CH 30.2

Lion, after watching Jiang Yiyi and his group’s retreating silhouette for a few seconds, glances at Xin Yongyuan, and leads his men out as well.

“What do you think?”

“Doctor is here for the Glove.”

Lion agrees, “if Doctor is intervening, we have to leave Jian Si alone.”

Xin Yongyuan furrows his brows in hesitation, “he looked unwilling, though.”

Lion lifts a brow at that, “xiao-Xin, how do you see the Doctor?”

Xin Yongyuan recalls the two brief times he saw him from a distance, as they have not interacted directly. Everything he knows of the Doctor comes half from Lion’s attitude, and half from his actions thus far on the fourth floor.

“Dangerous.”

Lion, after hearing no additional modifiers after that comment, scratches his head, “he’s not dangerous.” Xin Yongyuan, surprised, looks at Lion, who simply adds, “but very, extremely dangerous.”

“It’s rare to hear that from you.” Xin Yongyuan comments objectively, “sounds like you’re admitting defeat.”

“Xiao-Xin, you know,” Lion pats Xin Yongyuan on the shoulder, “if I’m by myself, then sure, I might die, but do you see that guy keeping to rules?”

Xin Yongyuan looks up a little at the implied possibility, “you mean… it’d not end with you?”

“I don’t find it funny trying to work out the minds of the crazies. I suggest you don’t, either.” Lion is taking his time going back to his cell, “it’s simple. Just keep our distance from him.”

“We don’t want what Black Glove has, anyway.”

After Vulture watches Jiang Yiyi and Lion leave, he goes chatting with Fatty.

“Here for Black Glove, isn’t he?”

“Probably, yeah, and that prison officer of his…” Fatty has the best information network of anyone on the floor, “Nianluo sent him.”

Vulture is surprised, “Doctor is Nianluo?” He does not look like it; or rather, Jiang Yiyi does not look like he would be an obedient pawn of anyone.

“An Outstanding Supervisor and his charge…” Fatty raises his chin towards the direction Jiang Yiyi left, “who can say whether they are even allies or cooperating at all.”

Vulture is not in total agreement, “looking at how that officer is behaving, who knows who is actually in charge between Nianluo and Doctor?”

“Doctor sure knew what’s good, though.” Fatty sounds disappointed, “the little guy…”

Vulture is going to rip on him when someone walks close to whisper something in his ear. He looks mystified.

Fatty tilts his head, as someone also comes to tell him something in secret.

After a few moments of silence, Vulture breaks the silence, “looks like, Bunny is back.” He looks at Fatty, “if you really want him that badly, why not… go try?”

Fatty stretches his mouth to a smile, “hey, Ye Wang did go out of his way to warn us. Even if I don’t trust Doctor’s abilities, I’d have to respect Ye Wang’s decision.”

“This is not our bait. It’s for others. No need to get ourselves dirty.” Vulture looks around the courtyard, “Black Glove’s people already left?”

“Not long after Lion did, yeah.”

Vulture chuckles, “why is Black Glove still alive anyway? What is he going to do now? With even people like Doctor here, he should know it’ll only get worse the longer this goes on.”

“Everyone is scared of death, you know.” Fatty also chuckles in turn, “why, there’s already a recent arrival here to remind him, isn’t there?”

Vulture’s eyes dart around quickly before he lowers his voice to a whisper, “hey, that file…”

“Shut your mouth.” Fatty interrupts him, “unless you want to die. Then count me out.”

“What, you dare swear you aren’t interested?” Vulture narrows his eyes, “On info about the bottom floor of Stargaol?”

Fatty glances at him, “and you can deal with Doctor?”

Vulture does not reply.

“Even he is only another pawn in this great game.” Fatty sneers, “there might not be much action right now, but when the file pops up? You’ll see just how many people have their eyes on it.”

“I don’t think we can’t at least try.” Vulture whispers, “Fatty, I’m being serious here. We can work together…”

Fatty raises his hand to stop whatever he is going to say, “we can talk more when and if you had Doctor out of the picture.”

Fatty then leaves in a hurry with his men. The courtyard falls silent once more.

Then Pummel speaks up, “Fatty cannot be trusted.”

“I know.” Vulture looks far into the distance, where Jiang Yiyi’s cell is, with a smile, “but, ‘Doctor,’ huh… interesting.”

Pummel’s brows twitch. Those pitch-black eyes reappear in his memories once more. They are too deep to read into.