"Spiritual Energy redshift strength of 2, blueshift strength of 4... Chip is intact with no signs of disassembly..."
The middle-aged fat cat, sucking on a lollipop and flipping through Russell's examination report, showed a troubled expression, "Ah, in this case... doesn't that mean he can only be assigned to the Special Execution Department?"
Russell was also seeing his uncle for the first time... It was just now that he learnt his name was Dodgson from an Inferior.
... Well, although they were both cats, and their fur colors were a bit similar. But after all, whether it was the fur color or the stripes of the prone-spiritual characteristics, they were completely different.
Russell and Alice were of the dune cat breed, but his uncle clearly did not resemble Russell with his lightweight and smaller physique.
Without a doubt—
Just from the weight, it was obvious that he was a large Orange Cat.
Dodgson always squinted his eyes, his cheeks were chubby, and he had a gentle and lazy demeanor; he seemed to be a thoroughly nice guy.
He wore his coat over his shoulders, which stayed in place only because of his thick shoulders. The shirt he wore inside was black—a brand Russell completely didn't recognize, but just one glance was enough to understand it felt like very expensive clothing.
Russell also noticed something else. That was, both his and Amirus' boots were pointed.
Was this some sort of distinctive attire characteristic of Directors?
The round belly of his uncle was not made of hard fat but was soft and elastic to the touch. When Russell accidentally touched it, his first reaction was "I want to touch it again".
"Although I had speculated when I watched the news yesterday, you being able to slaughter on the airship is mostly because you've Awakened Spiritual Energy."
The Orange Cat Director Dodgson sighed, "But... alas..."
"What's wrong with going to the Special Execution Department?"
Russell asked reflexively, "Isn't that the only place you can be assigned to once you've Awakened Spiritual Energy?"
"That's true. But after all, work in the Special Execution Department is much more dangerous."
Dodgson was saying this while crunching on the lollipop in his mouth, his speech becoming unclear as a result: "The general work of the Execution Department involves arresting criminals, capturing Spiritual Energy Mercenaries, and the like, but the Special Execution Department usually deals with dangerous beings like Demons, Enslaved Demons, or intelligent criminals like psychic hackers... Oh, you should know about Demons, right? I'm guessing Amirus must have told you about them last night.
"Given his suspicious nature, he would definitely have conducted a medical exam on you."
"Yes."
Russell nodded.
Although he knew about this before graduation, there was no need to correct it now.
But... suspicious, huh?
That didn't seem very apparent. However, if he were to deduce from his actions, there indeed seemed to be some traces of that...
"No matter what, as a Self-Awakened Spiritual Energy User, you still have to enter the Special Execution Department."
Dodgson's brows furrowed deeply, and while pondering, he explained to Russell, "This isn't about asking you to do some work... I initially wanted to arrange a sedentary position for you. For instance, putting you in the Public Relations Department, you could become a manager in two or three years."
"... Let's forget about becoming a Public Relations Department manager."
Russell shook his head somewhat helplessly to decline.
Not a manager of the Public Relations Department again—he was afraid he might suddenly drop dead and transfer to another world at any moment.
"You don't understand... In the Tianen Group, the Public Relations Department is a core division. It's one of the jobs with four advantages: less work, early off, more credit, and fast promotions," Dodgson said, sighing, "But working in the Execution Department is hard labor. And the Special Execution Department is very dangerous... But since you've Awakened Spiritual Energy, if you don't join, I'm afraid you'll end up in prison."
"... How so?"
Russell was somewhat confused, "Is it against the law not to be an Execution Officer?"
"—Because the essence of Spiritual Energy is desire."
Speaking this time was the Inferior standing quietly aside.
He said calmly, "Desire will always expand and never stop. But the speed at which a person learns, grasps, and comprehends becomes slower and slower… This means that your blueshift growth rate will never outpace your redshift. Of course, redshift can also be reduced through psychotherapy or even by removing memories.
