CH 21.1

Third Floor (1)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

“Sound Like an Interesting Bunch”

On the third floor of the Han Federation Stargaol.

Jiang Yiyi inspects the luxurious single suite in front of him, then looks back at Lin Yi, who is outside the door, “is this my…” He pauses, uncertain as to how he should address this. Yes, it is technically a prison cell, but…

Ample space, generously furnished, with TV, gaming consoles, and even a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. All the entertainment one could ask for. Put simply, one should expect to be paying a premium akin to a room in a five-star hotel, if this room is to have a price tag put on it.

Jiang Yiyi saw quite a lot of dangerous articles in his rudimentary inspection as well——Different from the first floor, where most personal objects are made out of soft plastic that could neither hurt the prisoner or the people around them;

Different from the second floor——Which has wooden chopsticks for meals, as one example of some soft plastic objects returning to their potentially harmful forms.

Now, Jiang Yiyi is checking out – the wooden table, glass cup and paperbacks——All objects easily transformed into murder weapons. He feels like he ought to correct his previous image of the third floor.

Lin Yi is leaning by the door. After a few seconds of silence, he finally answers, “this is your room.”

“The third floor treats prisoners this well?”

“Rather than the third floor spoiling prisoners, they’re more spoiling you.” Lin Yi may not know about the situation on the third floor, but he knows Stargaol well enough. This place does not have kindness and generosity without a reason.

Jiang Yiyi sits on the sofa, and looks at the fresh fruit platter on the desk, concluding, “it seems, I’ll have some boring days ahead.”

“What good news.”

Then Jiang Yiyi reminds him, “I feel like you’re forgetting something.”

Lin Yi raises his brow.

“If you want to go to the fourth floor, then when nothing happens on the third floor, you…” Jiang Yiyi pauses, as Lin Yi remains stoic in expression, “you are not the slightest bit worried?”

Lin Yi observes Jiang Yiyi quietly, while slightly bewildered by Jiang Yiyi’s surprise——Does Jiang Yiyi truly think that he will be allowed to stay on the third floor, not being deemed dangerous in evaluations?

Lin Yi is sure he has nothing to worry about, for his duty as the Outstanding Supervisor is to watch over Jiang Yiyi.

Jiang Yiyi is going to remain on the third floor for he is too harmless to go further?

A joke in bad taste.

Even if a predator was dressed in sheep’s clothing, the scent remains. He will head where he should——The bottom floor of Stargaol, where madmen and lunatics roam.

Jiang Yiyi clearly does not agree, for he is still waiting for Lin Yi’s answer.

Finally, Lin Yi speaks up slowly, “rather than worrying about you not reaching the fourth floor, I’d be more inclined to think about a way to annul the Special Protocol in effect before you end up on the fifth floor.”

“How do you annul it?”

“There has been no precedent.”

“Then it sounds like…” Jiang Yiyi’s schadenfreude is quite obvious, “you have made quite a remarkable decision choosing me in the beginning.”

Truly, a decision that put his life and future on the line.

Lin Yi smiles. He does not look too depressed.

Jiang Yiyi watches him for a few moments before offering a business smile of his own, “considering that we’ve come this far together…” He sits up straight, “when you end up facing Hell, come to me.”

Sounds like a Devil’s offering, luring the ignorant into the nether, leading the lost into the abyss.

The most alluring bait belies nothing but charred blood.

A bait is a bait, though, because it is often too enticing to refuse.

Lin Yi does not reply. Neither refusing nor accepting.

Jiang Yiyi does not seem to mind, either. He continues with his offer, “since, if you did just up and died like that, it’d be a real shame.”

Lin Yi finally has a reaction to this, “why do you say I’d die?” He looks at Jiang Yiyi, clearly being triggered to some degree, “I am a prison officer here.” The naturally advantageous side to be on in Stargaol.

“Your mission…” Jiang Yiyi trails off, as he notices Lin Yi, usually unchanging and unemotional, revealing no weaknesses in front of him, tenses up visibly. He is wary.

Jiang Yiyi stops talking.

Lin Yi realises now how much his instantaneous reaction has revealed——To Doctor, especially, given his expertise in psychology.

There is a moment of pause, after which Lin Yi says, “And?”

