After Marking the Omega Officer Who Was Pretending to Be an Alpha - Chapter 13

The two Omegas were soon taken away by several guards and disappeared from everyone’s sight. The farmers’ market returned to its previous order, though people were still discussing the matter intensely.

The grain protector looked toward the frost-cold Han Yilü.

As if Han Yilü already knew what the grain protector wanted to say, she coldly gave the order.

“Continue.”

The grain protector said, “Yes.”

After saying that, they continued distributing relief grain to the people in line.

The line began slowly moving forward.

Listening to the surrounding discussions, Shao Enzhuo felt extremely complicated. From the reactions of the crowd, it was clear that they would not allow anyone to violate the rules. Once someone violated the rules, it meant betraying the Capital of Hope. Even if the price was sacrificing one’s life, it was still not allowed. Everyone had to strictly obey the rules.

However, this also happened to prove that her judgment had been correct.

The Church’s words had indeed caused a deeply rooted influence on the people of the Capital of Hope over the past hundred years. In their eyes, only Alphas were saviors, while Omegas and Betas were unqualified and unworthy. Only by obeying the Hope Organization and following all regulations could this world be saved.

This Church was truly…

Shao Enzhuo really did not know what to say.

Sigh.

She raised her head and looked toward Han Yilü ahead. Under the long-term constraints of these twisted rules, she was not surprised by Han Yilü’s actions. It was just that Han Yilü looked far too indifferent, making her seem inhuman.

“Ah Zhuo.”

Ren Qiruo’s voice suddenly came from beside Shao Enzhuo.

She looked at Ren Qiruo. “Mm? What’s wrong?”

Ren Qiruo withdrew her gaze from the direction where the two Omegas had been taken away by the guards. Her mood was also very complicated now, and she did not seem very relaxed.

“Those two Omegas were so brave…”

Shao Enzhuo looked at Ren Qiruo’s side profile and said nothing.

“I’m not as brave as them. Even though I really want to join the Hope Organization, I wouldn’t dare run in front of the commander, kneel down, and beg the commander in front of so many people,” Ren Qiruo said, turning her head and meeting Shao Enzhuo’s gaze. “Ah Zhuo, in my heart… they really are very brave.”

Shao Enzhuo could sense the helplessness Ren Qiruo felt toward these rules from her eyes, but it seemed to be only helplessness. She thought Ren Qiruo could probably understand very well how those two Omegas felt about wanting to join the Hope Organization.

She remembered that the synopsis had said humanity had long since become numb to these twisted rules. They did not understand resistance, nor did they dare to resist. Resistance would only get them killed by the organization.

If those two Omegas had not been forced into a dead end, they definitely would not have done this. Shao Enzhuo admired their courage from the bottom of her heart, but she also worried about their safety.

However, they had not rebelled, so they should not be killed. Besides, Han Yilü had also said they would wait for assignment.

After a moment of silence,

Shao Enzhuo thought for a while and could not help asking Ren Qiruo,

“Qiruo, do you think these rules are fair?”

Ren Qiruo froze slightly.

“Do you think it’s fair that only Alphas are qualified to join the Hope Organization and become vanguards, while Omegas and Betas are not qualified to join the Hope Organization?” Shao Enzhuo knew that in this world, everyone had responsibilities and obligations they had to fulfill, and positions they had to bear. Talking about fairness was indeed somewhat naive. But some meaningless rules were simply twisted. After making up her mind, she pressed on. “Are Omegas and Betas really unworthy?”

For a moment, Ren Qiruo did not know how to answer.

She had never thought about fairness. The environment she had relied on for survival since childhood all highlighted the greatness of Alphas. Her family and everyone else thought the same.

Alphas had always been dedicating their lives for humanity.

Humanity naturally ought to obey Alphas.

“Ah Zhuo, there’s nothing fair or unfair about it. The Hope Organization must have its reasons for doing this. I only blame myself for not differentiating into an Alpha,” Ren Qiruo said, brushing her hair aside with a smile. “We have to believe in the Hope Organization and believe in the Watchtower. Alphas will definitely save this world.”

Shao Enzhuo was somewhat surprised by Ren Qiruo’s answer.

But she did not find it strange.

After all, Ren Qiruo was someone from this world. She had been influenced by all sides since she was young. The survivors of the Capital of Hope placed their hopes of saving the world and rebuilding their homeland on the Hope Organization. Of course they would choose to believe.

“It’s almost our turn,” Ren Qiruo said, holding Shao Enzhuo’s arm as they walked forward. “Let’s talk later.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Okay.”

