TYMIMA Chapter 47

Zhan Pingchuan really did skip his duties to accompany Lance to the cafeteria.

 

On the way from the dormitory area to the cafeteria, they had to pass through the so-called rainforest ecological zone.

 

This was a lush artificial landscape. Several trees over sixty meters tall supported this scenery, their huge leaves gently trembling in the artificial breeze, their brownish bark covered with moss.

 

Beside the trees was a small mountain built with artificial rocks. A winding path was constructed on the mountain for visitors to hike and enjoy the view.

 

The winding path wasn’t monotonous either. Epiphytic orchids clung to the rock walls, bird’s nest ferns grew from rock crevices, pitcher plants and Rafflesia were planted in pots on the viewing platforms, and a few clusters of lotus floated in a pool of water at the top of the mountain.

 

White mist occasionally descended from above, covering the entire rainforest and moistening the damp, dark brown soil.

 

And all of this was enclosed in a huge glass dome, beautiful yet out of place, blooming with extreme artificiality.

 

Zhan Pingchuan and Lance both stopped to look. Restricted area residents entered the glass dome through a facial recognition system, enjoying the rainforest’s embrace. The misty rain moistened their skin, yet they hurriedly adjusted their slightly flattened hairstyles and frequently took selfies with their phones.

 

Zhan Pingchuan suddenly said: “Desert City doesn’t have scenery like this. In our place, it snows in winter and is windy in spring. The outskirts have very primitive yardang landforms and not-so-calm lakes. When I was young, I often climbed the black gobi, and looking down from the top, not just people, but even animals’ eyes were free.”

 

So although this place was beautiful, he didn’t like it. Everything here was far from freedom, but those confined within were oblivious, content in their captivity.

 

Listening to Zhan Pingchuan’s description, Lance’s eyes also lit up with a smile. Having grown up on an island, he had never seen such scenery, but he could glimpse the whole from a part—from Zhan Pingchuan, he could imagine how wild and free Desert City was.

 

“It seems the restricted area is missing only a desert ecological zone,” Lance said.

 

“Because I—” Zhan Pingchuan paused, then smoothly continued, “I guess Ghost Eye Guild didn’t agree to let the Federation government transport yellow sand and wind-eroded rocks here. Otherwise, they would have destroyed a large part of the ecological zone to carve out and take away the most beautiful piece.”

 

“Oh?” Lance raised an eyebrow.

 

Their arch-rival guild had such backbone?

 

“Desert City is far from the emperor’s reach, with complex terrain and rich underground city resources, completely capable of self-sufficiency. The Federation government is somewhat wary of it.” So marrying into it wouldn’t be an unwise choice—in ancient times, this would have been at least a princess consort to a prince, Zhan Pingchuan thought to himself.

 

This was indeed true. The reason the seven major guilds could develop and grow strong was closely related to their advantageous geographical environments. The most special aspect of Ghost Eye Guild was that they controlled territories with the most underground cities.

 

Whether by coincidence or not, underground cities tended to appear in remote areas, so historically, the harsh Desert City became a resource-rich area. While High Tower Guild had to search for underground cities throughout the Federation, Ghost Eye Guild could rely on their hometown’s resources.

 

Even Lance was somewhat envious of this.

 

When he was very young, High Tower Guild was constantly researching underground city patterns, geological features, and resource surveys. Meanwhile, people from Ghost Eye Guild could casually go for a walk in the suburbs and stumble upon a B-level underground city.

 

He remembered one year when the Federation government held a joint conference for the seven major guilds. Lan Wendao proudly displayed High Tower Guild’s research results on underground cities, presenting a stack of papers half as tall as a person.

 

Lan Wendao patted the stack of papers and said: “Later, I will compile these results into a series of books. Everyone is welcome to purchase them. I guarantee that after studying these researches, you’ll never worry about surveying underground cities again.”

 

Other guilds responded enthusiastically, placing orders, but Ghost Eye Guild’s chairman Zhan Qinghe was puzzled: “Do we need to survey these things? My son can bump into a couple just riding his bicycle.”

 

And that year, his son with exceptional underground city luck was only four years old, barely able to pedal a children’s four-wheel bike.

 

Lan Wendao was so angry he cursed for three days after returning.

 

Rumor had it that with so many underground city resources, Ghost Eye Guild had become as rich as a nation.

 

If not for Zhan Qinghe’s endless flow of funds like a nouveau riche, Chu Fu would never have accepted secondary differentiation and borne him a child.

 

Because of this, guilds large and small lined up to arrange marriages with their family.

 

Two of the seven major guilds with Omegas at home had expressed intentions for a marriage alliance with Ghost Eye Guild. But it was said that Zhan Qinghe’s son was flamboyant and mischievous. Using his innate ghost story-telling skills, he scared the two little Os to the point of crying hysterically and wanting to go home, ultimately ending the marriage alliance talks.

