CH 22.1

Third Floor (2)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

“I Am but a Simple Surgeon”

There is only one word that can be used to describe Jiang Yiyi’s treatment on the third floor——Avoidance.

An isolated single cell, a cleared courtyard for courtyard time, and timely meals sent straight to his door. No possible avenue for Jiang Yiyi to encounter other prisoners – or even prison officers.

Lin Yi is executing his duties as the Outstanding Supervisor well, becoming the bridge between the third floor and Jiang Yiyi. He is in charge of handling all daily activities and needs of Jiang Yiyi——In other words, all he can see is Lin Yi’s face every single day.

It is quite the rare occurrence to enjoy such a mundane lifestyle in Stargaol, for a simple reason——The higher the floor count, the more dangerous the prisoners——So the liveliness of the place only goes up when moving through floors.

Liveliness bleeds excess energy dry, meaning less possibility of incidents. For some floors, the prisoners creating incidents are far more severe in scope than death and mere blood.

“You look… accustomed?” Lin Yi couldn’t help but comment one lazy afternoon.

Jiang Yiyi is sunk into the sofa, holding the book with minimum effort possible. The slightly dimmed lights give his silhouette a warm glow. Ignoring the place and environment, this scene can be described as ‘homely.’

Jiang Yiyi’s hand slows while turning the page, as he glances up at Lin Yi, “while you look somewhat anxious.”

“I thought you would be bored.”

“I suppose I am.” He is at the next page now, “you, though, are less patient than I anticipated… I would hazard to say that that is not a good thing.”

Lin Yi is rubbing his eyes, “I doubt there could ever be a worse thing than meeting you.”

Jiang Yiyi is quite focused on his book, so much so his words ooze apathy, “how rude of you.”

Lin Yi can’t help but be curious about the book that has Jiang Yiyi so absorbed. He narrows his eyes to read the cover of the book better; “‘The Postpartum Care of Sows;’ is it really that interesting to you?”

Jiang Yiyi then looks over at his list of skills, where there are now new entries – Mixology (Average), Porcine Postpartum Care (Average), Literary Classification (Average), Finger Snapping (Average), Electrical Engineering Techniques (Average)…

A whole selection of useless skills——All thanks to this wall of books.

The prison officers sure worked hard to have found enough filler books to fill the shelves to the brim.

Although they are as unhelpful as can be, or possibly even extraneous, a player who is not interested in levelling up skills is definitely lying.

Never mind their usefulness, just level them up anyway——It might become useful some time later, right?

“Do you know how to care for female pigs after they give birth?”

Lin Yi shakes his head with a strange expression.

“I do not know either. Hence…” He flips to another page, “this is brand new knowledge. Why would it not be interesting?”

Yes, but… you know, postpartum care of sows!

Lin Yi opens his mouth, closes it, opens it, and closes it again, before finally changing the topic, “and you don’t have any thoughts about the current situation?”

“Of course I do.” Jiang Yiyi closes his ‘The Postpartum Care of Sows.’

Lin Yi straightens up, wide awake, and pays attention.

He opens up ‘Flowery Language: An Encyclopaedia of Flowers’ this time, “have you never thought about enriching your own abilities?”

“What?”

“Your patience, camouflage, intelligence…” Jiang Yiyi gives him a glance before returning to his studies, “are all quite appalling.”

Lin Yi furrows his brows to think for a while, before asking directly, “you sound like you’re implying something. Am I reading too much into this?”

“You were not. Just as you think, I am saying that, you do not have the capacity to complete your own mission.” Jiang Yiyi says, without so much as lifting his head anymore, “are you not planning to utilise the calm before the storm to its fullest?”

Both the fact that Jiang Yiyi is pointing a direction for him, and his odd familiarity when referring to his mission, make Lin Yi speechless.

However, this is also a reality check for him on their differences——Sharpness, intelligence, even mental fortitude, he is inferior to him in all respects.

‘Tap,’ ‘tap,’ goes the footsteps.

Jiang Yiyi listens for a few seconds.

Two people. One slower, one quicker. The slow one leads the quick one.

As the footsteps approach, Jiang Yiyi is able to paint a picture of two men walking in his direction. He closes his book once more, and walks to the front of the cell to observe, through the fence on the windows.

Two people. An unfamiliar prison officer walks with a stoic expression, while a giddy prisoner follows right after. They notice Jiang Yiyi’s gaze, and look straight towards him.

The prison officer averts his gaze immediately.

The prisoner blows a whistle in his direction. He seems friendly, “hey man, nice place you got there.”

Jiang Yiyi looks at him as a nickname rises above his head.

‘Observer Ei’

Jiang Yiyi stares at his nickname for a couple of moments.

Observer Ei gives him a wink as he walks past Jiang Yiyi’s cell.

The man is chained up from the neck to his hands to his feet. They form quite the excessive restraint that severely limits his range of motions. This is a clear sign of his danger.

Jiang Yiyi then looks over to the prison officer. A moment later, a nickname also emerges.

‘Observer Bee’

Jiang Yiyi watches as Observer Ei enters the cell to his left. He is mumbling something. Observer Bee locks the door with a poker face, before glancing at Jiang Yiyi.

Their eyes lock briefly.

“Settle down.” Observer Bee says something for the first time.

“What can I even do like this?” Observer Ei answers immediately, “hey, at least open this lock on my hands. How am I supposed to pee like this?”

Observer Bee ignores him, as he tells Jiang Yiyi, “he’s dangerous. Do not talk to him.”

“Who’s dangerous? Him or me? Who are you even talking to?” Observer Ei blabbers on and on next door——He sounds energetic.

Observer Bee continues ignoring him. After this, he turns to leave without waiting for an answer.

“Hey…” Observer Ei is humming a tune while chatting, “who are you?”

“Jiang Yiyi.” Jiang Yiyi looks at the wall, and asks him back, “and you?”

“What even is that name? Who would know who you are with a name?” Observer Ei blabbers on, “you must be new here. You don’t know the rules?”

“Professor?” Jiang Yiyi repeats the nickname once. There is a familiarity to it. Not from the game, but from memories before his transmigration.

It’s a character, in some popular novel? Or was it a TV drama? He’s like a really scary big bad?

“You know me?” Observer Ei sounds surprised, “you recognise me even from my new look?”

“What did you do?” Jiang Yiyi ignores the question, and keeps asking.

“Hey, you didn’t answer my question.” Observer Ei says ominously, “that was way too obvious what you were trying to do. What, you interested in me?”

“I’m just slightly curious.” Jiang Yiyi sits back down on the sofa, “what might be so special about this nickname that you picked and used it.”

The humming stops.

“You are acquainted with Professor?”

“I’m not.”

“Then how can you know that I am not?”

“Then are you?”

A few seconds of silence. The man speaks up once more.

“Who do you think I am, then?”

“Observer Ei?”

Silence ensues once more.