Chapter 34 – Dating Agency (2)
In the evening, Chen Jing and Xiao Pang entered the dating agency.
There were surveillance cameras inside, but earlier in the day, they had already roughly figured out the layout. They silently made their way to the second floor.
The towel on the second floor was missing, indicating that someone had been there before.
Xiao Pang took out a key hurriedly made earlier in the day, inserted it into the lock, and with a soft click, the door opened.
Chen Jing stepped in first, quietly surveyed the surroundings, confirmed there was nothing unusual, and then proceeded ahead. Xiao Pang followed behind.
It was a pretty standard room – a bookshelf, a desk, a sofa – just a simple office.
The only oddities were the sealed and heavily covered windows and the person lying on the floor.
To be precise, it was a corpse. A woman's corpse, lying on her side with multiple injuries that didn't seem intentional, more like accidents during struggle.
The only certain sign of foul play was the eyes on the face of the corpse. They were missing, leaving behind two dark holes oozing blood, dried around the edges. Chen Jing probably saw traces of this blood on a towel by the door, likely from the eyes and ears of the deceased.
This was likely the "Miss Huang" mentioned earlier today.
Having grown accustomed to such scenes, Xiao Pang averted his gaze, while Chen Jing remained composed, turning to carefully inspect the office.
If things were as expected, there should be some sort of passage here. He had observed earlier in the lobby that this office's room downstairs was different in size and hastily constructed, standing out from the other rooms. It seemed like a makeshift structure, meant to conceal something.
That something was likely the passage to an unknown location.
Xiao Pang slowly moved around the room and accidentally kicked something. He took out his phone and, using its light, took a glance.
It was a pull ring.
This was it.
Chen Jing approached, bent down, and inspected before pulling the ring.
As the ring was pulled, a staircase leading into the depths was revealed. Xiao Pang prepared to step in, but Chen Jing first bent down to listen intently. Then he halted Xiao Pang, lowering the ring.
Xiao Pang realized something and joined Chen Jing behind the ring.
Footsteps gradually approached – two people, accompanied by murmured conversation.
With a soft sound, the floor shifted, and two individuals dressed in dark red attire emerged. Their clothing covered them completely, not a sliver of skin exposed.
Moving stealthily, they unzipped the backs of their attire while conversing in hushed tones.
"…"
Their conversation abruptly stopped, followed by soft thuds.
Releasing their hold on the person's neck, Chen Jing and Xiao Pang caught the falling individuals, silently swapped their attire, and finally stashed both figures into a nearby cabinet.
Having changed clothes, the two exchanged a glance and then disappeared together into the staircase, fading gradually into the darkness.
*
Once in F City, having endured several hours of car travel, Jiang Yujin didn't plan to leave immediately. After sipping various sweet fruit wines in the afternoon, he wandered around before heading to an old city area in the evening.
Unlike the modern districts, the old city area was aged yet vibrant, lacking the strict orderliness seen elsewhere. Under the large locust trees along the road, several tables were set up. Older gentlemen in sweatshirts played mahjong, fanning themselves with palm leaf fans. Quite a few people gathered around, and Jiang Yujin seamlessly blended in, feeling entirely at ease.
An auntie brought a large plate of watermelon, and he received a slice. An older man instantly bonded with him, calling him "brother." When the man went to the restroom, Jiang Yujin temporarily took his place in the game and won twice.
After the game, the older folks became even friendlier with him.
The bright yellow streetlights stayed on from dusk till nightfall. Jiang Yujin changed his position, heading to watch an elderly man play an ancient card game.
People passed by continuously. A person smoking with a row of earrings on his ears passed by the card table, talking on the phone:
"The head of the branch here has been holding back before, and now he said that he knows about 001. I can't tell whether it is true or not. I guess he wants to get promoted based on this."
"…The General Administration sent me here just for this. I'll go find him in a while, then we'll know."
Jiang Yujin glanced sideways while gnawing on a watermelon.
Tossing the rind in the trash, he nodded to the old man and slowly turned to leave.
Not far away, an older lady noticed his departure, widened her eyes, and tried to persuade him to stay.
Jiang Yujin waved with a smile, "My son's finishing school; I'm going to pick him up."
Seemingly surprised that he already had a school-going son, the aunties watched him leave, eyes wide.
As he walked down the crowded street, Jiang Yujin occasionally glanced at people in the distance, feeling like there was still time, even buying some snacks and eating while walking.
As the path became familiar, when he looked up again, he realized he was back at the place he'd visited earlier that afternoon. However, the earring guy hadn't entered through the main gate; he had used a key to enter from another side of the building.
After the guy entered and closed the door, Jiang Yujin followed at a distance. Only after a while did he find his own way in.
Footsteps echoed on the empty second floor of the building.
The earring guy reached the end of the second floor, humming a tune and entering a room while checking his phone. He rummaged through the room, finding an unopened set of clothes in the cabinet on the desk.
The moment he found the clothes, a sharp pain hit the back of his neck. He couldn't even turn around to see what happened and collapsed to the ground.
Standing behind him, Jiang Yujin lowered his gaze, slightly rotated his wrist, then passed over the fallen man to take the clothes from the cabinet, saying a quiet "thank you."
But it was clear the man couldn't hear his words of gratitude anymore.
A living person lying here directly wasn't a good idea. Jiang Yujin glanced at the office and then opened a side compartment of the wall.
The cabinet door opened, revealing two people bound hand and foot, lying quietly inside.
"…"
Jiang Yujin closed the cabinet door once again.
After finding a new place in the office to accommodate the person who fell into a baby-like sleep, he glanced at the room and pulled up the buckle on the floor.
*
Chen Jing and Xiao Pang walked through the long stairs, and when they finally reached the end, their field of view instantly broadened.
This place resembled an underground city with lights and corridors everywhere. Several metal bridges spanned long distances, connecting two large buildings against the mountain wall, with people constantly moving above.
At the start of each passage, guards stood silently, holding guns, on alert.
The two, dressed in specially made outfits, passed two sets of stairs without making a sound or appearing too conspicuous. They cautiously crossed the metal bridge, surveying the surroundings.
As they proceeded cautiously, footsteps echoed behind them on the metal bridge.
Someone passed by them, similarly dressed in dark red attire, probably a veteran here, looking more relaxed than them. He strolled forward and soon crossed the metal bridge, disappearing from sight.
After crossing the bridge, Jiang Yujin glanced up at the large building attached to the mountain wall.
Also a branch office, this one appeared more magnificent than the one in A City, at least several times larger, seeming to have a base of operations. The only similarity between the two branch offices seemed to be the need for climbing very long staircases to enter.
The guards in front of the building held their guns without deviation, their posture tense. When Jiang Yujin passed by, he nodded and greeted them, expressing his acknowledgment for their diligent work, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."
Caught off guard by the greeting, the guards were momentarily stunned, feeling a rush of warmth within, and replied, "Not at all."
Jiang Yujin entered the building this way.
Compared to the strict vigilance outside, there were noticeably fewer people inside the building, with individuals wearing different clothes. Some in white protective suits entered an elevator, while Citizen Jiang, who had intended to climb the stairs, quickly changed his plan and followed them into the elevator.
The person in the white protective suit pressed a floor, and Jiang Yujin, after a brief thought, directly pressed the topmost floor.
Leaders often preferred higher places, so it was likely the branch chief would be on the top floor.
The person in the white suit glanced at him, then averted their gaze, and upon reaching their floor, exited the elevator.
Continuing to the top floor, as soon as the elevator doors opened, a row of armed individuals appeared, aiming their guns directly at him.