 

Lan Wendao didn’t join this trend at the time. No matter how rich Ghost Eye Guild was, he couldn’t do something as despicable as consolidating power through marriage.

 

Just thinking about his darling having to marry a stranger without love, being neglected, sitting on a mountain of gold with a forced smile, and being forcibly marked to bear the next generation—it broke Lan Wendao’s heart.

 

Lance later found this amusing. How could he possibly allow a nouveau riche’s foolish son to neglect him, coldly treat him, and forcibly mark him? He would only make the other party impotent.

 

At this moment, Zhan Pingchuan suddenly shivered. He looked up at the sky to see dark clouds had rolled in, making the sky gloomy and the temperature drop considerably.

 

He turned to ask Lance: “Are you cold, baby?”

 

Lance only then noticed that a storm was coming. Residents in the rainforest ecological zone were already hurriedly packing up, preparing to go home.

 

“I’m fine, but we should hurry.”

 

There was no underground passage between the cafeteria and the Blue Pivot building. He didn’t want to carry out hard labor in the rain.

 

Zhan Pingchuan hadn’t brought an outer garment either, so he couldn’t cover the little red fox. The two ran wildly under the dark clouds, almost simultaneously rushing into the cafeteria.

 

Lance’s breathing was slightly irregular, but his complexion remained unchanged. This amount of exercise wasn’t much for him.

 

Zhan Pingchuan gathered Lance’s red hair, intending to wipe his sweat, but found there was none to wipe. Zhan Pingchuan smiled: “Little classmate Lance, you have such good stamina.”

 

Lance adjusted his glasses that had slid to the bridge of his nose and said meaningfully: “So do you.”

 

Looks quite capable.

 

Zhan Pingchuan raised an eyebrow: “We underachievers are different from you top students. You’ve been immersed in libraries since childhood, while I spent my childhood riding bicycles all over the hills and plains.”

 

Hearing this, Lance nodded, saying slowly: “I understand.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “Hmm?”

 

He was just trying to compliment the little red fox on his all-around development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. What was there to understand?

 

Lance: “Your family does have a lot of bicycles.”

 

The logic was complete—stealing so many bicycles, not all could be sold, and the rest could be used by Zhan Pingchuan to ride around.

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “……” He decided to delete both trash collection and bicycles from his life dictionary.

 

Lance had indeed memorized the long form, so getting the meals saved a lot of time. By the time they returned to the Blue Pivot building, the heavy rain still hadn’t fallen.

 

Pushing the heavy food cart into the elevator, their light-hearted playfulness instantly vanished.

 

Zhan Pingchuan’s gaze fell on the floor selection buttons, his pupils suddenly contracting.

 

A long row of numbers clearly displayed B2 to 17, but B3 was conspicuously absent.

 

This meant either Blue Pivot had a special elevator directly to B3, or the only way to enter B3 was to first reach B2, then go down another floor.

 

If it was the second option, that would be troublesome.

 

Because the weapons storage was already heavily monitored, it meant he would have to break through two layers of obstacles to successfully reach the third level.

 

No wonder his father repeatedly reminded him to be careful, and his mother made a special trip to Star University to deliver equipment.

 

Lance was also looking down.

 

The interrogation materials and autopsy report that He Jing’en had been obsessing over were on the non-existent third basement level.

 

A futile attempt at concealment.

 

Lance sneered inwardly.

 

No wonder He Jing’en had been helpless for eighteen years. Even now, inside the Blue Pivot building, it seemed like an almost impossible task to sneak into the third basement to view the old files.

 

Fortunately, he wasn’t fixated on these, because he believed those files wouldn’t have any flaws. Otherwise, with Si Hongche’s power and methods over these eighteen years, he would have unraveled the truth long ago.

 

Zhan Pingchuan’s finger hovered over B2 before decisively pressing six. Taking advantage of the elevator’s upward journey, he casually said: “Yesterday, Teacher Huai told us there were three basement levels, but this only shows two.”

 

Lance: “Teacher Huai?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “Robert White.”

 

Lance asked with a smile: “What else did Teacher Huai say?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “He said historical materials from the gap period are stored there, and only district chiefs are qualified to view them. I wanted to borrow them for you, but he said my death would be easier.”

 

Lance frowned: “Don’t joke around. If the Federation government intentionally created historical gaps, how could they possibly let people see these materials? Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan tilted his head to look at Lance, seeing genuine anger on his face. He mischievously extended two fingers to push up the corners of Lance’s lips: “Are you angry?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan was delighted inside. Between him and the historical materials, the little red fox had firmly chosen him, casting the historical materials aside.

 

Lance dodged his hand, his eyes slightly lifting, giving him a reproachful glance.

 

The little idiot was rash and disobedient, quite worrisome, really deserving of a lesson… but this love-brain appearance was also quite endearing.

