Chapter 7: Sea Without Light 07
Xueyao Shu looked at Kui Xin, who was sitting opposite him, and sighed helplessly.
“Captain, are you working overtime?” Kui Xin attempted to make conversation.
“Yeah, overtime. I was supposed to leave three minutes ago, but you…” Xueyao Shu paused, “Explain what happened.”
“On my way home after work, I encountered a robbery, and I… killed someone without controlling myself.” Kui Xin sighed, “Will I face any punishment?”
Xueyao Shu thought for a moment, “No, because those two had criminal records, and you acted in self-defense. You’re part of the Investigation Bureau, and even though you’re an intern, you have immunity. You won’t face legal responsibility for injuries caused while performing your duties. This matter doesn’t need to be handed over to other departments; we can handle it internally, or else the process will be too cumbersome.”
Kui Xin said, “Captain, I wasn’t on duty when…”
Xueyao Shu shot her a stern look: “You were on duty.”
Kui Xin: “…I understand.”
Xueyao Shu intended to use his position to settle the matter.
“Captain Shu, the autopsy report has arrived,” Augus reported.
“Show it,” Xueyao Shu said.
The holographic projector in the office adjusted its angle, displaying two corpses lying on the autopsy table in lifelike detail.
One person had a horrifying indentation in the skull, the head reduced to a bloody mess, while the other had an inconspicuous wound on the chest, blood covering the body.
Kui Xin lowered her head, avoiding looking at the bodies.
“Liu Gaoyang: cause of death was a crushed skull, the temple was struck by a heavy object, causing the fractured skull to pierce the brain. Time of death was less than an hour ago.”
“Song Yuan: cause of death was a stab wound to the chest, the weapon precisely pierced between the third and fourth ribs on the left side, directly into the heart, killing him instantly. Time of death was also less than an hour ago.”
Xueyao Shu raised an eyebrow in surprise, noticing Kui Xin’s pale complexion, he smirked: “I thought you wouldn’t feel anything. If I’m not mistaken, this is your first kill.”
“How could I not feel anything?” Kui Xin pressed her forehead, the contents of her stomach churning.
Fortunately, she hadn’t eaten much in the past few hours, or she would have vomited.
Initially, she felt detached, as if things were unreal, the situation exceeding her expectations.
But now, hearing Augus recount the autopsy reports, her mind began to replay the scene of her killing over and over, bringing her back to reality.
“Don’t vomit in my office; the bathroom is left and then straight,” Xueyao Shu said. “You did quite well in the basic skills at school. I’ve seen your internal scores; tracking, combat, investigation, and shooting—those practical courses were nearly perfect. Kui Xin, you are the best newcomer in the Investigation Bureau in recent years.”
He poured her a glass of ice water: “Drink it slowly.”
Kui Xin took the ice water and drank it all at once, the chilling sensation slightly cooling her turbulent thoughts.
“You were supposed to join the criminal investigation team; I requested you to join us. The field team works harder than other departments, facing danger directly, combating evildoers head-on. There are many unpredictable emergencies when patrolling, and there’s even a risk to life,” Xueyao Shu said. “If you can’t adapt to this kind of fieldwork, you can apply to transfer to another team when the internship ends.”
Kui Xin remained silent.
“You can think about it. Personally, I hope you stay; our field team lacks newcomers,” he said. “By the way, your home is on Peaceful Street in the Harbor Zone?”
“Yes,” Kui Xin replied.
“The security there is terrible, full of gangs, hard to manage. Homicides occur every month, and illegal trading spots are most common in the Harbor Zone,” Xueyao Shu advised. “Consider moving to a safer place.”
“But I can’t afford to move,” Kui Xin said sadly. “That house was left by my parents; I’m in college on loans, owing the bank three hundred thousand… It’ll take ages to pay off.”
Xueyao Shu was momentarily at a loss for words.
“When you become a full-time employee, you can stay in the employee dormitory,” he said. “You can apply for full-time status in a week, just take it slow. Also, your personal communicator seems to have been damaged during the last outing; you…”
“Can the loss be reimbursed? This was a work-related property loss,” Kui Xin said quietly.
