```
Russell instantly understood.
No wonder Cui Que had already become the Director of Execution Department at the young age of twenty-two, perhaps even younger than that when she first became a director.
It must be that the Tianen Group considered that as the only armed branch, the Execution Department needed to be shuffled and decentralized to avoid the creation of interconnected relationships... Therefore, both directors and deputy directors of the Execution Department are selected from the higher authority of the Special Execution Department, rather than being promoted from within the department itself.
According to the conversation Cui Que had with Inferior earlier, she was only eighteen when she moved from the Execution Department to the Special Execution Department.
In these four years, her colleagues died, went mad, and only two are still alive.
Considering she even has the confidence to fight the hatched demons, Cui Que has certainly defeated many enemies herself.
Russell was likely still peacefully and comfortably studying on campus when Cui Que was already battling demons and Enslaved Demons in blood-soaked struggles.
Although it was never explicitly stated, it seems likely that the previous director's demonization has something to do with Cui Que's spiritual energy...
Inferior is undoubtedly a very proud individual, yet he holds considerable respect for Cui Que. This is certainly not out of fear, but because Cui Que's character is worthy of respect.
In Russell's view, Inferior "obeys" his uncle, but he holds true closeness and respect for Cui Que—
When in the presence of others, Inferior always stands so straight, his face unshaken. With every word and action, he defines what is "perfection" and what is "professionalism".
But in Cui Que's presence, he subconsciously leans on the desk and wants to smoke. This indicates that Cui Que does not normally prevent this behavior... but considering Russell's impression, she merely glared, making Inferior subconsciously choose to obey without any dissatisfaction.
It was this detail that made Russell truly start to take Cui Que seriously.
And once Russell understood Cui Que's spiritual energy, he immediately realized her strategic value.
Just as Inferior had said to him before...
"—You'll have a very long career at the company, maybe for the second half of your life... or even the next life."
He wasn't talking about Russell, and most likely not about himself.
It was about Cui Que.
Her spiritual energy could help others safely unleash more powerful spiritual energy without worrying about losing control—and creating such spiritual energy chips was almost no burden on her.
Although she hasn't spelled it out, the rest of her spiritual energy should also be of this series.
This means that as long as Cui Que is still around, the Execution Department of the Tianen Group can increase everyone's explosive powers whenever needed.
She's like a wholesaler for the Eight Gates Escape Armor.
Cui Que's spiritual energy is practically useless for herself, but for the Tianen Group, its strategic value is self-explanatory; conversely, if any enemy had such power, it would pose a significant threat to the headquarters' control.
Therefore, the Tianen Group would never let Cui Que go.
Whether she's eighteen or eighty-one, even if she's too old to go on missions, she still has to spend her whole life as the Director of the Execution Department of the Tianen Group.
If Cui Que were just an ordinary Execution Officer, she could slack off and rest, refuse to supply spiritual energy chips, after all, the director can't force her to supply spiritual energy chips; but the board of directors placed her in the position of director where no one can command her, and all her actions are her own to decide.
Thus, Cui Que dares not to slack off.
—This is what they call "exploit someone using their sense of right." Precisely because Cui Que has a strong sense of responsibility, the Tianen Group's binding strategy could be realized.
Despite having such ability, allowing her subordinates, the working people, to face life-threatening dangers and even sacrifices due to lack of skills while apprehending mercenaries... She can't do it, and she dares not bear the consequences of her inaction.
Although the world's ruling giant dragons allow elves to form giant corporations that govern the world, they have not granted them the right to deprive others of their lives or to establish military and police departments.
So the headquarters' Execution Department can only impose "exile" as a penalty at most.
That is, to send people from the Sky Island to the radiation and curse-ridden ground below.
...Although from the result, the person will certainly die eventually. However, "exile" and "execution" differ in terms of authority.
This is the highest punishment that the company can impose.
Therefore, when the Execution Officers of the Execution Department capture mercenaries, they can only use non-lethal weapons.
But the mercenaries don't have such constraints.
After all, being captured will certainly not end well—since they've abandoned their chips and went to the Lower City District to become Codeless, who isn't already guilty of taking several lives?
If surrendering a chip didn't mean certain death upon capture, who would be willing to discard it?
Once abandoned, they can never be reattached.
So they don't need to consider holding back at all and can attack freely.
While mercenaries can recklessly use lethal weapons, the death rate of Execution Officers has always remained high.
Inferior, as a high-level Spiritual Energy User, Deputy Director of Execution Department, and member of the Special Execution Department, still remains at the front lines "part-time"—he's certainly not after the performance bonus. Most likely, he wants to use his own ability to help reduce subordinate casualties.
Cui Que also began making large quantities of "Spiritual Energy Chip-Cui Que," distributing them to the Execution Officers as emergency supplies for preserving their lives.