The person at the front spoke sharply, "No one except the branch chief is allowed to take the elevator directly here. What are you doing?"
Suddenly facing armed individuals, Jiang Yujin wasn't frightened. Instead, he spoke firmly and a bit anxiously, "I have important information to inform the branch chief. If it is later, it will be too late."
As he spoke, he walked, appearing genuinely urgent, his demeanor sincere and natural, making it difficult to believe he was deceiving them.
The person holding the gun was momentarily intimidated by him, unable to advance or retreat. They watched as the other walked deep into the corridor. When they finally reacted and prepared to intercept the person, the other had already knocked on the only door in the corridor, speaking something from behind it.
After a brief silence, someone inside the office said, "Come in."
Without a doubt, it was the voice of the branch chief. The people standing in the corridor looked at each other a few times and finally chose to return to their original posts.
Jiang Yujin, standing at the door, didn't say anything, only mentioning that he was from the General Administration, smoothly entering the office.
Perhaps to compensate for the shortcomings of the underground, the office was brightly lit, with machines running to maintain dry air and temperature. Staying here was much more comfortable than outside.
Behind the office desk sat a middle-aged man. Unlike the others, he didn't wear a specially tailored outfit, just an official white shirt and black trousers. However, his physique had visibly changed, his belly protruding over his belt, and his head gradually showing signs of grey hair.
It was this person who claimed to have seen 001.
Jiang Yujin looked around at the person behind the desk but didn't recall anything.
Before he spoke, the man behind the desk calmly looked up and said, "The General Administration sent you for 001, didn't they?"
Not willing to let the other sit comfortably, Jiang Yujin remained standing while the branch chief sat. He glanced around the office before pulling a chair for himself, sitting down more casually than the branch chief, nodding casually.
"They only sent you alone; headquarters doesn't seem to trust me much," the branch chief's gaze grew stern. "Before feeling the sincerity from headquarters, I won't say anything."
Jiang Yujin replied, "That makes things difficult then."
He sat lazily, his tone light and airy. Even though facial expressions weren't visible, his voice alone could easily provoke someone's temper.
Suddenly, the branch chief's expression changed drastically. He leaped over the desk, reaching out directly for Jiang Yujin's head while he stood up, kicking the chair forward. The branch chief's hand grabbed the chair, causing it to shatter instantly.
—This person was too fast.
Without touching the expected skull, the branch chief was first startled, then puzzled by his expression. Soon realizing something, he said, "You're not from headquarters!"
He had already inquired beforehand and knew that after HQ' assessment, they didn't entirely believe him. They casually sent just one person. The dispatched individual wasn't particularly powerful, just someone who was usually capable, and willing to undertake thankless tasks, which is why they remained in headquarters and held some authority. In terms of strength, they didn't amount to much.
Someone who didn't amount to much couldn't possibly evade his attack.
Jiang Yujin didn't respond and evaded the branch chief's attack once again. Before the chief could grab the wall, Jiang Yujin directly seized the chief's hand, sounding a bit reproachful and resigned, "Lower your voice. Don't make a ruckus that reaches outside."
The incident at A City branch was an accident, just as this was. He only intended to find someone and didn't aim to take down the entire branch.
Each attack was narrowly avoided, and he was effortlessly held by the opponent. Hearing what sounded like a scolding tone, the branch chief's already mounting anger exploded.
The room echoed with the sound of flesh tearing apart, as if something was silently growing, emitting an eerie noise.
Lowering his gaze, Jiang Yujin saw the branch chief's hand, previously restrained, undergoing continuous transformation. The fingers gradually contorted into a strange curvature, disjointed and irregular.
As the fingers disassembled, the bones elongated and enlarged, black markings appeared, resembling the wrinkled claws of a bird. The once normal skin had been torn apart, blood pooling on the floor.
Seeing this kind of change on a person for the first time, Jiang Yujin even considerately released the grip to avoid affecting the development of the branch chief's hand.
Eventually, the branch chief's hand completely lost its original form, turning into a black, oversized claw, completely beyond normal human proportions.
It was like a strange species hand. The branch chief's eyes quietly changed too. The already small pupils vanished entirely, leaving only the whites of the eyes.
Apart from the intact facial features, this person no longer resembled a human.
Not only did the appearance cease to be human, but the branch chief also seemed to lose some qualities as a human. He no longer spoke as before, acting entirely on instinct. He didn't even care about his office anymore, causing all the appliances to turn into piles of scrap metal.
Faintly hearing some commotion outside, the person guarding outside cautiously knocked on the door and asked, "Is everything all right in there?"
With bent legs, Jiang Yujin pressed the branch chief firmly onto the office desk, supporting himself with one hand on the desk while the other clutched the chief's throat, smiling and saying, "Everything's fine."
The branch chief's face reddened in slow suffocation, emitting meaningless, hoarse, and feeble low growls.
These were no longer sounds that a normal human could produce.
Amidst the suffocation, the black claws, which had stopped growing, began to wildly expand again, even faster than before, as if draining the last vestiges of life.
The branch chief died. After death, the entire body, except for the claws, instantly shriveled. The claws swelled a bit, but without a continued source of nourishment, they trembled in the air for a moment before sagging down.
Jiang Yujin raised an eyebrow slightly.
This organization seemed to be involved in something strange.
He wasn't particularly interested in the organization's business. Despite their conversation, the person who claimed to know him did not recognize him. Jiang Yujin had no other interest here. He didn't linger in the office, simply left, closing the door behind him when coming out.
The person guarding outside glanced over as Jiang Yujin emerged, trying to get a glimpse of the branch chief inside.
"The matter's been discussed," Jiang Yujin shut the door, saying, "The branch chief is working; it's best not to disturb him."
He seemed indifferent to whether they would comply, finishing what he had to say before calmly boarding the elevator again, leaving in full view of everyone, his movements natural and fluid.
The person monitoring upstairs returned to their position.
*
Downstairs, Chen Jing and Xiao Pang groped their way, secretly observing a few people who seemed to notice something was amiss. They eventually went all the way up to a laboratory.
Most individuals on this level wore white protective suits, with some dressed similarly walking in the corridor.
The laboratory had transparent walls made of glass, offering a clear view inside.
They saw a laboratory with vials filled with liquid containing eyeballs. It seemed they were paired, but only one vial still contained an eyeball.
Xiao Pang remembered the female corpse from the second floor whose eyes had turned into empty sockets.
Chen Jing also recalled. Besides that, he noticed the strange species lying in the lab. The B706 specimen, with multiple eyes on its head, most of which were damaged and removed.
In the place where its eyes had been, there was now a single intact human eye.
Before he could observe further, an alarm blared suddenly, piercing the entire building. Footsteps of security personnel echoed through the halls, indicating their consolidation.
Startled by the alarm, Xiao Pang asked, "Have we been found out?"
Chen Jing shook his head.
There were people around, but none showed any intention of attacking them. It was evident they weren't after them. However, something had obviously happened here.
The incident occurred on the top floor not long ago. A person from the lab went upstairs with a report, knocked on the office door, but received no response. Everyone realized something was amiss, pushed the door, only to find a shriveled, grotesque corpse.
The alarm in the branch rang, its sound reverberating throughout the underground, as all entry points were sealed shut.
Just before the entrances closed, a figure casually left the branch.
<< _ >>
**TN
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Chapter 35.1 – Find a tall and handsome new boyfriend!
The alarm went off suddenly, catching everyone who had been working off guard. They were stunned at first, and then they quickly dashed out of the office, heading towards a safe location.