Xueyao Shu laughed, “No, it can’t.”
He bent down and pulled out a box from the drawer of his desk. “This is a communicator issued by the Investigation Bureau for formal members, just a basic model; use it for now.”
Kui Xin accepted the box, saying, “Thank you, Captain.”
Unable to hold back her urge to speak, she remarked, “Do other team leaders care for their team members’ lives like you do? If the other team leaders weren’t as gentle and considerate as you, I wouldn’t apply to leave the field team.”
Xueyao Shu: “…”
He cleared his throat, pretending not to have heard.
“If you really can’t get over the hurdle of killing someone, go to the Psychological Therapy Office,” Xueyao Shu concluded. “Director Yang at the Psychological Therapy Office is an excellent therapist; he will help you relieve your burdens.”
……
Xi Liang stood dumbly on the first floor of the Investigation Building, finding a spot to wait for someone.
The statement had long been taken. As a witness, he had limited observations, with little to say.
The interrogators had used a high-tech device similar to a lie detector on him, asked a few questions, and then let him go.
He waited for Kui Xin in the reception area on the first floor.
Ten minutes passed when the number displaying the elevator’s floor started to descend, the elevator doors opened and Kui Xin came out.
“You haven’t left?” Kui Xin said in surprise.
“Waiting for you,” Xi Liang replied.
“Then hurry home; the electric tram stops running at midnight,” Kui Xin urged.
Xi Liang nodded quickly, thinking that’s exactly what he was waiting to hear.
The Second World had long entered a cashless society. He was unfamiliar here and didn’t know how to pay, nor could he find his way home. What would he do if he got lost alone? So he thought of Kui Xin. She also lived on Peaceful Street, and once her business was concluded, they could go back together.
Kui Xin led Xi Liang to the tram stop, familiar with the route.
Xi Liang curiously looked around. When he saw the advertisements projected in midair, he gasped, amazed at the brilliance of holographic imaging technology.
“What year are you in?” Kui Xin probed for information.
“First-year college student; I just received the acceptance letter for the mechanical engineering program this morning,” Xi Liang scratched his head.
“The tuition at Black Sea Academy isn’t cheap; have you found a way to get loans?” Kui Xin probed further. To make her questioning seem less intentional, she added, “I took a lot of detours to get into college; just a tip for you—don’t get involved in high-interest loans.”
“Okay,” Xi Liang asked, “how expensive is the tuition?”
Kui Xin recalled the materials she had read. “Over two hundred thousand a year, not including living expenses.”
“What?!” Xi Liang exclaimed in shock, “Why don’t they just rob a bank?! This is a university that cultivates talent! How many excellent students are deterred by such high tuition fees?”
Kui Xin looked at Xi Liang strangely. He lowered his voice in frustration: “This tuition is outrageous; it’s beyond reason!”
“There’s nothing that can be done; that’s how the regulations are,” Kui Xin replied.
Xi Liang mumbled, “I’ve finally broadened my horizons…”
Education monopolization, large wealth gaps, class stratification—that is the current state of the Second World. The wealthy can afford university, gaining higher education, while ordinary people without means can only engage in lower-paying jobs. Over time, the wealth gap widens, and class divisions become firmer.
Education in the Second World is not meant to cultivate talent but to solidify the interests of the elite.
“Senior!” Xi Liang leaned closer to Kui Xin, asking, “Is there any way to get legal loans?”
This guy really knows how to sweet talk—calling her ‘Senior’ already.
Kui Xin said, “Banks may provide loans, but whether they actually do is uncertain; sometimes the interest rates are quite high.”
Xi Liang looked worried: “I’m so afraid I won’t be able to go to school.”
The Second World is a capitalist society; how could profit-seeking capitalists possibly do charity?
By the time the electric tram arrived, Xi Liang still wore a distressed expression.
This was interesting. Kui Xin had confirmed that Xi Liang was a player; theoretically, he had only arrived in this world less than a day ago and should have no sense of belonging here, yet he was genuinely worried about the cost of school.
Kui Xin herself had triggered the game system’s “Investigate the Port Explosion” mission; could it be that Xi Liang’s mission was “Successfully Enroll in Black Sea Academy”?
