CH 37.1

Fourth Floor (15)

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

Past Raging Waters in Barefoot, Yet He Is Wet Nowhere

Jiang Yiyi, unaware that his image has been tarnished once again – or, more accurately, has always been in the process of being tarnished – is still reading his book.

The ruckus outside is slowly dying down, until it is finally gone, providing an environment highly conducive to reading.

Lunatic is not back.

Jiang Yiyi look up to look at the cell door.

There is a distant call from beyond it.

“Doctor, are you free to come outside for a while?”

Ye Wang has increased in politeness. It has been a long time since Jiang Yiyi was able to enjoy private spaces being respected, as normally prison officers are free to enter and leave cells whenever without needing the prisoners’ permission.

Looks like something definitely happened outside.

Jiang Yiyi puts the book back onto the shelves, then heads outside.

The cell door slowly opens, revealing the sight of the bodies on the corridor. The scent of blood is already quite faint.

Jiang Yiyi furrows his brows, and continues heading out through the corridor.

The number of bodies is increasing. The smell of rusted iron is intensifying. It is dead silent here, all the cell doors are wide open. There is no one alive here.

Jiang Yiyi stops at the exit to the building to observe the two sides in a standoff.

Ye Wang and a group of prison officers are outside the door. The officers have batons in hand, staying on guard against the person before them.

Lunatic has his back to Jiang Yiyi at the doorway. He is drenched in blood, like a beast off its leash, predatory eyes locked on the world outside.

When Jiang Yiyi appears at the exit, the two sides immediately focus on him.

Although it is not exactly proud for him to admit, Ye Wang finds himself relieved when Jiang Yiyi appears.

Being in a standoff against Lunatic is most stressful when——They all know that Lunatic is beyond reason——So he will not hold back, and if they dare to make a move, he will immediately fight.

As for his fighting capability…

The corpses all around can certainly attest to it——Whatever the cause, Lunatic is certainly far better at fighting now. He alone is able to stop the corps of prison officers as long as they do not pull out ranged energy weapons.

Energy weapons cannot be stopped by flesh.

However, the use of energy weapons must first be authorised, with most applications denied——If a prison officer is allowed to access energy weapon, it will easily fall to the hands of the prisoners as well. If they do, then it will be quite the different story.

Regardless, it is impossible to talk to Lunatic, but Jiang Yiyi is quite communicable.

The beast will become chained to his tamer once more, no matter how fierce it is.

Lunatic’s battle-ready stance slowly reverts back to his idle, largely unresponsive form. He is looking at Jiang Yiyi, like he is waiting for his next order.

Jiang Yiyi continues walking forward, and says, his dissatisfaction quite evident.

“As I recall, I ordered you not to kill?”

Jiang Yiyi stops in front of Lunatic.

Lunatic’s gaze shifts slightly. He says, “not, me.”

Jiang Yiyi lifts a brow at the many corpses lying about, before looking at the blood splattered all over Lunatic.

Lunatic’s eyes swivel slightly once more.

Jiang Yiyi does not see any signs of deception from his emotions, thus turns to Ye Wang instead.

“Never put morality to the test. Especially not in Stargaol.” Ye Wang explains calmly, “I would believe that Lunatic did not kill anyone. That said, for the people that he struck down and knocked out, with the situation being what it is, it was no different to sending them to their deaths.”

Lunatic held back, but others would not. No prisoner on the fourth floor would have such superfluous qualities like kindness or empathy. Instead, their usual modus operandi is hit a man while he’s down, uproot any possible future threats entirely.

Or, you can say that every prisoner that died here deserved their fate.

Jiang Yiyi is no longer as appalled when he looks back at Lunatic.

Lunatic slowly trudges back behind him, “will not… allow this, next time.”

Tch, how…

Ye Wang says in his mind, then gets to the point, by dropping the bomb.

“Black Glove is dead.”

Jiang Yiyi shows no emotional response at the news. He is looking at Ye Wang with his usual unchanging expression, like he merely talked about something that is true for a fact.

“Bunny… Well, I don’t think the nickname fits anymore, given what he’s done is nowhere near as harmless,” Ye Wang is watching Jiang Yiyi closely for any possible tell, “Jian Si killed him.”

Jiang Yiyi’s face remains still.

“And?” Jiang Yiyi waits for a couple of seconds, but Ye Wang says nothing, so he asks, “what does that have to do with me?”

Ye Wang, finally cracking a little, starts accusing, “you broke your promise.”

“I resent your accusation,” Jiang Yiyi retorts, telling Ye Wang, “I have never talked to Black Glove. In fact, I have never even seen him. His death had nothing to do with me.”

“How on Earth did you come to the conclusion that I broke my promise?”

“You met with Jian Si, and spent an hour alone with him. After which Jian Si killed Black Glove.” Ye Wang stresses, “you are the only one who could have ordered him to.”

…?

Jiang Yiyi wonders if Ye Wang dropped his brain somewhere.

He is confused, and he cannot even remotely comprehend how he came to that conclusion and is acting so dignified.

Does he not find what he is spouting the least bit irrational?

He spent an hour with Jian Si. That is all he needed to justify him having orchestrated the whole thing?

Once more, Jiang Yiyi finds himself truly curious what sort of image they have of him.

What kind of terrifying demon must they think he is to make such an obscene, illogical conclusion?

Jiang Yiyi is not saying a word, but his face is already saying everything needed.

No traces. No openings. That is Jiang Yiyi.