Murphy

The subject's special power originates from her consciousness. Her words, thoughts, and actions all subconsciously stimulate the generation of Mania energy, which then affects her surroundings. Her ability alters events in reality, producing relatively unfavorable outcomes. Overall, this manifests as what people commonly refer to as bad luck.

The subject works at the Public Security Bureau's information desk and has handled cases involving the Black Rings and Mania. She later became infected with Mania after exposure to a contamination source, thus becoming a Sinner.

She exhibits mild corruption with no visible physical marks. Her mental state remains generally sound, though Mania interferes with her rational thinking during critical moments.

The subject works at the Eastside Public Security Bureau's information desk. She became a Sinner after contracting Mania while on duty. On the way to turn herself in to the Bureau, she pulled Chief and multiple Sinners into an unknown dimension. According to her testimony, her special power triggers persistent misfortune affecting herself and those around her. This power is uncontrollable, and its magnitude fluctuates observably according to the subject's emotional state. Immediate detention is recommended.

Follow-up investigation confirmed that the subject inadvertently helped the Bureau avert a potential Mania crisis. With proper control, her ability's impact can be minimized. Currently, she has returned to normal social life and is only required to undergo routine examinations at the Bureau.

The subject has had poor luck since childhood, and has always faced the constant unfortunate surprises with extraordinary resilience and optimism.

After the incident concluded, the subject believed she could return to her familiar routine. However, having learned that misfortune might also bring good luck in its wake, this uncertain hope has disrupted the peace she had previously found.

Despite being plagued by misfortune throughout her life, the subject has always been kind. Even during her Mania infection, she never thought of harming others. When an elderly person who frequently made complaint calls went silent, worried this might be connected to her bad luck, the subject requested that Chief accompany her to check on the situation.

Coming from a family with many siblings, the subject rarely received much attention and kindness from both inside and outside her family. Through her interactions with Chief and fellow Sinners, she has gradually learned to face her misfortune head-on and begun expressing her genuine emotions. Though her bad luck persists, it no longer defines her entire existence.

The subject is not genuinely forgetful. Rather, her brain spontaneously suppresses unpleasant, painful, or stressful experiences to maintain mental stability. To prevent overlooking important matters, she habitually carries a notebook to jot down reminders.

The subject adores polka dot patterns. To her, circles symbolize perfection and wholeness. She hopes her life can be as perfect as polka dots.

The subject frequently carries various lucky charms, repurchasing new ones regularly. She even exchanges luck improvement tips with Wuhuanzi. As for whether these items actually work—she will think about that after making the purchase.

When work becomes too stressful, the subject occasionally visits the Bureau to seek help from Chief. In response, Chief has required her to schedule appointments in advance, allowing the Bureau staff to make necessary preparations. Though the subject does not fully grasp the reasoning behind this requirement, she happily complies.

[Murphy hands you a brand-new scratchcard.]

Murphy: Um... Chief, I read on the internet that a win around this time will guarantee good luck for the entire year ahead... Could you please lend me some of your luck? Just a tiny bit would be enough... Pretty please!

• Prompt: Lend luck
• Murphy: Ah, sorry! I just slipped and fell while borrowing your luck... But that would mean I cleared all my bad luck during the process! I'm sure this time it'll be a win!
• Murphy: 😉

• Prompt: Scratch it for her
• Murphy: Whoa! First prize?! Chief, you're super duper lucky! A whole year's worth of good luck is already in the bag! Don't let go of my hand. Let me borrow your luck a little longer, okay?
• Murphy: 😘

[Murphy is hesitating over a decision.]

Murphy: I gotta head out for work today, but I really can't decide which lucky charm to wear... The daily horoscope says Mercury's in retrograde, and the almanac says inauspicious deities are on watch today. Chief, what charm do you think will protect me from doom?

• Prompt: Don't wear any.
• Murphy: Ohhh... I see! With zero lucky charms, all the different kinds of bad luck will cancel each other out, and I'll end up super lucky!
• Murphy: 😏

• Prompt: Take a few with you.
• Murphy: Great idea! Why didn't I think of that before? I'll go back and put on all my charms. I'll stay in full armor and leave no openings for bad luck!
• Murphy: 😘

⚠ Regulated Weapon

A new regulation has been posted on the Bureau's bulletin board.

System Notifications: On the list of newly added regulated weapons on the Bureau's bulletin board, Murphy's messenger bag makes an appearance.

• Prompt: ...So this day has finally come.

⚠ Before She Appears

You hear a strange noise.

System Notifications: You hear a sharp clatter of metal, ceramic, and acrylic colliding against each other. The noise fades in, then gradually disappears toward the other end of the corridor.

• Prompt: Murphy rushes this way, then tumbles that way.

⚠⚠ The Storage Room Incident

You notice Murphy crouched down at the end of the corridor.

System Notifications: You notice Murphy crouched at the end of the corridor, fiddling with something on the ground.

System Notifications: Her arms and knees are scraped up pretty badly. She doesn't look so good.

Murphy: Oh... Hi Chief!

Murphy: Is there a meeting coming up? I'll make sure to stay far away from the conference room!

• Prompt: Ask about her injuries

Chief: How did you get hurt this badly in the corridor?

Murphy: Um... the floor was a little slippery. I tripped.

• Prompt: Really?

System Notifications: Murphy nods vigorously, but the storage room door behind her slowly swings open, betraying her mercilessly.

System Notifications: You take in the tilted shelves, the cleaning tools leaning haphazardly against the wall, and the miscellaneous items strewn all over the floor. Clearly, it wasn't just a simple slip and fall.

