CH 44.1

Chapter 44.1

Fourth Floor (22)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

Would Hell Be Any More Terrifying with the Addition of Another Demon?

Stargaol; Observer Control Centre

The control centre has no other points of entry and exit outside of two designated teleportation devices.

The strict security is not only reflected in the means of ingress, but also in the countless cameras, numerous scanning detectors, and an anti-surveillance energiser running all day long, ensuring the absolute safety of the location——In all sense of that word.

Even in Stargaol, Observers can be called privileged peoples.

They have no part in the day-to-day operations of Stargaol. They have no relations with all the prisoners from all sorts of factions with their own goals in mind. Their only duty is to evaluate the danger of any particular prisoner, and send them where they belong.

Which is, frankly, understandable if some would think this to be a waste of talent——Since all Observers excel in many different aspects.

Yet, it is the complete reverse if one understands that their work encompasses all of the fifth and sixth floors as well. Some would even think them inadequate for ensuring safety in Stargaol, perhaps.

The Control Centre is always busy. Every Observer has their schedules packed with missions for the day. They have their own evaluations to do independent of each other.

On less frequent occasions, the independent Observers would gather——If their evaluation targets have had significant, impactful interactions, and it is causing difficulty in evaluating the danger of any one of them alone.

Before the meeting in this particular case occurs, an Observer… Xi, say, mentions something seemingly off-topic.

“How are Ei and Bee?” Xi is looking around at the rest of the Observers in attendance at the round table.

“Isolation, Psychological Evaluation, Perverse Incentive Investigation have all been completed.” Dee helped handle the incident involving Ei and Bee, so he knows the situation well, “their isolations will be withdrawn if they pass the next series of tests as well.”

Yi says, “I move to unseal and share the report they submitted on their interaction with Jiang Yiyi, for persons present.”

After a few seconds of silence, a robotic voice announces, “motion approved.”

A few nonsensical characters emerge on the screen floating above the table, before opening up to reveal a file – in the form of characters continuously appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The Observers are all fixated on the screen, their lips moving rapidly, finishing their perusal of the report in a matter of seconds.

Xi repeats what he found notable, “Extreme Danger. Abilities relating to psychological or mental areas suspected.”

Dee has his mind on another point, “Quote-unquote Hypnosis creates an urge to approach the person?”

Yi furrows his brows, troubled, “Bee and Ei have submitted vastly different reports. Bee mentioned nothing to the effect of what Ei calls Hypnosis. Instead, he mentions how Jiang Yiyi’s gaze is able to affect the person who meets him in the eye. He underwent immediate changes to his pulse and blood pressure, and he suspects it was possible for the person to kill someone through gaze alone.”

“Would these reports suggest that Jiang Yiyi possess more than one ability?” Xi makes a reasonable hypothesis.

“Regardless of amount, we can first focus on discussing Jiang Yiyi, and assume he is an Extraordinary.” Dee follows suit, “there is one thing for certain. Jiang Yiyi’s ability must be at rank S. I do not suppose anyone would disagree?”

Both Xi and Yi nod.

“Our data so far indicates that all Extraordinaries with abilities above rank B will surpass 90% in standard mental deviation; in other words, all Extraordinaries with rank B or above are insane, with no exception.”

“Then do we have the specifics on the neurodivergence of Jiang Yiyi?”

Dee grabs another file he has on hand – a summarised account of all the reports on the behavioural analysis of Jiang Yiyi, written by the Coordinators of the first to the fourth floors——Most of it is the same as the report Ye Wang received warning him of Jiang Yiyi’s danger before he received him.

Now, the summary continues to emphasise Jiang Yiyi’s danger, while each floor’s Coordinator have made generally the same judgement on Jiang Yiyi – logical, rational, and consistent. While they are unable to find a common modus operandi or pattern of thought, they judge him to be sane.

In other words, all the prison officers have made the same call – that Jiang Yiyi is not insane.

“We are aware of how outwardly abnormal Extraordinaries with rank S abilities behave. It cannot be masked.” Dee puts the file back down, and calmly suggests, “because of this, I would like to call into question the presumption that he is an Extraordinary.”

Yi is looking through the same file, “are you suggesting, that he may simply be someone… having reached the peak of what is possible as human?”

Dee shakes his head, “certainly not.”

“Then how do you suppose he has done all this, saying that he is not an Extraordinary?” Xi points to a file on his side, “even if we discount the incident with Lone Wolf, Ei and Bee have both submitted reports that point to no other possibility than Jiang Yiyi being an Extraordinary. I believe the presumption holds.”

“What we need to confirm, is whether he is the one we have been waiting for. A new human that has succeeded in evolution.”

Dee leans forward, speaking more rapidly than before, “mental deviance and neurodivergence are symptoms of their incomplete evolution. If Jiang Yiyi both possess an ability, and has no neurodivergent tendencies, he is quite possibly a new human.”

Yi is in disagreement, “‘new human’ is still only a theoretical construct with no science to back it up. It is also debatable whether neurodivergence is a so-called ‘symptom of incomplete evolution,’ or simply a side effect of possessing extraordinary abilities.”

Dee retorts, “but Jiang Yiyi is already here in living flesh…”

“Ok, ok. Let’s get back on track, and leave this matter to the Warden.” Xi interrupts them, “do not forget, the reason we are gathering.”

“The evaluation for the transfer of the prisoner Jiang Yiyi to the fifth floor. Do we assent?”

Dee also furrows his brows, “the evaluation for the transfer of the prisoner Jian Si to the fifth floor. Do we assent?”

Yi sighs, and adds, “the evaluation for the transfer of the prisoner Ning Sha to the fifth floor. Do we assent?”

The three of them glance at each other, before Xi breaks the silence, “I assent to Jiang Yiyi’s transfer.”

Dee appears more hesitant with his charge, “Jian Si was not the one who directly murdered Black Glove. I do not believe there is sufficient grounds to elevate Jian Si’s danger.”

Xi goes through the application Ye Wang submitted for Jian Si’s transfer, “the Coordinator of the fourth floor asserts, that Jian Si confessed to the murder ‘with vigour,’ and has not expressed any objection to being transferred. I should add that both FedCom and Nianluo have indicated their interest in following the handling of this incident.”

“Thus I believe that these three reasons constitute enough grounds for transfer.”

Dee deliberates for a few seconds, and finally, “I assent to Jian Si’s transfer.”

Yi has kept quiet during their discussion, and now it is his turn. Knitting his brows, he says, “Ning Sha… does not meet any criteria for transfer to the fifth floor.”