—

They were getting closer and closer to the stone platform ahead.

Only now did Shao Enzhuo see that aside from flour, cabbage, and pork, there was also a small machine placed on the stone platform. A grain protector was operating the machine, seemingly recording the information of the people receiving relief grain.

The surroundings were bustling and lively.

Soon,

after one more person, it would be Ren Qiruo’s turn.

With nothing else to do, Shao Enzhuo’s gaze unknowingly landed on Han Yilü. Han Yilü still had that icy appearance, but she was so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

From the moment Shao Enzhuo heard Han Yilü’s voice,

she had confirmed that Han Yilü was the mysterious woman she had met on the rooftop of the clock tower. It was just that the environment had been so dark then, so she did not know whether Han Yilü still remembered her.

A short while later,

it was Ren Qiruo’s turn to receive relief grain.

Ren Qiruo walked forward and followed the grain protector’s instructions, showing her identity plate. After receiving the relief grain, she moved to the side. Shao Enzhuo stepped forward and looked at the grain protector.

The grain protector asked, “What is your name?”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Shao Enzhuo.”

The grain protector said, “Identity plate.”

Shao Enzhuo took her identity plate out of the pocket of her clothes and placed it in the grain protector’s palm. While waiting for the grain protector to use the machine to record her information, she unintentionally raised her eyes and glanced at Han Yilü beside her, only to meet Han Yilü’s icy gaze.

In an instant, she immediately turned her head and looked away.

That kind of scrutinizing gaze was so oppressive.

It made her inexplicably guilty.

She did not know why she suddenly felt a panic that made her unable to look Han Yilü in the eye. Clearly, they had not interacted at all. Han Yilü probably did not remember her either.

Even if she did remember…

she would probably only think Shao Enzhuo was a strange person who wanted to seek death, right?

And so,

Shao Enzhuo did not look at Han Yilü again.

After the grain protector finished recording her identity information, they gave Shao Enzhuo her relief grain. Shao Enzhuo put her identity plate back into her pocket, carefully stored it away, then took the relief grain and left with Ren Qiruo.

The two left the farmers’ market.

“Ah Zhuo, the commander really is so beautiful. I secretly looked at the commander for a long time just now, and she even glanced at me,” Ren Qiruo said excitedly while thinking about Han Yilü’s beauty. “She really is too beautiful.”

Shao Enzhuo nodded in agreement.

“She really is beautiful.”

“When you differentiate into an Alpha and join the Hope Organization, you’ll have to follow her out of the city to clear out walking corpses,” Ren Qiruo said, looking at Shao Enzhuo. “Officer Han looks like she’s very strict. Ah Zhuo, you have to work hard.”

She would have to follow Han Yilü out of the city to clear out walking corpses?

Shao Enzhuo pressed her lips together and said nothing. She knew very well that she was not someone with a strong heart. As for leaving the city to clear out walking corpses, she felt more or less resistant in her heart.

She feared walking corpses.

And she feared death.

Shao Enzhuo did not really want to talk about this matter that troubled her, so she let out a breath and deliberately changed the topic. “Qiruo, you told me before that whichever Omega’s serial number a vanguard draws, that Omega has to leave with that vanguard. In that case, can vanguards choose not to draw lots?”

Ren Qiruo said, “They can, but…”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “But what?”

“If a vanguard doesn’t draw lots, then they won’t have a partner,” Ren Qiruo said slowly, looking ahead. “They can only obtain a partner through drawing lots. Otherwise, they won’t have one.”

Shao Enzhuo was very surprised. “Why is it like that?”

“My mom said this is the Hope Organization’s rule. Vanguards cannot choose partners at will. They must obtain partners through drawing lots,” Ren Qiruo explained calmly. “And they have to complete a mission before they can draw lots.”

Shao Enzhuo: “???”

There was such a thing too?

She had always thought that only Omegas who wore restriction rings and waited for assignment could not choose partners freely. It turned out that vanguards could not choose freely either? She looked at Ren Qiruo in disbelief and asked, “What mission do they have to complete?”

“Every vanguard must complete the mission of cutting off two thousand walking-corpse heads before they are qualified to draw lots,” Ren Qiruo paused, then answered faintly. “Vanguards who don’t complete the mission aren’t qualified to draw lots, which means they won’t have a partner.”

Shao Enzhuo: “…”

“My mom completed that mission,” Ren Qiruo said, glancing at Shao Enzhuo. “Otherwise, there wouldn’t be me.”

