Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 327: Chapter 131: The Most Enthusiastic Citizen of Baichuan City

(Unable to use extra updates for the Silver Alliance, with the completion progress at 31/100.)

Wu Jiu sensed something off in Bai Wu’s words.

"What are you planning to do? Some things are very dangerous, don’t be impulsive," he said.

"Yes, they are very dangerous, but the source that forces us to do these dangerous things won’t let us off the hook because of it. Captain, exploring outside of the tower is also very dangerous, why do you think there is a difference between these dangers?" Bai Wu responded.

Wu Jiu was taken aback; Bai Wu clearly had a hidden meaning in his words.

Preventing Yan Jiu and Qin Zong from marrying seemed to have only two solutions: either appeal to the rulers with reason or... still with reason.

Bai Wu’s expression seemed to indicate the latter.

"This is different..." Wu Jiu said.

"How is it different? Death lies both outside and inside the tower. Captain, what if I tell you that if we don’t do this, Yan Jiu will surely choose death as a form of resistance? Is my life worth something but hers not?" Bai Wu pressed.

Bai Wu hadn’t intended to bring up this topic now, but since things had come to this point, and since the place he was arranging for Dwarf to go was related to his future plans, he decided to lay it all out here.

"I’m going to take Yan Jiu away, which means the tower might no longer have a place for her, and if we’re not careful, perhaps for me either. I know you, Captain, you want to warn me about these things, but I’ve always known the consequences. Ever since we dealt with the Zhong Family, I’ve known the consequences," Bai Wu explained.

Wu Jiu always felt there was something different about Bai Wu now, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Bai Wu’s tone was as usual:

"Captain, from the moment we killed Zhong Xu, we stood on the opposite side of the High Tower."

Wu Jiu did not argue with this statement.

"But we are not standing against humanity. I believe what you, Captain, want to change is humanity’s future, not the future of the tower’s rulers. Just like our senior, Gu Hailin."

"I don’t trust the High Tower, I don’t know what lies above the fifth level."

Indeed, someone knew, but that person, coveting the bodies of Bai Wu and Wu Jiu, spewed lies continuously and might not be willing to tell the truth.

"I despise the rulers. I have a premonition that the Qin and Yan Families’ wedding will be a turning point for us. Some evil secrets may be exposed. What will you do then, Captain?" Bai Wu asked.

No one had ever asked Wu Jiu these questions, and he seldom thought about them. Bai Wu understood why the captain did not dwell on these questions and said it for him:

"Without the power to establish a new system, there’s no point in thinking about these things. I remember you telling me that, Captain. But in this world, many things are done out of desperation, achieved in the realm of the impossible."

These words seemed to stray from the issue of Yan Jiu’s marriage. Wu Jiu understood what Bai Wu was trying to convey:

"I just feel... this day shouldn’t have come so soon."

"Then how long should we wait? Yan Zizai faces life and death crises outside the tower. Yan Jiu, on the other hand, should marry a man she doesn’t like because of her family’s arrangement. Captain Qin has to marry his subordinate’s friend for the sake of family interests. These are all very trivial matters."

As if these were indeed trivial matters, Bai Wu even smiled:

"If it were someone else, say, if a manager’s wife married the commander of the Garrison Corps, or if a noble’s daughter caught a manager’s eye and he got her by hook or by crook, we might not care."

"After all, crimes happen every day in the tower, and every day people are frustrated, right? But this time, it’s Yan Jiu, it’s Captain Qin. It’s Yan Zizai who suffers outside the tower. If I don’t save her this time, if I don’t resist those people on the fifth level, then next time, Lin Wurou, Wang Shi, Bai Xiaoyu, Yin Shuang might all suffer."

Bai Wu’s tone was indifferent, yet it conveyed seriousness:

"It’s already not too soon, Captain."

Wu Jiu fell silent; it took him half a minute before he finally spoke:

"Where do you want me to go?"

Bai Wu handed the Traction Disc to Wu Jiu.

"This is the Traction Disc. I’ve been using the one from the Zhong Family, and this one was the one I used before, a legacy from Cain. Captain, I need you to go to Baichuan Campus."

"That is a..."

"Refuge."

Those three words were said nonchalantly, but Wu Jiu felt a profound sense of shock.

"That is where we truly belong. The High Tower might have protected humanity for seven hundred years, but in those seven hundred years, the distortion within the Tower is no less than that outside it."

Wu Jiu took the Traction Disc from Bai Wu’s hand as Bai Wu continued:

"For things that haven’t happened yet, all we can do is to be mentally prepared in advance. Right now, I need the captain to find someone,"

"Who?"

"Lin Rui."

