CH 27.2

Black Glove then glances at Lin Yi, “wait there.” He has come to a quick decision, “you’ll bring the info back now that it’s come to this.”

“I am not authorised.” Lin Yi refuses politely, “after I have reported to Captain…”

“When can you leave Stargaol?” Black Glove interrupts him, “from what I know, prison officers cannot simply take a day off from Stargaol?”

“That’s right.” Lin Yi looks troubled as well, “prison officers can only apply for days off in advance, which can also be denied. Due to being an Outstanding Supervisor, I don’t see them letting me outside any time soon.”

The phrase ‘Outstanding Supervisor’ does not capture Black Glove’s attention, as he is too preoccupied thinking about delivering the info to Captain.

“We have to deliver it as soon as possible.” Says Black Glove.

“Stargaol just isn’t what it used to be.” Old Coyote voices his concerns, “everyone has their eyes on you right now. I’m afraid the fourth floor is now an iron fortress that permits only entries and no exits.”

“My suggestion is that you simply follow Captain’s wishes.” Lin Yi adds, “he’s always right in the end, isn’t he?”

“He…” Black Glove has a complicated look on his face. He sighs after some time, “if it’s just me at stake, I’d gladly die for him. Right now, though, I can’t let his Nianluo fall apart in my hands.”

Old Coyote also sighs, “it really can’t be helped our confidential communications are all in code. If it were not, there would have been easier ways to get the information out.”

Their code is a specially designed series of instructions that can only be decoded in steps by each person in the chain, up until the final person receiving the code, who will decode what the actual message is.

The rest of the middlemen only needs to receive the previous iteration of the info, transform it via their own instructions into a new code, and pass it on. One single error introduced to this chain, and the info will be lost forever.

This proved instrumental in obfuscating FedCom’s investigations against Nianluo, having made them abandon their efforts several times already.

Now, though, with the source of the info already destroyed, the disadvantage of this method is blatantly clear.

Not even Black Glove knows what the info is, because the steps to the final decryption is in Captain’s mind only. Black Glove only has a garbled code on hand right now.

In fact, when the code was first set up, it was nowhere near as complicated, too. It only became such a complicated, entirely unbreakable process after generations of usage and improvement, forming an impregnable defence for the transmission of their most confidential gathered information.

It is useless if intercepted midway, and each person in the chain of decryption is fixed——They all have different instructions for what to do with the code they received.

This means it is entirely inflexible, which is the key to its absolute safety.

Black Glove is quiet.

Lin Yi, after waiting until he is sure Black Glove has nothing more to say, repeats himself once more, “Vice-Captain, the Captain is always right.”

Black Glove shakes his head, “true, he is always able to make the right call, no matter how terrible that choice appears at the moment…” His face is contorted, only enhancing how terrifying he looks.

Lin Yi then casually asks, his brows raised slightly, “does that mean that you will see to your death as soon as possible, Vice-Captain?”

“Before then, I need you to do something for me…”

“That might not be possible.” Lin Yi refuses quite frankly, “due to my identity, I must take as few risks as possible.”

“You don’t want to get the file out?”

After a moment of thought, Lin Yi says, “your death is more important than that.”

“And I will die…” Black Glove chuckles, “and he must also receive the info.”

Lin Yi makes a heartfelt commendation, “Vice-Captain, you truly are unwavering to Captain.”

That comment draws another chuckle from Black Glove – which soon turn into a cacophonous laugh. It is as if he has just heard the most laughable joke in his life, or like he is trying to come to terms with a most terrible secret. The walls themselves almost appear to be shaking. Finally, when the laughter quiets down, he says, “of course I am. Everyone knows that I am.”

Old Coyote has not said a word the entire laugh, but here, he finally loses his patience, “Vice-Captain, if the Captain is going to do this to you…” He looks angry, “why should we have to…”

The dying laughter suddenly stops.

Black Glove gets up, stands in front of Old Coyote for a few seconds, before suddenly raising his leg to kick him in the stomach, “who are you to say anything about me and the Cap?”

Old Coyote is crumpled on the ground. His face is pale, contrasting against the red seeping out of the corner of his mouth.

“I just cannot accept this. After all you have done for the Captain, he just orders you to die, so unceremoniously…” Old Coyote wipes the blood off his mouth, “how can he?!”

“Then what? You want me to betray Nianluo? Or fake my death and enjoy life?” Black Glove asks monotonously.

“Certainly not.” Old Coyote looks up at Black Glove, who has put his poker face back on, “but, Vice-Captain, why is it necessary that you die?”

He yells, “all they want is that info! And the moment the info reaches Captain, all their plans will be foiled. Why would you need to go so far then?”

Black Glove’s tone is less severe than before, “Coyote, I didn’t pull my kick just now. Go put some cream on there.”

Old Coyote seems reluctant to leave right now, but, seeing Lin Yi standing there, he realises what Black Glove wants. He slowly crawls back up, and leaves the cell behind.

The cell door closes once more.

Lin Yi is looking at Black Glove.

“I’ve tested him several times.” Black Glove gestures to the nearby chair, and sits down on the sofa himself, “nothing suspicious.”

Lin Yi, sitting on the chair, lifts a brow at the comment, “looks like you do not actually trust him as much as you claim to, Vice-Captain?”

“His background is deep,” Black Glove says with a gloomy face, “I am not sure which of the powers he works for yet.”

Lin Yi’s brows raise high enough, almost looking farcical, “Vice-Captain, you are saying…”

“That Nianluo…” Black Glove says, with eyes as sharp as an eagle, and looking nowhere near a person soon to die, “has traitors.”

Lin Yi asks in surprise, “did we not just discuss that?”

“Traitors.” Black Glove tells him clearly, “at least one of them at the top of the organisation.”

Lin Yi furrows his brow, “and what do you want to do?”

Black Glove looks at him, then suddenly smiles, “I have a plan.”