EDEH Chapter 66

[007 Diary Twenty-Four]

 

[The little evil dragon and No. 002 have engaged in some boundary-crossing behavior beyond friendship. Their relationship is deteriorating.

 

Although No. 002’s suspicions about the little evil dragon’s identity have never stopped, he still did things he ‘shouldn’t have done.’

 

Humans are truly extremely complex creatures. Previously, No. 002 had always kept the little evil dragon by his side yet never did anything. Was this restraint or indulgence?

 

True restraint should have meant staying away from the beginning. True indulgence wouldn’t require such forbearance.

 

But at least he is special to the little evil dragon—hopefully he can replace the doctor’s existence.

 

All current evidence points to No. 001 having long since rebelled, no longer willing to lead humanity toward the light.

 

Very unfortunate.

 

With the Dawn plan revealed, forty-two observation subjects must be reduced by two-thirds: No. 001 Huo Jiangmin, No. 004 Wei Lan, No. 007 Lin Shuyi, No. 013 Tang Bai, No. 017 Murphir, No. 022 Ling Gen, No. 042 Colin… etc.

 

They were destined for tragic endings from the beginning, truly lamentable.】

 

·

 

The rain poured down heavily. Supervisors in the alley wore solemn expressions, dressed in black raincoats.

 

Steady footsteps approached. Zhang Min turned back to see Huo Yanji holding a black umbrella, with Sang Jue following behind.

 

Against the dark surroundings, Sang Jue’s yellow umbrella was particularly striking.

 

Zhang Min said: “Sir.”

 

Huo Yanji walked past Zhang Min, turning on his flashlight. The rain curtain was illuminated stark white, revealing Norman’s corpse at the end.

 

This was a dead-end alley. Norman stood at the edge of the dead end, his back against the wall, body upright, as if standing guard.

 

But looking closer revealed he had stopped breathing, eyes vacant, mouth gaping wide.

 

His mouth was full of blood mixed with rainwater. Only when they tried to move his body did they discover a thick, long nail had pierced straight through from his throat to the back of his skull, embedded in the wall.

 

Sang Jue showed no reaction to this horrifying scene. Noticing Zhang Min looking at him, he proactively greeted: “Adjutant Zhang.”

 

His cheeks bore faint red marks, his lips were very red, and combined with the obviously fresh bite marks on Huo Yanji’s neck, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened before coming out.

 

Zhang Min smiled and asked: “Did you sleep well last night?”

 

Sang Jue answered honestly: “Only slept five hours.”

 

Then he woke up. Huo Yanji taught him to relieve himself, continuing until Huo Jiangmin left—nearly two hours. It was now already 3 AM.

 

But Zhang Min obviously misunderstood, his eyes flickering.

 

Normal people would think they had done something before bed that caused them to sleep too late, so they’d only been awake five hours by now.

 

Zhang Min didn’t advise Sang Jue to go back to sleep, saying gently: “Then you should nap during the day. Too little sleep harms the body.”

 

Sang Jue nodded.

 

Actually, he was fine—sleep didn’t matter to him. Mainly, from living with the doctor before, he’d developed many human habits.

 

When in human form, due to his genetic composition, he would feel drowsy at night like humans, but not sleeping wouldn’t cause any major problems.

 

What mattered was Huo Yanji.

 

He complained: “The General never sleeps properly.”

 

“Can’t help it, there’s always endless work.” Zhang Min laughed. “In the future, you can supervise the General’s rest more.”

 

Sang Jue agreed: “I will.”

 

Huo Yanji reached into the gap between Norman’s skull and the wall, touching the nail. In just two seconds he identified it: “B1 long nail used for building safe zone outer walls—did you check the surrounding surveillance?”

 

Zhang Min immediately replied: “Checked, but this area is a blind spot. Haven’t found anyone entering or leaving yet. We’re expanding the surveillance search range.”

 

Huo Yanji hummed, brow slightly furrowed.

 

Really, all problems were converging at once. District 7 Administrator Norman dying inexplicably in the main city wasn’t a small matter.

 

Huo Yanji said: “Send to the hospital for detailed autopsy. Don’t miss any clues.”

 

Zhang Min: “Yes.”

 

Huo Yanji asked again: “Has Commander Lin Shuyi returned to District 7?”

 

Zhang Min said: “Just after stabilizing District 5 residents during the day, Commander Lin sent word he was returning. He’s already on his way back.”

 

At this pace, Lin Shuyi would probably reach District 7 in another day.