 

Forget it, just keep a closer eye on him.

 

In the blink of an eye, the elevator reached the sixth floor. As the doors slowly opened, both of them put away their brief sweetness and looked outside simultaneously.

 

Blue Pivot District Two.

 

Lance remembered that although District One was busy, the atmosphere was still harmonious. Colleagues would at least nod in acknowledgment when they met. But District Two was completely machine-like.

 

All inspection team members looked similar—the same hairstyle, the same clothing, the same serious expression, the same hurried steps.

 

In the corridor, there was only the tapping sound of leather shoes on marble floors. When two team members of similar age bumped into each other, they treated each other as air, looking straight ahead without a glance, heading directly to their destinations.

 

Occasionally, an inspection team member stumbled, scattering documents on the ground. People came and went around, but no one stopped to take a look, as if that glance would be a waste of life.

 

This was a numb, cold place completely devoid of human warmth. No wonder they could list such harsh lunch requirements.

 

Lance thought to himself, to constrain human nature to this extent, to completely reduce people to working machines, and to be proud of it, to regard it as a standard—Si Hongche’s mental state was indeed more concerning than Oliver’s.

 

But Zhan Pingchuan’s perspective differed from Lance’s.

 

He found that the District Two members’ attitude of minding only their own business actually made it easy for others to exploit loopholes.

 

For instance, there should only be one meal delivery person, but as he and Lance moved through the corridors, no one questioned them.

 

Because in their mindset, this wasn’t their responsibility, so even if they found it strange, they wouldn’t interfere.

 

Zhan Pingchuan also recalled how, as a child, he had trespassed into Blue Pivot and gone all the way unimpeded, accidentally finding the room where Oliver was imprisoned.

 

It seemed this wasn’t a coincidence. Blue Pivot was like a decaying machine operating under fixed rules, incapable of flexibility.

 

Judging from how Si Hongche casually shot a Seventh District member and directly called them “useless Seventh District,” the districts within Blue Pivot weren’t in a collaborative relationship.

 

Robert had said that to enter the third basement level database, they needed a district chief’s iris unlock and the Seventh District to turn off the infrared sensing system.

 

This meant that the supervision of the third basement level was likely entirely the responsibility of the Seventh District, and Si Hongche’s Second District obviously wouldn’t interfere.

 

And from Robert’s dismissive attitude toward historical materials, many people didn’t consider them valuable or worth protecting.

 

So, while it seemed he would be facing the entire Blue Pivot, in reality, he was only dealing with the Seventh District.

 

Zhan Pingchuan chuckled. Useless Seventh District—hopefully even more useless.

 

The process of delivering meals on the sixth floor was tedious. Lance was responsible for selecting the corresponding meal boxes, while Zhan Pingchuan delivered them to workstations, enduring the acerbic criticisms from District Two members—

 

“Is this olive oil? I’ve said my digestive system can only handle olive oil!”

 

“Wait, today’s steak doesn’t seem to be medium-rare. How can anyone eat such tough beef!”

 

“Where’s the oil-absorbing paper? Did you forget to include it? I need to absorb all the oil from the rice noodles before I can eat them.”

 

……

 

After delivering to the entire floor, Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t help but ask: “Did the underground city radiation mutate their stomachs, or did human evolution have a second phase that no one told me about?”

 

Lance laughed: “Obsessive-compulsive disorder is also a manifestation of anxiety. It’s hard not to become picky when working in such a high-pressure environment.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan said sympathetically: “Let me help you deliver every day from now on.”

 

Lance looked up at him: “And go to the dark room every day?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan shrugged: “I don’t mind, it’s just solitary confinement.” He wasn’t afraid of the dark; at worst, he’d just take a nap.

 

Lance shook his head, his tone brooking no refusal: “No, once is enough.”

 

After finishing the sixth floor, they quickly went up to the seventh.

 

The Blue Pivot building consisted of three buildings side by side, with connecting corridors every other floor. This meant that the sixth floor could be traversed freely through the corridors, but the seventh floor was separate.

 

They needed to finish delivering to one building on the seventh floor, then go down, cross through the sixth-floor corridor to reach the second building, and then go up again to deliver meals.

 

After repeating this process, they finally reached the last building. According to Lauen, the solitary confinement room was also in this building.

 

Lance’s fingers tightened on the food cart, his eyes becoming sharp.

 

He no longer chatted idly with Zhan Pingchuan but instead sensitively watched the numbers flashing on the elevator display.

 

Ding!

 

The seventh floor arrived.

 

Lance’s nerves tensed with the elevator’s chime. He pushed hard, wheeling the cart with its few remaining meal boxes out of the elevator.

 

However, just as they stepped out, a gruff, overbearing voice sounded from nearby—

 

“Stop!”

 

Lance immediately halted.

 

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