. She told me to come alone…”
Xia Yang’s hand holding the communicator shook, her eyes reddening.
The young man sighed.
“Alright, seeing you like this, I’m guessing some big shot got a whim and let you in as a sinecure.”
“We still have an open slot anyway, so I won’t make things hard for you. Follow me.”
With that, he stood up and led the way.
They went down to the basement, where the young man opened a heavy door, revealing a circular device inside.
“Go on in.”
Xia Yang stood frozen, not moving.
The young man sighed, reached out, snatched the communicator from her hand, and pressed a button.
Zzzz—
A faint electrical noise came from the communicator.
“Hey!”
A voice came from the other end.
“New recruit for non-combat positions, recommender unknown,” the young man said into the communicator.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if confirming something.
The young man stuffed the communicator back into Xia Yang’s hand and gave her a push.
“Get in. They’ll take you for a physical and assign you a post. I’m An En. See you around, maybe.”
Xia Yang looked back at him, hesitated, then whispered, “Xia Yang…”
Then she stepped into the device.
A flash of white light.
Like being hit directly by headlights.
The next moment—
She appeared in a vast plaza.
The sky was empty, yet enormous buildings floated above.
One building resembled the landmark of Yu City, a tall spire reaching toward the heavens.
“You’re the new recruit An En mentioned?”
Xia Yang turned around.
A middle-aged man in a black uniform stood before her, holding a clipboard.
She nodded, saying nothing.
“Alright, follow me. I’ll take you for your physical first.”
Xia Yang followed him, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
The cement ground stretched to the horizon, with buildings of varying heights neatly arranged.
Members in black uniforms came and went, their footsteps hurried.
If she hadn’t known this was the Sequence Council, she might have mistaken it for some large-scale research base.
But even the “Skycleave Union” headquarters she had once seen from afar wasn’t as breathtaking as this place.
It felt like… this was the core that controlled the world.
“This is the Sequence Council’s largest stronghold in Yu City,” the middle-aged man said as he walked.
“It mainly handles experimental research and the training and recovery of full members. Of course, that’s none of your concern for now.”
“Once the physical is done, you’ll be assigned a job.”
He glanced at Xia Yang.
“What’s your education level? Finished high school? Any professional skills?”
Xia Yang lowered her head, her face slightly red, and murmured, “I… only finished elementary school…”
“Even better.” The middle-aged man nodded.
“But tuition will be deducted from your salary later.”
“In a bit, fill out a form to apply to continue your studies. At least finish high school, and if you have the chance, go to college.”
“O… okay.”
Though a bit confused, Xia Yang nodded in agreement.
This was completely different from what they taught at school.
Thinking about it, she even changed her impression of Gadelia a little.
Maybe… she wasn’t that cold-hearted?
“Um…”
Xia Yang hesitated but still asked, “Is there a female leader in the Sequence Council named Gadelia Roderigus?”
The middle-aged man frowned.
“I’m not sure. There are at least a few dozen Executioners in Yu City; I can’t know all of them.”
“But from the name, she must be a foreigner. Maybe a member from another region, here on a mission.”
Not long after, Xia Yang completed her registration and check-up.
She was still in her own clothes, standing in an unfamiliar corridor, feeling at a loss.
The middle-aged man who brought her had already left.
She looked at the branching passages around her, hesitated, then stepped forward.
And then—
She saw something she shouldn’t have.
Bodies of torn flesh and blood.
Shattered internal organs.
Yellow-black diseased tissue festering.
And on the experiment tables, chimeras of humans and beasts, trapped, writhing in agony but tightly restrained.
Researchers in white coats recorded data with expressionless faces.
Everything was cold and mechanical.
From initial terror to gradual numbness.
Xia Yang didn’t know how to describe what she felt.
She was afraid.
But she couldn’t leave.
“Under the banner of saving humanity and destroying the Bestial… committing crimes…”