CH 41.2

The Jian Si that was dragging his hand and pleading ‘you have to help me,’ is now able to make such cogent arguments with confidence——The metamorphosis is almost suspicious in and of itself.

At least, that is the case for Lin Yi, “I do believe that the threat of death can cause changes in behaviour, but you should know that your changes are beyond that. I could believe you are a wholly different person.”

He asks bluntly, “put it this way. Why were you putting up such an act before?”

Jian Si rubs his face in frustration, and complains, “I wasn’t acting.”

Lin Yi’s brow lifts at the answer, and he continues pushing, “you don’t know this; you weren’t that. It’s a bit much.”

Jian Si nods, “I agree. I realised this quite early on myself.”

Lin Yi almost chokes on his words at the earnest response, so he changes his target, “Doctor, what will you do with him?”

Jiang Yiyi smiles calmly, “I never go back on my words.”

“Keep him around still?” Lin Yi, ever the cautious soul walking a precipitous edge, cannot really agree with that choice. There is only one way he normally deals with elements with ‘danger’ written all over them.

However, he is not the one in charge here.

“It’s too dangerous.” Lin Yi says, concerned, “Ye Wang said that your transfer application is already undergoing evaluation. You could be on the fifth floor at any time. He’d…”

“I’d be there too.” Jian Si updates Lin Yi on the latest news, “for Black Glove’s murder.”

Lin Yi takes a few seconds to recall what he was going to say, “the bottom floor of Stargaol has always been a secret. There is no going back. Are you sure you would want to bring such a suspicious, untrustworthy individual with you?”

Jiang Yiyi stares at Lin Yi for a moment, speechless.

Lin Yi is quick on the uptake, “no, wait, why are you looking at me like this? You think he and I are the… same?”

His tone fizzles out a little by the end. Clearly, he also knows he, the spy, has a difficult time winning trust. No one knows if he truly gave up on his former loyalties, or if he is merely in another undercover operation again.

Jiang Yiyi then moves his eyes from Lin Yi to Lunatic, who has remained silent thus far.

In fact, compared to Lin Yi who is still plausibly deniably a spy, Lunatic as an undercover agent is Jiang Yiyi’s own conclusion…

Which makes Lunatic the actual most suspicious and untrustworthy individual here.

Actually, that means…

Lin Yi looks around the cell. Basically everyone present——Except Jiang Yiyi, appear to hold ulterior motives.

If everyone is untrustworthy, then adding a Jian Si to that doesn’t seem that bad.

Lin Yi changes the topic quietly, “so what do you plan on doing with Lunatic in this case?”

Lunatic’s eyes, locked on Jiang Yiyi as usual, swivel slightly.

Lin Yi asks, “since you are certain… that he is a spy, you don’t plan on just leaving him be?”

Is Lin Yi actually aware that he is practically behaving like a good, loyal minister?

Jiang Yiyi is doubtful.

This is perhaps part of why he admires him. He has been through the darkest of darkness, but there is still a purity to him.

“Let him be.” Jiang Yiyi explains, “it is on him if he still wants to play with fire.”

He tells Lunatic, “I’ve warned you. I have already saved you once. There will not be a second time.”

Lunatic’s eyes turn slowly, like he is working out what the sentence means, or perhaps what he ought to say, but soon, he starts answering with his signature stutter.

“I, know.” Lunatic’s voice is hoarse from lack of use, “I, p-p-pro-tect, you.”

Is he really an undercover agent? Lin Yi, basically a senior in career to him, is observing him closely for other signs that he is faking the insanity.

Honestly, it’s not an easy task.

At least he has never seen another person of normal mental facilities who can stare at someone the entire day without doing anything but turning his eyes a little. He doesn’t even speak if not for Jiang Yiyi——He really looks insane through and through.

Even if he wasn’t insane, he expects any average person forced to behave this way to go insane sooner or later.

At least, he believes he cannot pull such a performance off.

Then there’s the fact that any act is useless in front of Doctor——Partly because they are not capable of deceiving him, and partly because Doctor is usually happy to answer whatever questions they have that they don’t know the answer to.

Case in point, Lin Yi asks, “is he really a spy? From Starfleet?”

Jiang Yiyi gestures for Lunatic to answer it himself.

Lunatic’s eyes move a little to look at Lin Yi.

“Y-yes.”

How honest… Lin Yi thinks, when he suddenly recalls another person of whom he made the same comment——Jian Si. He has always been ‘honest’ as well.

Lin Yi recalls his conversations with Doctor so far, and discovers——To no one’s surprise, he has never lied to Doctor.

For it is not only foolish, but practically flirting with death.

Thus Lin Yi removes most of the surprise he felt at Lunatic’s honesty.

It is often quite an interesting pastime to observe Lin Yi’s facial expressions——Even if he’s perfectly capable of keeping a poker face to everything, his habits as an agent makes him enjoy exaggerating all the little microexpressions and show them on his face.

It is almost like he really is as easy to read and unthreatening as the expressions suggest, quietly lowering the guard of everyone around him.

“The others aside, why not consider your own situation first?” Jiang Yiyi is no longer interested enough to continue the conversation, and picks up the long-forgotten topic, “finish up your mission, then tell them, you are mine now.”

Lin Yi finally remembers the piece of paper in his hand, and he hesitantly asks, “Stargaol…”

“They are not interested in you. It has always and only been me they are interested in,”

Lin Yi appears stunned for a moment.

At the same time, Jian Si has managed to work out what Ye Wang meant by the ‘plan’ when talking about how he ruined their plans——It must have been the continued observation of Doctor’s actions.

Jian Si wonders, “is Stargaol interested in Doctor?”

A good question.

“The third floor already knew the most correct choice is to isolate me from all prisoners and prison officers. The fourth floor did no such thing.” Jiang Yiyi glances in the direction of that interrogation cell, “naturally, this is because they are interested in me.”

Lin Yi gets it, “they are trying to construct Doctor’s thought patterns and modus operandi.”

“The info Black Glove had is just what they happened to use to set this up…” Lin Yi subconsciously moves his eyes up and down the paper, “so, the information written here is fake all along?”

What countless people have made moves for, dedicating elites of several different factions in pursuit of, is only a fake piece of info?

“Killing three birds with one stone. Knowing exactly which powers are the most interested in the bottom floor of Stargaol; cleaning up the tangled mess of powers influencing Stargaol; and, understanding Doctor’s thoughts, his logic, and his motives.”

Jian Si picks up after the lull in conversation, “given the time Black Glove has spent isolated and in ‘recovery,’ though, this plan has been in action long before Doctor’s arrival.”

“Therefore, we can say that the last objective was an addition made after that.”

“So, why is it that they are interested in Doctor? What makes Doctor so special to them?”

Jiang Yiyi tilts his head to look at Jian Si, not saying anything.

Jian Si’s genuine curiosity quickly disappears under the gaze. He is even more confused now why he would be asking that – is it really a question why Stargaol would be interested in the Doctor?

Anyone, anyone that knows of Doctor, who wouldn’t be curious about him?

Whether it is simply to ensure their own survival, or for other motives, when Doctor is there, no one will be stupid enough to ignore his presence.