According to the manual, Tower No. 9 has 13 floors above ground and 13 below. It is the tallest and largest tower in all of Sector 18 and serves as the primary hub for Enforcers.
The ground floor is the administrative area; the second and third floors are libraries; the fourth floor consists of classrooms for public lectures, where Enforcers can choose to attend sessions on various subjects as they please. The remaining fifth and sixth floors are for experiments, physical fitness, and training—these are also used on an as-needed, self-motivated basis. The higher floors are not mentioned in the manual, and Enforcers are strictly prohibited from accessing them.
The floors below ground are entirely composed of cells for housing various Monsters; this is the designated area for Enforcers to execute them. The deeper the floor, the more dangerous the Monster. Even relatively routine executions can easily lead to unexpected accidents. However, there are additional bounties to be earned, and successfully recovering high-value biological materials from a Monster provides a commission. This is the most important source of income for Enforcers, though earning this dangerous money requires both skill and guts.
Lloyd was in no rush. As a progressive youth with a higher education, he never believed in rushing growth; taking things step-by-step was just fine for him.
He stepped into an old-fashioned elevator nearby, closed the iron gate, and pulled the lever on the wall. The elevator hissed, emitting a jet of steam and a series of "clack-clack" mechanical noises from its gears as it slowly ascended to the second floor.
Upon exiting the elevator, he was met with a magnificent circular library. Towering bookshelves were arranged in neat rows, a vast ocean of knowledge that seemed deep enough for one to spend a lifetime exploring. Many Enforcers in light blue uniforms could be seen silently flipping through pages; it seemed that hard-working people could be found anywhere.
At the entrance of the library hung an eye-catching plaque with two striking maxims:
"Knowledge is the most precious thing in this era, and also the most terrifying."
"Curiosity is the most necessary quality for exploring knowledge, and also the most dangerous."
Lloyd felt a sense of awe even before entering. He first went to greet the librarian. The librarian looked rather strange—an unkempt, slovenly woman (if that was what she was). Her entire face was hidden behind messy hair like seaweed, making it impossible to see anything. She wore a filthy, yellowed gray uniform and constantly emitted a pungent smell of alcohol. Her build was so shapeless that one couldn't tell front from back; had she not spoken, one might not have been able to guess her gender.
"Hmm? Occultism? Third or second row on the left? Go find it yourself..."
Upon hearing Lloyd's request, the librarian mumbled drunkenly before slumping over on her desk, seemingly losing consciousness. Compared to the industrious people inside, this librarian appeared entirely out of place.
Lloyd had to search for the Occultism books on his own, as this was the area that interested him most. The "Mysticism and Transcendent" that people talked about referred specifically to Occultism and the Transcendent System. Occultism was broad and varied—divination, channeling, luck-shifting, hypnosis, and so on. Humanity had yet to fully master any of it, catching only a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg, with many mysteries still waiting to be explored.
Yet, more mystery often meant more danger. Moreover, many aspects of Occultism had a low barrier to entry, allowing ordinary people to attempt them. As a result, related knowledge was strictly controlled; one could not encounter true Occultist knowledge in the outside world. Things like "Love Divination" or "Luck-Shifting Rituals" found in magazines were nothing more than jokes for entertainment.
Lloyd had been interested in Occultism for a long time, especially "Divination." He had always felt that in such a dangerous world, the ability to turn misfortune into good fortune was an essential skill. With the help of another kind Enforcer, he found a copy of *An Overview of Occultism* on the shelf. Its heavy weight felt like it could claim a life on both a spiritual and physical level.
Books here could not be checked out, nor could they be copied privately, and one's notes could not be shared; everything had to be strictly controlled. Lloyd had no such intentions, so he found a spot, sat down, and began to read intently.
With the bonus from his 14 points in Cognition and the aid of the Efficient Learning skill, the knowledge in the book—which might have been advanced for an ordinary person—posed no obstacle for him. It flowed smoothly, making for a pleasant reading experience. After he had been reading for an hour, a notification rang in his ears:
[Ding! Madness Value +5, Skill Fragment +1]
*Huh?*
Lloyd wasn't surprised that he could "gain a skill" from reading, but he hadn't expected it to happen in this way. But why did his Madness Value increase? Being able to gain Madness Value meant he had been subjected to Mental Pollution. Although the level was very mild—something a sane person could recover from in a few minutes of rest even without the aid of an Attribute Panel—this was only introductory-level knowledge. Lloyd suddenly understood why knowledge here was strictly controlled and the meaning of the two maxims at the entrance.
Fortunately for him, the higher the Madness Value, the better. It wasn't a problem; he continued to devour the book.
He read for another two hours until lunchtime before reluctantly setting the book down. In total, he had read for three hours, gaining 15 points of Madness Value and 3 Skill Fragments. He still couldn't spend points to upgrade, nor had he unlocked any new skills.
"Eat something, continue in the afternoon. I'll aim to finish this book today or tomorrow." Lloyd set a small, simple goal for himself. He had already spent points a few times and wanted to see what the experience of "acquiring a skill" was like.
He left the library and, following the manual's guidance, found the cafeteria near Tower No. 9. There was no usual hustle and bustle of a cafeteria here. The few people dining maintained a tacit silence; at most, they whispered to each other, appearing exceptionally reserved. Naturally, it lacked the warmth of everyday life, replaced by a sense of repression and indifference.
"I don't particularly dislike this atmosphere. After all, I'm a reserved and introverted literary youth myself," Lloyd whispered to himself as he went to grab some food. The food was quite good—comparable to a final meal before execution—and the price was cheap, merely symbolic. Regardless, after half a day, Lloyd couldn't say he loved the place, but he certainly had no desire to leave.
After a quick meal, he dove back into the library, staying until 8:00 PM when he heard another notification:
[Ding! Madness Value +5, Skill Fragment +1]
[Sufficient Skill Fragments acquired. Skill Unlocked—Divination, LV1]