CH 51.1

Chapter 51.1

Bottom Floor (7)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

An Overpowered Special NPC

Stargaol’s response was far quicker than they were expecting.

“They probably have a special channel to contact decisionmakers directly.” Lin Yi ponders, “otherwise the speed of the approval is ludicrous.”

He has only just finished informing Magician this morning, after which they receive a firm reply by the afternoon——Considering the size of the bureaucratic framework running Stargaol, this sort of efficiency would have made it the most efficient government institution in the Federation by far.

“You may say that it is simply the efficacy of those that run Stargaol.” Jiang Yiyi is reading another book, while casually replying, “compared to the bloated and corrupt departments of the government, Stargaol will look quite distinct by virtue of still keeping true to a noble goal.”

It feels like this is a simultaneous dig at both institutions.

Lin Yi finds himself somewhat restless standing next to the sofa——A state that has persisted since the conversation this morning. He knows something is wrong, but not knowing what is wrong is burning him up inside.

“You seem anxious,” Jiang Yiyi closes his book, turning his attention to Lin Yi, whose emotions are becoming quite apparent, “did something happen?”

“I can’t put it into words.” Lin Yi’s resting hand moves a little, but stops soon enough, “Magician was behaving a little bit oddly.”

“I think…” Lin Yi furrows his brows a little, describing what he is feeling to the best of his ability, “we are in the middle of a massive whirlpool, a conspiracy, that is ready to drag us down into the depths of some inescapable abyss.”

It’s not that Jiang Yiyi doesn’t want to treat him seriously, but…

“You only realise that now?”

Is it not a little bit late to have that epiphany when they’re already on the bottom floor?

All along Jiang Yiyi’s descent has been the signs of someone else’s schemes. This grand scheme did not begin when they arrived on the fifth floor, but from the very beginning——From the moment Jiang Yiyi opened his eyes in a prison cell on the first floor.

He has always been a part of that whirlpool, or perhaps, he has always been at the centre of it. All the ploys have started and ended on him.

Meanwhile, the inadvertent victim to these schemes, Lin Yi, thought about Jiang Yiyi’s statement for a moment, and says, “Doctor, did you find out…” Then he pauses, because his memories have gone as far back as the letter addressed to Jiang Yiyi. He becomes a little embarrassed at how he overreacted earlier.

“No need to worry too much over it.” Now that Lin Yi has been brought back up to speed, Jiang Yiyi resumes his reading, “most conspiracies only exist because the perpetrator knows how powerless and weak they are, that hey have to use shadowy means to achieve their objective.”

“They are and know that they are weak and powerless, so that means you do not need to worry yourself to death over them.”

Jiang Yiyi is speaking calmly, just as he always is. Even if he knows well of the extent of the fog surrounding him, enough for anyone to start reasonably doubting himself, he is undeterred.

“The moment you waver, they win.”

Jiang Yiyi closes his book, then looks to the door.

“Have you seen how excellent apex predators hunt?”

Lin Yi is still thinking about the answer when Jiang Yiyi follows up, “in a hunt, any unnecessary movements reveal tells; meaning, they will go for one clean, lethal strike.”

Lin Yi seems lost, asking after a couple of seconds, “so…” What does that have to do with what they were talking about?

“So…” Jiang Yiyi gestures to the door, “I will handle it.”

“Not now, however.”

Lin Yi has to accept that there is also an immense attraction accompanying Jiang Yiyi’s extreme lethality. Oftentimes, people will be repulsed by that excessive danger, and fail to acknowledge his charisma as a person.

If one is close enough to Jiang Yiyi, however, the allure to his charisma will become overwhelming. A deadly attraction, buried underneath a deadly shell of danger——Something unrelated to Doctor’s appearance, but Doctor’s own character.

His every action, his every choice, his every relaxed swing of his blade – look past the heavy and suffocating reaper’s scythe, one may earn the honour of witnessing that fatally attractive charm.

The fear of life and death being in someone else’s hand has transformed entirely, becoming something else. It is boisterous, its presence overwhelming with every pulse of the heart. One stares long at the source of the fear – the fear exists, and so too does the heart beat for the fear.

Right now, for example. Lin Yi has stopped completely in the wake of Jiang Yiyi’s words, unable to look at anything else anymore.

“He has been waiting for a while now. Are you sure you want to continue daydreaming?”

Jiang Yiyi is not interested in Lin Yi’s changes——The Emotions Chart has revealed everything already. Adoration, Shock, Palpitations.

He’s that excited to receive a promise of protection by him?

How easily satisfied he is.

Lin Yi finally comes back to after a couple of seconds, thinking that his ears did register a couple of knocks on the door earlier——He was too immersed in their conversation to acknowledge it.

Lin Yi opens the door, and, upon seeing the figure standing outside, becomes remorseful in expression.

“No need to fret. We’ve only just arrived.” Mentor smiles, then his eyes move past Lin Yi to land on the other person present. Their gazes meet briefly, before he gives Jiang Yiyi a friendly nod.

“It seems you had an engrossing conversation earlier.” Mentor turns back to Lin Yi, “do I have the honour of learning what it is that you were discussing?”

Lin Yi moves aside to let him in, but says nothing, looking inquisitively at Jiang Yiyi.

Jiang Yiyi’s observations reveal a man rather incongruous with the atmosphere of Stargaol.

He pauses at the nickname of ‘Mentor’ before continuing on.

Appearances are deceiving, because his aura says that he has many stories to tell. He looks young, and when he smiles, the youthful look would place him between a teenager and a young adult.

Teenagers are not famous for being reliable, but this has also not diminished his aura any despite general expectations. Instead, it makes him feel welcoming, and trustworthy.

There is one thing of note. He is the definition of good-looking. Still far shy of Jian Si——Whose pure, almost ‘undefiled’ appearance is truly beyond the realm of mortals——While Mentor’s looks are simply beyond words like ‘beautiful’ or ‘handsome,’ simply being impeccable in another respect.

Jiang Yiyi tries to think of a suitable word, but the adjectives he possesses are quite severely limiting. He cannot put into words what it is that makes him ‘impeccable.’

A suitable simile may be the grandeur of a glacier, or the might of a volcano, or the brilliance of the starry skies, or the magnificence of a mountain peak. All of them are splendour that justifies themselves.

Basically, this Mentor is definitely a super-duper important NPC.

With his conclusion in mind, Jiang Yiyi waves Lin Yi over, so the latter walks back behind Jiang Yiyi.

Mentor smiles, not minding his question going unanswered, and walks in, revealing Magician right behind him.

“Jiang Yiyi.” Jiang Yiyi stands up and extends his hand to Mentor.

“Kong Yueze.” Mentor shakes hands with Jiang Yiyi.

No calluses, soft and almost powerless, like an average person plucked off the street.

Their hands separate almost immediately, as Jiang Yiyi returns to the sofa, and gestures for Mentor to take a seat opposite.

Jiang Yiyi then sets his eyes on Magician.

Magician looks around, and chooses a single sofa slightly further away from them. His response to Jiang Yiyi’s gaze is as flippant as usual, “please, simply treat me as if I am but air. All I am doing here on behalf of Stargaol, is to ensure the conversation’s…”

A laughter abruptly enters everyone’s ears from the corridor.

Magician remains unfazed, finishing without a single pause, “political correctness.”

He gets back up to shut the door, keeping the conversation indoors, before returning to his seat, and start the meeting, “you may begin.”