TYMIMA Chapter 65

“Absurd!”

 

“Si Hongche, what’s your status! What qualifies you to make congressmen vote?”

 

“I declare your motion rejected!”

 

“I think you’ve lost your mind. The person you’re looking for isn’t here—Uriel’s murder and escape has solid evidence!”

 

“You couldn’t catch Uriel for eighteen years—clearly your own incompetence!”

 

“Are you inspection team members going to rebel with him too? Notify Qian Yun immediately!”

 

…

 

Being surrounded by [Envelop] and stripped of the chance to use abilities wasn’t enough to cause the congressmen’s mental breakdown.

 

They naturally assumed Si Hongche was just intimidating them, because once Si Hongche bypassed all procedures to take the congressmen’s lives, he couldn’t continue as Second District director either. He’d become the Federation’s top wanted criminal, imprisoned in AGW Special Dangerous Death Row Prison, awaiting death.

 

Even the most deranged person should become rational when thinking about what they’d lose.

 

The named inspection team members showed struggling expressions. They dared not defy Si Hongche, nor harm Federation congressmen. They could only stand rigidly in place, as if hearing nothing.

 

News of Si Hongche arresting Federation congressmen quickly reached the Seventh District director’s ears. He was dumbfounded, leaping up: “He’s really gone mad!”

 

These past few days, while Si Hongche was unconscious, the Seventh District director had “inadvertently” gossiped to over eighty people around him, talking until his mouth was dry and spittle flew. Of course, he’d thoughtfully add at the end: “I’m just telling you—don’t tell anyone else.”

 

The First District director knew the persistent rumors in Blue Pivot came from the Seventh District director. He disliked this kicking-someone-when-they’re-down behavior, but since they were equals, he couldn’t say much.

 

The Seventh District director had only intended verbal satisfaction. He guessed Si Hongche would go mad, rage, suffer immensely, become hysterical, but honestly, he didn’t think Si Hongche would lose control.

 

Si Hongche’s current position was inseparable from his ruthless decisiveness. The Seventh District director remembered a defection incident in Blue Pivot—the defecting inspection team member happened to be Si Hongche’s contemporary when he first joined.

 

After this team member went to First District, he used his position to privately investigate a congressman.

 

He found evidence that this congressman had taken bribes in Yata City twenty years ago, pressured Chu Guild, and helped a serial killer escape justice.

 

This team member came from one of the victim families—he was only six then.

 

He used defection exposure to force the Federation government to punish this congressman, while Si Hongche’s orders were to immediately kill his contemporary.

 

Because that congressman had served long, had close relationships with several guilds, and had pushed over twenty bills, each crucial for consolidating Federation power.

 

Compared to him, an ordinary inspection team member and some old wrongful cases were truly insignificant.

 

That team member tried using contemporary friendship to influence Si Hongche, hoping he’d help overthrow the powerful congressman.

 

But the Seventh District director watched Si Hongche shoot without hesitation.

 

From then, the Seventh District director knew Si Hongche was chosen by the Council of Elders because he could become an emotionless killing machine, the most powerful guardian of Qian Yun’s power.

 

So he didn’t think such a Si Hongche would turn against the Federation government over Oliver and Si Hongmei’s wrongful deaths.

 

Because compared to the Federation Congress that affected everything, Oliver and Si Hongmei were also the insignificant ones.

 

However, he soon understood he was wrong.

 

Calls from Qian Yun poured into Seventh District. Si Hongche’s behavior finally alarmed Congress.

 

Hundreds of congressmen were furious at his actions, ordering the Seventh District director to immediately stop Si Hongche’s insane criminal behavior.

 

The Seventh District director repeatedly agreed, hurriedly counted personnel, and led them toward the restricted zone prison.

 

In the prison, Si Hongche cleanly raised his arm and loaded his gun: “Nine minutes.”

 

“Si Hongche, do you really dare kill?”

 

“Everyone needn’t fear him. Congress must have reacted—his position will soon be forcibly stripped!”