In theory, the people in the laboratory should have secured all the data to prevent leaks. However, in reality, nothing seemed as important as their own safety. The majority abandoned their work and left their stations.
A few individuals still cared about their work, fearing data loss. They hurriedly attempted to make temporary copies on USB drives. As they turned around, two individuals in dark red clothing appeared behind them.
The person copying the data was startled but then realized they were colleagues, letting out a sigh of relief and saying, "I'll finish this transfer quickly. Could you guys later escort me to the temporary exit?"
As per the branch's rules prioritizing the protection of research personnel, the request seemed reasonable.
The two individuals behind didn't speak but stayed put, silently agreeing by their presence.
[Data transfer successful]
A sound from the computer prompted the research person to hastily pocket the USB drive, saying, "We can go…"
Mid-sentence, a sharp pain shot through the back of their neck. Their mind instantly grew faint, slumping onto the lab bench. They were caught by someone and made to appear as if they were still standing and conscious.
Chen Jing supported the person while Xiao Pang discreetly took the USB drive from their pocket. Just before leaving, the sound of hurried footsteps approached at an alarming speed, too fast to attend to the collapsed individual nearby.
Chen Jing acted swiftly, hoisting the research personnel they had almost left behind. Xiao Pang quickly caught on, glancing at the figures that had appeared in the corridor and urgently said, "Hurry, take him to the medical room!"
A group of people passed by the glass outer corridor. Someone peeked in and asked, "Is something happening in there?"
Xiao Pang replied, "When we arrived, this person was already on the ground, possibly attacked."
The team leader instructed them to quickly take the person to the medical room, and the group swiftly departed.
Their success depended entirely on their acting skills.
One advantage of a large and diverse branch was that not everyone knew each other, making it easier to deceive and pass unnoticed.
Throughout their route, they were searching for intruders, carrying the incapacitated person as a prop. They smoothly made their way from upstairs to downstairs towards the medical room.
Their performance was flawless; they actually escorted the person they had feigned unconsciousness to the medical room themselves.
The medical room was empty, except for several glass cabinets containing white protective suits, likely replacements for the medical staff.
Chen Jing exchanged a glance with Xiao Pang.
Two sets of dark red clothing were thrown into the trash. Two individuals wearing white protective suits emerged from the medical room.
Stopping a passing person in dark red clothing, Chen Jing said, "We have important data. Please take us to the temporary exit."
They were then escorted through the iron-clad bridge to a small door blending in with the wall's color.
People clad in white protective suits, much like them, were forming a queue to leave.
The other staff were numerous, but the researchers were few, and they all knew each other. Upon arrival, Chen Jing and Xiao Pang remained silent, moving forward without speaking.
Fortunately, perhaps due to the fear of an unknown intruder breaking in, no one spoke throughout the journey until they approached the main entrance. They noticed a device beside the door, and everyone removed their gloves before entering, scanning their hands.
All these people had barcodes on their hands, presumably indicating their identities, exclusively for research personnel.
Chen Jing and Xiao Pang, undoubtedly, didn't possess such identifiers. As they drew nearer, they could clearly see the guards at the door holding firearms.
Just a few steps away, a sudden loud noise erupted from a distance, like a forceful explosion or something dropping.
Anxiety spread, and the once silent crowd instantly erupted into chaos. People stopped queuing and surged towards the exit.
…
Later that evening, the police integrated all the clues, reviewed a lot of surveillance footage, and questioned many individuals. Finally, they identified the perpetrator behind the previous disappearances in the city. Based on certain characteristics, they discovered that this individual had also been missing for several years in the past.
After being missing for years and returning, someone previously not involved in any criminal activities began breaking the law. Considering all these factors, they handed the case over to the Special Investigation Unit.
With the leads in hand, it wasn't difficult to apprehend someone. Once the specific location was known, the local bureau mobilized and found "Yellow Hair" in a run-down apartment, just planning their next crime.
The room was messy, littered with papers and trash. On the table lay a pile of information sheets, one woman circled – presumably the next target.
Yellow Hair resisted on the spot, attempting to escape through a window but was intercepted. In the end, he couldn't evade capture, and he was taken away in a special transport vehicle designed for such criminals, heading to the SIU.
Xu Tonggui happened to be there. Initially, Yellow Hair was evasive and dishonest, but as soon as he sat opposite Xu Tonggui, a sense of oppression overwhelmed him, and he confessed.
He admitted being a member of an organization whose usual tasks involved sourcing items for the organization's laboratory experiments, including inanimate objects, specimens, and even people.
Xu Tonggui asked for the organization's whereabouts.
"A matchmaking agency," Yellow Hair said, "the one in the northern part of the city."
The branch's location was disclosed, and it meant potential disaster. Yellow Hair weighed his options briefly and then spilled out more information in a rapid succession.
He confessed to having killed a total of five people, all for the laboratory experiments. Due to laziness in searching for targets, he targeted people associated with or frequenting the dating agency.
Xu Tonggui asked, "Was the boss fully aware?"
Yellow Hair nodded and shook his head simultaneously.
Regarding the establishment of the branch's entrance and exit within the facility, the auntie who was the boss only knew that the organization shouldn't be messed with.
She was threatened not to call the authorities and didn't dare refuse, so she reluctantly agreed. Hence, she was aware of this, but she didn't know about their search for experimental subjects at the dating agency.
The last two times he sought experimental subjects for the laboratory, he directly targeted individuals from the dating agency. The auntie, who had been compromising all along, vehemently opposed this now, forbidding him from tarnishing the place's reputation.
She was afraid of them but, in a certain way, was also frighteningly stubborn. She stated that if he continued in this manner, she would no longer assist in covering things up.
From then on, he searched for targets outside the agency, brought them to the room on the far left of the second floor belonging to the organization, and dealt with them there. Occasionally, others would help bring targets, and he would handle the rest.
The boss of the dating agency couldn't claim ignorance but also wasn't entirely informed. She knew that occasionally someone was brought in but still had no idea about what happened to those individuals taken to the room.
When someone asked Yellow Hair what the laboratory was researching, Yellow Hair shook his head.
Each person in the organization had their own task, and apart from their own duties, they couldn't inquire about others. They knew whether he was searching for experimental materials for the laboratory or if someone had accidentally divulged information.
Yellow Hair said, "I've told you everything I know. You must ensure my safety!"
He directed this statement to the branch's personnel but looked at Xu Tonggui.
Xu Tonggui didn't say much. He stood up and glanced at the observing branch director, saying, "The HQ has taken over this matter."
The HQ's team assembled in the evening and swiftly headed to F City.
The sound of helicopter propellers echoed late at night at the SIU branch. Individuals in combat uniform descended from the helicopter, moving quietly and orderly, quickly assembling and driving towards the dating agency.
They entered the room on the far left of the second floor and found two individuals completely unconscious inside a cabinet. In another cabinet, someone's upper body was protruding out, adorned with rows of ear studs, already deceased. He had bitten his tongue, eyes still open, pupils dilated, as if struggling before death, seemingly witnessing something dreadful before end*ng his own life.
First to Fourth Unit descended the stairs, with one team leading the way. Near the exit, they encountered armed guards and neutralized them, starting to clear the passage leading to the other side.
Their task this time wasn't infiltration but a straightforward clean-up operation.
Continuously, individuals in dark red clothing fell from the metallic bridge, directly plummeting into an unseen abyss.
It was an overwhelming sweep. The branch's officials had no way out. Those who had considered end*ng their own lives were swiftly knocked out by a team, losing the ability to decide their fate. Subsequently, teams dispersed, quickly collecting data on upper floors and intercepting researchers leaving through emergency exits.
