Chapter 93: The Behind the Scenes

On-site first aid aside, modified monsters are generally not sent to hospitals.

The modification technology is the “crystallization of technology” of evil organizations, and each company or organization has its own methods. The power of the monsters varies, and sending them to a hospital lightly risks leaking those secrets.

To preserve their technological advantage, evil organizations even steal and seize technology from each other. Sending someone to the hospital could put them in the sights of rival companies…

The same goes for some heroes.

After the battle at the Expo Center, Sigma Hero took Pure White Storm away right after emergency treatment, and that was for similar reasons.

Besides, the standard of hospitals may not be as advanced as the “Nightmare” Medical Department.

Therefore, not long after Clara left, before the police cordon was lifted, the Nightmare Medical Department arrived on the scene and took the trio away.

Of course, the outsourced combatants did not receive such treatment.

After the Medical Department’s examination, only the slightly injured Sloth was allowed to go home and recover, while Chicken Bro and Dino Guy, who were more seriously wounded, were quickly wheeled into the wards for further treatment.

However, once alone in a single room, Dino Guy soon stood up as if nothing had happened. The body stained by Clara’s ink binding began to melt and collapse.

In the end, ta became a writhing, pitch-black humanoid.

That lanky figure looked neither fully male nor female, with no facial features—a bit like a Shadow Soldier from the Dark Domain at first glance, but the appearance was even more unstable than a mere outline.

Next, a sharply tailored suit gradually appeared on ta’s surface. Ta even gracefully straightened the collar.

It was the long-absent Nightmare Prison Department Director.

Mostima Fongus.

He raised his hand. In his swirling palm, a cell phone appeared. He dialed a number not in his contacts, then waited… until the call connected.

“Miss Maya, the mission Boss gave directly has been completed.”

Contrary to his chaotic appearance, Mostima’s voice was remarkably clear—like a youth before puberty, neither male nor female, yet soothing to the ear.

On the other end, Maya replied:

“Thank you for your hard work, Director Mostima.”

“Thank you, but our acting wasn’t perfect. This task would’ve been better suited for Director Shadow Guest.”

He wasn’t shirking work, just offering a reasonable suggestion.

Mostima himself could tell that playing Dino Guy didn’t come naturally. When Clara walked into the medical tent, he hadn’t even dared to speak.

“Shadow Guest? Perhaps.” Maya did not deny it, but added, “Still, among the directors, only you know that secret, so we had to entrust you… and you did well. No need to be modest.”

“As long as Boss doesn’t mind, that’s all that matters.”

Mostima was polite and respectful to everyone.

“The Prison Department rarely has any business. Tasks like these outside the office are actually quite fun. I also got to see Sh… Clara in action.”

Though getting hit by Clara’s “Inkstorm Burst” still hurt a bit, for Mostima’s regenerative ability, it was really just “a bit” of pain.

“I watched the live broadcast. Luckily you were there today. Otherwise, those rookies in the Enforcement Department would’ve been wiped out by that automated gun turret before even making contact with Clara.”

“You overestimate it. That turret wasn’t very lethal; it was just the munitions depot’s chain detonation that was unexpected… But next time, we can send a stronger monster.”

Clara wasn’t weak—at least that’s how Mostima saw it.

Though she’d only recently debuted, she was at least at the level of a B~A-rank hero. Even without staged matches, she’d climb up soon enough.

“Mhm, the lower-ranked monster at the end was just for testing. Next time, I’ll send one that can injure her but still isn’t a real threat. Only if a hero gets hurt will it arouse public sympathy.”

Maya said this, then changed the subject:

“You really are interested in her. Did you two know each other before?”

“We met once, but she likely doesn’t remember us.”

“Oh?”

A woman’s curiosity is innate.

So Maya was interested in this topic, but alas, Mostima had no intention of continuing.

“If there’s another task like this, feel free to contact us again.”

“All right then, looking forward to working together.”

After hanging up, Mostima walked out of the ward.

He greeted the Medical Department Director, who, swathed in bandages, looked more like a patient than a doctor, then took the central elevator back to the deserted Prison Department.

At present, there was no one else in the Prison Department but him.

The two figures who looked like subordinates were just convincing dolls. When extra hands were needed, Mostima would put a part of his body into the doll’s head, making it appear as if a person had been parasitized—a frightening sight, but in reality, they were only dolls.

But for now, there was no need for that. He was just here to tidy up and get ready to clock out…

Just then, his phone on the desk rang.

The caller was… Fran Lifka.

That girl genius from the Modification Department. Because she knew Squire’s identity, she’d been transferred to the Undercover Department by the Supreme Commander. She’d finished her PhD early despite her age and seemed to have some sort of connection with the Supreme Commander.

A high-pitched greeting came from the other end.

“Director Mostima, good afternoon~ I couldn’t reach you earlier—were you out on a mission?”

“Yes, had some field work… Miss Fran, what can I do for you?”

“It’s about that thing from last time! Could I ask you for help again? This time, it’s a request Miss Clara made herself!”

A request from Clara?

Fran’s words were really hard to refuse.

Mostima agreed, “Understood. When do you need us to come by?”

“I knew Director Mostima would agree! I’ll contact you again in a couple of days~”

Just as Fran was about to hang up, she added:

“Oh, right, Director Mostima, if you want to get close to Clara, it’s better to use a female form than a male one! Of course, it’d be best to have distinct facial features too. Let people see your expressions—it can really reduce the fear you give others!”

“Hmm?”

Mostima wasn’t sure how to respond to this sudden advice.

“Heh, just a little tip~ See you next time!”

This time, Fran really hung up.

In the castle-style office, there was a mirror.

For the featureless Mostima, a mirror was pointless, but since it had been installed as decoration, he never bothered to remove it.

As a naturally occurring cluster of fungi, Mostima had no gender.

His appearance depended entirely on his own inner inclination.

“Squire… Does Clara prefer women?”

With no concept of gender, Mostima didn’t really understand such things, but in previous encounters, Clara always blushed, panicked, and resisted…

Was that negative emotion from encountering his more masculine form?

“…Let’s give it a try.”

In the mirror, the writhing humanoid’s form quietly began to change.