Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Yan Jiu’s Invitation

While Wu Jiu was handling the investigation report of Xuanhui City’s exploration, Bai Wu made preparations and went to the third layer.

He planned to rest well and then be able to exit the High Tower again within two days, so each time he returned to the High Tower, Bai Wu would quickly deal with various matters that could be handled.

This time, there were two matters.

Visiting Yan Jiu was secondary to maintaining their friendship; more importantly, he wanted to get some information about the ruler of the fifth layer directly from Yan Jiu.

The next matter was to interrogate Lilith, to extract information about Cain and to push Cain to make a choice as well.

Since Bai Wu did not agree to give the information about Yan Jiu to the Garrison Corps, the word "next" remained in his vocabulary.

On the elevator to the third layer, his perception increased along with his innate force, and he began to overhear some conversations.

The lowest-level miners mostly talked about whether the area they went to that day was dangerous, whether there were any gang members causing trouble, or if anyone in the overseers’ Investigation Corps was fond of taking bribes and such.

But once they shed their miner identity and became workers serving the nobles of the third layer with a monthly income of 3,000 Tower Currency, their topics switched to major events on the fourth and fifth layers of the High Tower. Issues like the recent event between the two armies, the High Tower’s future prospects, energy distribution, and when the Red Zone would be conquered became their high-level discussions. This was interspersed with complaints about the current Investigation Corps or the low level of the administrators, along with remarks about how they would handle things differently if it were up to them.

The topics discussed by some of the foremen with monthly incomes ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 Tower Currency from the second layer were about which new communication tool was better. They mostly rented houses on the second layer and commuted to the third layer for work each morning with their secondary labels.

Despite the visible difference from the capitalist nobility, they still habitually lived frugally and then saved Tower Currency to buy certain "affordable luxuries" in a hurry to differentiate themselves from other workers.

There were also those with even higher incomes who had made some name for themselves in the noble class. They earned far more than those in the previous two categories but rarely engaged in conversation and looked gloomy.

The note from Prayle’s Eye indicated that these individuals were mostly preoccupied with how to earn more money.

The only exception was in one part of the elevator, where there were also two members of the Garrison Corps.

They were undoubtedly nobles, but due to their profession, their topics of discussion were details about the event involving the two armies.

"The leader and the head of the Investigation Corps both place great importance on this event... but it seems the higher-ups plan to handle it quietly, reportedly looking for ways to suppress the matter."

"Yeah, I heard it’s because, although many were injured, only the captain of the 13th squad of the Investigation Corps died. It should serve as a warning. As for the truth, they say an explanation will be given to everyone."

"What explanation? The captains and the elites of each squad don’t agree with that. Although we’ve always been at odds with the Investigation Corps and disliked each other, this time, led by Captain Yuan of the first squad, the incident has become a big deal, demanding a thorough investigation."

"Hey, it’s not just Captain Yuan. The captains of several other squads feel the same, and so do the folks from the Investigation Corps. If things really escalate, I wonder how the upper ranks will deal with it."

This conversation confirmed Bai Wu’s speculation.

The death of Cain was just a change of skin, but his suicide could point some people’s accusations towards the rulers to some extent.

Bai Wu disliked the rulers, not because of Cain, but because of the High Tower’s system, as well as some things he experienced outside the tower.

But right now, let alone challenging the fifty-first layer, people probably didn’t even have the strength to challenge the fiftieth layer.

"Cain’s original goal was to incite conflict between the Dwarf and the high ranks; although unsuccessful, this incident has indeed stirred up trouble between the elite of the two armies and the rulers. Although I’m surprised that the Garrison Corps are so proactive, it seems that Captain Liu’s departure was quite tragic."

If the matter continued to escalate, Bai Wu guessed that the ruler of the fifth layer might intervene.

However, this was an easy problem to solve, and he had already thought of how to handle it.

...

...

Third Layer, Asylum.

Bai Wu did not delay. Upon arriving at the Asylum, he went straight to Yan Jiu’s location.

He paid no mind to Zheng Duoxi’s role swap with the nurse or the two old men’s chess match this time.

As he knocked on the door, Yan Jiu was practicing her smile in the mirror.

Her smile was already a lot more natural than before because when Liu Chengzi smiled, it looked very good, and she would learn from her.

When the knock came, her smile halted midway; she rubbed her face and opened her eyes wide as she got up to open the door.

"You’ve come to see me, huh."

Liu Chengzi’s knocking sounded urgent, while Bai Wu’s was steady and unhurried. Therefore, when Yan Jiu heard the knocking, she knew it was Bai Wu who had come.

