CH 27.3

“If you did not know anything, and does not know how to do anything, how did you survive being interrogated by Black Glove?”

Lion’s words lay all the suspicious things about Jian Si out in the open.

Jian Si looks conflicted, his hesitation quite clear for them to see.

Xin Yongyuan calmly adds, “everyone knows what Black Glove is like. Temperamental, wrathful, unable to control himself…”

Looking at the hand-shaped bruise on Jian Si’s neck, he asks, “why did he not choke you to death?”

“No need to lie. It will only make you even less trustworthy.” Xin Yongyuan continues piling on the pressure, “we don’t ask for a lot either. We only want to know, for example…”

“What are you trying to do by acting this innocent?”

If there was a player controlling this protagonist right now, they will see a choice pop up right here——The two options each leading to certain death by different means.

However, as we cannot know whether there is a player behind this Jian Si, or what exactly is going on with him, we can only say for certainty, that he has managed to avoid death by not following either choice.

Yes, he has dodged death, walking a tightrope thread of staying alive where the players only find themselves dead in a variety of ways in this hellishly difficult game.

“Why do none of you believe I was set up?”

His eyes are clearly welling up, but he clearly still wants his dignity with him, and holds the tears back.

He is innocent and helpless, which also succinctly describes everything he encountered after being imprisoned, when he went back and forth between murderous prisoners, doing his best to stay alive, and questioning why he is going through any of this.

“I really didn’t do anything!” The emotional part of his message definitely comes through, where even the most professional, keen-eyed investigator will find no sign of acting——They must conclude his emotions are genuine.

“I just want to live.” Jian Si cannot help but lower and bury his head, hiding his tears where no one can see, and hysterically, helplessly throwing a tantrum, “why did everyone suddenly accuse me one day? I never did anything. Why did they say I am guilty?”

“I don’t want any of this. I just want to be normal again, but all of you just won’t let me…” His voice is trailing off, “I miss home…”

Lion and Xin Yongyuan look at each other for a moment.

Jian Si stands out distinctly from the fourth floor. Not only in appearance, but also in the whole demeanour of someone who has never so much as seen blood in his life, compared to one who toes the edge between life and death as part of life.

No matter how one looks at it, Jian Si really does live up to his derogatory nickname – a Bunny that wandered into a pack of wolves.

Perhaps most people of most places would choose to stand by his innocence.

However, this is the fourth floor of Stargaol, where Hell is but one step away.

There is nothing as precious as trust or sympathy here.

Everyone here, everyone who came with their various goals in mind here, not only distrusts others, but might even distrust themselves.

“Save that for the judges.” Xin Yongyuan is not interested in pleading from the weak; there is more than enough of that around if he does want to see any——Any worthless weakling that can be found anywhere.

“And answer our question.” He is cold like frozen metal that has never known warmth. He is not moved in the slightest.

Jian Si wipes his face first before looking up at them. His eyes are reddened, but his face still resolute – he yet keeps his pitiful, wronged side away, to maintain a mere shred of dignity.

When Jian Si was invited to Black Glove’s cell, he was scared. Black Glove’s cell was not different from any other normal cell. He saw Black Glove there. The man had a terrifying appearance, especially under the dim lighting.

Jian Si gulped, taking a step back in reflex.

Black Glove looked like he chuckled, but maybe he misheard, because he also heard him ask, “who do you work for?”

“Huh?”

Jian Si was backed up against the wall. He had no way to retreat, but Black Glove was clearly not happy with his ‘answer.’

“Who had you transfer the funds away?” The man stood up. Though he looked a little sickly, he was still imposing and strong——Especially when compared to Jian Si’s frame.

Jian Si was entirely buried in his shadow. He shrunk his body a little subconsciously.

“Speak.” Black Glove gripped him on the jaw, forcing his head up to look him in the eye.

Jian Si felt a raging fire inside Black Glove’s eyes, that would threaten to burn everyone it touched into ashes.

“I don’t know what you mean…” Jian Si’s tone was quavering uncontrollably, “I didn’t do anything, I was set up.”

Black Glove’s hand then moved lower, landing on his weak and fragile neck. He gripped, “oh?”

Jian Si was in immense pain. His meek breaths were difficult to maintain. He tried to push the tower in front of him away, but the soft push perhaps didn’t even register as resistance to the man.

“You don’t look like you could have killed four people, I’ll give you that much.” Black Glove was increasing the strength in his hand gradually, “what are you trying to do on the fourth floor?”

“I… I was… set up.” Jian Si’s voice was almost imperceptible, his throat barely able to maintain its function.

“Came here for me?” Black Glove’s grip was still tightening.

“I… really… am… set up… cough… cough…” Jian Si could physically feel his life slipping away. It was truly a mysterious feeling, like his soul was being separated from his body. His heavier mortal flesh was being left behind, while he was floating up in the air. He thought he even heard a choir he knew.

“He is always watching over you~”

“Offer all that you have~”

“To welcome~ A new world for humanity~”

Black Glove merely watched as Jian Si was losing his life. What mere struggle the guy was putting up were useless. He truly was weak and innocent.

But so what? If he really was set up, the guy should thank him for giving him such a quick death; if he was actually guilty, then he deserved to die all the more.

Black Glove was not going to let go before he was dead.

Jian Si’s eyes had already lost focus. His mouth was still barely moving, but there was no sound. The small movement of the lips was just enough to still comprise a legible message.

Black Glove released his grip.

Jian Si fell to the ground. He would take some time before he came back to.

“What do you mean?” Black Glove was staring down at him.

“What did he mean by that?” Lion interrupts at this point in the story to ask, “what was it that you said?”

Jian Si continues hugging his legs. He thinks for a few seconds, before telling the truth with his reddened eyes, “I don’t remember.”

Xin Yongyuan sounds intrigued, “he didn’t do anything after you told him that?”

“He didn’t. I don’t think he even looked surprised.”

“Do you know what you just said have not only made you look less innocent, but also proved that you definitely were part of Nianluo?”

Jian Si merely retorts, “you were never going to believe me either way.”

Xin Yongyuan crouches to stare at him, “it is different now.”

“There is no small fry of Nianluo’s that can make Black Glove stop his killing.” Xin Yongyuan says, his tone almost cheerful, “the moment you were sentenced directly to the fourth floor at this point in time… you were guilty without a doubt. Did you really think anyone will believe you innocent?”

“Your guise is meaningless. No one will ever believe you.”