2026-06-24 17:00:24
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Marlin's back slammed into the partition. He let out a sharp gasp of pain, holding his hands up in terror!"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Mr. Pembroke!" Marlin squeaked, tears of fake panic welling in his eyes as he winced against the wall. "I tripped! My boot caught the rug! Please don't hit me! I'll pay for your dry cleaning! I'll spend my whole daily allowance!"Derrick raised his hand to strike Marlin across the face, but Director Alden Pryce suddenly walked onto the second-floor balcony!"What is the meaning of this commotion?!" Director Alden barked from above!Derrick shoved Marlin away in disgust, letting go of his sweater collar. "Nothing, Director! Just this clumsy lower-sector rookie spilling coffee like an idiot!""Clean up this mess, Author, and get to your desk!" Director Alden ordered sternly."Y-Yes, Director! Right away!" Marlin squeaked, dropping to his knees with a rag to wipe the spilled coffee off the floorboards, keeping his head bowed low.Derrick sneered down at hi
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Marlin stood by his desk catching his breath like a man who had barely escaped execution.He packed his simple duffel bag, giving Toby a nervous, apologetic nod."I guess I'm moving upstairs, Toby," Marlin whispered timidly.Toby stared at him in absolute, paralyzed awe. "Marlin... you got promoted to Tier Three in your first twenty-four hours... nobody does that...""I guess I got lucky," Marlin squeaked softly, throwing his bag over his shoulder and hurrying out the door toward the transit elevators.The iron elevator ground upward through the granite mountain core, its steam cables humming with immense power.Marlin stood near the back of the iron cage, holding his duffel bag over his shoulder.He was completely alone in the elevator.The moment the doors closed and the elevator began its ascent, Marlin’s timid shivering posture vanished completely.He straightened his back and roll his shoulders, his eyes turning cold, calm, and razor-sharp.He pulled up his system interface.[PIN
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Mr. Drake stepped up sweating profusely while pointing at Marlin. "Inspector! This is Marlin Author, the new transfer! He handled three hundred tax files yesterday!"Magnus Croy snatched Marlin's master ledger folder from the desk, flipping the pages open with a cold, mocking smirk."Let me see what kind of trash accounting a lower-sector rookie produces," Magnus Croy sneered.The entire office hall went dead silent. Two hundred clerks held their breath in terror, expecting Marlin to be fired on the spot.Marlin stood by his desk, nervously fidgeting with his ink-stained fingers, bowing his head slightly and swallowing hard like a terrified young clerk waiting for his punishment—while beneath his timid facade, his mind was already calculating every move.Magnus turned the heavy parchment pages with an arrogant snap of his wrist, his gold rings clicking loudly against the paper.Page ten... page thirty... page fifty...His sneer slowly began to fade. The numbers were impossibly clean
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Walking casually down the quiet stairs toward Sub-level 3, Marlin looked like an ordinary clerk returning to drop off an evening ledger.Near the iron doors of the Records Vault, two armored Citadel guards were standing post, holding electric shock-spears.The lead guard held up his hand. "Halt! Records Vault is closed after eight o'clock! State your business, clerk!"Marlin walked up smoothly, offering a warm, friendly smile."Evening, officers," Marlin said politely, holding up the official pass. "Mr. Drake sent me down to deposit the evening tax logs into Vault Section B. Here's the authorization pass."The guard took the pass, running it under his belt scanner.[BEEP!][PASS STATUS: APPROVED (AUTHORIZATION: MANAGER DRAKE)]The guard grunted, unlocking the iron deadbolts. "Keep it quick kid. We lock the main gates in ten minutes.""Thanks, officer. I appreciate it," Marlin said with a pleasant nod, stepping smoothly into the dark vault corridor.The Deep Records Vault was a vast u
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If someone tried to buddy up to him, they would eventually notice his habits, ask questions about where he went at night, or get caught in the crossfire when things went down.Cutting people off immediately is the cleanest, safest way to ensure absolute operational security.Just then, a loud angry voice echoed from the front of the office hall."AUTHOR! MARLIN AUTHOR!"A tall balding man in an overpriced silk vest walked down the central aisle, slamming a thick leather folder onto Marlin's desk.It was Mr. Drake, the Head Audit Manager of Sector Four.Drake had a red face, small greedy eyes and a sharp, arrogant demeanor. He looked at Marlin's simple clothes with obvious condescension."You're the new transfer from the outer province?" Drake sneered, tapping the folder. "Listen to me, Author. You're at the bottom of the ladder here. I want these three hundred municipal tax files reconciled, balanced and cataloged by six o'clock tonight."Toby gasped softly beside Marlin, but quickly
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He reached out and tapped the System Facelift Module on the screen.[HUMMM!]A warm, tingling sensation washed over Caleb’s face, shoulders and chest.His sharp, intense jawline softened into a friendly, handsome structure. His dark hair shifted into a casual brown tone, and his cold, unblinking eyes softened into clear, light and easygoing eyes. His tall body relaxed into the casual posture of an ordinary twenty-four-year-old man.Valerie blinked in total shock, taking a step back as she looked at the young man standing in front of her.The terrifying "Devil Chairman" who had dismantled corporate dynasties was completely gone. In his place stood a friendly, harmless-looking young guy who looked like a fresh university graduate."My god, Caleb..." Valerie whispered, marveling at the disguise. "I'm looking right at you, and I can't feel a trace of your presence."Caleb—now looking and sounding like Marlin Author—looked at his reflection in the dark glass window. He cleared his thro
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