The building collapsed, the metal bridge crumbled, and the underground chambers were gradually dismantled. Some went to the top floor in an attempt to find the branch chief, only to encounter a shriveled corpse, half-human and ghostly.
With no branch chief and all officials incapacitated, the extensive underground facility was cleared in just half a night.
After the sweep, a copious amount of data was copied and then erased, the laboratory was sealed, and the branch chief's body was transported to the SIU HQ that same night. There was a heap of aftermath work to handle, along with a large number of people needing escort, leaving no one at the SIU to have a full night's sleep, with many working through the night.
Chapter 35.2 – Find a tall and handsome new boyfriend!
Jiang Yujin, after coming out of the dating agency, had a peaceful sleep, perhaps due to climbing those darn long stairs. His exercise quota for the day was fulfilled, allowing him a particularly sound sleep.
The next day, he boarded a car back to A City.
Similar to the arrival journey, the return trip was equally packed, filled with various noises mingled with the scent of snacks, drifting all the way back to A City. The only advantage of this trip compared to the previous one was probably the absence of a car filled with piglets in front of him.
Back home again, he greeted the beloved barbershop owner downstairs before heading upstairs without a care.
The high schooler returned that same night, wearing a coat that covered his entire arm.
Upon closing the door and lifting his gaze, the first thing he saw was someone lying on the couch, munching on melon seeds while watching TV. The person seemed engrossed, enjoying some funny scenes on TV. Noticing the movement at the door, Citizen Jiang turned around, slightly widening his eyes upon seeing him, surprised, "Oh, you're back?"
He genuinely seemed surprised, as if he had completely forgotten about his own son and hadn't noticed his absence throughout the journey.
Chen Jing: "…"
Chen Jing remained silent for a moment before saying, "My social practice is over."
The person on the couch casually responded with a "Congratulations" before glancing at the coat on him, then raising an eyebrow, "You're wearing a coat today despite the weather?"
Chen Jing mentioned feeling cold in the car. Jiang Yujin nodded, then turned back to the TV.
The high schooler went to his room with his backpack.
In his room, after putting down his backpack, Chen Jing took off his coat and happened to glance at his arm.
Several layers of bandages were wound around his arm, indicating that it had been wrapped for quite a while, faint traces of blood seeping through.
This happened when they managed to escape from the branch. He didn't expect the SIU to appear at a critical moment last night. Taking advantage of the chaos, when the attention of the gatekeeper was drawn by the sudden appearance of the SIU, they blended into the crowd and passed through the main gate. After exiting, they encountered the SIU prepared to intercept all the researchers and had to pay a price to escape.
Apart from unexpected injuries, everything else was relatively okay. The USB drive was successfully brought out and is now in Xiao Pang's hands. He's still working on cracking the password, needing some time to access its contents.
With the background noise of the TV from outside, Chen Jing took out some alcohol wipes to change his bandage.
The high schooler in the room was tending to his own injuries, while the TV was playing the late-night news outside.
Citizen Jiang, who was asleep on the couch all night, was abruptly woken up by the cold the next morning.
The weather had changed drastically at this time; yesterday it was quite hot, but this morning witnessed a precipitous drop in temperature.
The first thing he did upon waking up was to yawn three times, as a sign of respect.
The TV, which had been on all night, was now turned off. There was a scattered blanket on the couch, likely placed there by the high schooler, but it seemed it had been kicked onto the floor.
The high schooler was still asleep. Between waking him up and preparing a surprise breakfast for both of them, Jiang Yujin hesitated briefly and chose to go out for breakfast alone.
The breakfast place wasn't far, nearby actually. Glancing at his pajamas, Jiang Yujin opted to throw on a light jacket and swiftly headed out.
Conscience could testify; he originally intended to bring a thoughtful breakfast for the high schooler but ended up being engaged in conversation by some elderly folks he usually chatted with, and they warmly invited him to join their melon-eating session.
So, he tagged along with the elderly, munching on buns and later switching to gossip while cracking sunflower seeds.
Until one of the elderly men glanced at the time, slapped his thigh, and said, "Oh no, it's time to go back and make lunch!"
The rest suddenly realized it was late and quickly dispersed.
Jiang Yujin glanced at the time and paused for a moment before dialing the high schooler's number.
The high schooler was clearly already awake. He squatted on the roadside and kindly asked, "Do you want me to bring breakfast?"
"…"
After a brief silence, the person on the other end expressed gratitude but declined the offer.
Not having succeeded as a well-intentioned person, Jiang Yujin ended the call. As he hung up, a notification sound from his phone caught his attention, revealing a message from his gossip buddy, Xu Gao, who had just returned from another city and urgently wanted to share something with him.
Jiang Yujin kicked off on his electric scooter to meet up with his gossip buddy.
He arrived at the SIU building's entrance while it was still early, about ten minutes away from the office's lunchtime. Usually, this time was perfect for Xu Gao's early exit, but today, things were different.
Precisely at noon, Xu Gao dashed out from the office, waving while running, resembling nothing less than a primary schooler dismissed from class.
Turning smoothly, he walked toward the restaurant with the ease of a primary school student, explaining to Jiang Yujin as he approached, "The boss was in the office today; couldn't slip away early."
Even the champion of early exits couldn't overcome the boss today.
Jiang Yujin, with sympathy in his eyes, commented, "That's really sad."
The familiar restaurant, the familiar owner, and the ceiling fan spinning overhead—it was all familiar. Xu Gao leaned in and said, "I was sent on a mission to clear out an organization in another city a couple of days ago."
He didn't specify the organization or the method of clearance; those weren't the focal points.
Xu Gao continued, "The information related to the organization from a couple of days ago was all brought in today."
Jiang Yujin nodded, indicating he was listening.
"I saw Captain Xu going through the information today."
Xu Gao cleared his throat.
Among the materials brought in was the registration forms from the dating agency for the past two weeks. Probably because several victims were registered at the agency, the person collecting the information brought this as well.
Captain Xu was looking at one of those registration forms, and as he passed by, he happened to see something. The person in the photo seemed familiar.
Unlike his usual demeanor, the person in the registration form's photo was smiling, but it was a shallow smile that, once noticed, was hard to look away from—a smile with deceitful charm.
Xu Gao sincerely complimented, "You look really good when you smile."
Upon hearing about the registration form, the smile on Jiang Yujin's face, which had been a typical gossip-induced one, gradually changed.
As Xu Gao continued speaking, unaware of the change in the other's expression, he said, "Seriously, that smile is striking. Captain Xu also stared at it for quite a while."
He sneakily observed for a while, just as Captain Xu did.
However, for some reason, the expression turned inexplicably serious, and he went over the application form several times.
Jiang Yujin replied, "…Thanks."
This time, Xu Gao finally noticed the change in his expression and asked with concern, "You don't seem too well. Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing," Jiang Yujin tried to lift his heavy eyelids and replied, "I probably caught a cold; didn't cover myself while sleeping last night."
Xu Gao advised, "Take care of yourself, then."
Jiang Yujin thanked him for his concern.
The meal was served, and Xu Gao had a few bites before continuing, "You should've told me earlier you were looking for a boyfriend; we have quite a few good-looking guys in our department. I can introduce you."
A figure appeared at the door, but the person engrossed in speaking didn't notice, entirely focused on his own words.
Jiang Yujin shoveled a mouthful of food and casually replied, "Then I want someone tall and handsome."
Then, he sneezed twice in succession, fortunately quick enough to grab two tissues to cover his mouth.
Well, this time he had a genuine cold.
Xu Gao stood up and patted his back.