However, when the blueshift and redshift match, a 'Shift Surge' occurs. At this time, you will learn the true name of your Spiritual Energy and know everything about it. And from then on, your redshift will only increase, never decrease. After that, if you don't release your Spiritual Energy but continue to repress it... loss of control could be just a matter of months or weeks away."
"So, it means that I won't truly be a Spiritual Energy User until my Red Shift value reaches four..."
Russell muttered to himself.
Dodgson shrugged his shoulders, "Yes. If you want, you could also go through psychological therapy to give up your Spiritual Energy... but would you be willing?"
Give up Spiritual Energy?
—Who would be willing to do that?
It's not just about gaining superpowers.
When Russell put on Alice's mask, he felt a special surge inside him... It was an excitement he had never experienced before.
Like an actor's first performance on stage.
That sense of immersion.
"I think I understand," Russell slowly nodded, "I definitely won't give up Spiritual Energy. But what is 'releasing'?"
"That's also one of the missions of the Special Execution Department."
The Inferior responded fluently: "Natural Spiritual Energy Users, unlike those fakes who are suppressed and always in a safe state, are bound to experience the 'Shift Surge'... and to avoid going mad during a Shift Surge, you need to liberate your desires in advance.
"Think carefully. The illusion you saw when you Awakened to Spiritual Energy should have revealed your 'task'—that is the manifestation of your deepest desires. By increasing your 'Red Shift' through accomplishing tasks in a ritualistic manner instead of relying on strong emotions and desires to burst forth Spiritual Energy, you would achieve a permanently solidified next-level ability that never decreases. This is actually akin to conducting a 'Shift Surge' in advance.
"If you Advance to each level of Spiritual Energy in this manner... then when the final 'Shift Surge' occurs, the mental pressure on you will be reduced to the lowest level.
"After the Shift Surge, there is no turning back. You must keep using your Spiritual Energy, or else you will keep accumulating pressure. But if you're not part of the Special Execution Department, using Spiritual Energy recklessly will draw the attention of the Execution Department—after all, no one knows your rituals, your tasks, your Spiritual Energy. Nor do they know when you might turn into a Demon."
So, it means I need to occasionally use Spiritual Energy to let off steam...
Russell pondered thoughtfully.
Indeed, there was certainly a sense of relief when he used Spiritual Energy.
However.
"Tasks, huh..."
Russell muttered to himself.
The Inferior nodded, emphasizing again carefully: "You certainly know, ask your own heart. The strongest feeling at that time is the 'task' you need to complete, and it is the ritual necessary for advancing your Spiritual Energy in a legitimate way."
...Speaking of the illusion during awakening, it should be that room filled with candles and picture frames.
Come to think of it, when his mother Alice's face appeared in one of those frames, Russell's first reaction was "why is the other one empty, do I have to wait until I kill my father and absorb him into it?"
After all, parents' photos belong together, making a complete set.
—But on second thought, it definitely wasn't asking for a complete family. After all, there were too many frames in that illusion of Russell's, and he didn't have enough family members to fill them.
Moreover, those two frames were actually quite far apart... almost as far as the frames in the darkness.
And, Spiritual Energy comes from the deepest desires within—
Russell held immense gratitude and love for Alice. She was a great mother, who, despite all odds, raised him with diligence and never mistreated him in the slightest, offering Russell the best she could. She had never even lost her temper with Russell, much less scolded or hit him.
Though Russell's memory had been sealed, he was precocious—seeing his mother's struggles made him strive harder on his own.
However, as for the father who had abandoned him from a young age, even running away with money, it could only be said... Russell did not kill him simply because he had promised his mother to be a person who could live under the sun.
The deepest desire in Russell's heart couldn't possibly be to have their photos together.
Moreover—this was based on the Spiritual Energy of his past life's memory, not of the Russell who had his memory sealed. At that time, he couldn't possibly recognize his current parents.
...But Russell did indeed have a strong desire at that moment.
That was, to fill the remaining frame.