 

“He only dares use Envelop. Do you think he dares use Death Oath Curse?”

 

“His gun probably doesn’t even have bullets!”

 

Over thirty congressmen tremblingly observed Si Hongche’s expression while giving themselves encouraging words.

 

They were gambling—gambling that Si Hongche still had reservations.

 

Si Hongche observed their reactions but showed no rage.

 

The aide knew that person was dead—the last person in this world who could affect Si Hongche’s emotions had disappeared.

 

Si Hongche tilted his head slightly, gaze still coldly fixed on the roaring congressmen, but asked in a deep voice: “Who has the most call records with Yan Qili?”

 

The aide was startled, quickly flipping through the thick stack of materials in his hands, giving Si Hongche an answer in extremely short time: “Congressman Abner.”

 

Si Hongche nodded, his index finger unhesitatingly pulling the trigger—bang!

 

The bullet broke through wind, pierced the suffocating air, entered the transparent arc, and with a “thud,” precisely hit Abner’s forehead, then exited through his brain with blood spatters, firmly embedding in the wall behind.

 

Congressman Abner was an elemental system B-level Awakened one. If not within [Envelop]’s control range, he could easily dodge all human-made firearms.

 

But now, he could only stare wide-eyed, throat convulsing, falling backward like a thick wall.

 

“Ahhhhhhh—”

 

“Si Hongche, you really dare kill! Do you know what you’re doing!”

 

“Do you think killing us all will get you the truth? What’s the point of making us choose a scapegoat!”

 

“Right! You don’t investigate or gather evidence—just making us attack each other, you’ll never find the real culprit!”

 

“We won’t fall into your trap!”

 

“Good! You’re now completely a criminal. You all saw it—arrest your director immediately!”

 

“Eight minutes.” Si Hongche raised his wrist to check the time, again aiming his gun in a direction. “Who recommended Yan Qili to Star University?”

 

The aide’s fingers flew, paper materials flipping back and forth in his hands, crisp sounds echoing in the prison corridor, extremely grating.

 

He could have avoided printing these materials—digital searches were more convenient and faster, but Si Hongche had given this order.

 

Only now did he understand—Si Hongche was well-versed in torture. At this moment, these congressmen would be terrified and alarmed just hearing paper rustling.

 

“It’s—”

 

Before the aide could speak the name, the involved congressman finally had a mental breakdown. He rushed to [Envelop]’s edge, his trembling legs barely supporting his heavy body. His throat made strange sounds from extreme tension: “Director Si! I vote for him—he had close dealings with Yan Qili, very suspicious!”

 

The involved congressman pointed at the already silent corpse on the ground.

 

Si Hongche’s eyelids drooped: “Continue.”

 

The involved congressman thought Si Hongche was talking to him: “I already said—”

 

The aide held the materials, saying coolly: “Congressman Abraham.”

 

Si Hongche raised his gun, saying coldly: “I don’t like jokes.”

 

Abraham stood stunned, his lips rapidly losing color, cold sweat instantly soaking his clothes.

 

The bullet shot out with a “bang.” The crowd immediately erupted in screams and roars. Abraham’s legs gave out as he collapsed: “It was Dinlock who urged me to propose! I have no personal relationship with Yan Qili!”

 

Abraham’s right thigh sprouted a bloody hole, blood instantly staining his trousers. He gasped violently from severe pain and rapid blood loss, his eyes terrified and nearly shattered.

 

Si Hongche remained unmoved, lowering his gun muzzle, saying flatly: “Continue.”

 

This shot precisely avoided Abraham’s femoral artery, not enough to cause him to bleed to death in a short time.

 

Abraham collapsed and trembled: “Dinlock… found me, promised me five million, to have me propose in Federation Congress that Yan Qili serve as Star University’s principal.”

 

“I… I asked him why, he said Yan Qili was his fellow townsman. I knew he was lying—if they were really fellow townsmen, why had he never mentioned it before!”

 

“Not… not just me, others must have also taken Dinlock’s benefits! Save me, Director Si, I don’t know anything!”