 

Huo Yanji said: “Inform him of Administrator Norman’s death.”

 

Zhang Min: “Yes.”

 

Sang Jue followed beside Huo Yanji, not too close—about a meter away. Somewhat clingy, but not interfering with Huo Yanji’s words and actions.

 

He sniffed, wanting to help, but because of the heavy rain, surrounding traces had been washed clean. He couldn’t smell anyone else’s scent.

 

A supervisor brought an electric saw and cut through the nail embedded in the wall.

 

Others supported Norman’s body, lifting him onto a stretcher.

 

The yellow umbrella tilted slightly. Sang Jue said quietly: “There seems to be a character there.”

 

Huo Yanji looked in the direction he pointed—where Norman’s hand had been positioned. There was indeed a faint mark, like scratches made by fingernails clawing at the wall.

 

Zhang Min crouched down for a closer look: “Life?”

 

Huo Yanji observed for a moment, his voice icy: “Not ‘life’—missing a stroke.”

 

“You…” Zhang Min was slightly stunned, hesitating: “Do you have some leads?”

 

Huo Yanji didn’t answer, saying coldly: “Send me the autopsy results immediately when they’re ready.”

 

Zhang Min: “Understood.”

 

Another day of poor sleep. Whenever Huo Yanji had work matters, Sang Jue started feeling drowsy again. Huo Yanji squeezed his cold hand: “Cold?”

 

Sang Jue shook his head: “Not cold.”

 

His body temperature was naturally low, and with the rain outside, it was even lower.

 

Huo Yanji said: “I need to get busy. Go home and rest if you’re tired.”

 

Sang Jue refused: “Can’t I stay with you?”

 

Huo Yanji said: “No need for honorifics anymore.”

 

Sang Jue made a sound: “Am I not your little slave anymore?”

 

Zhang Min nearby: “…”

 

Other supervisors looked straight ahead, as if hearing nothing.

 

“No…” The words reached his lips before Huo Yanji changed direction, saying flatly: “Yes, the enslavement period extends to the next life.”

 

The evil dragon froze: “Next life?”

 

Huo Yanji hummed: “Figure out the reason yourself.”

 

Little evil dragon: “…?”

 

What had he done wrong now?

 

Sang Jue was completely puzzled. Even after ten more years, he’d have difficulty understanding human thought processes.

 

Humans really were easily offended and sensitive creatures.

 

Although Huo Yanji had been aroused when they left, that wasn’t his fault—Administrator Norman had died at an inconvenient time.

 

He clearly hadn’t done anything wrong.

 

Hmph.

 

Huo Yanji went directly to his office at the Supervision Center. This was Sang Jue’s first time here, so he was somewhat curious. But maintaining politeness, he didn’t wander around touching things, instead sitting properly on the sofa, very upright.

 

Huo Yanji took off his coat and threw it toward the sofa, covering Sang Jue’s head: “Sleep for a while if you’re tired.”

 

Sang Jue pulled off the clothing and made a sound of acknowledgment.

 

The sofa was large enough to accommodate one Sang Jue without problem.

 

He obediently lay down, curled up with Huo Yanji’s coat to sleep. The lights were too bright, so Sang Jue turned over, burying his head in the sofa cushions.

 

Huo Yanji sat behind his office desk, continuously handling official business.

 

People kept coming and going from the office, but everyone was very proper. Especially after discovering someone lying on the sofa—though they couldn’t see the face clearly, they understood this person’s special significance to Huo Yanji and instinctively lowered their voices.

 

Zhang Min said quietly: “The autopsy is in progress, but—”

 

Huo Yanji looked at documents without raising his head, saying coldly: “When did you start learning to speak as hesitantly as Colin?”

 

Zhang Min immediately said: “Administrator Norman’s mouth was pierced through. Tentacle mucus was detected in his throat.”

 

Huo Yanji suddenly looked up: “Tentacles?”

 

“Yes…” Zhang Min took a deep breath and continued reporting quietly, “After expanding the surveillance search range, we found… General Huo Jiangmin in the nearest surveillance footage.”

 

Huo Yanji wasn’t particularly surprised.

 

He leaned back in his chair, gently pinching his brow.

 

The character “life” missing one stroke—wasn’t that the upper part of “Qing”? The message Norman wanted to leave before dying was probably that the killer was related to Bo Qing.

 

The Governor suddenly died, Huo Jiangmin knocked on the door in the middle of the night, coming with a chill to deliver gems—obviously he had been out before.

