After Marking the Omega Officer Who Was Pretending to Be an Alpha - Chapter 15

Shao Enzhuo hurriedly ran down to the first floor as fast as she could and rushed out of the residential building. The matter of the guards taking away the meat was far too suspicious. She absolutely could not just let it go.

In fact, figuring it out would not be difficult.

Now, she was going to verify her guess.

Ren Qiruo chased after her from behind and ran out of the building.

Looking at Shao Enzhuo’s retreating figure, she called out,

“Ah Zhuo!”

However, Shao Enzhuo only ran farther and farther away, showing no intention of stopping or turning back. Ren Qiruo did not understand why Shao Enzhuo was so angry, nor why she had said things that made her angry too.

Helpless, she could only chase after her.

—

The evening wind swept fallen leaves through the streets and alleys.

The fragrance of night filled the air. Moonlight spread across the bluestone road, and there were already no pedestrians on the street.

The dark, empty street was so lonely that only heavy footsteps echoed again and again. In the quiet surroundings, the sound was especially abrupt. Nearby residents opened their windows and glanced outside, only to see two figures running past one after the other.

Tap, tap, tap.

The two quickly disappeared into the distant night.

Once they were gone, the residents closed their windows again.

Shao Enzhuo followed the route she was not very familiar with and ran toward the Reconnaissance Department’s camp. Fortunately, she had come to look around the Reconnaissance Department over the past few days. Otherwise, she would probably have been unable to find the place now.

She drew closer and closer to her destination.

When Shao Enzhuo ran to the end of the street, she suddenly stopped. Across this street was the Reconnaissance Department’s camp. Panting, she looked at the tightly closed gates of the Reconnaissance Department.

Under the moonlight,

two vanguards were guarding the entrance to the Reconnaissance Department’s camp.

Soon,

Ren Qiruo caught up, panting heavily.

She bent over, supporting her knees with both hands as she gasped for breath. “Ah… Ah Zhuo… you…”

After pausing for a moment,

she slowly raised her head and glanced at the Reconnaissance Department across the street. “Why did you run to the Reconnaissance Department?”

“Qiruo,” Shao Enzhuo said, steadying her disordered breathing and turning to look at Ren Qiruo beside her. “I’m going to say a few words to the vanguards. Wait here for me for a while.”

“What are you going to say to the vanguards?” Ren Qiruo grabbed Shao Enzhuo’s hand. “You’re not going to cause trouble for the vanguards, are you? Ah Zhuo, it really isn’t what you think…”

“I’m not going to cause trouble for the vanguards,” Shao Enzhuo answered calmly. “I just want to say a few words to them. Once I’m done, I’ll come back to you immediately.”

“Then you absolutely must not act impulsively,” Ren Qiruo could only agree. “Go on. I’ll wait here for you.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Mm.”

Ren Qiruo added, “Remember, don’t act impulsively.”

Shao Enzhuo nodded and changed into an expression that looked very relaxed and pleasant. After her emotions had completely calmed, she took a step and walked toward the vanguards.

The breeze blew past.

Shao Enzhuo walked up to the two vanguards standing at the entrance and said, “You’re still standing guard this late?”

After saying that, she immediately added, “That must be hard.”

The vanguard on the left stared at Shao Enzhuo.

“May I ask what you need?”

“It’s nothing much,” Shao Enzhuo said, putting on an embarrassed expression. “I just came here to take a look, and while I’m here, I wanted to ask whether the Reconnaissance Department has enough meat to eat.”

The vanguard asked, “You’re asking whether we have enough meat?”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Yes. Do you?”

“What are you asking this for?” The vanguard looked at Shao Enzhuo suspiciously. “Does your family not have enough meat?”

“I went to the farmers’ market today and received relief grain,” Shao Enzhuo said, smiling with a harmless expression. “I saw how hard it is for you to leave the city and clear out walking corpses, and how dangerous it is outside, so I wanted to give you the meat I received today.”

“No need, no need. Our Reconnaissance Department has enough meat, and we aren’t short on food either,” the vanguard refused without hesitation. “You don’t need to give us the meat you received.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “But…”

“There are no buts. We appreciate your kindness,” the vanguard on the right said. “Little girl, you don’t need to worry about our Reconnaissance Department. Our Reconnaissance Department has never lacked food. Besides, relief grain is specially distributed to the residents. You should keep it and eat it yourself.”