 

“Now we have one vote.” Si Hongche stared at him expressionlessly.

 

“Abraham, you! What nonsense are you spouting!”

 

“How dare you slander the Speaker!”

 

“You’re truly cowardly as a mouse, despicable, actually surrendering to Si Hongche!”

 

“I think he’s the one who harmed Uriel, trying to frame the Speaker!”

 

“We never took any benefits!”

 

Abraham’s face was covered in sweat and tears, pain twisting his expression. His pale lips from blood loss formed a pleading curve: “Director Si… if Uriel was truly wronged, the only one who could have designed this is Speaker Dinlock. Will you… kill him?”

 

Si Hongche lifted his eyelids, raising his gun toward the back of the crowd.

 

Though the congressmen spoke harshly, none wanted to become the next victim. They scattered with a whoosh.

 

In the crowd, that lean, silent old man revealed his full form.

 

He wore a well-tailored suit, tie pushed to just below his throat bone, an expensive tie clip glinting with golden light, reflecting on his already sagging jaw.

 

His expression was grim, cold light gleaming through his glasses. The gun aimed at his heart prevented any rash moves. He stared at Si Hongche, his voice aged and hoarse: “Si Hongche, kill me and you’ll truly be beyond redemption. That’s just his one-sided story—he has no evidence.”

 

Si Hongche said coldly: “This is a voting game. I no longer need evidence.”

 

Evidence could deceive. What was seen with one’s own eyes and heard with one’s own ears might not be the truth either.

 

This was the only thing he’d learned from his absurd, laughable eighteen years.

 

“Si Hongche, you! What exactly do you want to do!”

 

“You’re insane!”

 

“How are you different from criminals who kill innocents!”

 

“Vote for Abraham—he was the first to surrender to Si Hongche!”

 

“Right! Vote for Abraham!”

 

“Vote for him!”

 

Si Hongche asked: “How many votes now?”

 

The aide answered: “Abraham 31 votes, Dinlock 1 vote.”

 

Si Hongche nodded.

 

“No… no no no! I was used! It must be Din—”

 

But Si Hongche gave Abraham no more chance to speak. This bullet precisely pierced his eye, shattering facial bones. His face contorted as he fell silent.

 

“Six minutes left. If you want to survive, work hard to vote out others.” Si Hongche’s cold, merciless voice came.

 

Everyone was horrified.

 

They desperately realized Si Hongche truly no longer cared about the truth.

 

He was just killing, torturing. He wanted everyone involved to experience the fear of approaching death, then completely fall into hell.

 

He wanted to use blood to console the departed lives.

 

He seemed calm and clear-headed, but had actually lost all control.

 

They were forced to join this death game.

 

At Si Hongche’s pace, killing about one person per minute, he would kill about seven more people.

 

Survival probability was two-thirds. As long as someone was always sacrificed and that person wasn’t oneself, it was enough.

 

There were two methods: hide in the crowd, lower one’s presence, say nothing, and wait for fate’s favor.

 

The other carried both risk and opportunity—stand out now, perhaps influence the tide, or perhaps become everyone’s target.

 

“Speaker Din! As Speaker, as everyone’s leader, and as a key figure in this incident, won’t you step forward!” Finally, someone couldn’t help speaking, pointing directly at Dinlock.

 

Before life, factional alliances, relationship climbing, and pleasing superiors all seemed unimportant.

 

Those who had just righteously shouted that Abraham was slandering now also cast suspicious and accusatory gazes at Dinlock.

 

“Why didn’t Abraham slander others but only you? Do you have any explanation?”

 

“You really gave Abraham five million!”

 

“I always thought you considered Uriel a thorn in your side. You publicly voted against many of his proposals!”

 

“Speaker Din, I think you should take responsibility!”

 

“Everyone, currently Speaker Dinlock is most suspicious. I think we should vote for him!”

 

“Vote for him! I vote too!”

