What is this…
Gazing at the dead staggering forward in the gray mist filled with the aura of death, looking towards the massive, looming gate behind the dense gray fog, and the man… soul, with a large axe stuck in the back of his head, he couldn't help but freeze in place.
Dead? Am I dead?!
After struggling to recall the memories of his past life, remembering the enchanting singing voice and the sound of wind breaking behind his ear, the man finally confirmed his current situation and couldn't help but feel a sense of discouragement.
I really must be dead…
After the Seao Kingdom's royal ship was dragged away some time ago, the vicinity of Bleak Moon Sea became a habitat for sirens. Sailors on passing ships would often be driven mad by their songs, then jump ship and swim towards the reefs, only to die of exhaustion.
So I took the task from the bureau chief, carrying the [Silence Music Box] to drive away the siren colonies, but halfway through the drive, the first mate on the ship went crazy, directly picking up the axe for cutting cables and chopping around, and I was distracted controlling the music box…
Damn it! Did I just die like this?
Relying on a soul quality far superior to ordinary people, temporarily resisting the pull of the Gate of the Dead, the man with the axe stuck in his head couldn't help but hold his head, roaring with resentment.
How is this possible? I once participated in the promotion assessment with the Food God and came back alive as a Level 2 Cleaner! How could I be chopped to death like this? And die so stupidly? I… I…
Hey you over there! What are you doing?
Seemingly noticing this special existence, two souls, one black and one white, immediately walked out from the two lines of souls outside the Gate of the Dead, quickly running over with shackles in hand, scolding sternly:
"Hurry up and go in! The souls of the dead cannot linger outside!"
"Move, move, move! Don't block the people behind! Otherwise, we'll lock you up!"
“……”
Wait… what are these two doing?
Looking at the strange souls in front of him wearing strange tall hats, holding a stick in one hand and shackles in the other, demanding that he quickly enter the Gate of the Dead, the man's mind couldn't help but be slightly dazed, then he somewhat bewilderedly asked:
"Who are you? Isn't the Gate of the Dead under the jurisdiction of the Food God?"
This person actually knows the Food God… so he's a dead Cleaner?
After hearing the man's curious question, the attitude of the black and white souls softened slightly, then, as if they weren't very skilled yet, they introduced themselves somewhat stiffly:
"We are Black… um… Black Temporary and White Temporary… I don't know why we're called that, that's just what we're called, the current Gate of Hell doesn't have a Lord of the Dead overseeing it, so we've been asked to maintain order here."
"Gate of Hell?"
"It's the original Gate of the Dead."
Seeing that the axe man in front of him was a Cleaner, the "White Temporary," whose face was shedding white ash, explained in a low voice, then pointed to the Gate of the Dead shrouded in gray mist in the distance.
"Look, isn't it written up there?"
"?"
Following the pale finger of "White Temporary," after looking towards the Gate of the Dead, the axe man couldn't help but open his mouth wide, stunned in place.
A huge paifang made of stone pillars, replacing the original Gate of the Dead that was separated to the left and right, stood at this boundary between life and death.
In the center of this strange building with green bricks, black tiles, and upturned eaves, a rectangular giant plaque was nailed, on which three strange symbols that were probably characters were painted, emitting a red light that made people feel a little uneasy.
"The meaning of those three symbols is…"
"Gate of Hell, isn't there a translation below?"
There's a translation?
Slightly stunned by the words of the black and white souls, the axe man quickly squinted his eyes to look, and found that there was indeed a corresponding translation written below the three symbols, but before he could take a closer look, he was pushed by the two, who urged him somewhat anxiously:
"Hurry up, hurry up, you've stayed long enough, even if you're a Cleaner, you can't block the way like this, hurry in and register!"
"Ah? You have to register even when you're dead now?"
"Why are you asking me? This is set by the Food… cough… this is set by the big shots above, we're just doing as we're told… hurry, hurry, hurry! Go register quickly, and then you'll be on the Road to the Yellow Springs."
"Road to the Yellow Springs… isn't it the Road of No Return?"
"It's been painted yellow."
"Ah?!"
"Ah, no!"
"White Temporary," who accidentally let it slip, couldn't help but quickly try to cover it up:
"That… according to the people above, the Road of No Return sounds unlucky, and although the road is still there, it's already lost its original function, so it's simply renamed… why do you have so many questions? Hurry up and go!"
“……”
Although there were ten thousand questions he wanted to ask in his heart, under the repeated urging of the "Black and White Temporaries," the axe man had no choice but to quickly walk towards the greatly changed Gate of the Dead, and then received a form at a table by the door.
"Hello."
Smiling at the axe man, revealing eight bright white teeth, the beautiful female soul in a black and white suit behind the table smiled and pointed:
"Mr. Deceased, age, gender, address, cause of death… please fill in these required fields first. Even if you can't read, you can fill it in by understanding with your soul. This form only accepts the truth from the soul.
In addition, the regrets in life, social achievements, surviving family members, and special contributions in the boxes below are optional. You can fill them in if you have them, or leave them blank if you don't want to.
But we suggest that if you have them, you should still try to fill them in as much as possible, after all, although these are only optional, they may affect your post-mortem re-employment direction and related job benefits, and even affect the speed of promotion in the relevant departments."
“……”
Re-employment after death… you can continue to be promoted? There are also benefits? Is this still the underworld? Where have I been brought?
Holding the extremely bizarre form in his hand, the axe man's axe on his head was about to burst, opening his mouth and asking in a daze:
"You… you…"
"We are the branch of the Cleanup Bureau in the Dead Realm, recently established not long ago, currently tentatively named the Underworld Branch, headed by Her Excellency Emma… you can look at the header of the form, there is also the Cleanup Bureau logo on it."
“……”
Following the female soul's fingertip, after looking at the dung… scarab beetle on the header, the axe man finally barely closed his mouth, while trying to accept the exaggerated reality, he asked in shock:
"Why is it like this? Could it be that the bureau has already taken down the entire Dead Realm?"
The bureau?
Keenly capturing this keyword, the female soul in the suit couldn't help but narrow her eyes, her smile becoming even more enthusiastic, and then she took the initiative to say:
"This respected Mr. Deceased, if you have served as a Cleaner before, then it will be counted as a Level 3 special contribution. After filling out the form, you can take the fast track and go directly to the Hall of Judgment to accept the judgment of the judges."
"Judgment? Have I committed a crime?"
"Sir, judgment is not necessarily guilty, it can also be meritorious."
Quickly glancing at the memo board next to the table, after going through the workflow set by the new master of the Dead Realm, the female soul explained with a hint of envy:
"According to the rules that have been set by the Food… actually, if you have accumulated enough merit in your career as a Cleaner, you will receive corresponding rewards in the Dead Realm, or exchange benefits for surviving family members.
Even if you work hard enough, accumulate enough merit, and have no serious crimes, and your soul and body are in good condition, you can even be arranged to go through the resurrection process, live to 150 years old, and then come over."
"Ah?!!!!"
