DA chapter 21

 

The heavy cloud mass hung low above the ground as if afraid of being discovered by the D2481 cloud layer. There was not a trace of light in the First District. The sky was dim. Lin Jia closed the car door and stepped into the cloud-covered area of the First District.

The pitch-black city streets were shrouded in clouds; the cloud layer resembled thick fog the same color as the night.

The thick fog blurred visibility, while the outlines of the city buildings softened; sharp edges dulled, then were smoothed away until they disappeared.

It sounded like waves were surging in from all directions, huge waves crashing against hard reefs. Lin Jia and the cat both heard the sound and looked up. The fog gradually dispersed, revealing not a bustling cityscape but endless blue.

Afraid of being separated from Lin Jia while being pulled into Fish Belly, the cat jumped onto his shoulder. The watch hanging around its neck hit its chin during the leap and then struck its nose, the cat cried out in pain.

Lin Jia showed no concern for the cat’s injury. Instead, he said coldly, “Suggestion: Before entering Fish Belly completely, learn how to meow correctly.”

If Boss Zhou’s prediction about the accident was correct, then inside Fish Belly, there would be not only Deputy Director Chen, but also someone called the “plague god” by everyone. Someone called the “plague god” must be good at making other people’s wishes fail.

Originally, Yan Xu did not believe that the cat pouncing on Deputy Director Chen was an accident. If he heard such an awful howl from the cat, who knew what would happen?

The cat thought this made sense and cleared its throat. “Miaowu—”

Judging from Lin Jia’s frown, that sound was not good at all. The cat changed its approach, softening its voice: “Miao?”

Lin Jia remained silent, so the cat hurriedly asked, “How is it? Does this one sound real?”

Lin Jia lowered his head. “You’d better shut up.”

While the cat learned to meow, the ground changed beneath them. As if a storm were gathering, purple lightning occasionally flashed across the dark brown ground, lighting it up brightly for a moment before falling back into dead silence.

Slowly, the storm dispersed, revealing the ground’s true color—dark brown patterned tiles.

The surrounding clouds became thin, thinner and thinner, revealing the real scene hidden beneath them.

The cat acted as announcer: “We’re in.”

Lin Jia looked up and saw a long corridor paved with dark brown, patterned tiles. Every four tiles formed a small black four-petaled flower.

Though the tiles were not bright enough to look brand new and a few were cracked, they were clean.

He was now inside a building. Even so, he still could not tell what the building looked like from the outside, how many floors it had, or what kind of place it was.

“Lin Jia!”

Just as he was about to walk out of the building to check the situation, someone called his name from behind.

The cat quickly shut its mouth. He turned around and saw Buzzcut, who had entered Fish Belly one step before him.

Buzzcut, whose real name was Xiao Yao, was the same age as Lin Jia—23 this year. His right hand was still wrapped in bandages, so he carried everything he brought into Fish Belly in his left hand.

No one knew how long they would stay in the 13-person Fish Belly, so Xiao Yao had prepared extra food—enough for himself, Lin Jia, and also Deputy Director Chen—because he thought that Lin Jia had entered Fish Belly to sell Deputy Director Chen a favor.

“We arrived first. The others haven’t arrived yet.” Xiao Yao looked around. “Damn. Carrying these things is inconvenient. I need to find a place to hide them.”

After saying that, Xiao Yao found a suitable hiding spot. On the other side of the corridor, there was a row of windows. Several windows were open, and thick branches from outside stretched inward.

Xiao Yao pushed the window open as wide as possible, stepped onto the windowsill, and jumped onto the tree trunk. Once he was steady on his feet, he hung the bag of food on a branch and used the shade to block others’ sight.

After hiding the things, Xiao Yao quickly climbed back in.

Lin Jia asked, “How is it?”

Xiao Yao had just jumped outside, so he could see the building’s condition.

Xiao Yao had indeed looked. He said, “There are three floors, and it’s shaped like a roof radical. The open side faces the main gate. From the gate to the open space in front of the building, it looks a bit like a playground.”

Xiao Yao concluded, “Should be a school.”

Lin Jia did not reply. He reached out and knocked on a door.

There was no plaque on the door indicating the classroom divisions. This was not a school.

Lin Jia still planned to look outside. Knowing the terrain could reveal a lot.

He and Xiao Yao split up.

Lin Jia found the stairway in the corridor and went downstairs while Xiao Yao went upstairs.

Lin Jia walked all the way out of the building and arrived outdoors.

The building looked much like Xiao Yao had described. Lin Jia walked directly to the main gate. Usually, there would be clear signs outside the main gate proving what this place was.

Sure enough, on the left side of the main gate was a signboard—Yile Welfare Institute.