“Aiya, I just feel bad for you all. You’re always risking your lives by leaving the city to clear out walking corpses.” Shao Enzhuo frowned and said unhappily, “If you won’t accept my meat, then I’ll go find the commander.”

“Don’t even talk about finding the commander. The commander would be even less likely to accept your meat,” the vanguard on the left said, raising his head and glancing at the moonlight. “It’s already very late. Little girl, go home early. Also, keep the meat you received for yourself. Our Reconnaissance Department really doesn’t need you to worry about us.”

“How do you know the commander won’t accept the meat?” Shao Enzhuo gave a soft snort, looking unconvinced. “Maybe the commander will accept my meat. Maybe she’ll even praise me.”

“Don’t be so confident. You’d be lucky if the commander didn’t criticize you.” The vanguard simply did not dare imagine that scene. “The commander couldn’t possibly accept your meat.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “Are you sure Officer Han wouldn’t?”

“Commander Han may look very cold, but I dare guarantee that she wouldn’t accept meat,” the vanguard said confidently. “Stop pestering us here.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “The Reconnaissance Department really doesn’t lack meat?”

“We really don’t lack meat,” the vanguard on the right said patiently. “Even if we did, we wouldn’t take yours.”

Seeing that the two vanguards looked serious and did not seem to be lying, Shao Enzhuo was wondering whether she should tell them what had happened tonight. But after thinking it over, she realized she had no evidence.

Even with Shao Lanzhi and Ren Qiruo as witnesses,

it would still be difficult to prove that the guards had taken the meat.

Moreover, she knew nothing about the internal situation of the Reconnaissance Department or the City Guard Department. Rashly speaking out probably was not a good choice. It might even put her in a difficult situation.

In this world, it was better to be cautious.

“Little girl, it’s so late. Hurry home,” the vanguard’s voice pulled Shao Enzhuo back from her thoughts. “Don’t make your family worry about you. And don’t think about bringing meat to us again in the future. We absolutely won’t accept it.”

“Then I’ll send meat to the City Guard Department,” Shao Enzhuo suddenly changed tack and said proudly. “Since your Reconnaissance Department won’t accept my meat, maybe the City Guard Department will.”

“Why are you such a stubborn little girl who refuses to listen?” The vanguard on the left frowned and put his hands on his waist. He was almost angered to death by the little girl in front of him. “Whether it’s the Reconnaissance Department or the City Guard Department, none of us are short on food. Relief grain is distributed to civilians like you. Please just be kind and keep it for yourself to eat.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “Can I believe you?”

The vanguard said, “Of course you can.”

Shao Enzhuo asked, “Can I believe the commander?”

The two vanguards looked at each other.

“Little girl, I can tell you very responsibly that you can always believe in the Reconnaissance Department. Whether it was the previous commander or the current commander, Han Yilü, you can always believe in our commander,” the vanguard on the left said solemnly. “The faith and mission of us vanguards is to fight for humanity, serve humanity, and save the world and rebuild our homeland at all costs.”

He paused, then said dejectedly, “If you don’t believe us, wouldn’t that make us very sad?”

“Of course I believe you vanguards. I was just joking with you because you wouldn’t accept my meat,” Shao Enzhuo said, her brows and eyes curving as she smiled happily. “Since your Reconnaissance Department and City Guard Department don’t lack food, then I feel relieved. If you ever lack food, you must say so. I’ll bring some over then.”

“You don’t need to worry about us,” the vanguard said, truly about to be angered to death. “Be good. Keep it for yourself.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Okay, I know.”

The vanguard said, “Go home quickly.”

“Thank you for working hard standing guard,” Shao Enzhuo said, smiling and waving as she stepped backward. “Then I’ll leave first.”

The vanguard said, “Be careful. Go home early.”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Got it.”

After saying that, she turned around.

But the moment she turned, the smile on her face vanished completely.

Under the moonlight,

a girl stood at the street corner ahead.

Looking at Ren Qiruo’s thin, frail figure, Shao Enzhuo felt terribly uncomfortable. She took a step and walked toward Ren Qiruo. The vanguard’s words had proven her guess.

The guards really had been lying.

She also finally understood why those two guards used the excuse that the Reconnaissance Department lacked meat to deceive people. They had accurately grasped the fact that the vanguards cleared out walking corpses while the civilians stayed inside the city, which was why they dragged the vanguards out as a shield.