The young girl still looked at Bai Wu with an unchanged calm expression, and Bai Wu nodded, saying,

"There are some matters I’d like to consult with you about."

"Alright."

Yan Jiu obediently behaved like a model of compliance, though she had recently learned to decline others.

For example, explaining to neighbors that she was not a transmigrator. But when she saw Bai Wu, she still couldn’t refuse.

Bai Wu felt that she should say something else, to ease the mood, thought for a moment... too troublesome, and went straight to the point:

"How much do you remember about the fifth floor?"

"The fifth floor of the High Tower? I remember everything that happened when I was a child."

Yan Jiu possessed the "standard equipment" of a photographic memory, able to accurately reproduce any sight she saw, truly a human camera.

"How many rulers are there in the High Tower?"

"I don’t know that... I’m sorry."

"There’s nothing to apologize for. Just tell me what you know."

Yan Jiu recalled some things she had heard as a child and the scenes she glimpsed from the yard; after organizing her thoughts, she found some paper and a pen and drew for Bai Wu a map of the rulers’ distribution on the fifth floor as she envisioned it in her mind.

"I had very little information I could obtain as a child... That’s all I know."

The map depicted five areas.

The map contained numerous pyramidal black towers like the ones on the fourth floor, but they were not as closely spaced. Mostly, it showed colossal buildings similar to black towers—manors.

The position of the Yan Family lay directly to the north, the Zhong Family to the northeast. Moving to the northwest was the Pang Family.

Directly south, facing the Yan Family, was the Xie Family that Bai Wu was searching for.

Indeed, this surname did exist.

To the due east, nearest to the entrance of the fifth floor’s elevator, was the Qin Family. Bai Wu surmised this must be Qin Zong’s clan?

It was said that Qin Zong belonged to one of the ruling families.

"Qin Zong doesn’t seem to possess immortality, Prayle’s Eye doesn’t see Yan Jiu with immortality either. This means these descendants on the fifth floor are just like normal people. So, whatever allows the fifth floor’s rulers to live for seven hundred years must be some kind of external force?"

Bai Wu narrowed his eyes, while Yan Jiu, supporting her chin with both hands, stared unblinkingly at him.

"Right, about this Xie Family, do you have any intelligence?"

"I know a little... because our Yan Family is responsible for energy, and the Xie Family is in charge of weapon manufacturing. So there is often cooperation, and sometimes I would eavesdrop on their conversations."

"Is the head of the Xie Family named Xie Yingjie?"

"I don’t know, I’m not..."

"Don’t say sorry," Bai Wu interrupted Yan Jiu’s apology.

"You have to remember, I’m the one asking you for help. You can be polite in your attitude but not more humble than me."

"Understood." Yan Jiu nodded.

"What do you know about the Xie Family?"

"Each family grasps different cores; the core of the Xie Family is certain large-scale weapons of mass destruction in the physical domain. But because weapons can’t be used outside the tower, it feels like the Xie Family wants to deter those within the tower. Yet, the Xie Family has never displayed such intentions."

Pausing for a moment, Yan Jiu said,

"These were my father and brother’s exact words, that it seems the Xie Family has the power to deter the other families. However, they do not show much interest in competing for power within the High Tower, which makes the Xie Family’s position very special. The person who visited our home asked about this matter too; my brother questioned why the Xie Family was obsessed with manufacturing weapons."

"How did the Xie Family respond?"

"He said that one day, they would be usable outside the Tower as well."

Bai Wu felt slightly surprised. It seemed quite likely that the Family Head of the Xie Family was Xie Yingjie...

"Right, I have another question. Your father is the highest decision-maker of the Yan Family, isn’t he?"

"Yes, I guess? But I’m not sure. It seems every family has its secrets. Our family also has a forbidden zone... It is said to be a place you must absolutely never go. Terrible things happen to those who do."

"What kind of terrible things? Do you know the details?"

Yan Jiu’s eyes were somewhat empty as she tried hard to recall the details from her childhood. She had always been obedient and never dared to venture to those prohibited places, but her brother had.

"My brother went there once, but after he did... he disappeared for a week. It was a pyramidal Black Tower with only six floors. When my brother returned after a week, he had completely forgotten what had happened. He would just occasionally get frightened and unable to speak whenever he saw that Black Tower, his whole body trembling for a long time."

Forbidden zone.

Bai Wu thought thoughtfully.

"It seems this is where these old monsters, who have lived seven hundred years, hide themselves? Perhaps it’s a semi-open secret—you can know of it but not spread the word. If you break into the forbidden zone, you risk losing your memory."

"What are you thinking about?" Yan Jiu asked.