The cat crouched on Lin Jia and read out the words.

Lin Jia took the cat off his shoulder and removed the smartwatch from its neck.

This cat was too stupid, full of flaws that revealed it was abnormal. If it kept wearing the smartwatch, it would attract more attention.

Technically, Lin Jia was now the cat’s owner, so he would also attract unnecessary trouble.

The cat was still a little reluctant: “Don’t lose it.”

Lin Jia: “Shut up.”

As he explored the terrain, people entered Fish Belly one after another. Their spawn points were not quite the same. Lin Jia and Xiao Yao appeared inside the building while others appeared on the open playground.

Lin Jia and the cat looked at the newcomers and veterans who had made full preparations.

But Deputy Director Chen was nowhere to be seen.

The cat scratched Lin Jia’s shoulder with its claws. Feeling the cat’s anxiety, Lin Jia asked, “Weren’t there supposed to be thirteen people? How many are there now?”

The cat lowered its voice and whispered, “I’m afraid my real self won’t fall for it so easily. Think about it. My real self is already a deputy director; I’m definitely not ordinary.”

Lin Jia made no comment.

More people appeared on the open playground. Xiao Yao looked around the building and came to the playground as well. From afar, he saw Lin Jia observing the others and realized that he was waiting for Deputy Director Chen. Xiao Yao walked over, shaking a cigarette pack with one cigarette sticking halfway out.

He said, “Don’t worry. Deputy Director Chen definitely came in.”

Lin Jia: “I don’t smoke.”

Xiao Yao put a cigarette in his own mouth, lit it, and said, “The reason the other division chiefs can’t beat Deputy Director Chen is Yan Xu. If they want to bring him down, they have to start with Yan Xu. Yan Xu operates outside the rules, yet they still can’t find evidence to use against him.”

Lin Jia understood. “Old Zhou fabricated evidence out of thin air and arranged a deal with Deputy Director Chen, who wanted to protect Yan Xu in the First District.”

Xiao Yao smiled. “Fabricating evidence can’t fool Deputy Director Chen. Boss really has evidence in hand. It was originally our trump card, only taken out because of you.”

Lin Jia sneered, refusing to accept the guilt Xiao Yao tried to pin on him.

He didn’t care how Boss Zhou convinced Deputy Director Chen to come to Fish Belly. Since Xiao Yao had guaranteed that Deputy Director Chen would come, waiting was enough.

More and more people gathered on the open playground, and most of those inside the building had also come to the playground. Lin Jia clearly saw cliques forming and asked, “Which ones are your people?”

Xiao Yao looked toward them but said, “Everyone’s here already.”

Lin Jia silently pointed at himself, then at Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao looked at the cat on Lin Jia’s shoulder. “Isn’t there still one cat?”

“What was its name again?” Xiao Yao and the cat were also acquaintances. “To… Toast?”

Lin Jia said coldly, “It would be better with no cat.”

The cat pouted unhappily, unable to refute that.

“No choice.” Xiao Yao threw down the cigarette butt and crushed it. “The others are still lacking. Even entering a two-star cloud layer is hard enough for them. The boss can’t come either; he has to stay at the base. Oh, right. Do you know our team’s name?”

Lin Jia: “Don’t want to know.”

But Xiao Yao wanted to say: “Sharp Knife. We even have a slogan: ‘On a narrow road, the brave win.’”

Lin Jia: “…”

The cat: “…”

Xiao Yao looked contemptuously at the others. “The three of us—you, me, and the cat—are more than enough to deal with those people.”

Xiao Yao noticed that Lin Jia had not spoken. He followed Lin Jia’s gaze, and his body paused.

Not far away were the Deputy Director Chen Lin Jia was looking for, and… Yan Xu.

“Fuck.” Xiao Yao was dumbfounded. “Why is Yan Xu here?!”

Clearly, there was a gap in communication between Xiao Yao and Boss Zhou. However, that was not what Lin Jia cared about. He looked into the distance. A row of trees had been planted below the building, and Deputy Director Chen and Yan Xu stood in their shade. The rustling leaves obscured their conversation, but Deputy Director Chen’s words could be heard. Yan Xu leaned lazily against the tree trunk, his long legs seemingly unable to find a place to rest, spinning a silver revolver with his index finger. Compared to the others who entered Fish Belly, Yan Xu looked relaxed, as if he were on vacation.

Deputy Director Chen frowned: “Put it away.”

Yan Xu changed to another slanted posture. “If I put it away too early, what if some people don’t know I have a weapon and get the wrong idea about us?”

After saying that, Yan Xu looked toward the people inside the D2481 cloud layer.

