Chapter 2121 – Work Card
“Uh, yeah, it’s good, just a bit too young,” Karina said, looking at me. She then turned to the other three girls who looked just like me. All of them were around fourteen or fifteen years old and were wearing white lab coats. Taking them out felt like she was implying I had some strange kinks.
“What about now?” I adjusted my appearance again, making myself look about twenty years old. After all, it was all about disguise, a slight adjustment to the exterior.
However, anyone with strong Spirit Vision, or who used certain Magic Apparatus or reconnaissance spells, could easily see my true form: a Valkyrie clad in silver armor.
But even as a Guardian Deity, I had already prepared a solid reason to explain my identity.
“Alright everyone, gather up!” Karina clapped her hands, and everyone immediately assembled. There were over fifty people, along with six Clockwork Puppets.
These six Clockwork Puppets were previously purchased by the Infinite Obelisk Research Society from the Mechanical Church at great expense for dealing with Elves. Many were captured or destroyed during battles, and they were now repaired and repurposed by the Mechanical Origin Source, with Karina holding the controller.
The remaining people gathered around. Due to the special nature of this mission, besides the captured and defected Research Group Leader and Deputy Leader, a few Researchers, Karina, and my three sisters, we also needed to bring along about ten accompanying personnel.
These ten-plus people were all elites from the Glutton believers. I finally witnessed the terrifying brainwashing capabilities of cults. Now, these Glutton believers were all missing limbs, and black and yellow crystal clusters had grown on their bodies to varying degrees.
This was all voluntary. When Karina mentioned needing some people to disguise themselves as low-level members of the Infinite Obelisk Research Society, these individuals did not hesitate to mutilate themselves, replacing their limbs with prosthetics manufactured by the Mechanical Origin Source, or asking me to transplant artificial organs for them.
Initially, I thought I wouldn’t need to perform artificial organ transplants again after Safah’s surgery, but unexpectedly, I had to use the technique here again. Many of them were now resolute and determined individuals.
Next, they inserted Origin Stone Crystals into their own bodies. This was a mineral that directly caused mutations. If it spread to other parts of the body, it would be difficult to save them, even for me.
None of this brought them any actual benefit. It was simply because Karina said, “I need you to disguise yourselves as low-level members of the Research Society and serve my purpose.” And these people did not hesitate to mutilate themselves.
What stood before me now was a group of people whose bodies had been cybernetically modified and were further contaminated by Origin Stones. Because of this, they had to wear loose black cloaks to hide their bodies and prevent outsiders from noticing their abnormalities.
Then, at my suggestion, they also wore gas masks to conceal their faces. This made them look even more mysterious and terrifying. Now, even the legitimate members of the Infinite Obelisk Research Society would believe they were members of the Research Society upon seeing them, seemingly more genuine than the real members themselves.
And all of this was done solely for their fanatical belief. Even though I raised doubts and objections, no one paid any attention. They all chose to mutilate themselves.
After selecting more than ten accompanying personnel, Karina chose over thirty ordinary members. They were mainly responsible for logistics and escort work.
Their disguises were not as cruel; at least they didn’t require cutting off hands and feet. After all, not every member of the Infinite Obelisk Research Society was missing limbs, and not everyone was corroded.
Therefore, they did not have black and yellow crystals on their bodies. They only had two mechanical arms attached to their backs, making them look like they fit the style of the Infinite Obelisk Research Society. The ones carrying boxes earlier were them.
In addition, we modified a batch of firearms using the Mechanical Origin Source, making them look bigger, stronger, and more impressive. Now, these guns not only had exaggerated external designs, large enough to resemble hand cannons, but could even be swung around like blunt tools.
With this elite frontline Combatant force and the supplementary logistics personnel assembled, Karina finally nodded with satisfaction and said, “Most of you have actually guessed my purpose, so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.”
“We need to disguise ourselves as members of the Infinite Obelisk Research Society, make contact with their Headquarters, and infiltrate them. Their target is a废案矿场 (abandoned case mine), where it is rumored that Our Lord’s inheritance lies. We cannot let them lay their hands on it.”
“For the Gluttony Demon King!” all the Glutton believers said in unison, their eyes flashing with fanatical devotion. It was a pity they didn’t know that the “Our Lord” Karina mentioned might not be Beelzebub, at least not in the image they believed in.
“Very good. I have seen your determination and loyalty. Now check your identity nameplates. Don’t reveal yourselves by getting your identities wrong,” Karina said, picking up the identity card hanging on her chest.
“Yes!” They all raised the identity nameplates hanging on their chests. These were real, genuine Infinite Obelisk Research Society member nameplates, provided by the Research Group Leader.
One thing that surprised me greatly was that this organization did not conduct any background checks for new members. Regardless of whether you were young or old, sick or healthy, pregnant, or mentally unstable, anyone could join.
Moreover, joining did not require writing to Headquarters for approval. This meant that each sub-research group had independent authority over personnel appointments and dismissals. The symbol of power was a magic seal issued by Headquarters.
The only proof of identity was a work card. Headquarters had only a vague understanding of the personnel composition of its branches and research groups. In other words, as long as someone could forge the magic seal and create a work card, they could go to other branches for study and exchange without anyone noticing.
After questioning those few Researchers, we learned the reason why. This was because the turnover rate of low-level personnel was extremely high. They were often responsible for maintaining Sealed Objects, used as experimental subjects by the Research Group Leaders, and acted as cannon fodder when investigating or scouting ahead.
Consequently, the casualty rate and depletion speed of low-level personnel were astonishingly high, and replenishment was very difficult. Who would risk their lives for a monthly salary of one to two thousand copper coins?
Therefore, the Infinite Obelisk Research Society often recruited from drifters, beggars, and refugees. Many of them couldn’t even afford to eat, so they naturally agreed. At times of extreme personnel shortages that were difficult to fill, the Research Society would even recruit from death row inmates in prisons or select from the slave market.
Under these circumstances, reporting and vetting everyone who joined would obviously be unrealistic and too inefficient.
Thus, the Research Society Headquarters granted significant personnel freedom to its branches and research groups. “Recruit anyone you want, and our identity cards are all genuine.”