 

“Other congressmen couldn’t casually produce five million, but Speaker Din is different—he took considerable benefits when trading rare lead ore with Night Walker Guild!”

 

“More than that! I know he has an improper relationship with Congressman Elam!”

 

Si Hongche seemed to have anticipated this reaction. He turned his head: “How many votes now?”

 

The aide: “…29 votes already.”

 

He didn’t dare breathe heavily. This person was the Speaker after all. Though Speakers rotated every four years without special status, shooting a Speaker carried heavier charges.

 

But he felt Si Hongche would act.

 

Si Hongche indeed raised his gun.

 

Dinlock looked at Si Hongche’s face and suddenly laughed lowly. After laughing a while, he cast a mocking gaze at Si Hongche, saying arrogantly: “Uriel had to die.”

 

Si Hongche stared at him, temporarily not shooting.

 

Dinlock seemed to know his death was near and became frank instead. He raised his neck high, looking down at Si Hongche: “He discovered Utopia. Utopia involved complex interests, so he had to die. As for your sister, she was just an unlucky tool. Who told you to bring her to the restricted zone? Who told her to listen to Kluova and go to the rainforest ecological zone? Who made her age perfect for ruining Uriel’s reputation?”

 

“If not her, it would be someone else. You can only blame your bad luck, blame Uriel for meddling. You were so insignificant then—I only learned after the incident that you were engaged to Uriel’s brother, which made the whole thing even more exciting.”

 

Si Hongche’s pupils contracted tighter and tighter.

 

“But you should thank me. Without sacrificing your sister’s life and ruining your lover’s future, how would you have had the chance to reach today’s position and possess supreme power?”

 

Si Hongche’s knuckles turned white, the web of his hand pressed hard against the gun butt.

 

“Dead is dead. The dead are most unimportant. After controlling Blue Pivot for eighteen years, don’t you find revenge laughable? There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. The meaning of their birth was to exchange for your bright future.”

 

Dinlock squinted his aged eyes, his smile becoming more sinister. Blood splattered on his cold lenses, hot streams flowing down his wrinkles. But in the last second before his breath ceased, his originally sinister smile suddenly became rigid.

 

Because he saw the anger and hatred in Si Hongche’s eyes instantly become cold and calm.

 

His body slid down powerlessly, first his knees heavily hitting the cement floor, then his forehead dropping without support.

 

Blood dripped in front of him. He realized Si Hongche didn’t seem to completely believe his words.

 

Dinlock’s gray lips twitched slightly until they stiffened.

 

—I must confess to the supreme ancient god. Your faithful believer failed to complete the mission.

 

“This this this… Si Hongche, you heard! It was Dinlock, he framed Uriel, he killed your sister!”

 

“Release us quickly! I guarantee I’ll propose to Congress to add charges against Dinlock!”

 

“Right, I’ll propose clearing Uriel’s name! I’ll write the proposal immediately!”

 

“Release us! This matter has been peacefully resolved, the real culprit is caught!”

 

“Director Si, I actually sympathize with you. I never thought Dinlock was such a person—we were all deceived by him!”

 

“Don’t worry, we’ll testify for you. Your shooting him counts as justifiable self-defense!”

 

However, Si Hongche merely casually ejected the magazine and reloaded four bullets: “Five minutes. Voting continues.”

 

“Si Hongche, you…”

 

“No, no no no… Director Si, don’t do this. Our attitude was poor just now…”

 

“I truly knew nothing, but him! He definitely knows Dinlock’s dirty secrets. They secretly opened a money laundering company together! Vote for him!”

 

…

 

When the Seventh District director led people charging into the restricted zone prison, pushing aside the numb Second District team members, he saw eight corpses already lying in the corridor.

 

The bloody smell was overwhelming and lingering. The surviving congressmen were all mentally dazed, trembling with fear.

 

Si Hongche sat upright in the pool of blood, his spine casting a long shadow in the dim light, the smoking gun muzzle placed beside his chair.

 

The Seventh District director rushed down, his voice tense and excited: “Si Hongche, you’re definitely doomed! You actually shot eight congressmen!”