In Cui Que's opinion, this is probably akin to an exclusive, high-end adrenaline for Spiritual Energy Users to use, giving them more room to survive against those mercenaries.
Considering the respect Inferior has for her, her work capability must also be strong; she's likely a very reliable supervisor.
...Well, how should I put it?
Both of my seniors are good people.
Russell sighed with relief in his heart and set his worries aside.
With two such dependable seniors leading the way, it seemed that he, who was weak, could safely slack off, clock out on time, and just skate through his days...
—Days as a human, great yah!
Russell cheered loudly in his heart.
"Director!"
Just then, the door to the Special Execution Department was suddenly knocked on.
```
Cui Que's expression had instantly become serious.
She immediately stood up, returned to her seat, and gave a kick to the floor.
The swivel chair stylishly rotated once, gliding to her original resting spot.
She first gave Russell a half-smiling, half-serious look, her hand that had pinched Russell's ear made a grasping motion in the air, seemingly hinting at something.
Afterward, her expression turned serious.
"Please come in."
Cui Que's voice was steady and clear, conveying a sense of reliability.
With that, she pointed in the air, and the securely locked door opened, revealing the anxious-looking young man standing outside.
He appeared quite young, barely in his early twenties, and was wearing the iconic black uniform of the Execution Department.
His degree of prone-spiritualization was moderate at best; part of a raccoon's distinctive features could be clearly seen on his face; what confirmed his prone-spiritual species for Russell, however, was the pattern of black and white rings on his large tail.
"Zhan, what happened?"
"…There's a report of a 'suspected Demon'!"
The youth known as Zhan replied urgently.
He waved at Cui Que, showing the sealed paper material in his hand.
In an age where the majority of documents and files were transmitted digitally, and the concept of 'Physical Money' didn't even exist, a document appearing in entirely paper form undoubtedly signified the highest level of secrecy.
It lacked efficiency, outdated and slow.
Yet, for network detectives and Spiritual Energy hackers seeking to steal information, this was the most costly method of data storage to breach.
Cui Que's expression instantly turned grave.
She took the report, her slender index finger slid over the seal, and the seal dissolved on its own.
This was a special kind of fingerprint lock that could confirm not just a static fingerprint, but also whether the bearer was using a finger cot... or if the original fingerprint's owner was still alive.
Cui Que held the report up, scrutinizing it seriously.
The Inferior sitting on the sofa also stood up and went to Cui Que's side to read the file alongside her.
And the youth called "Zhan" clearly lacked the qualifications to view such a document.
After delivering the document to Cui Que, he stood in front of the desk, evidently waiting for further instructions.
Seeing his posture, Russell sitting on the sofa didn't dare to move either—he didn't know if he had the right to look, so he simply stayed seated silently on the couch.
"You may leave now, Zhan."
After looking for a good while, Cui Que raised her head to the raccoon boy: "You can go back first."
"Yes, Director!"
The young man answered respectfully.
Having said this, he turned to leave the room. Before he did, the youth called "Zhan" cast a curious glance at Russell on the sofa.
He seemed to wonder who could be in the same room with both Directors...
He glanced unintentionally and then prepared to pull the door open to leave.
But just as he was about to leave, it was as if he suddenly remembered something, and he looked at Russell in astonishment.
—Damn, I've been recognized, Russell thought.
He immediately felt a wave of embarrassment.
It was like becoming a celebrity or an Internet star after participating in a talent show and facing teasing from his schoolmates.
"Russell, come with me. Now. Immediately."
Just as Russell and Zhan were about to speak, the Inferior suddenly turned around and drew the attention of both.
Then, with a furrowed brow, he looked at Zhan who was staring blankly at Russell: "What are you daydreaming about?"
"Oh... Yes!"
The raccoon boy snapped out of it.
His eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement as he left. The previous anxiety and panic were gone... clearly planning to tell his colleagues about Russell being the "New Hero" working in their Execution Department.
—And so, the pressure has now come to me.
Russell grimaced.
If I don't handle this well, they will probably be disappointed in me...
"Don't I need to go back to my place to change clothes first?"
Russell asked the Inferior for confirmation: "Is it okay for me to wear my regular clothes, or will I get a deduction on my performance or something?"
The Inferior didn't respond, just patted Russell's shoulder to indicate that he should follow.
After the two exited the room, he followed half a step behind, slightly turned his head, and said in a low voice, "It's better for you not to wear the uniform."
"...What?"
"The 'suspected Demon' in the report, you happen to know her."
The Inferior replied: "It's that reporter who interviewed you yesterday.
"—The 'idol' loved by everyone, and at the same time the Tianen Daily's most famous reporter... the girl nicknamed 'Glass.'"