EDEH Chapter 54

[007 Diary Twenty]

 

[Classified file “Dawn” has been restored to 99%… Expected to finish loading within six hours.

 

The “Dawn No. 2” mentioned by No. 041 should be a continuation of the “Dawn” plan.

 

However, due to this incident, the little evil dragon’s favorability toward humans has plummeted, and he even wants to take the spacecraft and leave the human community forever with No. 002.

 

Even so, I still helped the little evil dragon meet with No. 002.

 

As No. 042 said, No. 002 cannot abandon his responsibilities. He cannot be a free-spirited wanderer and is destined to be bound in this prison-like city.

 

Destined to give everything, yet not be understood.

 

Perhaps being misunderstood is the fate of executors.

 

And I am trying to use data analysis to determine whether No. 002’s idealism can achieve better outcomes, or whether, as other high-ranking officials say, only blood and corpses can pave a new path.

 

“Dawn No. 2” is too much of a gamble. If the truth ever c

 

omes to light, the seemingly solid human collective might instantly fall apart.]

 

·

 

Huo Yanji stroked Sang Jue’s hair, finally sliding to his nape and gripping it, not letting Sang Jue continue biting.

 

“If you don’t like them, then what should we do?”

 

Sang Jue said seriously: “How about I take you away from the safe zone? Far away from them all.”

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Where to?”

 

Sang Jue gestured: “We can go anywhere—ruins, forests, even rifts. We have a solid, solid…”

 

Huo Yanji filled in: “Impregnable?”

 

Sang Jue nodded: “Yes! We have an impregnable home where we can sleep peacefully at night. When bored, we can go kill contaminated creatures, dig for gems, explore strange terrains. The ruins must have many relics from the past—maybe we can even find antiques, like the gaming console old Karl collected…”

 

Huo Yanji listened quietly: “Sounds really nice.”

 

Sang Jue beamed with an obedient smile: “Right? So will you come with me?”

 

Huo Yanji: “No.”

 

Sang Jue: “…”

 

He turned around, facing away from Huo Yanji with the back of his head.

 

Huo Yanji grabbed Sang Jue’s tail and stroked it twice. The owner was angry, but the tail was honest, hooking around his wrist and refusing to let go.

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Is this plan A or plan B?”

 

Sang Jue didn’t answer.

 

Huo Yanji curved his lips: “You really have two plans?”

 

Sang Jue’s voice became smaller: “Really, it’s just that the other plan isn’t ready yet…”

 

He didn’t want another plan at all—he just wanted to take Huo Yanji away.

 

These past days, the malice toward Huo Yanji in the city was almost overflowing. Sang Jue was nearly driven mad by anger.

 

There were even people demonstrating in the streets, insisting on publicly executing Huo Yanji and absolutely refusing to spare his life. But the charges hadn’t even been confirmed yet—it was just the investigation stage, and those people were already fantasizing themselves into ecstasy.

 

As if Huo Yanji had killed their entire families, they harbored such deep hatred that they wanted to flay him alive.

 

Huo Yanji said quietly: “Turn around.”

 

Sang Jue was only stubborn for a second before turning back.

 

Huo Yanji brushed away dust from near his ear—probably from when he’d scraped against something breaking in earlier.

 

“Sang Jue, if you have a better place to go, then leave.” Huo Yanji said flatly, “But I can’t go with you. I’m not just your friend—”

 

Sang Jue interrupted unhappily: “I know, you’re also a general, also the highest executive officer. You have many responsibilities on your shoulders.”

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Who told you this?”

 

“I… myself…” Sang Jue snorted quietly, then changed his answer: “Colin said it. He said you couldn’t possibly come with me.”

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Why did you have him help you write the little note?”

 

Sang Jue: “…I can’t write.”

 

He wasn’t from this planet—the characters he wrote, Huo Yanji definitely couldn’t read.

 

Huo Yanji didn’t dwell on his ‘illiteracy’ problem and asked: “Colin knew you were coming to find me. Why didn’t he stop you, and even helped you write the note?”