 

“Quick! Notify the Federation Congress! Protect the scene! Control all principal and accessory criminals present!” the Seventh District director commanded sternly.

 

“Yes, yes… yes!” Seventh District team members responded unevenly.

 

But Si Hongche didn’t even lift his eyes. He methodically removed his gunpowder-stained gloves and handed them to his aide.

 

“I didn’t kill anyone.”

 

The Seventh District director was dumbfounded: “You what? This this this—the evidence is conclusive, with both witnesses and physical evidence. How dare you say you didn’t kill anyone?”

 

Even if he burned all his brain cells, he couldn’t imagine Si Hongche would exonerate himself this way. Did he think everyone was an idiot?

 

Si Hongche raised his left hand in front of the Seventh District director, palm inward, back outward. Dark red blood seeped from his five fingernail beds, the blood wrapped in an eerie, bright red glow, gradually spreading into thin blood lines.

 

The blood lines extended and branched like vines, finally forming a densely interwoven blood net. The moment [Envelop] disappeared, while all congressmen were still at a loss, the blood net instantly wrapped around their necks!

 

Control system S-level Awakened one second-tier ability [Death Oath Curse]!

 

The congressmen’s eyes bulged as they gripped their throats forcefully, but no matter how they struggled, the curse clung to their bones like festering sores, following them like shadows.

 

Death Oath Curse—secrets must not be revealed unless unto death.

 

Si Hongche classified today’s events as classified, forcing everyone to become his accomplices!

 

The Seventh District director could hardly believe it.

 

Si Hongche had brazenly used [Death Oath Curse] to threaten all congressmen right in front of him, yet except for him as an S-level, no one else here could see that Si Hongche had used an ability!

 

“No, you…” The Seventh District director widened his eyes, pointing at Si Hongche’s nose.

 

The aide lowered his eyes, blocking in front of Si Hongche: “Director Hao, please show some respect to our innocent Director Si.”

 

“Hey, I respect…” The Seventh District director pointed to himself but was too frustrated to speak.

 

He finally jumped with anger, grinning viciously: “Think I have no options? I’ll apply for equipment right now—we can immediately detect his Si Hongche’s ability pheromones on the congressmen!”

 

Si Hongche remained unmoved, wiping the blood from his fingernails.

 

The aide kept his head down: “Sorry Director Hao, Second District unanimously vetoed your application.”

 

Hao Nengyan: “…”

 

The eight congressmen’s corpses were carried out of the restricted zone prison. No matter how the Federation Congress questioned other surviving congressmen, the answers were invariably that those eight congressmen had committed suicide.

 

With such witness testimony, conviction was impossible, even though everyone knew Si Hongche had killed them.

 

Soon after, a senior professor from Hong Suo Research Institute’s Human Sociology Department died, along with a handwritten suicide note confessing to planting obscene videos in Uriel’s computer.

 

With the suicide note, Seventh District could only classify this as suicide.

 

But was suicide always according to one’s own will?

 

After all, Si Hongche’s third-tier ability was called [Command Obedience].

 

Thus, this wrongful case sealed for eighteen years finally seemed cleared. The culprits, fearing Si Hongche’s methods, turned on each other like dogs, gradually restoring the truth from back then.

 

Uriel had mistakenly entered the Caribbean coastal town of Utopia during his visits, accidentally touching secrets of the interest group led by Dinlock.

 

Fearing Uriel’s influence, Dinlock had threatened and bribed, but could never shake Uriel’s firm convictions.

 

So Dinlock decided to destroy him.

 

When a person’s morality showed flaws, nothing they said or did would be credible anymore.

 

Si Hongmei was Si Hongche’s sister, but also a randomly selected victim.

 

Disaster always descended indiscriminately on everyone—Si Hongmei was no exception.

 

Dinlock’s lover Kluova took on this task. She first lured Si Hongmei into the rainforest ecological zone under the pretext of beautiful night-blooming cereus, then took Uriel’s appearance to commit the assault.

