Afterlife Department

Special World, S City.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw the white clouds in sky. He wanted to reach it, but he felt his body couldn't move. Huh? He thought and tried to open his mouth when he felt his lips just slightly trembled. His jaw was locked. What happened to me?! He thought when he felt his whole body couldn't move.

Suddenly, he heard a siren wailed followed by the voices of the people. "Oh, my god! He died!" a woman's voice said.

What? He thought. 'died'? But, I'm alive? He was confused. His brows knit. "Look! He moved!" a man exclaimed..

"Don't joke! He clearly is dead! Look at the blood!" the woman said. "Why don't we leave now? The police are coming!" she said.

"Alright!" the man answered, his voice followed by the sound of their running footsteps.

He wanted to scream. Damn it! Did they just try to kill him?! What happened to me? Why did they kill me? Who am I? Countless of questions formed in his head, but he couldn't find an answer. Just as he was thinking, he heard the rushed footsteps. "I found a person!" it was a police officer. "Call for an ambulance!"

"Yes!" his colleague answered and took out his phone.

The police officer checked his pulse, but he can't tell his condition. Thus, he gave up. He looked for any identification cards on him, but he found none. "Has he been killed by thieves?" the police officer muttered to himself when he found not a single penny. 𝘧𝑟𝘦𝒆w𝚎𝙗nov𝘦𝗹.𝐜o𝓶

"The ambulance is on their way." His colleague said after he ended the call. "Found any proof of identity?" he asked. 𝑓re𝘦𝔀𝗲𝘣𝘯𝘰νℯ𝒍.c𝗼ｍ

"None." The police officer answered as he turned to his colleague. "His head was hit by something hard. Maybe they were amateur thieves who hit him." He said, then shook his head to sigh. "Life… you really don't know when yours will end." He said and went to smoke.

Not long after and the ambulance arrived. They placed him in a stretcher and was sent to the hospital. He just stared at them with slightly open eyes as they treat his wounds. He can't move his limbs, but his senses are working. The pain slowly began to register on his nerves. However, even if he wanted to but he couldn't scream.

He let them take him to the hospital while silently watching them.

Stable World, Afterlife Department, Pathway of Clouds.

Yi Bing watched as Huo Ling's figure disappear in the distance. Then, without a change in expression, he turned on his back.

"Man. Another one left." He heard his colleagues said.

"I hope they could live well in their next life."

The reason why the sea of clouds was called Pathway of Clouds is because the soul will find its way to their next life – no matter which way. They will have their own path to take. As the soul continues to walk, their mind will be hazy like clouds until they fully lose their memory, then enter a new life.

"Won't you miss them?" he heard someone asked.

"I will." The other one answered. "But, between them living a new life and living but still is dead, I'd rather they have the former than the latter." He said.

Yi Bing stopped on his feet. His colleagues saw him and approached him. "Senior!" 9910 called together with the others. Despite having their code names, some would prefer to be called by their name. It is a sign that they are still alive despite they already have died.

"Jiu Ye." Yi Bing called. They have their own choice on what to call themselves.

Jiu Ye smiled, feeling flattered. "You know me." He said and scratched his cheek with his finger, feeling bashful.

Yi Bing nodded. "Ba Jie. Wu Bin." He called the other two.

The other two were surprised. Being recognized by their senior – especially Yi Bing, this legendary senior (as the first agent of the Afterlife Department), it is worth living this life! "Senior." They called. They are Yi Bing's secret fan boys.

"Senior." Jiu Ye called. "You also sent a soul?" he said.

Yi Bing nodded. "Yes." he said.

"Senior. I have a question." Jiu Ye said.

"Speak."

"It's unavoidable we – grim reapers, would feel attachment to the souls we're assigned to." Jiu Ye said, his face serious. "What if a soul has a potential to be a grim reaper, but they don't want to be one?" he asked and looked at Yi Bing.

Jiu Ye's gaze is clear, but his words pierced Yi Bing's heart. After all, wasn't he just in that situation? He looked at Jiu Ye, then Ba Jie and Wu Bin who were also waiting for his answer. "I won't force them to stay." He finally answered.

"Why?" Jiu Ye asked.

"Because I respect them." Yi Bing answered. "I want them to be happy, no matter the consequences of what they chose." He explained.

Jiu Ye, Ba Jie and Wu Bin felt they were enlightened. "We understand, senior!" they said. "The purpose to sending the souls is to make them happy!"

Yi Bing nodded. Then, he left them. Just as he went to Gu Shi's office, he saw him standing outside. "Yi Bing." Gu Shi called when he saw Yi Bing.

"… what are you standing stupidly there for?" Yi Bing asked.

Gu Shi's face darkened, but he held himself back. He has the best temper in the Afterlife Department, thus he became the director. "Have you sent Huo Ling?" he asked and smiled.

Seeing Gu Shi's ingratiating smile, Yi Bing knew it isn't good, since he felt his heart soured. Gu Shi knew he's pissed with Huo Ling's departure. "Yes." he answered. When they're on the field, they report to San Di. When they're here, they directly report to Gu Shi.

"Oh." Gu Shi said as he stared at Yi Bing.

"What?" Yi Bing asked, feeling bothered by Gu Shi's gaze. It's rare to see the usually smiling director suddenly looked serious.

"… it's nothing." Gu Shi answered. "Do you remember when you first arrived here?" he asked.

Yi Bing nodded. Gu Shi was referring to his first day of work. "Yes." he answered. "I was demoted from the Crown of Judges and was sent here." He said.

Gu Shi stifled a sigh. He was right on his guess. Yi Bing has lost his memories.