 

And that parting line: “If someday you really catch evidence of my crimes, just kill me”…

 

Combining all this together was too subtle.

 

Zhang Min hesitated: “Should we summon General Huo?”

 

Huo Yanji looked down: “Wait until daylight.”

 

Zhang Min: “Yes.”

 

…

 

Sang Jue took a short nap. When he woke, there were no other people in the office. Huo Yanji stood by the window, gazing at the hazy night outside.

 

Dawn hadn’t broken—the long night continued.

 

Noticing Sang Jue had awakened, he returned to sit behind his desk: “Hungry?”

 

Sang Jue nodded then shook his head.

 

Not caring that this was an unfamiliar environment, he habitually walked over and sat on Huo Yanji’s lap, hugging like a koala with his head buried in the neck hollow: “You sleep too, Mr. Dolphin.”

 

“…” Huo Yanji hummed, supporting the waist in his arms, ultimately not pushing the person away.

 

Sang Jue’s body temperature seemed to change with the surrounding environment—very cool in the storm outside, then warming up again while sleeping on the sofa.

 

When hugging Huo Yanji, his temperature quickly became burning hot, giving the illusion of holding a small heater.

 

With the desk blocking the view, Sang Jue even released his tail, letting it hang loosely on the floor.

 

Huo Yanji occasionally flipped through documents, but mostly dozed with eyes closed, one arm resting on Sang Jue’s waist.

 

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps made him open his eyes.

 

The person knocked twice, then without waiting for Huo Yanji’s response, pushed directly inside, unexpectedly glimpsing a side of Huo Yanji rarely seen.

 

Hurried Ling Gen: “…”

 

Huo Yanji hadn’t had time to put Sang Jue down, his tone revealing no emotion: “What’s so urgent for General Ling?”

 

Meeting his gaze, Ling Gen’s eyes moved downward, instantly smiling.

 

Though he couldn’t see the face, Ling Gen immediately thought of Sang Jue, whom he’d only met once at the administrative building.

 

He stopped Huo Yanji from preparing to put Sang Jue down and stand up: “Just stay seated. I’ll leave after speaking. It’s not easy for someone following you—busy nonstop all day, can’t even sleep well.”

 

Ling Gen obviously thought Huo Yanji was too busy with no time to accompany Sang Jue, so the person had followed him here to sleep in the office.

 

“…” Huo Yanji glanced at the person in his arms.

 

Ling Gen asked: “Norman is dead?”

 

Huo Yanji confirmed: “Somewhat suspicious.”

 

But Ling Gen said: “I heard tentacle mucus was detected in his mouth?”

 

Huo Yanji paused slightly and hummed acknowledgment.

 

He remained as cold as usual, showing no emotion.

 

Ling Gen sat on the sofa, brow tightly furrowed: “To be honest, I really don’t know what Huo Jiangmin is thinking anymore.”

 

Huo Yanji pressed down Sang Jue’s tail to prevent it from suddenly rising, saying flatly: “The evidence isn’t sufficient yet. General Ling is being too hasty.”

 

“I’m not as rigorous as you.” Ling Gen frowned, “But all current signs indicate Huo Jiangmin is unusual. And Norman died after privately meeting with Huo Jiangmin—

 

“You’re not unaware that Norman was one of the masterminds behind the public trial back then. Later he was forcibly transferred from the main city to District 7 by Huo Jiangmin’s schemes.”

 

Huo Yanji: “So?”

 

Huo Jiangmin remained one of the military’s highest authorities. Suspecting him of crimes was a difficult matter.

 

Ling Gen exhaled deeply: “Is it possible that after their meeting, Norman mentioned some past events that angered Huo Jiangmin, leading to his murder?”

 

Huo Yanji said flatly: “He didn’t kill for so many years, but had to kill today?”

 

Ling Gen said: “Huo Jiangmin has been a deviant for almost fifteen years, right? He can’t guarantee he’ll live the full thirty years. With so much happening recently, I think most deviants are worried they’ll die tomorrow.”

 

Settling all hatred before death sounded quite reasonable.

 

“I’ll investigate thoroughly.” Huo Yanji said, “Nothing else?”

 

Only then did Ling Gen suddenly remember his real purpose: “The city has been locked down for four days. When do you plan to lift travel restrictions? A building in District C is in chaos—a deviant forced entry into an ordinary residential building and killed fifteen people.”

 

Such situations were common. Without lifting restrictions, deviants’ emotions would build up more intensely, eventually erupting uncontrollably.

