CH 23.2

“Lin Yi, you’re late…” 1203 pauses. His brows are furrowed when looking at Lin Yi, “what did the Doctor do?”

Lin Yi looks around the meeting room. There are several people seated. Outside of 1203, the one in charge of the third floor, the Chief Physician of the floor is here as usual, and the rest are prison officers with clerical duties of handling transfer prisoners.

Doctor was completely right.

Lin Yi stops looking around. He asks 1203, “what do you mean what the Doctor did?”

1203 has an ordinary appearance. The kind that blends in extremely easily. Of course, incidents in the past are definite proof that not taking him into account is a terrible idea.

“Your face is terrible.” 1203 is staring right at Lin Yi’s face, “did you not realise what you look like right now?”

Lin Yi remembers what Jiang Yiyi just asked – was he sure he wanted to go like this? Taking a deep breath, he opens a screen to see his own reflection.

Signs of fright remain in microexpressions. Contracted pupils. Anyone who sees him will not have any difficulty pointing out that he was a recent witness to something extremely unexpected.

“What did the Doctor do?” 1203 asks once more.

Lin Yi rubs his face, trying to be rid of the signs.

“Nothing, really.” Lin Yi and Jiang Yiyi may only be temporary allies who could turn on each other the next moment, but he and the prison officers… aren’t really companions, even.

Lin Yi is not part of the Warden’s faction. That is enough to demarcate them.

“Anyway, what did you want me for?”

There is a change to 1203’s expression, “we all know Doctor is dangerous…”

Lin Yi is looking at him.

“There is no way he would only belong to the fourth floor.” 1203 leans forward. He is pushing, “if you, his Outstanding Supervisor, would attest to his danger far surpassing the fourth floor, I will be able to submit another application for immediate transfer to the fifth floor directly…”

Lin Yi notes the keyword in the explanation, “the transfer orders for the fourth floor is granted?”

“The Observers moved more quickly than before. It was approved barely a few days after it was submitted.”

Not straight to the bottom floor? Lin Yi can’t help but think, but that is a relief——He can write his mission off as a failure if he goes straight to the bottom floor alongside him.

Most importantly, there are no examples of prisoners being moved back up floors from the bottom floor, that he knows of.

1203 is scrutinising Lin Yi’s expression closely as he continues his persuasion, “the Coordinator of the fourth floor is not like me. He is not one to quarantine and isolate dangers from the floor. Doctor will potentially threaten the safety of all prisoners there.”

“We are part of the law. We have a responsibility to the stability of Stargaol. Lin Yi, as Doctor’s Outstanding Supervisor, you must know best what Doctor is capable of.” After a pause, he continues, “I also heard that you were the one who insisted on taking Doctor out of the first floor with the Special Protocol. This time…”

Lin Yi interrupts, “if that’s what the Observers decided, I’m sure they have their reasons…” He then also adds, “besides, I also think the Doctor will be transferred to the fifth floor soon enough after going to the fourth floor…”

1203’s brow is slightly raised, “you are on the side of the Doctor?”

Lin Yi smiles and corrects him, “I am only on the side of law and order.”

The standstill has invited intervention from the Chief Physician, who has remained silent up to this point, “the first and second floor, the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth are vastly different places.”

“The first couple of floors are for petty criminals only. The middle floors for more notable or dangerous individuals. The last floors for the truly deranged.”

“That mere difference in number does not reflect how distinct each zone is.”

The Chief Physician explains in a soothing tone, “What I’m saying, is that if particular prisoners were to end up dead on the third or fourth floors, there will be endless trouble for Stargaol. Therefore, we want Doctor out of potential areas for conflict, and stay where he should be.”

“As a member of the Nianluo gang, you must also know your Vice Captain is currently serving time on the fourth floor…” The Chief Physician pauses for a fraction of a second, before smiling, “ah, so that’s what you’re here for.”

Never underestimate anyone in Stargaol, or you will discover that even the most unremarkable staff here is no mere pushover at your own peril.

Lin Yi shifts his posture a little, but says nothing.

“So it is. Well, a lot of people have come and gone through here via various means, and the Warden does not really mind… Worry not. We won’t do anything.”

“I simply want to ask…” The Chief Physician finally bares his fangs, “can you control Doctor?”

Lin Yi does not reply.

“If you cannot, how are you confident that nothing will happen when you bring him to the fourth floor?” The Chief Physician pats on the thick stack of files by his hand, “quite the opposite. Your relationship with your objective means he will be exposed to the Doctor almost immediately.”

“Unless your orders are to kill him, I cannot imagine a single reason you would have for insisting on going to the fourth floor alongside Doctor.”

Lin Yi shifts his posture a little once more.