CH 8.1

Second Floor (1)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

Lunatic

Some may develop a false impression of Jiang Yiyi due to his file written in simple, lifeless words, and assume he is simply a harmless, apathetic person. That misunderstanding is rectified as soon as one sees Jiang Yiyi in the flesh, however.

Weak herbivores shake in fear for predators approach; what would make predators fear, then?

“Welcome, to the second floor of the Han Federation Stargaol.” The prison officer receiving Jiang Yiyi and Lin Yi seem to be quite the dramatic fellow, and quite different in disposition to the officers on the first floor——More specifically, the overt amicability.

The man looks up and down Jiang Yiyi before extending a hand, “Jiang Yiyi, was it? What nickname would you prefer?”

Jiang Yiyi shakes hand with him, and before he can answer, the man already explains on his own, “easier to address with one.”

Lin Yi appears ignored entirely.

“How about simply ‘Doctor’?” The prison officer leads Jiang Yiyi to the inspection room, “I’ve read your file.”

He pushes the door to the room open, while smiling at Jiang Yiyi, “quite the beautiful file that is.”

Beautiful file? Jiang Yiyi recalls his own biography, and cannot exactly describe it as beautiful——In spite of what this man appears to genuinely believe.

“Xiao-Zhang, the new guy is here.” The prison officer knocks on the open door to remind the officer soundly asleep within, “routine inspection.”

The prison officer sleeping on the table looks up at the three standing at the doorway. He looks at Jiang Yiyi, and comes to life, “yo, finally here?”

Xiao-Zhang indicates for Jiang Yiyi to stand in front of a machine for inspection.

“Rare. Truly rare.” Maintaining a safe distance, xiao-Zhang is running a piece of equipment that is producing a penetrating image up and down Jiang Yiyi, “you’ve got a grudge against him?”

He asks, acknowledging the invisible Lin Yi.

Jiang Yiyi does not know how prisoners are checked for illegal articles on their bodies in ‘Annals of Stargaol,’ but he does have the memory of this NPC being led into the prison for the first time——It was definitely nothing as technologically advanced or humane as this.

Does this suggest that the second floor is actually more humane than the first?

Jiang Yiyi does not answer the question, which xiao-Zhang does not mind either, as he just continues, “it’s been so long since the Special Protocol has been triggered. It’s even more surprising it was granted.”

He says with profound implications, “makes you wonder if someone just has too much energy behind them, or if you’re simply too dangerous.”

Jiang Yiyi is eyeing him with interest.

“Or, both?”

Xiao-Zhang has finished talking. He walks over to another screen and flips through the images, concluding, “nothing illegal here, Butcher.”

The prison officer referred to as ‘Butcher’ nods without surprise, and leads Jiang Yiyi back outside.

“Before you came, you must have heard rumours of this floor.”

Jiang Yiyi listens rather absentmindedly, as his eyes take in the surroundings of the deserted corridors. Compared to the stringent security of the first floor, the second floor is largely devoid of security guards. At the same time, there is an abundance of prison officers.

Jiang Yiyi looks up at the surveillance cameras——Omnipresent as always.

“The first floor simply has a biased view of us.” Says Butcher, with a big smile, “as we are quite a lot safer than the third floor, you see.”

“Ah, right, it is lunchtime right now.” After walking for a few moments towards Jiang Yiyi’s cell, Butcher recalls, and turns direction towards the canteen, “I know you get meals delivered on the first floor.”

“Sure, that’s safer, but the second floor’s budget is quite tight, you see. We are only able to arrange for a group eating session.” He glances at Lin Yi, who’s been quiet this whole time, “if only the upper brass are willing to give us a bit more dosh, we’d be able to arrange for meals delivered to each cell separately.”

Jiang Yiyi also looks towards Lin Yi following the gaze.

Lin Yi shows no reaction to what Butcher has been saying, so the man turns around to continue speaking to Jiang Yiyi.

“Knowing your arrival, I’ve done my homework as well.”

Jiang Yiyi obliges his opening, “what did you find out?”

“Beautiful.” Butcher applauds, “a beautiful file, beautiful style… and beautiful appearance.”

This is the second person to acknowledge his looks now. Jiang Yiyi isn’t exactly offended, but being able to see himself in the mirror every day, he thinks there is an objective discrepancy in their sense of aesthetics.

Butcher looks ahead at the rowdy canteen, then stops not far from the entrance, and finally gets to his point, “now, though, you’re on the second floor. I’d ask you to observe our rules.”

“What rules are there on the second floor?” Jiang Yiyi asks obligingly.

“No killing. No harming of prison officers.” Butcher replies, then pats Jiang Yiyi on the shoulder with his plump hands, “the first floor is pretty insistent on proof and evidence, submitting everything to evaluation and judgement; not the second floor, though.”

“We don’t really care for that.” Staring at Jiang Yiyi, his friendly smile fades, “break those rules, and I’ll break you myself.”

Jiang Yiyi couldn’t help but smile at the warning.

He moves Butcher’s hand away from his shoulder, then promises, “worry not. I like rules.”

Butcher retracts his hand, while continuing to scrutinise Jiang Yiyi. He’s still not sure of his understanding of the prisoner——Which is fine, for they will be able to figure it out quite soon.

Butcher then turns back towards the rowdy canteen, and puts his amicable face back on, to lead Jiang Yiyi to the canteen.

“Great to hear. You make my life easier, and I’ll make yours easier. It’s win-win.”

Two rows of prison officers stand by the entrance to the canteen, guarding the exits to the canteen with utmost severity.

There truly is an inordinate amount of prison officers this floor. Jiang Yiyi stops looking, and instead, develops a curiosity to this place where prisoners are corralled in to make eat——That the Butcher has chosen this place to instil fear and respect in him must mean there is something unique to this place.

Jiang Yiyi then realises that his own thoughts are turning in a slightly unsavoury direction. He readjusts his mental state, and tries to face everything to come with a fearful heart.

It’s not an easy task.

Fear appears to have left him behind a long time ago. He is unable to set himself a suitable demeanour after recalling the word.

Butcher indicates to the prison officers at the door, who pushes the side door. From the slit comes raucous liveliness and laughter, along with the scent of food. It does feel hellishly enthusiastic in there.

Jiang Yiyi turns his head slightly.

“Have your meal now. I’ll lead you to your cell after.” Butcher brings Jiang Yiyi inside with laid back steps.

It’s a crowd in the canteen. Someone is getting beaten up, others are beating. A group is mumbling amongst itself, while others eat as if nothing is wrong.

There are surprisingly few prison officers present inside compared to outside.

Butcher’s appearance sends a few gazes this way, landing squarely on Jiang Yiyi. They carry all sorts of undesirable connotation, with malice almost thick enough to ooze out and strangle Jiang Yiyi.

Now this is what Jiang Yiyi would say is a fitting image of Stargaol.

His finger twitches, but the familiar touch of a hard object does not come. He recalls that, to avoid trouble during inspection, he’s handed his illegal articles over to Lin Yi beforehand.

He turns over to Lin Yi, who’s been stopped at the door, and regrettably concludes——He won’t have his knick-knacks back for now.