Zuo Xiu walked into the hall and was surprised to find Bai Yu teaching the youth how to read.
Zuo Xiu: *?*
"He’s actually illiterate?" Zuo Xiu sent a telepathic message into Xu Qing’s ear.
"Yes, we only discovered it recently."
"Then how did you find out his name?"
"He drew it." After a pause, Zuo Xiu heard Xu Qing’s teasing voice again. "I thought you weren't paying attention when I mentioned it in passing. To think you’d realize it was his name so quickly—you really do care quite a bit, don't you?"
Zuo Xiu: "..."
*This smiling fox.* He ground his teeth and ignored the man, instead striding over to Bai Yu.
Before he could speak, Bai Yu looked up with feigned pleasant surprise. "Oh, wonderful. You're finally here."
Zuo Xiu: *?*
Before he could voice his confusion, he saw the youth beside her slowly lift his head as well.
To his surprise, the fear in those eyes had faded significantly, replaced by a touch of respectful awe.
This kind of awe was a more neutral emotion, like a student looking at a teacher, a child looking at a father, or a small animal looking at its caretaker. With a little more time, this awe could easily evolve into closeness and admiration.
The greeting for Bai Yu that had been prepared in his throat took a sharp detour and ended up stuck halfway. Under the youth’s quiet gaze, Zuo Xiu could only cough awkwardly a few times.
"Now, do you remember what you’re supposed to call him?" Noticing the youth’s relatively calm reaction, Bai Yu looked at him with a smile, asking tentatively.
*Call me what?*
Zuo Xiu felt a sudden wave of tension; his Adam's apple bobbed uncomfortably.
"...Hello, Captain Zuo." After a moment of silence, he heard the youth across from him greet him in a tiny voice, followed by a sentence that left him utterly bewildered. "I’ve been... very obedient these past few days."
*What? What does that mean?* Zuo Xiu kept his expression neutral, maintaining a cold and aloof facade, but in reality, he was already firing off several telepathic messages to Xu Qing.
"Actually, it would be more appropriate to call him Mr. Zuo or another respectful title. After all, he is only the captain of our squad..."
Before Bai Yu could finish her correction, Zuo Xiu sat down and interrupted with a light cough. "What does it matter? He can call me whatever he wants."
Bai Yu arched an eyebrow and let out a soft laugh. "My, to hear such words... It seems Captain Zuo likes you quite a bit, A-Ran. It looks like the upcoming evaluations will be a breeze."
Mu Ran gave a low murmur of acknowledgment. A faint sense of joy flickered in his eyes. He turned to earnestly thank Zuo Xiu, who was sitting nearby, before lowering his head to continue studying the materials Bai Yu was teaching him.
"!" Suddenly receiving the youth’s small-animal-like gesture of goodwill, Zuo Xiu was at a loss. He couldn't help but telepathically urge Xu Qing and Bai Yu to explain themselves.
The hall appeared quiet, but a conversation was unfolding that only one person could not hear.
"Oh... so you lied to him, saying that his performance during this period is being assessed to determine if he can be officially adopted."
"And as the final evaluator, my attitude that day was just a test to see if he harbored any ill intentions?"
"Tsk, so he’s still afraid of me... but I suppose this idea works."
This was Zuo Xiu’s attempt at a dignified approval.
*Look at this guy, acting coy after getting his way.* Bai Yu, who had spent the last two days working hard to shift the youth’s impression of Zuo Xiu, was speechless. However, she didn't forget to add a reminder: "I’ve arranged an opportunity for you and A-Ran to spend some time alone later. Remember to watch your mouth when the time comes."
"Fine, fine," Zuo Xiu replied dismissively. Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Xu Qing. "Does he only have the name 'Ran'? What’s his surname?"
"He only drew that one character at the time. We figured a surname might involve his previous guardian, so we didn't push it," Xu Qing said with a gentle smile. "Besides, his surname will be 'Xu' eventually anyway."
*Acting like a prospective guardian already, are we?* Zuo Xiu was about to tease him when he saw Xu Qing smile as if sensing his intent, beating him to the punch.