Although he wasn't sure if patting someone's back while they sneezed did anything, he did it anyway, and it didn't seem to have any effect.
With drooping eyelids, Jiang Yujin took two more tissues, and then suddenly, someone placed a cup of hot water on the table. His companion was still futilely patting his back, so the water wasn't from him.
Shifting his gaze, he noticed someone standing nearby.
Dressed in a simple black T-shirt and cargo pants, with smooth muscle lines, tall and handsome.
Xu Gao stopped patting his back and then greeted, "What a coincidence, Captain Xu."
"…"
Jiang Yujin took the hot water, saying 'thank you'.
He took a sip of the warm water and asked, "By the way, what did you just hear?"
Xu Tonggui lowered his eyes and simply replied, "Tall and handsome."
Jiang Yujin then coughed violently twice, as if he were about to depart from this beautiful world at any moment.
Chapter 36 – Tower on the Sea (1)
After just drinking a glass of water, suddenly coughed like this. Xu Gao immediately cast a suspicious look at his superior and asked, "Captain Xu, did you put something in the water?"
He genuinely dared to ask, but Captain Xu didn't answer this seemingly foolish question.
After a bout of coughing, Citizen Jiang took two more sips of water and his brain spun rapidly.
—Nothing happened. So, he chose to remain silent.
Xu Gao asked from the side, "Captain Xu, care to join us for a meal?"
Xu Tonggui didn't sit down for the meal, saying he had cold medicine in his office and went back to get it.
Xu Gao approached Jiang Yujin, who was wearing a medical mask, and said, "Didn't expect Captain Xu to be so caring."
Jiang Yujin nodded slightly. "Perhaps."
Xu Tonggui didn't have any cold medicine in his office, but there were butterfly pea and rock candy. These were usually prepared for other female colleagues in the department. He took two packs from them and left the office.
At noon, Jiang Yujin took the heartwarming cold medicine.
This place wasn't suitable for a long stay today. After thanking for the medicine, he politely left and hopped onto his electric scooter.
But before fully getting on, Xu Gao was concerned about his driving fatigue.
Looking at the time, Xu Tonggui casually said, "It's still early for lunch break, let me drop you off."
Under the curious gaze of onlookers, Jiang Yujin got into the car to go back.
After fastening his seatbelt, he slid comfortably down, sinking into the passenger seat. Xu Tonggui casually asked for his destination, and he mentioned a place.
The car smoothly started and moved onto the road.
Though he usually seemed tough, he drove steadily, and one could hardly feel any bumps.
Jiang Yujin decisively took out his phone to play Xiaoxiaole. Soon, the car was filled with the sounds of the game's animals disappearing.
Midway through the journey, they encountered a 99-second-long red light. The person who had been focused on the game finally looked up, turning to the person driving.
His gaze were sincere, vulnerable, and helpless.
Xu Tonggui: "…"
Xu Tonggui casually took out his phone, opened Xiaoxiaole, and sent some game energy to his friend.
As the energy was sent, the person beside him let out a muted chuckle, then lowered his head again.
When the red light ended and the car resumed, passing through a tree-lined avenue, the person playing the game sensed something, sat up slightly, glanced outside, and realized they were near home. So, he suggested getting off.
Xu Tonggui casually glanced at him and said, "There's still a bit more to go."
"I'll walk the rest of the way myself," Jiang Yujin said, "My son is at home, and if he sees you, he might think he's got a stepfather."
"…"
Xu Tonggui originally intended to say something more, but upon hearing the words "stepfather," he paused for a moment, and his light grey pupils seemed to tremble.
Jiang Yujin was adept at resource utilization. After using the driver, he swiftly departed patting his buttocks – unfastening his seatbelt, smoothly getting out of the car, standing outside, waving goodbye, and leaving briskly.
Leaning against the car window, Xu Tonggui turned his head to watch as the person walked past under the dappled tree shadows, disappearing from sight. After a long while, he withdrew his gaze.
He retraced his steps back to the Special Investigation Unit.
The others in the office had already returned after finishing lunch, each with a cup of tea, gathering to chat. Xu Gao, who didn't originally belong to this office, had successfully infiltrated the group, freely expressing himself among the chattering people.
They discussed a colleague's relative who had remarried, marrying a man who was divorced and had a child. The child happened to be in adolescence, rebellious, completely refusing to acknowledge her new identity as a stepmother. Chaos ensued at home daily.
Xu Tonggui never used to pay attention to gossip, but this time, he quietly listened to the entire conversation upon returning to his seat.
As the topic concluded, someone summarized, "Both stepmothers and stepfathers have to endure some grievances."
"It's tough being a stepfather or stepmother."
Others sighed in agreement, leisurely sipping their water.
Xu Tonggui glanced at the large goose on the office desk, locking eyes with the big-eyed white goose.
*
Jiang Yujin returned home, took off his coat, changed into pajamas, and happily lay down on the bed, enjoying some leisure time.
Chen Jing had packed his things before Jiang Yujin returned, slung his backpack over his shoulders, briefly glanced at the person already lying in bed, greeted him, and left.
He had agreed with Xiao Pang and Zhang Xin to meet in the private room of the coffee shop they usually frequented.
Xiao Pang initially estimated that it would take a few days to crack the USB drive password. However, after two nights of overnight work, they managed to crack the password. They briefly perused its contents, identifying a few potentially crucial areas, and proposed meeting up to discuss.
"Because it was a rushed copy, some information might be missing. We'll need to figure out a way to obtain it later," Xiao Pang said, turning the computer. "But from what I've seen, we should have a good idea of what Zero was planning."
From the appearance in the lab at that time and the other data in the USB drive, it was evident that Zero aimed to create a special channel between humans and mutants. The ultimate goal was to facilitate free transformation between the two, essentially modifying humans or mutants. The original owner of the USB drive, the researcher whom they had knocked unconscious, was responsible for the recognition of cells between humans and mutants, altering their rejection function to enable mutual recognition.
The experiments had been ongoing for a considerable period, and they had even started human trials. They had attempted this nine times in total, with six failures resulting in the immediate death of the subjects. There were two successful instances where the subjects survived initially but soon after suffered cognitive degradation, speech impairment, ultimately losing their human thought process, becoming hybrids, and were locked away in containment. The personnel responsible for feeding them discovered the bodies stiff and bloodied against the walls the next morning.
The only successful case was the branch chief of this branch, who volunteered for the experiment and became the sole successful case, at least until the records stopped. He seemed completely normal until the day they infiltrated. Amidst chaos, they heard rumors of the branch chief's death. The causes were debated—some claimed he was killed by the infiltrating outsiders, while others said the non-human parts rapidly growing within him absorbed all nutritional substances, leading to his demise.
Researchers combined various past experiments and perused strange species data from other organizations, eventually pinpointing their focus on merfolk blood.
Merfolk blood contained a unique substance that could seamlessly merge human and mutant cells without mutual hostility. However, it couldn't be artificially synthesized, and the organization only had less than half a drop. After extracting this substance, it completely vanished. Now, the most urgent need was to locate merfolk blood.
However, merfolk were a product of the Game, existing only in a dungeon. This dungeon was already rare within the game, and with the game collapsing, it was uncertain if merfolk still existed.
Xiao Pang said, "So, do we have time now?"
"There probably isn't much time left."
Zhang Xin extended her hand, turning her phone screen outward for him and Chen Jing to see.
Displayed on the phone was a news article released an hour ago.
Unusual phenomena occurred frequently in the sea near C City. The sea surface was shrouded in mysterious mist. Several fishing boats that ventured into the mist never returned, with the fishermen onboard mysteriously vanishing. People who had a close look at the sea mist claimed to have seen towering shadows within it.