The environment of the Capital of Hope caused the city residents to trust the Hope Organization unconditionally. Those two guards were using the people’s trust in the Hope Organization, their humanity and kindness, and their respect and pity for the vanguards to deceive them.

As long as vanguards were mentioned,

the people would compromise without hesitation and without asking why.

Even Ren Qiruo’s bedridden mother…

No wonder Shao Lanzhi had stood up to get the meat from the cupboard the moment she saw the guards. This situation had probably been going on for a long time. She truly had not expected that while the vanguards risked their lives outside the city clearing out walking corpses, the guards were actually…

Trusting them was not wrong.

The problem was that the people trusted were not worthy of that trust.

The meat each person received was not much, but if the guards took meat from many people, a little would accumulate into a lot. Obtaining unconditional trust was not easy.

Yet some people were trampling all over it,

exposing their ugly faces completely.

If Ren Qiruo and Shao Lanzhi knew that the guards they trusted and supported unconditionally had been using their trust to deceive them all along, how hurt would they be?

Shao Enzhuo walked up to Ren Qiruo and called softly,

“Qiruo.”

Ren Qiruo looked at Shao Enzhuo. “Mm?”

Shao Enzhuo said, “I’m sorry.”

Ren Qiruo froze.

“My emotions were a little intense earlier,” Shao Enzhuo said, looking straight into Ren Qiruo’s eyes. “I apologize to you.”

“No… it’s fine…” Seeing Shao Enzhuo apologize so sincerely, Ren Qiruo suddenly felt embarrassed. She smiled and patted Shao Enzhuo’s shoulder. “Aiya, I don’t blame you. I just didn’t know why you were so angry, and why you said those things about the vanguards and guards…”

Shao Enzhuo moved her lips as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, she still did not speak.

“What did you say to the vanguards just now?” Seeing that something seemed a little off with Shao Enzhuo, Ren Qiruo asked, “Did you ask them about the meat? Or… did you say something else?”

Shao Enzhuo did not know whether Ren Qiruo would be able to accept the fact that the guards had deceived her. This was not something that would become false just because Shao Enzhuo said it was false. She needed the vanguards to help her prove it. But first, she had to find evidence to prove it to the vanguards.

Otherwise, she might be bitten back instead.

The crew-cut guard had been able to call out her name at the time.

There was definitely something fishy there.

She would probably have to wait until the next time relief grain was distributed to find an opportunity to figure it out. She secretly sighed and quietly changed the topic.

“Qiruo, when did the guards start going to your house to take the meat? Aside from taking the meat, did they ever say anything else every time they came?”

“They started taking meat in the second half of last year,” Ren Qiruo thought for a moment and said. “Last year, my stepmother hadn’t gotten sick yet, so we waited until the end of the year to collect relief grain.”

So it had started in the second half of last year.

Shao Enzhuo fell into thought.

“They said the Reconnaissance Department lacked meat and needed the meat we received to fill the gap,” Ren Qiruo slowly said as she recalled what had happened during that time. “They said the commander and vanguards were very grateful to us, and also told me to wait at home every time after receiving relief grain. If the Reconnaissance Department lacked meat, they would come take it. If they didn’t come take the meat on the night after receiving relief grain, that meant the Reconnaissance Department didn’t lack meat, and we could eat the meat we received. They also said this was the will of the commander and the station officer, so I…”

Shao Enzhuo really did not know what to say.

From the looks of it,

there were definitely many residents in the city who had been deceived.

“Qiruo, I’ll send you home,” Shao Enzhuo said, lifting her foot and walking forward. “It’s already very late.”

“What did you say to the vanguards just now?” Ren Qiruo followed her and asked curiously. “Can you tell me?”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Give me some time.”

Ren Qiruo asked, “What do you mean?”

“I misunderstood the vanguards today. Let’s leave this matter here for now,” Shao Enzhuo said, raising her eyes to look at the moon in the distance. “I need to find a way to prove something. When I do, I’ll tell you. How does that sound?”

Ren Qiruo asked, “Ah Zhuo, what are you trying to prove?”

Shao Enzhuo said, “You’ll know in the future.”

Ren Qiruo said, “Alright then…”

Shao Enzhuo said, “Let’s go. I’ll send you home.”

Ren Qiruo said, “Mm.”