"By the way, didn't you say you were looking for Bai Yu for work? What work?"
Xu Qing spoke these words aloud, so Mu Ran, sitting nearby, heard them too.
Mu Ran: *Stare—*
*Tsk.*
Zuo Xiu curled his lip, adopting a lazy and casual air. "Ah, I just remembered we’re actually on leave these few days... That job can actually be given to... what's-his-name in the squad to practice on. It’s relatively insignificant anyway."
"I’ll just rest here for a few days and conduct the 'evaluation' while I'm at it."
Hearing the keyword, the youth’s eyes instantly lit up, making Zuo Xiu slightly regret the word "evaluation" he had tossed out so casually.
*Well... I suppose I should offer some encouragement at a time like this.*
"Perform well." Doing his best to ignore the amused looks from Xu Qing and Bai Yu, and meeting those clear, searching eyes that reminded him of a small animal, Zuo Xiu paused for a moment before finally speaking in a low, almost defeated tone.
***
【Mu Ran: Wow, they’re treating me like I’m made of glass over here... Was that 'child tactic' from the other day really that effective?】
After marveling at his own situation, Mu Ran didn't forget to check in on his partner.
【Mu Ran: How are things on your end? It feels like all the familiar faces I’ve seen so far are over here with me.】
【System: No one has paid much attention to me these past few days. It’s just that today, two people have been lingering nearby.】
【System: I think... one of them is a researcher?】
【System: The other should be our collaborator.】
【System: I thought he came here to scout the area for the plan, but he’s been hovering around that researcher and hasn't paid much attention to me. It’s quite strange.】
【Mu Ran: Is that so... It is a bit strange. I hope the plan goes smoothly in the end. [Girl Praying.jpg]】
【System: It will.】
After replying to Mu Ran, the System looked up. The cameras in the corners of the room shifted slightly with his movement.
Through the gap in the window on the door, his inhumanly sharp vision allowed him to see the hesitation and uncertainty in the collaborator’s eyes.
*This won't do.*
"Is there really a need to be so cautious?" Just as the warden was patiently trying to persuade Guang Rui to leave, they heard a soft voice speak up.
It took the warden a moment to realize it was the person he had been guarding for three days.
He couldn't be blamed; in these three days, he had hardly heard the man speak a word.
"These are Captain Zuo’s orders," the warden replied after a brief pause.
"Interesting. If you’re at such a distance, and I’m wearing these..." The System shook the bracelet glowing with blue light.
"Well, how should I put it? If you still think I can harm you..." He chuckled softly. "I can only say the problem lies with you."
His tone shifted. "Or... are you even afraid of my words?"
"T-That’s true, Captain Zuo really is a bit too tense..."
The warden involuntarily began to follow the youth's logic.
"That’s not necessarily true."
His thoughts were interrupted by Guang Rui’s voice beside him. Only then did he realize he had actually started thinking along the lines of the prisoner’s words, sending a chill through his heart.
"D-Don't talk to him anymore. Let's go." He whispered to Guang Rui, but the other man was gripping a railing tightly, refusing to leave. He didn't dare use brute force on the young genius Captain Zuo favored, so he could only try to persuade him with words.
Guang Rui gave him a strange look, noticing the hidden fear in his eyes. Thoughtfully, he said, "Your words have a certain manipulative quality. You must have studied psychology quite well."
"However, I’ve always been told I lack EQ and empathy, so your words likely won't have much effect on me."
Seeing that this person really intended to chat with the prisoner, the warden prepared to forcibly remove him. However, the other man reacted violently, pleading for mercy.
"Ow, ow, ow—don't pull me! Guang, help me out. I’ll only stay for a little bit longer."
Beside them, Liang Guang helplessly held the warden’s hand. After a brief exchange of looks, they both saw a touch of resignation in each other's eyes.
Guang Rui didn't waste this brief opportunity. He seized the time to throw out a direct question: "But words cannot kill. So, how exactly did you kill that girl back then?"
"Hmm..."
The youth inside hummed thoughtfully. Just when Guang Rui thought he wouldn't answer, he spoke a few words nonchalantly: "Just some small arrangements."