“And what?” Jiang Yiyi says calmly, “I’ve already finished speaking.”

Lin Yi knows he should just take up the offer to end the topic right here——The more he asked, the more he reveals, the riskier it becomes for him. However, he can’t help his curiosity – how much does Jiang Yiyi truly know about him?

“You know what I am here to do?”

Jiang Yiyi looks at him, until the dissection diagram emerges, revealing his weak points and detailed descriptions of attacks. He makes mental notes of a few specific recurring terms, then chuckles.

“You ask too much.” Jiang Yiyi puts an end to this, tilting his head, “are you sure you can pay the price?”

Mere curiosity will not sway Lin Yi to further push the question.

Thus he shuts up, and turns to leave.

Do not make trades with the Devil, is a piece of advice passed down from countless generations ago.

It is when Jiang Yiyi finds himself on an empty courtyard that he realises the VIP status he is enjoying.

He glances at Lin Yi, his Outstanding Supervisor, who follows him everywhere.

However, beyond him——Beyond the chain-link fence, a large number of prison officer stand with their backs to them, not making eye contact with Jiang Yiyi at all. Their attitude of avoidance is coming through loud and clear.

Wind howls past the empty courtyard, twisting and turning, with comical timing to highlight just how unnatural the silence is.

After taking in his surroundings, Jiang Yiyi asks, “so who is the one in charge of the third floor?”

When he arrived at the second floor, Butcher was the one who welcomed him. On the third floor, however, he only saw a few nondescript prison officers, who finished the transfer procedures with Butcher, then disappeared promptly after accepting Jiang Yiyi.

After that, everything between them was mediated by Lin Yi.

He is quite sure he is not misunderstanding being shunned.

“1203.”

“What?”

Jiang Yiyi turns to look at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi repeats, “that is his nickname. 1203.”

A string of numbers?

That’s weird, but not really all that surprising…

This place has been strange since the very beginning. Nothing can really surprise anymore.

“He didn’t come to see me.”

Lin Yi glances. It may be a habit of Jiang Yiyi’s, or maybe it is something else, but there are times when the syntax Jiang Yiyi employs would suggest a natural, authoritative tone.

Like right now.

“That’s normal.” Lin Yi strolls along casually with him, and quite casually drops the bomb as well, “news from the second floor has already reached here, after all.”

“News?”

“About Lunatic and Lone Wolf.” Lin Yi turns his gaze a little to gauge Jiang Yiyi’s expression.

He has met people of perverse minds before. Whether they’re reclusive, desperate, or insane, Lin Yi sees them all only as weaklings who can only dish out their anger on others, due to their own uselessness.

They are powerless, so they are angry. They are angry, and so they often end up committing unimaginable acts.

Yet the very moment they let their anger dictate them, they reveal just how powerless they are.

Jiang Yiyi is different from all of those mentally unsound people he knows. He has almost never seen anger in him. Everything he does——More specifically, the acts that others see as insane——Is not lashing out for Jiang Yiyi. And, of course, he does not find them perverted either.

While Lin Yi cannot understand his motives, he cannot control his mind developing a curiosity for them either. That is why he finds himself paying close attention Jiang Yiyi, trying to approach further, to understand him.

“Lunatic and Lone Wolf?” Jiang Yiyi stops looking around to pay attention to Lin Yi, “what about them?”

Lin Yi raises his brow slightly at the question, “you didn’t do it?”

Jiang Yiyi recalls in his memories for a few seconds, before asking, “what do you think I did?”

Lin Yi avoids the question, “Lunatic is improving; Lone Wolf has died.”

A pair of eyes come to mind. A pair of eyes filled with hatred and fear.

“Lone Wolf is dead? How did he die?”

Lin Yi observes his expression closely, trying to find shock or disbelief, but comes up with nothing——Jiang Yiyi never reveals anything open. His calmness is as if set in stone. Outside of an occasional business smile that proves his face muscles still work, there is nothing to be gleaned.

“Suicide.” Lin Yi then pauses before continuing, “they say he was firmly resolved to die… He dug his own wound open, until he bled to death.” He watches Jiang Yiyi out the corner of his eye, “it seems he had an unwavering will to kill himself to achieve this.”