CH 40.2

Lin Yi widens his eyes greatly. If his chest isn’t still aching, he would be jumping off the bed right now.

Bedridden doesn’t mean mute, however, as he makes his presence known immediately, “what deal? Why did he work with you?” Even he couldn’t gain Black Glove’s trust in the end. Why would Black Glove put his trust in a complete stranger?

Jian Si ignores him to wait for Jiang Yiyi’s follow-up question.

Jiang Yiyi didn’t need to ask, easily deducing, “that lethal wound was done by Black Glove himself. You caused the rest of the twelve wounds.”

“He committed suicide because he had to, but he had to call you over first for a reason. The reason not being simply to tell you to stab him a dozen times.” Jiang Yiyi speaks remarkably like he was there to witness it all, “therefore, it is simple. For whatever reason, he chose you.”

As for the reason in question——Jiang Yiyi suspects his protagonist status was in play.

“Which means, what all the people wanted would be in no one else’s hand but yours.”

Lin Yi is struck by the realisation… not. His questions remain unanswered, as Jiang Yiyi completely glossed over the most key question here——Why Black Glove would rather trust Jian Si over him.

If Black Glove’s trust is that easy to obtain, then he, Lin Yi, who failed his mission and almost died because of that, is truly quite useless.

“That said, I am curious…”

Lin Yi perks up his ears. Hear, hear, he’s going to ask…

“Why did you agree to work with him?”

What kind of question is that? Lin Yi furrows his brows. Obviously, Jian Si also wants that info——Who else doesn’t on the fourth floor? ——Everyone other than the Doctor, in any case.

“To prove myself to Doctor.” Jian Si glances at Lin Yi, “Doctor, you will find this useful.”

Feeling something off, Lin Yi is no longer putting up all those dramatic faces in reaction——It’s not like it was particularly useful in trying to fool the people present, none of whom are interested in how he reacts.

What is that off feeling he has?

Lin Yi quickly goes through Jian Si, Jiang Yiyi and their relationship, and notices it.

The first time they met, Jiang Yiyi threatened to take Jian Si’s life directly. The second time, they had a talk alone, where apparently Jian Si’s life was threatened. The third time——Right now, Jian Si is doing anything he can to express his absolute loyalty.

Did he miss some key development somewhere?

How did their relationship suddenly morph into something like this?

Or is this what they call Stockholm Syndrome?

Lin Yi observes Jian Si, then immediately discards that last option.

The fourth floor may be full of maniacs, but not a single one of them will be a patient of that syndrome——Someone so weak as to develop affection and reliance to a perpetrator of evil against them will never live long here.

These lower floors of Stargaol have a key aspect worth committing to memory – expose a weakness, and death is just around the corner.

Though Jiang Yiyi’s experiences in Stargaol may give false impressions that ‘Stargaol isn’t really all that scary,’ but that is not true for anyone not named Jiang Yiyi. Any normal people will find it full of threats, terror and death. That is the norm here.

The most common thoughts on every prisoners’ minds are to get stronger so that they can survive longer in Stargaol.

Rather than being a day tourist who simply walks past admiring everything, and leave only legendary memories.

Lin Yi’s thoughts digress for a moment, but quickly goes back to a key question – so Jian Si is acting this way, simply because Jiang Yiyi did something? Or because Jian Si… has other motives in mind.

If the former, what is it that Jiang Yiyi sees in Jian Si but no one else?

If the latter, what might be Jian Si’s ultimate goal here?

Lin Yi’s mind goes through countless conspiracies——As is usual for his train of thought, of a spy who remains hidden in the shadows and always thinks ten steps ahead for every one he takes. Any lack of consideration and preparation on his part means countless deaths.

While Lin Yi is busy theorising, Jiang Yiyi’s conversation continues.

His sole response to being a target of loyalty is to lift a brow.

“It seems you do not plan to make good on Black Glove’s promise?”

Jian Si is hesitant, as he does not know whether Jiang Yiyi is supportive, especially as he is asking right now.

He has a simple, all-encompassing answer, though, “I’ll do as you wish.”

“Sure are quite desperate to prove yourself.” Jiang Yiyi mumbles, the mumbling being clear enough for all present to hear.

Jiang Yiyi is silent for a few seconds in a rare hesitant display, as a glint of silver passes around his fingers.

Almost immediately, everyone is now looking at his hand——Except Lunatic, whose gaze remain fixed on Jiang Yiyi and ignores the silver dance entirely.

A blade dances about Jiang Yiyi’s hands, drawing picturesque arcs.

To everyone else watching, though, there is nothing remarkable here but the emergence of a scent of blood and death.

Jiang Yiyi is hesitant for seconds because——He is wondering whether to try killing Jian Si again, and see if there is a limit to his resurrection.

Unlimited? Or is there a limit to how much he can save and load?

However, given his prior agreement with Jian Si, he retracts his blade regretfully. He never breaks promises.

His noble and morally upstanding ethics do sometimes bring inconvenience.