A silence fell over the room.
The dungeon where merfolk existed was called the "Tower on the Sea".
*
Jiang Yujin returned home after noon, initially lying on the bed, then moving to the couch. It wasn't until the sky completely darkened that he realized how late it had become.
The high schooler hadn't returned after leaving today, and dinner hadn't been arranged. After contemplating while lying on the couch, he threw on a coat and a mask before leaving. He made a significant decision to go downstairs to the barbershop owner's place to grab a meal.
Indeed, the barbershop owner happened to be cooking when Jiang Yujin barged in and naturally requested a double portion.
As the owner turned to look at him, before he could refuse, he noticed the mask on Jiang Yujin's face and the reddened eyes. So, he asked, "What happened?"
Jiang Yujin rubbed his tired eyes and said, "I caught a cold last night because I didn't cover myself with a blanket."
"Bullshit." The barber shop owner touched his forehead with the back of his hand to feel the temperature, and said, "How about I just turn off the fire and use your butt to cook, maybe it will cook better."
Getting a cold from exposure might be true, but it isn't enough to cause fever.
The boss didn't believe a word of the person in front of him and asked, "What did you do this afternoon?"
Jiang Yujin sincerely searched his heart, believing he hadn't done anything much, and explained, "I just had a bottle or two of cold beer."
"…"
Consequently, he received a hit on the head, making his already dizzy head even worse.
Staying in the kitchen posed a risk of another confrontation. Jiang Yujin immediately left the kitchen and rushed to the adjacent living room, settling down while turning on the television.
It happened to be the time for the evening news replay. He closed Xiaoxiaole he was about to play and focused on the TV.
"In the vicinity of C City, there has been an appearance of unexplained dense fog. Since the 12th, thirteen fishermen driving their boats into the mist have gone missing, and their whereabouts remain unknown."
The TV sound reached the kitchen, where the barber shop boss also glanced at the screen.
One side of the TV displayed an image showing the previously clear sky above the sea now covered in grey fog. It was a static image, yet the sense of its movement was oddly palpable.
The barber shop owner looked down at the person sitting on the sofa and said, "Tower on the Sea."
Jiang Yujin nodded.
The barber shop owner withdrew his gaze, muttered, "C City is quite close to here," and before returning to the kitchen, added, "The high schooler hasn't come back yet."
Jiang Yujin raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Really?" before taking out his phone to dial a number.
The phone rang for a while and finally connected before auto-disconnecting. The voice of the high schooler came through from the other end.
Jiang Yujin asked, "Where are you now?"
After hearing a response, he inquired when the high schooler would return. Apart from the sound of the gas stove in the kitchen, the faint conversation was the only noise in the room.
When the person on the sofa hung up the phone, the owner asked, "What did he say?"
"He said he's at the library studying with friends and won't come back tonight, going straight to a friend's place."
Jiang Yujin put away his phone, stood up, and said, "But the library he mentioned has the sound of waves."
A library with the sound of waves wasn't a place a high schooler could go to at this time.
Jiang Yujin slowly approached, then reached out and patted the barber shop owner's shoulder, saying, "Old Yuan, you shouldn't let a fragile patient wander around alone late at night."
The barber shop owner: "…"
Old Yuan wanted to find a cigarette.
…
Through his own experience, Old Yuan proved that in the middle of the night, there were very few cars on the highway from A City to C City. The road stretched endlessly, occasionally passed by only by large cargo trucks.
He gripped the steering wheel, with someone sitting beside him, even reclining the seat to rest, claiming to have a fever and needing rest.
After a journey of an hour and a half, when Jiang Yujin opened his eyes again, he could already see the sea shimmering under the moon not far away.
*
In the afternoon, Chen Jing and two others set off for C City, as reported in the news. When they reached the coast mentioned in the news, it was still relatively early, with the sun still up. Due to previous incidents, the entire coastal area had been cordoned off, forbidding entry or exit. The news of the mishap was widespread, and even without the cordon, no one would venture here anymore. The three easily crossed the restricted line and reached the shore.
Standing there, they could already see the grey mist hovering in the middle of the sea. The seabirds that used to frequent the area for food were nowhere to be seen. The waves surged up the shore and receded, giving an eerie sense of desolation to the entire world.
They needed to find a way to approach the fog.
After the previous incident, the local fishermen stopped renting out their boats, thinking these three were just adventurous young people seeking excitement. They warned them not to go to sea for the sake of novelty. However, where there's demand, there's always supply. Nearby, someone rented out ocean skiffs. Regardless of the renters' ages or intentions, as long as they paid, they could use them. Additionally, due to the possibility of not returning, a hefty deposit was required.
They set sail. The skiff bobbed on the water's surface, the closer they got to the thick fog, the rougher the sea became. As the skiff was on the verge of tipping to one side, it managed to right itself. At the edge of the dense fog, the mist surged, seemingly moving toward them slowly, silently enveloping the skiff.
Their breaths seemed to carry a moist taste. As they glanced up, they faintly discerned a towering spire emerging from the fog.
The visibility gradually dimmed, and from somewhere within the mist came a faint sound. It was peculiar, akin to a hum, yet clearly a sound humans couldn't produce. It seeped into their brains, inducing an inexplicable sense of pleasure.
Already on high alert, Chen Jing reacted instantly to the shift in perception. He didn't allow himself to succumb to the sound. Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang covered their ears with one hand while desperately pinching themselves with the other.
The skiff drifted on the water's surface, the circling hum growing louder before diminishing, gradually drifting away.
"Click—"
A faint sound emanated from the bow, the boat swayed with the sea but ceased moving forward.
The three individuals disembarked one by one, stepping onto the moist and somewhat yielding ground.
Chen Jing squatted down, carefully examining the black ground. He noticed something and turned his head to see something in the distance slipping into the fog, taking the hummed song along with it.
"There's something in the mist, be cautious," he stood up and told the two beside him. "There are footprints on the ground; Zero should've already been here."
The fact that someone was sent on a mission to this unknown-risk place suggested that this newcomer might not be as easily dealt with as before.
Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang nodded, warily surveying their surroundings. The fog obscured their vision, but it was clear that the area was much larger than they had imagined.
As they proceeded along the coast, looming shadows of massive structures emerged from the thick fog.
Approaching the structures, light appeared, floating in the air.
On the black brick-like walls, flames danced. Upon closer inspection, they realized the flames were within skulls, white and slowly flickering.
The skulls were evidently not human and identifying the species seemed impossible, with their sharp, angular features.
A stretch of black wall extended to the end of their line of sight, and within that scope, the only passage leading into the wall was the large door in front of them.
*
Later in the night, the barber shop owner dropped Jiang Yujin off by the coastal road, letting the sea breeze tousle them both.
Jiang Yujin, wearing a mask, had his already disheveled hair blown in all directions by the wind. He could barely keep his eyes open and sneezed a couple of times in the gusty wind.
Yuan Sanshui stood by the car, smoking, making no effort to assist.
Jiang Yujin circled the coast perimeter with his hands in his jacket pockets until he located his target—a shop advertising skiff rentals.
The shop was two stories high, with the living quarters on the second floor. No one answered when he knocked repeatedly.
Finally, probably out of sheer annoyance, footsteps descended the stairs, approaching the door. It opened, revealing a tall, and thin man. He looked at the man in front of him who was wearing a mask and had a feverish face, with full impatience on his face.
Before he could say a word, the feverish person grabbed his collar and yanked him forward abruptly, forcing him to stagger forward.
