Inside one of the Cape Group's "production farms", in a section specifically designated for the infected—those classified as "production resources"—a young man glanced around nervously before whispering to an older worker beside him.
"Hey, uh… when's mealtime, old man?"
"Eat, eat, eat—that's all you ever think about! Did you finish today's work quota?"
"Uh…"
"Be careful, kid! If someone reports you, you're finished. Regular employees who get fired just pay a massive penalty fee… but for us 'resources'? It means death."
"I'm working, I'm working… But seriously, doesn't Cape Group treat us a bit too harshly? The workload's insane—it feels like we're dying every day."
"At least we're still alive. And it's not like we've got many choices, do we?"
"...Yeah. Nobody cares about an infected person who can't read or lift much anyway."
"Exactly. No matter how cruel the Cape Group is, no matter how little they see us as terran, we can't afford to wish for its collapse."
"…"
"Because for people like us—trash, leftovers—it's the best option we have. Maybe even the only one."
———
A heavy silence settled over the narrow room.
Mephisto still hadn't answered Cape's question.
"Mr. Cape…"
Seeing Mephisto's conflicted expression, Alina couldn't help but speak up. But under Cape's ever-smiling gaze, her courage quickly faltered.
"Miss Alina, please remain silent," Cape said mildly. "The Group's recruitment isn't for you, after all."
This was, after all, a Cape Group assessment—
the way the boss personally gauged a potential subordinate's worth.
For outsiders, interference was unacceptable.
Come on. Answer my question.
Within Mephisto's body, a small Black Snake stirred restlessly.
It was too weak to take full control—not yet—but should Mephisto's will falter, even briefly, it could seize his body's actions with ease.
If I didn't need this vessel to remain undisclosed… I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.
The President of Cape Group could only be Cape—
never Kashchey.
In truth, it didn't matter which option Mephisto chose.
The first choice,
the second,
or even the third—
To the Black Snake, they were all the same.
It didn't care. It would accept them all.
Because this wasn't really a single-choice problem.
No... for the Black Snake, it was a multiple-choice question.
What mattered wasn't the answer itself, but that it came from the truest depths of Mephisto's heart.
And once Mephisto made his choice, it would mean one thing—
his heart had begun to resonate with the Black Snake's own.
He had chosen the same path as the Black Snake.
And when that happened, the Black Snake within him would grow stronger—rapidly.
Even if it couldn't yet seize full control,
it could still warp his thoughts,
reshape his mind,
and overwrite his nature piece by piece.
After all—
adding new "modules" onto an existing foundation was far easier
than destroying the old one and building something new from scratch.
"It's alright, take your time," Cape said with a gentle smile. "There's no hidden meaning behind this question, and your answer won't affect whether I hire you or not. I simply want to understand the way you think. After all, as the head of a large conglomerate, I need to ensure my employees are placed where they belong—so that each of you can reach your full potential."
Cape closed his eyes.
He could hardly contain his excitement—
it was time to see the answer.
Countless overlapping visions flickered within his pupils—
parallel outcomes, diverging worlds.
Most versions of Mephisto chose the second answer.
A few chose the first,
and only a scant handful picked the third.
"The formula for victory is set in stone… My Cape Group has finally unlocked the true code of wealth!"
A method to harvest even greater profit from those lowly 'resources'.
To the Black Snake, both spiritual and material wealth were forms of value.
But between the two, there existed a clear conversion rate.
If an infected individual's worth as kindling far exceeded their worth as a cultivated tool, then wasn't the Black Snake's choice obvious?
Emotions were precious, yes…
But compared to the cold, steady weight of material gain, they were unreliable.
After all, maintaining affection was far too costly.
"Uh… sorry, but—" Mephisto hesitated, his tone uncertain. "Is there… maybe a fourth option?"
Cape chuckled lightly. "Nope~ None at all."
"I see."
Mephisto glanced down at the suit he was wearing.
It was comfortable. Impeccably tailored. Luxurious, even.
And yet, he couldn't shake off a strange sense of discomfort.
At the same time, an unfamiliar impulse welled up inside him, a desire to voice his true thoughts aloud.
"I… I think I'd feel sorry," he finally murmured.
"...?"
Cape's smile didn't waver.
But deep down, he was clearly displeased.
That wasn't the answer he'd been hoping for.
The entire test—the manipulation, the psychological push—was designed to make Mephisto expose his heart. But remorse? That was something a Black Snake would never feel.
Mephisto's hands trembled slightly as he clasped them together.
He didn't even understand why he'd said that.
Why he'd gone beyond the three given choices to reveal something completely different.
It felt clumsy. Out of place. Wrong—
and yet, deeply sincere.
"I know it's just a thought experiment," he continued awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "But… when I tried to imagine it, I realized—I probably wouldn't be able to do anything. Maybe I'd just… blame myself for being too weak."
"…"
Cape narrowed his eyes.
The question itself was meant to guide the mind. To twist it subtly.
terran thoughts are fragile things, easily swayed, constantly changing.
Few ever maintain the same convictions from beginning to end.
And those who do… rarely grow.
But unfortunately for Cape—
this boy before him was one of the few.
He'd been protected.
At least, during his time in Reunion, he'd been sheltered well.
Cape cast a sidelong glance at Alina, who looked ready to speak but restrained herself.
He could tell she was displeased with his manipulative line of questioning.
"So… this little Elafia girl isn't as simple as she looks."
Kind people are rare in this world, but those who can inspire kindness in others? They're rarer still.
"Have you really managed to calm the madness within this Liberi boy?"
Inside Mephisto, the tiny Black Snake stirred pensively.
The situation was becoming… mildly troublesome.
With its power restrained, and no external source to replenish it, the Black Snake's influence had waned to a mere whisper.
"Tch… lately, I've been running into nothing but hard bones to chew on."
But in the end, for the Black Snake, even the hardest bones were nothing more than a mild irritation.
Just something that made its teeth ache a little.