Wu Jiu had a vivid memory of Lin Rui, for he was very strong. Among the people who appeared in the Food Domain, Lin Rui’s strength could be considered the strongest.

Bai Wu began to lay out more details of the plan to Wu Jiu, including the plan to rescue Yan Zizai.

"The Guardian of the Yan Family seems to be conspiring with powers outside the Tower. At the moment, I deduce that their destination is likely the flight we once took. There appears to be some secret on that flight. Captain should remember, in the large passenger plane, there were many things we didn’t explore. And Yan Zizai, he is key to their acquisition of something."

Until then, Bai Wu kept mentioning that something had happened to Yan Zizai, and it was only now that Wu Jiu understood what had actually happened.

"Is the prison very dangerous?"

"Extremely dangerous. Though I was able to escape, I could only manage to get out on my own and couldn’t take anyone else with me. Even if I return as an escapee, with the gifts obtained from Mechanical City, I’m not absolutely sure that I can rescue people, and you, Captain, cannot go with me."

"Why not?"

"Because the rules of that place are very special. Once you enter, you go in as a prisoner, and that brings too many variables. Although the Captain is very powerful, you are not suitable to participate in the rescue this time."

Wu Jiu roughly understood.

The prison’s special nature prevented the people of the High Tower from supporting through the Stele, and so Bai Wu needed an "external support."

Baichuan City was an extremely long distance from Shudu. To cross countless regions in a short time and rush from Baichuan City to Shudu, the only person capable of this was Lin Rui, who wielded the power of Temporal Power.

And only Lin Rui could, on his first entry into Shudu Prison, break free from the prison rules by his own strength.

Although Bai Wu very much wanted Wu Jiu to participate in the rescue, he had to have the captain go to Baichuan City. He believed that some of the experiences in Baichuan Campus would change some of the captain’s perspectives.

...

...

Outside the Tower, Baichuan Campus.

After talking with Bai Wu, Wu Jiu didn’t delay and took the Traction Disc out of the Tower immediately.

This place, once explored by Bai Wu alone, the legendary refuge, he finally got to see it with his own eyes.

The moment Wu Jiu arrived at Baichuan Campus, he felt the presence of a large number of Evil Fallen. Their numbers were staggering.

Among these Evil Fallen, there were a few strong ones, while there were only two humans, or more precisely, one and a half.

One-eared Lin Rui and the Semi-Evil Fallen Jiang Yimi.

Wu Jiu instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of the knife.

He soon saw many Evil Fallen wearing Pre-Tower Era student uniforms passing by, wandering aimlessly, without any desire to attack humans.

Some even looked at Wu Jiu, their eyes devoid of any hostility.

Guided by his senses, Wu Jiu walked unhurriedly through the campus.

Although four hours hadn’t passed, Wu Jiu felt strangely that this place seemed to lack the rules that made survival difficult.

The activities of the Evil Fallen were orderly; without the twisted rules, they were no longer driven by resentment. Despite their emotions often being more paranoid than those of real humans, to Wu Jiu, they seemed quite peaceful and normal.

The forbidden zones on campus remained places people dared not approach, except for Lin Rui, who always wandered around the school and even beyond its grounds.

Since the Evil Fallen couldn’t lift the area restrictions, even after seven hundred years, the school’s Evil Fallen had no idea what was happening outside.

After arriving at Baichuan campus, the wandering prodigal felt a sense of homecoming. He liked this place a lot and also liked these students who, although transformed into Evil Fallen, like him, had sought survival in the apocalypse.

He would visit many places outside of Baichuan City to see if there was anything fun and interesting to tell the students about.

He also explored certain areas to uncover tales from seven hundred years past. Baichuan City was simply too vast, with too many accessible areas, making the city seem like a massive playground for Lin Rui.

He was like an overly enthusiastic citizen of Baichuan. He wanted to explore every place.

Of course, there were places Lin Rui was wary of, like the zoo on the outskirts of Baichuan City, where he once heard laughter that was quite seductive.

The sound seemed to possess a kind of magic, making him somewhat dazed when he returned, his mind involuntarily filled with thoughts of bloody violence.

In a vast city like this, there would always be some monsters over seven hundred years. Lin Rui did not underestimate these creatures. After meeting up with Nie Chongshan and others, they formed a cleaning crew for Baichuan City, and Lin Rui would tell them which areas to avoid and not to provoke.

Although Nie Chongshan constantly called everything trash, he still listened to Lin Rui’s opinions.

Today, Lin Rui was still planning to explore outside the campus. He had recently found a residential area in the South District, where a few humanoid Evil Fallen lived. These Evil Fallen all gathered in the community as if plotting something.