If that’s the case, then his sincere worry made sense.
“Let’s board,” Kui Xin said, stepping forward to pay with a facial scan.
Xi Liang followed closely, also scanning his face for payment, but the machine prompted: “Insufficient balance, payment failed.”
Xi Liang: “…?!”
He scanned again, but the machine still indicated: “Insufficient balance, payment failed.”
Kui Xin looked at him with sympathy and walked to the recognition machine to scan for him: “Facial recognition passed; payment successful.”
She patted the dumbfounded Xi Liang and said, “I paid for you; thanks for accompanying me to the Investigation Bureau.”
Xi Liang almost cried, “Damn, why am I so poor? Is there really hope for me to go to college?”
“Work hard; there will be opportunities,” Kui Xin said, showing a look of shared empathy.
This moment wasn’t just two people from the same hometown meeting; it was a case of two poor souls relating to each other.
Kui Xin completely understood Xi Liang’s feelings because, in the First World, she too was troubled about living expenses and tuition fees, though the amount she needed wasn’t as absurd as over two hundred thousand a year.
The electric tram sped along, and they got off at Peaceful Street.
“Uh, isn’t it a bit dangerous for a girl to walk alone? Should I walk you back…” Xi Liang halted, “With your strength, it seems you don’t need me to.”
“Just go home; I can manage by myself,” Kui Xin waved her hand.
Xi Liang said, “Bye, Senior… wait, let’s exchange contact information, Senior!”
Kui Xin took out the communicator given by Xueyao Shu, and after much fumbling, Xi Liang finally managed to add her contact details.
The rain showed no signs of stopping as Kui Xin held an umbrella, navigating the streets to find her home.
This small building had peeling paint, and even colorful advertisements were stuck on it. The corridor smelled of mold, with a rusty iron door ajar, creaking loudly when pushed.
She walked up to the third floor, pausing at the door to grasp the doorknob.
“Fingerprint verification passed.” The door opened.
As Kui Xin stepped inside her home, a feeling of instinctive warning surged within her.
She looked up and was horrified to see a shadow sitting on the sofa in the living room.
The shadow wore a silver mask, and a pair of eyes peered through the hollow of the mask, scrutinizing Kui Xin.
“You’re late,” the silver-faced figure said.
The tone suggested familiarity.
“I ran into a bit of trouble on the way,” Kui Xin reacted quickly, continuing the conversation.
“Have you seen the mission chip handed over by the leader?” the silver-faced figure asked.
“No,” Kui Xin replied as succinctly as possible. She was cautious about over-explaining, fearing it might give her away.
“Hmm. The leader instructed me to tell you that this mission must be completed, no matter the cost.” The silver-faced figure stood up from the sofa. “From today onwards, I will be your assistant and teammate in Hei Hai City, working with you to complete various tasks. My code name is ‘Silverface’; you need to come up with a code name for communication.”
Code name? Kui Xin’s mind raced.
Silverface said, “The code name should ideally have no connection to your actual characteristics; the greater the difference, the better. Don’t let others associate your code name with you…”
“Lady Fortune.”
Silverface paused: “What did you say?”
“Lady Fortune,” Kui Xin calmly repeated, “the code name is Lady Fortune.”
She felt that “Lady Fortune” was a great code name—the distance between her and the name was not merely vast; it was tens of thousands of miles apart.
Silverface: “…”
After a long pause, he finally said, “Well… it’s not unworkable… Are you sure that’s what you want to call yourself?”
“Sure,” Kui Xin insisted. “Let’s go with Lady Fortune.”
This was a code name that was both distanced from her actual self and encapsulated her hopeful aspirations for the future. Her dream was to become Lady Fortune!
“Alright, ‘Lady Fortune’,” Silverface’s expression was hard to read behind the mask, “hurry up and check the mission that the leader has for you.”
Kui Xin took the blue chip from her pocket and placed it on her wristband to read it.
The first line of the mission data displayed: “Mission: completely destroy the port of Hei Hai City.”
Kui Xin: “???”
What on earth is wrong with these NPCs?! Why are they so fixated on this port?!