 

Sang Jue blinked: “Because…”

 

He looked directly at Huo Yanji, unable to come up with a good reason.

 

So he simply gave up, breaking the jar completely: “I tied Colin up. If he didn’t help me write the note, I’d tickle his armpits until they rotted.”

 

Huo Yanji: “…”

 

Sang Jue widened his eyes and asked: “Are you angry at me?”

 

“No.” Huo Yanji patted Sang Jue’s head, his eyes dark, his tone very flat: “If you don’t like it here and have a better place to go, then leave early. If you need anything, you can find Adjutant Zhang—he’ll help you handle it.”

 

“But if you don’t come with me, I’ll be very lonely alone.”

 

Sang Jue pursed his lips and said directly: “I really don’t like them, but I like you.”

 

Huo Yanji’s slender fingers paused in the middle of the tail, stopping momentarily.

 

Sang Jue’s “like” didn’t have any extra meaning—just like how he somewhat liked Colin and somewhat liked old Karl, the difference was just that his fondness for Huo Yanji was a bit more than for others.

 

He was purely innocent, not understanding many things, unconsciously alluring.

 

Sang Jue was somewhat disappointed that Huo Yanji didn’t want to leave with him, but he didn’t force it. He said seriously: “I’ll prepare another plan to rescue you.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “Sang Jue, you don’t need to—”

 

“I have to go.”

 

Sang Jue’s ears twitched, as if he’d heard something. He quickly walked to the door, thought for a moment, then turned back and held up both hands: “Ten gems. That’s the payment for saving you.”

 

Huo Yanji: “…Put your tail away.”

 

Sang Jue obediently complied, thoughtfully closed the door, and his footsteps gradually faded away.

 

The note Sang Jue had forced Colin to write had somehow fallen to the ground. Huo Yanji bent down to pick it up, looked at it for a while, then tucked it into his pocket.

 

On the street below the Supervision Center.

 

The place was packed with people, all spectators wanting to see with their own eyes the Supreme Court members they’d only seen on TV before.

 

Everyone knew that the Court was now the highest organization of apocalypse survivors. All major decisions had to go through member votes. They usually stayed in the underground city and rarely came to the surface unless for important matters.

 

But today, Huo Yanji’s criminal evidence had brought Court members here. The onlookers all harbored schadenfreude—’high-ranking officials falling from their pedestal into the mud’ was one of the events the masses most enjoyed witnessing.

 

A tram slowly stopped at the Supervision Center entrance. An ordinary old man with graying temples got off first, then welcomed down the group of council members behind him.

 

The spectators whispered among themselves.

 

At first, no one recognized him: “Who’s this guy? He looks familiar…”

 

Someone sharp-eyed gasped: “It’s the former highest executive officer! Herman Coke, that killing god!!”

 

A deviant asked in confusion: “How did he age so much after retiring just a few years ago?”

 

Someone nearby mocked: “Maybe killing people keeps you young. After retiring, he’s touched less blood, so naturally he aged.”

 

A man in a jacket squatting by the roadside smoked while gloating: “The former highest executive officer arresting the current highest executive officer—now that’s interesting…”

 

He nudged the person next to him: “Hey, you think Old Herman wants to return to office?”

 

The man standing next to him, leaning against a telephone pole, was Bao Cang whom they hadn’t seen in a long time: “It’s not that simple. Huo Yanji isn’t just the highest executive officer—he’s also an army general. There have been rumors for years that his subordinate troops have extremely high loyalty. Taking him down won’t be easy.”

 

The jacket man sneered: “Isn’t torturing hundreds of deviants enough to give him hell? Really doesn’t consider us human, huh?”

 

Bao Cang said: “Enough, let’s just observe for now. Something feels off about this whole thing.”

 

The jacket man angrily threw away his cigarette butt: “Why should I care about all that? Andre just cursed his little lover a few times and is still stuck in District 7 prison! He’d better step down quickly so we can find a way to get Andre out.”

 

…

 

One hundred meters from the Supervision Center, on the rooftop of the second building diagonally across.

