Once, I wanted to be a good person

After washing his feet, she took a towel and dried Fang Ze's feet.

Fang Ze lay on the bed, while Mei picked up the basin of wash water and went to the bathroom to pour it out.

After she came out, she gave Fang Ze a slight bow and was about to slip into his shadow to enter a slumber.

Just at that moment, Fang Ze called out to her...

"Right. Do you have any memories?"

"Where do you come from?"

Mei was already half submerged into the shadow when she heard Fang Ze speak. She paused suddenly.

Then she seemed to recall something, but shook her head in confusion, saying, "Master, it seems I have no memories. Nor do I know where I come from."

"Like One Two Three and the other companions, I was born to serve you."

Upon hearing Mei's words, Fang Ze was taken aback for a moment, then he hummed thoughtfully.

His hands were crossed behind his head as he gazed at the ceiling, somewhat lost in thought,

'Born for me, huh?'

Seeing that Fang Ze had stopped speaking after asking his question, Mei slowly sank into Fang Ze's shadow.

With the moonset and sparse stars, Fang Ze slowly fell asleep at some point.....

......

Late at night.

Special Case Team, secret base. Monitoring room.

Bai Zhi had blocked all signals and was using an encrypted communication channel to speak with the director of the Security Bureau.

The two had clearly been talking for a while, and Bai Zhi, with a serious expression, relayed all of tonight's battle details and situation to the director.

Then she said, "Director, after the battle ended, I discussed with Director Pang."

"Now that the case is solved, the intelligence is acquired, the enemy is killed, there's no longer a reason for the Special Case Team to exist."

"The Investigation Bureau has been assisting us for quite some time; it hasn't been easy for them."

"Moreover, there's a backlog of work at the Bureau."

"So, I'm planning to disband the Special Case Team first thing tomorrow morning and let the Investigators go back to rest up."

"As for the merits and rewards from this case, once everything is verified, the Security Bureau will notify Emerald City's Investigation Bureau to distribute them through internal channels."

"As for my team here, we'll rest on-site tomorrow, clean up the battlefield, and eliminate the residual Power of Laws. After that, we'll return to Emerald City the day after."

Upon hearing Bai Zhi's arrangements, the woman on the phone said coldly, "Agreed."

Seeing that the director agreed, Bai Zhi continued, "In addition to these matters, there is one more thing I would like to report to you."

"I have decided to recruit Fang Ze into the Security Bureau. Moreover, into my own team."

"He truly is an exceptional talent."

The woman, who had already learned about Fang Ze's situation from a Spirit Ascension stage expert, did not say much, merely stating, "You can make that decision."

Bai Zhi said, "But... his contribution to this case is too significant."

"Moreover, since he was not originally a member of the Security Bureau, I would like to apply for some special benefits for him."

The woman asked, "Hmm?"

Bai Zhi said, "Considering the value of the intelligence from this case, plus his feat of killing five Fusers and his potential,"

"Upon his entry into the Security Bureau, he could be directly promoted from a Level Four Commissioner to Level Two."

The woman on the phone remained silent.

Bai Zhi continued, "Although we had previously promised him a high-value reward of 500,000 Lini for his intelligence,"

"Tonight, he risked his life to save us, not only losing a hand but also damaging three defensive artifacts, and used an Awakening Ability with significant side effects."

"I think his reward could be increased to 1 million."

Hearing Bai Zhi's words, the woman on the phone once again fell silent for a while.

After a moment, she said coolly, "Choose one."

"Either the merit or the increased reward."

Bai Zhi countered firmly, "I think he deserves both."

"Even if he's already a member of the Security Bureau. For injuries sustained on official duty or damage to artifacts, one would receive compensation in addition to the merit."

The woman replied coldly, "He's not officially part of the Security Bureau yet."

"To discuss merits and offer compensation before he's even joined the Bureau, what would others think?"

She paused, then added, "Furthermore, he was originally a criminal who wouldn't normally even be allowed into the Security Bureau."

"This is already an exceptional measure. Bai Zhi."

Possibly because she had been too heated in today's battle, Bai Zhi was clearly also irritated.

She said bluntly, "Well then, if that's the case, he'll choose the merits. The reimbursements owed to him by the Bureau, I'll personally cover them."

Hearing Bai Zhi's response, the woman fell silent once more.

After a moment, she sighed softly and said, "Bai Zhi. Do you know?"

"This is where you differ from Gu Qing."

"Although he's good to the people around him, he always maintains a line."

"You, however, are too good to those around you, too eager to fight for all their interests, sometimes even disregarding rules."

This was the first time during their conversations that the woman had said so much,

"By doing this, the people around you will indeed be more united with you."

"But don't forget, you are a director, a decision maker."

"Besides the people close to you, you also manage hundreds and thousands within the Bureau."

"How will others view you if you show such favoritism towards those you're close to?"

"As a director, if you can't even maintain basic fairness, who would respect such a leader?"

"Your approach is that of a small clique, not that of an upright manager."