“You said only Alphas who become vanguards are qualified to be with Omegas. Since vanguards have to complete such a difficult mission,” Shao Enzhuo frowned slightly and asked in confusion, “can’t vanguards give up the chance to be with an Omega and choose to be with a Beta instead?”

Ren Qiruo said, “No.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “…Why?”

“Vanguards can’t be with Betas. They can only be with Omegas,” Ren Qiruo answered Shao Enzhuo truthfully. “Completing the mission is their only chance.”

“So that means vanguard Alphas are already bound together with Omegas,” Shao Enzhuo said, grasping the key point after listening. “Vanguards also don’t have freedom to love. Even if they complete the mission, they can’t choose. They can only draw lots. Whichever Omega’s serial number they draw, that’s the Omega they get.”

Ren Qiruo nodded. “You could put it that way.”

Shao Enzhuo suddenly realized that the Hope Organization’s rules were extremely unfriendly to the vanguards of the Reconnaissance Department. They were even inhumane. Not only did vanguards have to risk their lives leaving the city to clear out walking corpses, they also had to complete a mission just to have a partner. And even then, they had to take whoever they drew.

They did not even have the freedom or right to choose their own partner.

And what about the City Guard Department?

The Alphas in the City Guard Department not only did not have to risk their lives leaving the city to clear out walking corpses, but they also had freedom to love and could choose partners freely. Although they could not be with Omegas, it did not matter if they were with Betas, because after being injected with the medicine, they no longer needed Omega pheromones to soothe them.

Wasn’t the treatment of vanguards far too poor?

Was there any humanity in this?

Did the Hope Organization even treat vanguards as people? What vanguards offered was their lives. Should their treatment not be better? Why did it have to be so painful?

“However, some vanguards can obtain the qualification and right to freely choose their partners, but I’m not very clear on the specifics,” Ren Qiruo said when she saw that Shao Enzhuo’s complexion looked somewhat bad. “I only know that vanguards like commanders can freely choose their own partners.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “Commanders can?”

“My mom said that vanguards who have made enormous contributions to the Capital of Hope can freely choose a partner, whether Omega or Beta. But there is no unified standard for what specific contribution qualifies,” Ren Qiruo said, suddenly thinking of the new commander, Han Yilü. “The fact that a vanguard can become a commander means they must have made enormous contributions to the Capital of Hope. So commanders like Officer Han are qualified to choose partners.”

Shao Enzhuo: “…”

They had to make enormous contributions just to choose a partner.

She understood now.

The Hope Organization’s rules were twisted rules.

They were full of rules that caused people pain and had no meaning whatsoever. Just thinking about them made her feel uncomfortable.

After learning so many things from Ren Qiruo,

she no longer planned to ask why.

With a heavy heart, she raised her head and looked toward the clear blue sky in the distance. “So this is the fate of vanguards?”

Ren Qiruo said, “Mm.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “What a fine fate this is…”

“Each of us has our own fate from the moment we are born,” Ren Qiruo said, looking into the distance along with Shao Enzhuo. “Only by walking the path the Hope Organization has planned for us can we achieve victory. Otherwise, this world will have no hope.”

“Ah Zhuo, we will definitely win.”

Was the path planned by the Hope Organization definitely correct?

Shao Enzhuo thought this to herself.

She always felt that no one’s fate should be sacrificed in meaningless places. Did the vanguards’ sacrifices really have meaning? Was the qualification they gambled their lives for worth it?

“Qiruo, life in the Capital of Hope is pretty good. Can vanguards choose not to leave the city to clear out walking corpses?” Shao Enzhuo knew this question was naive, but she still asked it. “Wouldn’t it be fine for humans to just stay in the Capital of Hope?”

Ren Qiruo froze for a moment.

She was just about to answer when she heard Shao Enzhuo speak.

“Is it because resources are becoming fewer and fewer, and only by clearing out the walking corpses can humanity survive?” Shao Enzhuo withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Ren Qiruo. “Otherwise, one day, the resources of the Capital of Hope will run out, and humanity will face extinction.”

Ren Qiruo nodded. “Yes.”

Shao Enzhuo was immediately filled with mixed emotions.

“In the past, relief grain used to include two bags of flour. Now, even the meat is half as much as before. If the harvest from the pastures and farms is poor, it becomes a huge disaster,” Ren Qiruo said, lowering her head to look at the relief grain in her arms. “Saving the world and rebuilding our homeland is the dream of all humanity. In order to survive, walking corpses must be cleared out. Only by completely clearing all the walking corpses from the world can humanity leave the Capital of Hope and continue surviving. This is our fate.”