CH 49.1

“Maintain Deference”

The space in the cell is unexpectedly big. He has a bedroom, separate bathroom, a study and a living room…

Then he pushes the last door open, where a variety of medical operations equipment can be seen.

Jiang Yiyi takes a step back, closes the door before opening it up again. The room is still white, the scalpels still shining silver, the cuffs still loose and open, the clean operating table still…

This is definitely an operating theatre, isn’t it?!

Jiang Yiyi is quite confused. He looks back at the tightly shut cell door, then back at this operating theatre. He is seriously questioning if he is in Stargaol right now.

Actually, after the first and second floors, Jiang Yiyi has started feeling like he is on vacation rather than serving his time in Stargaol.

Or, possibly, it’s more than just a feeling.

Jiang Yiyi checks the room carefully, and rules out any cameras or other such objects in this room. After a few hesitant seconds, he decides to walk inside and admire the complete catalogue of equipment inside.

In theory, he should be extremely unfamiliar with most of them, but in fact…

As well as he might know a part of his body, every piece of medical equipment here makes him feel familiar.

These are all brand new, unused, not yet sullied by blood.

Jiang Yiyi quietly watches them inside the operating theatre.

Lin Yi has followed Magician for a while. When glancing behind himself, he can see Jiang Yiyi and Gatekeeper already gone from the entrance of Block One.

Without Jiang Yiyi here, Magician’s usual self is back. He leaves them only an uncaring silhouette, while mentioning, “Lin Yi, have you thought about getting a nickname yet?”

Lin Yi is walking at the far end of their group, so he is surprised he is the one being chatted up.

“I’ve a lot of nicknames,” he replies, “no point getting more.”

“I suppose so. At least Lin Yi is unique enough for a nickname,” Magician then waves his hand in invitation, “come along. Let’s talk.”

Lin Yi catches up, and gets an arm around his shoulder in overt friendliness, “it’s been real long since we got a new officer on the floor. Tonight, when we’re finished with duties, we gotta hold a big welcome party for you.”

Lin Yi glances at Magician’s arm, then he starts——Before they even touch, though, Magician has already retracted it, having noticed it.

“We’re on the same team now, why the distant attitude…” Magician pushes his non-existent cap down, with a big, fake smile, “looks like you’d rather not have a party?”

Lin Yi looks up at him, calmly saying, “I’d have to ask Doctor.”

Magician pauses in the middle of his pushing, “do you think that I’d be scared of Doctor?”

Lin Yi tilts his head slightly. His look says, ‘you’re not?’

Magician finally keeps his hand to himself, with his tone turning slightly less dramatically passionate, “I simply hold proper respect for Doctor…” The looming shadow that Jiang Yiyi has left in his impression is rolling here, but he wouldn’t call that a simple scare, rather something deeper relating to Jiang Yiyi’s existence.

Jiang Yiyi brings a shadow with him, making it even taboo to mention his own name——Magician cannot actually do that, though.

Because he is the evaluator of Jiang Yiyi. He has to be responsible for making contact, evaluating, analysing and reporting on Jiang Yiyi.

After that brief pause, Magician asks casually again, “so you’ll be listening to Doctor?”

Lin Yi glances at Lunatic and Jian Si following behind them, “a better question might be, who between us wouldn’t be listening to Doctor?” Then his eyes settle on Lunatic, “if you want to know more about Doctor, I suggest you talk to Lunatic.”

He speaks quite frankly, “he might be the only one who can actually tell you anything.”

Magician then looks at Lunatic.

He is following them with the usual blank look on his face, not caring about their conversation at all.

Lin Yi has said what he needed to——While he still thinks it is dangerous to let an undercover agent loose, but he would not do anything if Jiang Yiyi says nothing about it.

In fact, that suggestion is already full evidence of his unhappiness with Lunatic.

Magician’s gaze then comes back to Lin Yi after a couple of seconds, “I feel like talking to you more though.”

Lin Yi glances back at Magician.

“You’re the only exception of the bunch.” Magician pauses, as he takes a card to swipe, opening the door to a building no different in style to the buildings on other floors, and leads them inside.

“To be forgiven by Doctor numerous times.” Magician acknowledges a prison officer coming their way, then continues, “I’m very curious why.”

Lin Yi takes in his surroundings, which appear the same as it was in the previous floors. Cells ubiquitous across the whole of Stargaol.

Though from his cursory glance he does spot several prisoners through the glass. Lurking in the dark, or with a creepy smile, or just mumbling something to themselves. Almost all of them bear a similar vibe to Lunatic——Which is just a nicer way of saying that they’re all bonkers.

“The prisoners here…” Lin Yi does not answer Magician, but instead asks, “are all insane?”

“That’s right. Welcome to the home of the insane.”

Magician stops at an innermost cell, and swipes the cell door open. Then he gives Jian Si a friendly advice, “Bunny, remember not to talk to any of them. Just hide in the blankets the whole time, and you will be able to live longer.”

There is a strange giggle from the cell next door that goes ‘hehehe.’

While the other cell next to them has the sound of something crashing against a hard surface over and over again.

The eerie and thumping sounds make the atmosphere cold and damp in the presence of all the peculiar characters here. They threaten to drag everyone down into a never-ending tunnel of darkness with them.

“Hey, knock it off.” Magician raises his voice and complains about the noise.

The unnerving sounds stop abruptly.

All the laughter and crashes and mumblings have disappeared. There is only an unnatural silence, only adding to the ominous atmosphere all around.

Magician didn’t seem to mind at all, though. After everything has fallen silent once more, he tells Jian Si once again, “although Doctor is sure you will not die, but… with how you are? Do try your best to survive.”

His overly performative voice echoes through the halls, and into everyone’s ears.

“Since you do look like you’d be dead in no time at all.” Magician pats Jian Si on the shoulder for encouragement, “do not disappoint Doctor.”

He then pushes, sliding Jian Si into the cell, and then looks back at Lunatic.

Lunatic quietly walks into the cell after him.

Magician locks the cell door, then invites Lin Yi along, “let’s go, I’ll show you the work detail.”

Lin Yi looks at Jian Si and Lunatic both inside the cell.

Lunatic is standing in the corner with eyes focusing on nowhere in particular. Without Jiang Yiyi around, he has lost his usual visual focus and looks even more spaced out than usual.

Truly, a neurodivergent display without a doubt.

Then Lin Yi observes Jian Si, currently looking a little bit lost inside his cell. The appearance plus the looks makes him truly a bunny accidentally stumbling into a den of jackals. He is the definition of ‘weak, pitiful and helpless.’

Side Note

A Chinese meme. It’s quite literally what it says on the tin, and it is difficult to explain why it is funny

Lin Yi, being a professional spy, does not find himself sympathetic in the slightest——He has seen far more emotionally moving scenes in the past already. Instead, his thoughts relate to Jiang Yiyi once again——How did Doctor conclude that Jian Si will not die here?

No matter how he looks at it, Jian Si will not even survive the night.

“What’s wrong? Getting sentimental with your goodbyes?” Magician is already walking away when he notices the one supposed to following him is immobile. He hurries him, “you have more important duties as an Outstanding Supervisor, so let’s not waste any more time.”

Lin Yi stops looking, and follows Magician out.

The moment he steps outside of the building, he suddenly felt an uproar of noises erupting behind himself. It has become a giant furnace, burning everything caught up within.