Lin Rui had used his senses to investigate and felt as though there were a large number of living things inside the community.

He marked the residential community as a forbidden zone and planned to check it out himself.

But at that moment, Wu Jiu encountered Lin Rui.

"Ah! You are the one from the senior’s side... that, that, that... Captain Wu Jiu!"

Lin Rui greeted him cheerfully.

Wu Jiu frowned. Although Lin Rui’s words seemed... correct, something felt off.

The recent addition of Nie Chongshan and Gu Hailin gave Lin Rui some insight into the Investigation Corps outside the Tower. Especially Liu Mu’s stories of Wu Jiu’s reliable deeds and legendary experiences made Lin Rui take quite a liking to him.

Even Nie Chongshan no longer referred to Wu Jiu with comments like "Hmph, trash."

"Welcome to the refuge! Are you here to find the other seniors from the Investigation Corps? Come, come, come! I’ll take you to them! They’ll be thrilled to see you," said Lin Rui, undoubtedly an enthusiastic citizen, showing no awkwardness around Wu Jiu.

It was rather Wu Jiu who was slightly uncomfortable with Lin Rui’s enthusiasm. Not out of dislike, but just a bit bewildered, he seriously said:

"I’m here to find you. Bai Wu has something he wishes to entrust to you."

"No problem! Whatever concerns the senior is my concern too!"

Lin Rui agreed so readily that Wu Jiu’s impression of him improved further.

"This matter is dangerous. Do you know the doctor?"

Wu Jiu’s words left Lin Rui slightly stunned.

"The doctor you mentioned... which doctor is it?"

"Evil Fallen, who looks no different from a doctor, wearing a mask and a white coat, likes to perform live experiments and enjoys torturing people, and seems to have the ability to merge sequences. Bai Wu said, this person has some connection with your mask."

Lin Rui looked at Wu Jiu in astonishment and said:

"It seems you know about it."

"Yes, I have some scores to settle with this doctor. If you know his whereabouts, you must tell me!" Lin Rui’s expression was serious and earnest.

Bai Wu actually didn’t know about the grudge between the Masked Strange Person and the doctor, or that between the Masked Strange Person and Lin Rui. Nor was he clear on how much the Masked Strange Person had confided in Lin Rui.

It was just that Lin Rui’s attitude was more urgent than he had anticipated.

When imparting certain information, Bai Wu had been very detailed with Wu Jiu, including the surroundings of the prison and the most likely location of the prison in the suburbs of Shudu.

Wu Jiu also relayed everything without omission to Lin Rui and finally admonished:

"This person is very dangerous. Bai Wu hopes you can support only when you are confident, and not overextend yourself."

"Whether I’m confident or not, I have to find this person. In a way, finding this doctor is like fulfilling my teacher’s last wish."

"Teacher?"

Wu Jiu vaguely remembered that in the conversation between Bai Wu and Lin Rui, the Masked Strange Person was mentioned. Although it sounded quite convoluted, he could discern that there were three Masked Strange Persons in total.

"I really want to help you, but it seems this task can only be completed by you. Bai Wu will rush to Shudu Prison in a few hours. Can you make it there in time to support?"

Lin Rui smiled:

"I get to see my senior again, huh? I’m really happy. Don’t worry, Captain Wu Jiu! I travel very fast."

Wu Jiu corrected him:

"You can just call me Captain; there’s no need for such formality as Captain Wu Jiu." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"But this way of calling is very cute, haha..." Young people always like to imitate those they think are cool.

Lin Rui’s enthusiasm and familiarity were factors too. Of course, he was not imitating Bai Wu.

A golden light enveloped Lin Rui’s body, that strange power that seemed not to belong to the Sequence attracted Wu Jiu’s attention.

In Wu Jiu’s eyes, Lin Rui’s speed became unimaginably fast, not just in movement but as if even his breathing hastened.

But in reality, Lin Rui did not get faster.

Instead, the "time" around Lin Rui slowed down.

For Lin Rui, the flow of time seemed to have a visible shape, and the temporal dimension around him slowed down increasingly, but Wu Jiu, who did not perceive this, felt that Lin Rui’s movements were accelerating. freēwebnovel.com

"I bid you farewell now, Captain Wu Jiu. Don’t worry, with me here, my senior will definitely be safe!"

Lin Rui put on the mask, unaware that he seemed to be in a "fast-forward" state, causing his voice to rush through his words in one breath.

By the time Wu Jiu reacted—

Lin Rui had already vanished. At the edge of his sight, he could no longer see Lin Rui’s figure, as if that fleeting golden shadow was nothing but a void illusion.