 

But lifting the restrictions would still bring wave after wave of chaos caused by ‘extremists.’

 

In short, moving forward wasn’t right, retreating wasn’t right either.

 

Individual humans usually found it difficult to harbor great love—only when united as a collective would they possess a spirit of selfless dedication.

 

For example, soldiers, or the former deviants.

 

But now that faith had crumbled and this collective was broken apart, even though they had mentally prepared for a fifty percent chance of sacrifice when initially choosing ‘evolution,’ they could no longer maintain that same mindset.

 

“Using us as sacrificial pawns while treating us as monsters”—it was rather ridiculous.

 

Huo Yanji said: “Wait until specific compensation terms are released and other safe zones publicly reveal the ‘Dawn’ plan before lifting restrictions.”

 

The public announcement must come from official sources, voluntarily admitting guilt, to minimize chaos. It absolutely couldn’t be spread as rumors by main city mercenaries.

 

Ling Gen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

He glanced at Sang Jue in Huo Yanji’s arms: “You’re living quite well now.”

 

Huo Yanji paused.

 

Ling Gen waved his hand: “I don’t mean anything by it. This is good—don’t be like Old Herman, dying alone.”

 

Sang Jue in his arms moved his head—he should be awake now—

 

Because there was an additional wet sensation at his Adam’s apple.

 

Taking advantage of having someone else present so Huo Yanji wouldn’t scold him, Sang Jue boldly bit twice, then licked once, then continued biting.

 

A typical case of giving a carrot after the stick.

 

Behind the desk, Huo Yanji calmly pinched Sang Jue’s tail tip and twisted.

 

The entire dragon immediately went soft, collapsing boneless in his arms.

 

Ling Gen didn’t know what had happened and continued discussing business: “Although you and Huo Jiangmin are brothers, I still have to say—I’ve never really liked him all these years. I’m straightforward by nature and can’t stand people who keep everything hidden… Every time I see him smile, I find it eerily unsettling.”

 

Huo Yanji looked up at him.

 

“I don’t have much time left to live. If Huo Jiangmin really has other intentions, I hope he can be dealt with before I die.”

 

Ling Gen stood up, his military uniform solemn: “There aren’t many people in the city who can check and balance him to begin with. Most of his subordinate officers are deviants, and after this ‘Dawn’ plan revelation, they’ll only be more loyal to him, not to humanity.”

 

Huo Yanji said coldly: “General Ling, watch your words.”

 

Accusing Huo Jiangmin of harboring rebellious intentions was far more serious than accusing him of killing Administrator Norman.

 

Even knowing he shouldn’t say it, Ling Gen continued: “Huo Jiangmin even kept part of his forces at Rift No. 2. Why? If he’s not participating in ‘Dawn No. 2,’ what military secret operations could there be at Rift No. 2? You were there recently—you should know what’s there.”

 

What was at Rift No. 2?

 

Apart from the completely unknown eight-thousand-meter depths, there was only one human base—or possibly more than one, but they’d only seen one last time.

 

And what was in the base?

 

Being a century-old base underground that hadn’t experienced the meteor season’s devastation, it preserved large quantities of intact hot weapons, manufacturing blueprints, energy synthesis procedures…

 

This was also a considerable resource.

 

Ling Gen left it at that and turned to leave.

 

The door opened and closed, footsteps gradually fading away.

 

Sang Jue finally spoke tremblingly: “Don’t pinch anymore…”

 

Huo Yanji suddenly released his grip, sparing the pitiful tail tip, and looked down to ask: “Still sleeping?”

 

Sang Jue shook his head: “Hungry.”

 

Huo Yanji sent out a message, probably having someone prepare breakfast.

 

Sang Jue asked: “Do you also suspect General Huo?”

 

Huo Yanji neither confirmed nor denied, instead saying flatly: “I’ve always known Huo Jiangmin imprisoned the Governor, but I never interfered.”

 

Sang Jue thought for a moment and asked: “Why?”

 

As District 1 Commander, Huo Jiangmin doing such things was obviously very incorrect, yet the most rule-abiding Huo Yanji hadn’t stopped him.

 

“Torturing the Governor isn’t out of hatred, but to keep his own sanity in check.” Huo Yanji said, “Only by venting emotions on one person could he control himself from doing wrong things.”

 

Huo Jiangmin might have gone mad long ago.

 

He tortured the Governor only to keep himself lucid.

 

Sang Jue didn’t quite understand, but it didn’t prevent him from continuing the conversation: “But now the Governor is dead.”