Even the warden couldn't help but pause. This was the first time they had managed to pry any information out of this person.
"'Small arrangements'?" Guang Rui thought for a moment, pressing his advantage. "Psionic energy can indeed be infused into certain devices for ordinary people to use, but no foreign energy was detected at the scene. Did you use some kind of concealment method?"
As of now, he still didn't fully believe in the existence of supernatural powers independent of their current ability system.
Silence.
Just as Guang Rui was about to switch to another question, he finally received a reply.
"Heh, little genius." The youth’s soft, low tone seemed to hide a lurking danger. "Don't you... researchers... love to make bold hypotheses and then carefully verify them? Why are you being so timid about this matter?"
Guang Rui frowned. Before he could react, the youth continued.
"I can answer your question directly, but you must answer one of mine first."
"Do you believe that ordinary people are naturally inferior to Specials?"
The area fell silent. The warden felt uneasy, thinking he should move to drag the man away, but his movements were firmly restrained by Liang Guang. He was speechless.
*This young fellow following the genius is quite obedient, isn't he?*
"You shouldn't answer a question with a question," Guang Rui pointed out bluntly, then had a sudden realization. "I see. You intentionally brought up these questions before to force Captain Zuo and the others to terminate the conversation. But asking me these things won't bother me at all."
"My answer is: Yes. Ordinary people are naturally inferior. That’s why..." That was why he would...
Before he could finish his thought, the youth pressed further: "Oh? So the worlds of these two probably cannot coexist, can they?"
After a brief reflection, Guang Rui answered, "Yes..."
*But this question is on a different level than the previous one.*
Twice he had failed to finish his sentence, and this time he was interrupted by the youth’s low laughter.
"Hahaha... what a cruel answer." There was a strange sense of delight in his tone. "Mm... I heard you loud and clear. It really wounds the heart of an 'ordinary person' like me."
Instinct told Guang Rui that he might need to clarify his meaning, but in the next second, he was distracted from all other thoughts by the bombshell the youth suddenly dropped.
"Listen well, little genius. Since your answer satisfied me, I’ll tell you."
"The world doesn't just throw its doors open for you; it provides windows for all who thirst for power."
"Ordinary people can also follow the tracks of the supernatural and use those incredible abilities."
"For example... heh, perhaps you could cast aside those precision instruments and use your own perception to look for those unusual traces?"
"I don't deign to hide those traces... but to my disappointment, you only believe in the judgment of machines."
"That girl... perhaps it wasn't that I did anything to her, but rather she happened to be there, and I happened to have the power to decide her life or death at that moment."
"Alright, chat's over."
Guang Rui’s eyes widened. He tried to ask a few more questions to get more information, but to no avail. He wasn't angry, though; he simply left in a hurry without a word of goodbye.
The warden stood stunned for a long time before he recovered, looking toward the youth’s cell several times in disbelief before finally coming to his senses.
But to his surprise, he found that Liang Guang was still standing there.
*Still young, I guess. He must be stunned by those words and hasn't recovered yet.* The warden felt a strange sense of comfort that his own reaction wasn't the worst. He patted the young man’s shoulder and reminded him, "Alright, alright, snap out of it. He’s already gone. Hurry up and catch up!"
"Can we... still catch up?" Liang Guang murmured under his breath.
*Sigh, still too young. Just hearing those words has turned him into a soul-less wreck. It seems there really is a wall between geniuses and ordinary people! His reaction isn't as fast as the genius, and his ability to accept things is inferior too!*
Just as he was about to offer some comfort, another voice beat him to it:
"You can."
The warden looked toward the source of the voice as if facing a great enemy. *What are you going to say now?!*
Fortunately, the youth didn't seem to intend to say anything more this time. After that one sentence, he fell silent.
Turning back to Liang Guang, the young man had returned to normal. He apologized on Guang Rui’s behalf for today’s intrusion and then left in a hurry.
"Heh."
The moment Liang Guang stepped over the threshold, he clearly heard a soft chuckle.
He couldn't tell if the sound came from the youth in the cell or from within his own heart.
***
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