In a raspy voice, he asked, "When did you rent out the boat today?"
The sea wind howled.
As the barber shop owner finished his cigarette, he saw the person who had been pacing around return. Tossing the cigarette butt into a designated ashtray, he inquired, "What did he say?"
Jiang Yujin had sneezed again.
Chen Jing had indeed been there, accompanied by his two companions. Jiang Yujin had managed to find out the time the three set off, retrieved the exorbitant deposit and rental fee they had paid, and also arranged for a boat.
The barber shop owner followed his gaze and saw, under the moonlight, someone in pajamas vigorously dragging a skiff along the coastline, meticulous and cautious even in their shadow, clearly having been through something.
Turning back to Jiang Yujin, who showed no expression, looking feverish but seemingly harmless.
Chapter 37 – Tower on the Sea (2)
Boarding the boat generously provided by the owner of the rental shop, Jiang Yujin and the barbershop owner sailed towards the direction of the sea's grey mist.
Tonight was not very calm; the wind blew constantly, causing the waves to rise and fall. Jiang Yujin remained motionless on the boat, while the barbershop owner wielded the oar, navigating through the fog.
Within the mist, a song emerged, slowly spreading and growing louder.
This sound was hallucinatory. Long before this instance, the barbershop owner had put on earplugs, prepared for the journey, faintly hearing some sound but unaffected. Jiang Yujin wore them too, yet it didn't stop his eyebrows from furrowing incessantly. Eventually, he made the barbershop owner change course, heading toward the direction of the sound.
The sound of the oars cutting through the sea was gradually drowned out by the increasingly loud singing.
Something appeared on the sea not far away, a small pile resembling floating seaweed. In the darkness, thin, black-green threads silently climbed onto the boat, following the oars upward.
Then, the black-green threads were grasped by Jiang Yujin. He wound them around a few times before giving a strong tug.
"Splash—"
The small pile of seaweed nearby was drawn closer, revealing a white spherical object wrapped within the seaweed. The ball was porous, emitting sounds when the wind passed through, merging into an inexplicable, chorus-like song.
The sound emanated from here.
Approaching closer, Jiang Yujin could see the densely packed seaweed-like threads on the figure. Even at such a close distance, he didn't release the object he held; in fact, he tightened his grip, hastening the other figure's approach.
The seemingly harmless seaweed on the sea's surface was drawn nearer, growing taller and more menacing. The submerged part of it began to reveal itself gradually, causing the boat to be pushed aside by the water surging from its emergence.
It could only be said that what was now in front of them was entirely different from the small pile of seaweed they had seen before. The original white spherical object had vanished entirely, replaced by the towering, strange species form that had risen.
The black-green seaweed-like strands on the strange species were as tangled as the hair clogging the dormitory's sink pipes for decades. At a glance, it appeared dark and murky, like a massive wall obstructing their path. Numerous ends of the seaweed wrapped around white skulls now covered in moss. Some were already fragmented, while others were freshly entwined; some still had complete heads ensnared within them. The black-green threads snaked into the eyes and ears, firmly entwining around the skulls within the flesh.
Not far away were various boats with fishing nets; these newly entangled figures were likely the fishermen who had disappeared before.
More and more strands of seaweed crawled up, but Jiang Yujin paid no attention, nor did he care. He kicked the boat, pulled himself up to the highest point of the strange species entangled with seaweed, squatted down, and directly smashed the still-sounding white spherical object with his hand.
The singing vanished, the world quieted, and Jiang Yujin felt relieved.
The boat rocked violently, almost shaking his mind loose. That sound still persisted, somewhat impolite in its persistence.
Having lost what sustained it, the inherently impolite strange species lost its grace entirely. The black-green seaweed spread in all directions, crushing everything it touched into oblivion. None of the nearby fishing boats escaped; they were cut into pieces and sank slowly into the sea.
The only thing left intact was the skiff. Yuan Sanshui, perched on it, held an unlit cigarette, burning anything that approached into ashes.
Jiang Yujin leaped off the strange species' body, returning to the boat. The barbershop owner asked him, "Is it taken care of?"
Jiang Yujin nodded. "This one looked oddly ugly."
The strange species ultimately perished due to its ugliness. Flames illuminated the scene, scorching hot enough to dissipate even the lingering mist instantly, clearing the vision of the two nearby individuals significantly.
The boat slowly approached the shore.
*
Chen Jing and the other two entered through the towering grey gates. Matching the gloomy stone walls outside, the interior walls were constructed with dark grey bricks.
Inside stood a simple yet vast palace.
The grand hall was empty except for two spiral staircases leading upstairs in the center. The wooden handrails of the stairs were decayed and damaged, some parts fallen to the ground, mostly eaten away by insects.
Chen Jing quickly surveyed the interior. Besides the dilapidated stairs, the only remaining elements were the statues lining both sides of the hall—numerous statues.
The statues appeared stone-made, some damaged with missing edges and corners, yet maintaining their overall structure. They all depicted mermaids with fish tails, their tail structures almost identical, differing only slightly in direction. However, the upper halves of these statues were completely unique. The details of the upper parts, the body posture, facial features, and expressions were meticulously crafted to a terrifying degree, resembling real people.
While Chen Jing observed, Xiao Pang circled the hall but found no signs of anyone or any mermaids, only discovering a narrow staircase leading underground in a corner.
After completing the circle, he pointed in a direction and whispered, "There's a staircase over there, going down."
"Mermaids should be in the water, right?" he cautiously asked, "Should we go down and take a look?"
A rough yet somewhat plausible conjecture.
First, they glanced at the spiraling staircase; Chen Jing and Zhang Xin nodded, following Xiao Pang to the staircase leading below.
The staircase leading underground was also lit, the oil seemingly mixed with something peculiar, emitting a strange fragrance. The three covered their noses and mouths without saying much.
"Do not listen to strange sounds; do not smell strange scents." It had become a reflex they developed within the Game, deeply ingrained in their instincts.
As the staircase spiraled downward, the visibility increased. After another turn, they saw the constantly shifting pale blue water reflections on the wall.
The staircase ended here, leading to a surface of pale blue water. Chen Jing bent down and touched the water. It was ordinary water, but the building material used for the underwater walls was different—pale blue and faintly glowing, emitting a soft light.
Underwater seemed to be the true palace. Enormous stone columns traversed the entire space, adorned with intricate carvings. In the center of the underwater hall, a serene aquamarine throne existed silently. Around it lay scattered shimmering jewels, bright-colored corals, and a deep blue scepter lying off to the side.
Chen Jing dove straight into the water, searching. His gaze encompassed the entirety of the hall, revealing no traces of any living beings, with an exit visible at the other end.
Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang followed suit without hesitation, stepping into the chilly water. As they swam, nearing their limit, they finally traversed the entire hall and surfaced, gasping for air.
Chen Jing, already on the shore, stood silently, observing the ground.
A series of wet footprints marked the ground, left by more than one person. Judging by the varying shades, the individuals who left the prints had departed not too long ago.
Zhang Xin lowered her head. "Zero's people have been here."
Ascending the stairs in silence, they remained as quiet as possible, their footsteps nearly inaudible, their ears attentive to the slightest sound.
Emerging from this exit, stepping onto the dark grey bricks they had previously walked on, they lowered their gaze, noticing they were back in the ground floor hall they had visited before.
Exiting from this point led to the second floor. Glancing downwards, they finally noticed the varying shades of bricks arranged intricately on the ground in the shape of a refined fish-tail pattern.