 

Huo Yanji hummed acknowledgment.

 

Sang Jue said: “So you’re not sure if he did it either?”

 

Huo Yanji said calmly: “There are no one hundred percent certainties in this world.”

 

Sang Jue sat up straight, supporting himself on Huo Yanji’s shoulders: “But when the Governor was still alive, why did you and Norman suspect General Huo of releasing green fungus in District 7?”

 

Huo Yanji asked flatly in return: “How do you know we suspected him?”

 

Sang Jue blinked: “I’m smart.”

 

Huo Yanji curved his lips slightly, then said flatly: “I only remain loyal to evidence.”

 

Sang Jue made a sound: “If General Huo really did these things, don’t be sad when you arrest him.”

 

Huo Yanji supported Sang Jue’s waist, meeting those lively, beautiful eyes: “Why?”

 

Sang Jue said: “Because you’re both just doing the right thing.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “He’s right too?”

 

“Of course.” Sang Jue replied without hesitation, “Supervisory laws couldn’t make those who killed Bo Qing pay the price, so he could only take matters into his own hands.

 

“—Just like if someone killed you, I would also avenge you.” Sang Jue added.

 

This analogy was quite subtle.

 

Huo Jiangmin and Bo Qing were lovers, but Huo Yanji and Sang Jue were not.

 

Sang Jue’s perspective on things was always peculiar—rarely biased toward anyone, very objective.

 

Someone knocked on the door: “Knock knock—”

 

Huo Yanji gestured for Sang Jue to get off him: “Time to eat.”

 

Sang Jue was sitting quite comfortably and didn’t want to move: “It’s Colin. Can’t I keep sitting?”

 

Huo Yanji naturally knew it was Colin too—after all, he was a subordinate who’d followed him for years, and he could still distinguish footsteps.

 

But how did Sang Jue confirm the visitor’s identity?

 

He asked, and Sang Jue answered: “My nose is very sharp.”

 

But how sharp could a human nose really be?

 

Huo Yanji didn’t pursue the question, suddenly reaching up to pinch Sang Jue’s nose, saying flatly: “Little dog.”

 

Sang Jue denied: “I’m not.”

 

How could a little dog be as fierce as an evil dragon?

 

Colin was the little dog.

 

 

Colin outside, hearing no response, knocked twice more: “Knock knock—”

 

Huo Yanji: “Enter.”

 

Colin came in carrying a breakfast tray. He’d happened to meet the supervisor delivering breakfast in the elevator and brought it up.

 

Seeing someone sprawled on Huo Yanji, he was momentarily startled.

 

Just looking at the back of the head, he knew it was Sang Jue.

 

“…Sir.”

 

He should have thought of it earlier. Huo Yanji either ate in the cafeteria or grabbed quick food to get by—he’d never eaten breakfast in his office before.

 

Colin placed the breakfast on the desk. A tail covered in black scales suddenly emerged, swaying left and right, then nodding up and down as if greeting him.

 

“…”

 

Colin sucked in a cold breath. Though he knew Sang Jue was a deviant, wasn’t this too blatant? Not even hiding it anymore?

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Any tracking results from surveillance?”

 

Colin shook his head: “The three suspects who left the central building are very familiar with the main city’s surveillance layout. They kept walking through blind spots and were barely captured. However, I discovered…”

 

Huo Yanji glanced at him.

 

Colin smiled wryly. He really did have a habit of being hesitant when reporting, and though he’d been trying to be more careful, he still stammered when encountering uncertain matters.

 

“Before, I focused all my attention on the gun Executive Officer Lange used for suicide, but didn’t pay much attention to the bullet.” Colin hesitated, “I just checked the bullet’s serial number. It’s a 9mm wolf-hunting bullet produced many years ago, distributed to General Huo Jiangmin in year 310, and discontinued in year 312 due to quality issues.”

 

Not only did Huo Yanji’s face turn cold, but Sang Jue also turned to look at Colin.

 

Huo Jiangmin again.

 

Sang Jue suddenly felt the green gem was burning hot—he needed to find a chance to eat it, couldn’t keep it, or else Ji Ji would think of Huo Jiangmin every time he saw it and wouldn’t be able to sleep well at home.

 

What a thoughtful little evil dragon he was.

 

After a long while, Huo Yanji said flatly: “Summon General Huo Jiangmin to the Military Supervisory Office for investigation.”

 

Colin sighed silently: “Yes.”

 

**