Murphy: Hehe, guess you caught me, Chief.

Murphy: So I opened the door and tripped over the broom that was sitting there... and then everything in the storage room just started falling like dominoes...

Murphy: I thought you probably wouldn't believe me! And you're so busy, it'd take forever to explain...

Chief: I believe you. The meeting hasn't started yet. Let me take you to the infirmary.

Murphy: Aww... You're the best, Chief!

⚠⚠ Luck-Enhancement Ritual

Murphy stares blankly at the notebook in her hands.

System Notifications: Murphy stares blankly at the notebook in her hands, brow furrowed as she runs her fingers through her hair, as if wrestling with her own thoughts.

Murphy: It must've been something important... I wrote it down and everything, so why can't I remember?

• Prompt: Check on her

Chief: What is it?

Murphy: Chief, could you take a look at this? I wrote down something really important, but I was in such a rush that I only jotted down a few keywords...

Murphy: But then my pen leaked and smudged out the whole middle section. I think it has something to do with you though. So maybe you can help me remember what it was.

System Notifications: You take the notebook and see scrawled on it: *3 p.m.*, *Chief*, *luck-enhancement*.

System Notifications: Holding it up to the light, you examine the page carefully and can just barely make out two more words beneath the ink smudge: *stay away*.

• Prompt: Make her tell the truth

Chief: I can't make it out either, but you're not hiding anything from me, are you?

Murphy: ...Oh! I remember now!

Murphy: I read on the internet about a super effective luck-enhancement ritual I could do at 3 p.m. today, but it said it wouldn't work if someone important to me knew about it!

Chief: Well, it's past 3 p.m. now. Did your ritual work?

Murphy: Uh... I mean, you can't believe everything you see online, right? Besides, today hasn't been particularly unlucky so far, so I'll call it a win!

⚠⚠⚠ Manifestation

Murphy has been avoiding you these past few days.

System Notifications: Murphy has been avoiding you these past few days.

System Notifications: Wherever you go, the moment you appear, Murphy makes a quick exit in increasingly spectacular fashion. She hasn't gotten hurt in the process so far, so you haven't given it much thought.

System Notifications: That is, until today, when you cross paths at the elevator. Head down, Murphy doesn't seem to notice you're there.

• Prompt: Take the elevator

Murphy: Ah! It's you, Chief!

Murphy: Oh no, the doors closed! What do I do?! Okay, let's go to the nearest floor.

Murphy: Haha, hi there, Chief...

• Prompt: Ask her directly
• Chief: Have you been avoiding me lately?
• Murphy: No, no! It's just... things have been going way too smoothly for me lately, and with my luck, that usually means something bad is about to...
• System Notifications: Before Murphy can finish her sentence, the elevator grinds to a halt with an ominous hum.
• Murphy: ...is about to happen. Ugh! I got you caught up in my bad luck. If I'd known this would happen, I would have just stayed in my room today!
• Murphy: And of course the emergency button's broken too... We're in trouble, Chief.
• Chief: It's fine. My personal device still works. Nightingale and the others will be here to get us out soon.
• Murphy: Really? ...I always feel so lucky when you're around, Chief!

• Prompt: Remain silent
• System Notifications: When you don't respond, the atmosphere in the elevator grows a bit awkward.
• Murphy: I'm not trying to give you the cold shoulder or anything... It's just that if you're around me, you might get caught up in something weird again.
• Murphy: Lights might suddenly go out, or the elevator might get stuck, or worse...
• System Notifications: Murphy has barely finished her sentence when the elevator lights flicker back on.
• Murphy: Oh! It's working again! Then... then I should probably get going. Bye, Chief!
• System Notifications: Later that day, you receive a notification that Murphy has gotten herself trapped in an elevator all by herself.

⚠⚠⚠ Meow-velous

Murphy seems to have picked up a new hobby.

System Notifications: Murphy has recently taken to feeding the rescue kittens in the Bureau Recreation Area, though her attempts never seem to go quite smoothly.

Murphy: Just a little pat on the head, nothing to dread... Ow!

System Notifications: The little tuxedo kitten that has just been rolling over and acting cute suddenly springs up, knocking over the food bowl in the corner as it bolts into the bushes. Cat hair and kibble scatter all over the peaceful little nook.

• Prompt: Hold back laughter

Chief: ...Pfft.

Murphy: Chief? I saw you laughing!

Murphy: Okay, fine. It is pretty funny, given that I already picked the quietest, most comforting spot for the kittens, but it still ended up like this...

• Prompt: Try a different approach
• Chief: How about trying a different feeding strategy?
• System Notifications: You lead Murphy away from the corner and use a remote feeding device to get the job done.
• Chief: You won't be able to interact with the kittens directly, but at least it won't cause another disaster.
• Murphy: Let me try!
• System Notifications: Murphy takes the phone, and the interface suddenly glitches for a few seconds before barely managing to complete the feeding.
• Murphy: It's lagging a little, but it's still way better than me going near them myself! Thanks, Chief!

• Prompt: Help her
• Chief: Let me help you. You always say I bring you luck, right?
• Murphy: Really...? Then just hold my bag for me, Chief. I'll clean up the mess in no time!
• System Notifications: You end up helping Murphy clean up anyway, and even pick out one of her many lucky charms to hang by the bushes.
• System Notifications: The next day, you receive a photo from Murphy of her with the kittens, along with a message.
• Murphy: Chief! Feeding time was a breeze today thanks to you!
• Murphy: But lucky charms' effect wears off over time, so next time, please come feed the kittens with me again, Chief!