"Nothing much. Thank you for the information you’ve provided. I’m planning to go out of the Tower the day after tomorrow, so I still have unfinished business to take care of." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Yan Jiu nodded her head. Liu Chengzi had said that Bai Wu was her business partner and friend, but he was hardly ever seen.

If it weren’t for survival, nobody would willingly leave the Tower, but Bai Wu was different—leaving the Tower seemed to be an addiction for him.

Just as Bai Wu stood up to leave, Yan Jiu suddenly remembered what Liu Chengzi said: You have to invite him!

So she stood up quickly, still with that blank expression, but spoke very decisively:

"Bai Wu, I’d like to invite you to dinner."

Fearing rejection, she added the reason for her invitation:

"Chengzi said it helps to build a closer relationship by inviting friends for a meal!"

Bai Wu paused, then asked, "What else did she say?"

"She also said to dine in different restaurants with different boyfriends, to note their tastes, and never to get it wrong. If two boyfriends have the same taste, kick out the one with the overall poorer conditions."

"Delete that sentence from your brain."

"Oh, okay, I’ve forgotten it."

Bai Wu found it somewhat amusing, but Yan Jiu was serious:

"She mentioned it should be in a romantic setting. That way, after we’ve eaten, you’ll like me more."

Bai Wu eyed Yan Jiu and, after a moment’s thought, said:

"It’s kind of you to invite me for dinner. But I refuse."

"Why?"

"A romantic setting requires everyone’s favorite food. I have no doubt that this place can be decorated to meet the basic romantic expectations of the general public, but the food won’t do. I don’t like nutrient meals."

Yan Jiu didn’t quite understand, and neither would Liu Chengzi in this context.

But people like Yin Shuang, Lin Wurou, and Wu Jiu might understand. Most people of the High Tower had never tasted delicacies from the Pre-Tower era.

They were born eating nutrient meals; meals were only for staying alive and not for sensory pleasure.

So, neither Yan Jiu nor Liu Chengzi could comprehend why a so-called romantic dinner, in Bai Wu’s opinion, was akin to everyone sitting at an exquisite place, eating crap together.

It wasn’t romantic at all.

Disappointed, Yan Jiu hung her head, thinking about what she should do and also questioning:

"But... that’s all there is to eat."

There was a note of dejection in her voice.

As Bai Wu approached the door before turning back, he addressed Yan Jiu:

"I only refused the food, not your invitation. When I have prepared the food, I will let you know."

The young girl suddenly lifted her head, gazing at Bai Wu with wide eyes.

"Goodbye."

Bai Wu left decisively without further delay.

...

...

After obtaining some information from the Asylum, Bai Wu did not delay and directly went to the interrogation team of the Investigation Corps’ second-floor branch.

Yun Shu, Xue Ci, and team leader Tian Xun were all there.

Just an hour before, they had administered an anesthetic to Lilith.

Bai Wu had requested a high dose.

Such a dosage would have been lethal for an ordinary person.

But Lilith was clearly not ordinary. Like Cain and those other rulers, she possessed a special constitution capable of living seven hundred years.

Moreover, Innate Forces of Tier Six and above also allowed Lilith’s body to counter many of the drug’s side effects.

Considering these factors, Bai Wu used a substantial amount of the drug.

But it was no longer needed, as he was about to personally interrogate Lilith.

"Is there any drug to counter the effects or stimulate her? I want her awake."

Upon reaching the temporary detention area of the interrogation team, Bai Wu stood outside the cell, looking at Tian Xun.

Tian Xun frowned and said:

"We did a check of Innate Forces, and this woman’s Innate Force is very high, her strength not inferior to some of our sub-team leaders. Are you sure you want to wake her up? Maybe we should call Captain Gu to join us?"

"Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. There’s no need to trouble the captain for such a small matter," Bai Wu replied.

Tian Xun was still somewhat concerned but ultimately prepared the drugs as Bai Wu instructed.

After Tian Xun left, Bai Wu spoke to Yun Shu:

"Do you have a needle? A triangular one, or microneedles will do. A thicker one is fine, too."

"What do you need a needle for?"

"To imitate and learn."

The Investigation Corps’ branch did have such tools, and Yun Shu quickly went to get one for Bai Wu.

With Xue Ci as the only one left to watch Bai Wu, Bai Wu now had a somewhat strange expression:

"What’s the matter with you?" Xue Ci asked.

"I’m looking for the right feeling."

"What feeling?"

"The feeling of becoming a father."

Recalling certain past experiences, Bai Wu’s expression suddenly softened, his smile became comforting—radiating a weird, beguiling charm.

However, for some reason, when Bai Wu’s gaze fell on Lilith, Xue Ci felt a chill.