 

A buzz-cut man held binoculars: “Huo Yanji is in the fourth interrogation room on the left of the 22nd floor, but there are no windows—can’t see the interrogation room situation…”

 

Next to the buzz-cut man stood a woman with short black hair falling to her shoulders, wearing a black leather jacket, fitted pants with knee-high leather boots, giving her an elegant and sharp appearance.

 

She looked expressionlessly at the crowded street below, the noisy discussions endless.

 

“Huo Yanji should have died long ago!”

 

“He killed so many people—is one life enough to pay them back?”

 

“Even being cut to pieces wouldn’t be enough…”

 

The woman showed a mocking smile: “These people are still as heartless and stupid as ever.”

 

The buzz-cut man continued surveillance of the Supervision Center across: “The masses are inherently foolish, just knives for the high-ranking to kill with… Hey, why have all the supervisors in the 22nd floor corridor collapsed!”

 

The woman frowned.

 

The buzz-cut man looked puzzled: “Huo Yanji’s own people shouldn’t be making moves yet. Could it be Huo Jiangmin? Isn’t he stationed at Rift No. 2… Or is the Court staging this themselves, wanting to frame Huo Yanji for escaping justice?”

 

Strictly speaking, Huo Yanji wasn’t really in trouble yet—he was just under investigation.

 

If he were really abducted at this time, it would be very intriguing.

 

“Keep watching.”

 

“Mm—the Speaker got out of the car, and that bastard Lance too!”

 

The buzz-cut man narrowed his eyes, touching the sniper rifle leaning against the rooftop edge: “Damn, my hands are itching! How about I give him a shot right now?”

 

“Don’t be impulsive, don’t ruin my plans.”

 

“Got it, got it… But the Court people are really cunning. They could have taken a helicopter directly from the outpost into the city quietly, but they deliberately chose the main gate, making a high-profile entrance by tram…”

 

The discussion below suddenly grew louder.

 

“The Court people are coming out!!”

 

“They’re dressed so formally, I’ve never seen that style of clothing…”

 

“Suits, don’t you know? Hundreds of years ago, ancestors wore suits for important occasions.”

 

“This time Huo Yanji is really finished—the Speaker came in person.”

 

“Which one is the Speaker?”

 

“The middle one who looks like a young old man. He appeared on TV when the main city expansion plan was drafted last time.”

 

“Heh, maintains himself pretty well.”

 

“How can we compare to them? They’re big shots who stay in the underground city for safety, no wind or sun exposure—of course they look young!”

 

…

 

Lance enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. He adjusted his tie, surveying the surrounding high-rises: “District 1 is still the best built, most comfortable to look at.”

 

No one responded to him, and Lance’s face darkened awkwardly.

 

Old Herman led the way: “This way.”

 

Orderly footsteps entered the lobby, the noise behind them gradually fading.

 

Old Herman first ushered several people into the elevator, then entered last, pressing the button for the 22nd floor. His back slightly bent, he expressionlessly watched the closing elevator doors.

 

Lance loosened his tie: “This Huo Yanji… if he had just behaved and stayed out of the way, we wouldn’t have needed to target him.”

 

The Speaker in the middle was named Zom, about the same age as Old Herman, maybe even older, but his hair was jet black and neatly combed, his face showed few wrinkles, and his back was straight.

 

Zom looked at Old Herman’s back and suddenly attacked: “Didn’t we say to kill him directly? What’s with suddenly arresting him?”

 

Old Herman didn’t turn around: “How to kill him? Mr. Blake used a ton of TNT and still couldn’t blow him up—instead he crawled up from Rift No. 2. According to regulations, when Huo Jiangmin leaves the city, Huo Yanji must remain in the city. He won’t leave the city again anytime soon. Making him die in the city—do you want to trigger a civil war?”

 

“Really troublesome.” Zom said coldly, “When he said those words back then, we shouldn’t have let him climb to such a high position.”

 

Old Herman lowered his eyes: “If we hadn’t suppressed him, with his achievements he would have gotten general rank long ago.”