The second floor didn't differ much from the first—equally empty, filled with numerous statues of mermaid-like figures, overwhelming in number and causing an eerie feeling.
Having explored below, their only choice was to move upward. Finding nothing useful on the second floor amid the statues, the three ascended the staircase.
The third floor was predictably packed with statues. As they navigated through them, Zhang Xin suddenly turned her head, glancing toward a corner behind them. Not far away, the other two noticed her movement and looked in that direction. She withdrew her gaze and whispered, "Someone just passed by."
Someone had passed, but all she had seen was a fleeting shadow.
Deciding not to separate anymore, the three continued silently, walking together.
Since the unknown figure appeared, things seemed to have changed. As they ascended to the next floor, they noticed that some of the statues, once perfectly aligned, had collapsed and lay shattered on the ground. Among the fallen statues was a person buried in the rubble, wearing the standardized dark red attire. Their hand struggled to reach out from beneath the stone debris, with the back of the hand branded with a "0," clearly indicating an attempt to escape, a desire to survive.
However, the person still perished. Having witnessed too many deaths in the simulation, the three glanced briefly and then averted their gaze, continuing up the stairs.
As they stepped onto the staircase, Chen Jing, who had been at the front, swiftly turned, bracing against the wall and swiftly descending. His coat billowed, emitting a sharp sound as he moved.
He pressed his knee onto the chest of a person, forcefully pinning them down. This individual wore the dark red clothing and, in a split second, their body dissipated, leaving only the clothing behind on the ground.
Opening the zipper of the clothing, Chen Jing retrieved something from inside.
A scale.
This "person" was likely what Zhang Xin had noticed before.
Putting away the scale, Chen Jing stood up and said, "Something's not right here. Let's check the top of the tower."
No one was at the top of the tower.
—This was the first thing the three observed upon reaching the tower's top floor.
The top floor differed from the others; it contained only one room.
Perhaps describing it as a cell would be more appropriate.
Simple, dilapidated, with sturdy metal bars, but the door was open. The cell was empty, save for long strands of grey-white hair.
Bending down to inspect the fresh bloodstains at the cell's doorway, Chen Jing remarked, "Something escaped from here."
"Click."
A faint sound came from below. The three turned their heads and saw the person in dark red clothing, aiming a gun with precision in their hands.
*
Jiang Yujin and the barber shop owner disembarked. As they looked at the tower looming in the nearby mist, the barbershop owner squinted and asked, "How do you plan to find your cheap son?"
"Find him?" Jiang Yujin waved a hand, his voice slightly muffled through the mask. "Finding the big fish monster is enough."
In this place, only the big fish monster could undoubtedly kill the high schooler; the rest, with some effort, he could handle on his own.
"That's called a mermaid," the barbershop owner corrected.
Jiang Yujin glanced around. "Where's the big fish monster?"
The last time they were here, he had locked the big fish monster in a specially made cell. But now that outsiders had entered, he doubted the big fish monster would still be obediently waiting inside. Someone must have deceived others into opening the door and letting it out.
"…"
The barbershop owner remained silent for a moment, then chose not to correct him further. He said, "After spending so long in the tower, it should have gone into the water."
The sea was the most suitable place for a mermaid.
The sea was the source of a mermaid's power and their most advantageous battleground.
Jiang Yujin removed his mask, casually tucking it into his jacket pocket. He twirled the red string hanging from his hand and looked at the barbershop owner. "I'll handle this. Just make sure no one escapes from the tower."
Killing required physical exertion, but containing someone was relatively easy. The barbershop owner lit the cigarette in his mouth, turned, and walked toward the tower.
As the sound of footsteps faded away, Jiang Yujin was left alone. He lifted his gaze to the thick fog and asked, "Where are you?"
His voice was low, almost a murmur, but not long after, a figure emerged from the mist.
With long dark blue hair interspersed with grey-white strands, the ends frayed, cracked skin, dull light blue eyes devoid of any luster, the being's upper body bare. It spoke gently, "Here."
The other person's voice was mild, answering any question politely. Jiang Yujin liked it. He approached, smiling slightly, and with one hand, pierced the being's chest.
There was no splatter of blood, no warmth of flesh and blood. The being standing there disappeared the moment it was touched, leaving behind a scale on the ground.
The big fish monster's scales had the ability to mimic people, including their own abilities, something he had witnessed before. Jiang Yujin wasn't surprised. After retracting his hand, he turned on his heel, slowly walking toward the shore and crouching down. He poked at the water's surface with his fingers and said, "It's not nice to deceive people."
He advised gently, "If you don't come out, I'll tip this island over."
Perhaps moved by his sincerity, ripples formed in the sea, and a figure emerged from the water.
The figure before him looked much like before, only now with deep blue hair and the once dull eyes had regained their luster, no longer resembling the eyes of a long-deceased person. The cracked skin on the body was slowly healing.
Jiang Yujin waved, "Long time no see."
The figure didn't seem eager to catch up. Their light blue eyes carried a melancholic air as they just stared at him.
Jiang Yujin attempted to negotiate, "Here's the thing, regardless of what you've done or plan to do, there are three kids inside your tower. Can you ensure they leave safely, without any trouble?"
The person from the sea, their blue hair floating on the surface, replied, "You kept me locked up for a long time."
"You promised to come back and let me out quickly."
"Did I?" Jiang Yujin scratched his head. "I might've forgotten."
The figure gazed at him but remained silent.
Clearly failing to deceive, Jiang Yujin stood up and asked, "So, is that a 'no'?"
The figure nodded, their voice gentle, "I'm going to lock you up."
Locked in this tower, forced to witness the scenes he had been observing for all this time, until he no longer harbored resentment toward this liar.
"In that case, you don't agree?" Jiang Yujin rolled up his sleeves. "If you have better conditions, I might consider moving in myself voluntarily."
The big fish monster asked, "Really?"
Jiang Yujin chuckled, "Not really."
There was no signal here, and he didn't want to leave his bloody soap operas and morning and evening news.
As the words fell, the sea instantly churned up waves, huge swells rushing toward him.
Unexpectedly soaked by the seawater, Jiang Yujin stepped back.
The sea fog thickened further, the waves surged again and again, overwhelming, instantly seizing the entire field of view.
Jiang Yujin bent down, picked up a sturdy tree branch, and skillfully split the waves. Sprays of water splashed against his hair and flew backward, eroding the coastline.
The sea creature's light blue pupils met his gaze as a deep blue scepter appeared in their hand.
Yuxi—
The big fish monster had intended to play hardball right from the start. The clouds in the sky churned and gathered rapidly, then lowered, unsettling the entire sea.
Mermaids were undisputed rulers of the sea, holding dominion over the entire ocean.
The rain that fell with the inundating seawater condensed instantly into crystalline form within the fog, protected by the scepter, transforming into sharp, water-blue crystal shards, ruthlessly piercing every part of the fog.
The fish and shrimp in the sea couldn't evade the water-blue crystals; they pierced into the water, turning the sea surface gradually crimson. Even the foam of the waves hitting the shore turned pink.
The ruler of the sea didn't care about its subjects.
Jiang Yujin loosened the red string on his hand.
In an instant, the sharply falling water-blue crystals turned into dust in mid-air, appearing suddenly and dissipating just as quickly. The fog retreated by half in an instant, clearing the view.
The person standing there slowly raised their eyes, and the surrounding air seemed to carry a hint of a bloody scent.
This person had changed too much that it was only now that the one holding the scepter remembered being thrown into a dark cell.
A long time ago, the person who threw him there glanced at him.
Calm, indifferent, eyes beneath white hair devoid of any emotion.
Exactly the same as now.