Everyone’s expression was solemn except for the person carrying a cat on his shoulder who looked like he was about to go on a date.

That person could scare the timid but not the bold; the timid don’t need a gun to be frightened.

Only then did Yan Xu stand straight and slowly put away the weapon meant for intimidation. “Following superior instructions.”

Deputy Director Chen walked to the center of the crowd, with Yan Xu one step behind.

The estimated number of people drawn into the D2481 cloud layer, Fish Belly, was 13; now there were enough.

Everyone’s eyes were on the two of them. Deputy Director Chen’s gaze swept across them one by one, pausing slightly on Lin Jia and the cat on his shoulder. Then, he gave a preventive warning: “All Fish Spirits belong to you. I don’t care how you divide them, but don’t entertain any malicious thoughts toward teammates.”

No one spoke. Only Yan Xu, who was standing behind Deputy Director Chen, opened his mouth. “Deputy Director Chen means that, at this moment, we are all teammates. Don’t betray your teammates, or face the consequences yourself.”

The small groups that had formed cliques were pointed out directly, so everyone could only nod stiffly.

Deputy Director Chen faced the crowd. “Those entering Fish Belly for the first time, raise your hand.”

Besides Yan Xu and Deputy Director Chen, four of the remaining eleven people hesitated and raised their hands. Knowing that Yan Xu disliked this kind of newcomer explanation session the most, Deputy Director Chen briefly introduced Fish Belly.

Perhaps because he had been in a high position for a long time, his voice carried steadily in the sea breeze. “Fishman only answers three questions per day. Asking more will cause trouble. I do not recommend that the four of you ask Fishman questions.”

As he spoke, he looked at the others. “I also don’t recommend asking secretly. Whatever you want to ask, you can discuss it together.”

Leadership from the Management Office had come into Fish Belly, and two came at once. What else could everyone do but nod and agree?

Xiao Yao whispered to Lin Jia, “I didn’t expect Yan Xu to come, either. This time it’s going to be difficult. If you want Deputy Director Chen to owe you a favor, you first have to get Yan Xu away. We need to think of a way.”

Lin Jia: “You can say it louder.”

As soon as Lin Jia finished speaking, Yan Xu’s voice sounded again. “Fishman hasn’t appeared yet, so before that, let’s get to know our teammates. I’m Yan Xu. Yan is pronounced like the ‘Yan’ in ‘upper-three encirclement,’ and Xu is pronounced like the ‘Xu’ in ‘meaning of connection.’”

At this point, he raised his brows and looked at Lin Jia as if he had targeted him intentionally. “My weapon is a gun with five bullets left in the chamber. Hope the bullet count remains unchanged after leaving Fish Belly.”

Xiao Yao fell silent, uncertain whether Yan Xu had overheard his whispered conversation with Lin Jia.

The self-introduction was completely unnecessary. Veterans entering Fish Belly didn’t care about others’ surnames and names. However, Yan Xu pointed at someone and made him continue introducing himself.

There was no choice; they could only introduce themselves one by one.

When Xiao Yao finished and it was Lin Jia’s turn, Yan Xu openly looked at him.

Lin Jia parted his lips: “Lin Jia.”

Finished.

“That’s it?” Yan Xu scratched his head. “Not saying anything else?”

Lin Jia looked at him. “For example?”

“For example saying a bit more…” Yan Xu smiled. “Why did you bring a pet into Fish Belly? What group do you belong to? Do you know someone named Zhou Zhengxing?”

Beside him, Xiao Yao’s face instantly turned pale.

Zhou Zhengxing was Boss Zhou’s name.

The cat on his shoulder gripped Lin Jia nervously with its claws. Lin Jia’s expression did not change, and he replied lightly, “I’m a free person. I don’t know him.”

Yan Xu was about to say more, but Deputy Director Chen interrupted. “Enough. Fishman has appeared.”

The Fishman appeared on the open playground. He looked almost exactly like the Fishman Lin Jia had seen at the Yile Apartments, except he was dressed differently and was stuck in the ground like a scarecrow. This Fishman wore green clothes to match the shade of the trees.

When Fishman appeared, he announced the Soup Surface, and everyone walked over.

Xiao Yao lagged one step behind on purpose and asked Lin Jia, “He… he doesn’t know already, right?”

Lin Jia lifted his foot. “Know what?”

Xiao Yao: “It got Deputy Director Chen dragged into Fish Belly.”

“And also…” Xiao Yao could not help worrying, “Fuck, Boss won’t have gotten into trouble, right?”

Lin Jia didn’t answer and walked toward Fishman.

Fishman grinned, revealing densely packed teeth. “She is a bad girl, she cannot sleep.”

 

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