 

“What’s there to worry about?” Lance snorted, “With such a big incident this time, does Huo Yanji still think he can make a comeback?”

 

Zom said displeasedly: “Weren’t you supposed to stay in District 7 to find a way to open the spacecraft? What are you doing in the main city?”

 

They had encountered Lance’s convoy at the city gate and had to enter the city together.

 

Mentioning the spacecraft made Lance irritated: “The inspectors said the spacecraft quality is too high—we can’t transport it at all, and the research institute still hasn’t found a way to open it… Damn it, I just don’t understand how Huo Yanji’s people managed to transport it from the ruins back to District 7!”

 

Julian, who had been silent, said: “The person responsible for transporting the spacecraft back then was Huo Yanji’s adjutant Zhang Min. Since you’re in the main city, you could meet with him, sound him out—maybe there’s a chance to turn him.”

 

“Ding”—the elevator door opened.

 

Zom walked out with a cold laugh: “You’re playing spy games like children—defection? Just hurry up and deal with this time bomb Huo Yanji. Even if we can’t kill him, we absolutely cannot let him out—”

 

 

The air suddenly fell silent.

 

“…out.” Zom spat out the last word.

 

The 22nd floor was completely quiet, with no sound of people.

 

Six people lay on the floor by the elevator. Moving to the lobby and corridors, all supervisors and soldiers were without exception—all sprawled on the ground in every direction.

 

Old Herman’s eye twitched. He bent down to check the carotid pulse of several people, then said after a moment: “Still alive, just unconscious.”

 

Julian’s face changed slightly: “Someone abducted Huo Yanji!?”

 

Lance scoffed: “It would actually be good if he was abducted—fleeing in fear of guilt.”

 

“Fool!”

 

Zom strode forward angrily: “Why did we risk so much to kill him before? Wasn’t it to shut him up? If he’s abducted, who will control his mouth?”

 

Old Herman said hoarsely: “Wrong way, he’s in the interrogation room over here.”

 

“…”

 

The whole group turned around again, walking aggressively toward Interrogation Area B.

 

At a glance, two guards lay at the door of Interrogation Room 4, not only arranged back-to-back but with their hands raised high and tied together, four fingers bent with only their middle fingers raised high.

 

As if greeting someone.

 

“…”

 

Little damage, full of mockery.

 

Lance’s face darkened. He bent down to look: “…Glued on, can’t pry them apart.”

 

Zom directly kicked down the two guards and violently pushed open the interrogation room door. The door frame collided with the wall, making a violent “bang.”

 

Huo Yanji sat by the interrogation table, leisurely eating dinner.

 

Facing the hostile Court members, he raised his eyelids and said casually: “The Speaker came at just the right time. Care to join me for dinner?”

 

Zom’s face darkened, saying nothing.

 

Lance’s eye twitched directly. He said with a dark expression: “General Huo really doesn’t take us seriously—won’t even stand up to greet us as a pretense.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “I’m a suspect now—Mr. Blake, have you ever seen a suspect stand up to greet interrogators?”

 

Lance: “…”

 

Old Herman ordered his subordinates: “Go check the surveillance, wake everyone up, find out who was so bold as to break into the Supervision Center.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Zom slowly sat down across from Huo Yanji. He flipped through the evidence on the table and said flatly: “Having committed such a serious crime, you can still sit here eating dinner relaxedly without any guilt?”

 

“And you?”

 

Huo Yanji met Zom’s gaze, his brow and eyes covered in frost.

 

He asked flatly in return: “Are the deviants who have died one after another over the years just a string of numbers in your hearts? The so-called ‘evolution’ made them rush to death like moths to flame, and until the last moment when they closed their eyes, they were still immersed in false heroic dreams—

 

“Have you eaten well and slept soundly all these years? Have you ever had a sleepless night from guilt?”

 

Zom’s face suddenly darkened.

 

Old Herman stood to the side with lowered eyes, saying nothing.

 

Huo Yanji’s gaze was indifferent, sweeping over his jet-black hair at the temples: “Seems like you haven’t. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, you look as young as someone in their fifties or sixties.”

 

**

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