 

After the incident, Dinlock used his power to prevent Si Hongche, then just an ordinary team member, from joining the investigation. But unexpectedly, the Council of Elders suddenly summoned him, giving Si Hongche a chance to turn the tables.

 

So to make this an ironclad case, Dinlock sent people to pass false information to Uriel in prison, tricking him out to create the illusion of fleeing in fear of punishment, then secretly eliminating Uriel.

 

He threatened medical center employee Yan Qili, who performed Si Hongmei’s autopsy, demanding a perfect autopsy report.

 

Four years later, Yan Qili received his reward—becoming Star University’s principal.

 

Everything was reasonable. It was all Dinlock’s fault for being blinded by profit and having no bottom line, single-handedly causing Si Hongche’s lifelong tragedy.

 

On the third-to-last day of Dawn Day holiday, Si Hongche visited the back mountain cemetery, standing for a very long time before that malnourished little pine tree.

 

On the second-to-last day, Si Hongche left the restricted zone for the Lotasi Ice Field, AGW Special Dangerous Death Row Prison.

 

Late at night, Lance gently covered the sleeping little idiot’s belly and silently walked to the empty corridor.

 

He pressed his finger to the micro earpiece, saying casually: “Si Hongche has been killing quite enthusiastically these days. Too bad it’s too late.”

 

Mad Clown snorted: “Culprits are popping up faster than groundhogs after rain. Wonder if he suspects anything.”

 

Lance: “Bamboo shoots.”

 

Mad Clown frowned, asking inexplicably: “What, you want to eat them?”

 

“…Never mind.” Lance had long given up saving Black Lantern Society members’ cultural level. He continued: “I’m returning to Star University tomorrow. Remember to withdraw the second help request from the official website.”

 

“Oh.” Mad Clown responded.

 

Lance cut the call and returned to the bedroom.

 

The blanket he’d tucked in had been pulled open by Zhan Pingchuan again. In the delicate moonlight, Zhan Pingchuan’s faintly visible abs rose and fell before Lance’s eyes.

 

He stretched two straight, long legs, right arm spread open on the pillow—where Lance had just been lying.

 

His body radiated healthy warmth, shorts hanging precisely at where his V-line converged, below which was a place that remained prominently raised even while lying down.

 

“Little fox.” Zhan Pingchuan was half-awake, seemingly sensing the emptiness in his arm. He hummed softly, tapping the pillow with his knuckles: “Lie in my arms.”

 

Lance climbed onto the bed on all fours. Just as he was about to curl into Zhan Pingchuan’s embrace, Zhan Pingchuan’s arm hooked around him, gripping his waist and pressing him onto his body.

 

Lance pressed against the warm chest, their chaotic breathing colliding as reddish-brown long hair scattered across the bed.

 

Lance rested his chin on Zhan Pingchuan’s collarbone, softly probing: “Are you awake?” Little idiot didn’t hear his conversation with Mad Clown, did he?

 

“Not awake.” Zhan Pingchuan kept his eyes closed but reached out to push aside Lance’s loose pajamas, exposing half his shoulder, and bit the pale, delicate shoulder.

 

“Mm!” Lance was caught off guard and let out a low hum.

 

“Calling another Alpha’s name in the middle of the night… next time it won’t be here I bite.” Zhan Pingchuan kissed that spot again before covering it back with the pajamas.

 

Lance ignored the bite mark on his shoulder, watching Zhan Pingchuan cautiously: “Classmate Zhan, who did you hear me call?”

 

“No one is allowed.” Zhan Pingchuan muttered, his palm sliding into Lance’s pajamas, soothingly stroking his back a couple times.

 

Having gotten his warm little fox pillow, he completely forgot about whoever Si-something was and quickly fell back asleep.

 

Lance was suspicious, waiting quite a while before completely relaxing. He tilted his head and curled up on Zhan Pingchuan’s chest, forced to spend the entire night covering little idiot’s belly with himself.

 

##

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)