Hopkin hears the Director say to him through the hidden communication device.
This time when he came to investigate the site, the Director has accompanied him. Currently, he is outside listening in on his interrogation of Bright.
Even the Director has grown wary of this guy?
As if seeing through what Hopkin is thinking, the Director continues, “I’m just worried about his influence on you.” There’s a hint of caring in his voice, like that of a kind elder towards his young ones. “You’re entrapped. I understand you, so don’t try to deny it.”
Hopkin can feel his mood going down. Nobody can ever understand him. Not the slave in front of him, not the Inner City aristocrats. Only he can understand himself. Compared to the chilliness of normal talking, provocation, or sarcasm, what he hates more is how condescending he sounds when he talks with the premise of his life experience with his age.
He’s entrapped? Since he was six, he’s looked at this world with his own unimaginably penetrating eyes. He understood that everything can be discarded. How will he grow so fond of anyone, or any thing that he becomes unable to get rid of it?
But, after being interrupted by the Director, he has his wits about again from those attractive pair of brown eyes. He masks his unnaturalness just now as confusion.
“I’ve never heard of the ‘Three Character Classic,'” he answers Bright, “it appears you’re stubborn and inflexible, rejecting knowledge like that.”
The Director warns again, “pay attention.”
How annoying, Hopkin thought, he of course remembers his objective. It’s just that that doesn’t prevent him from playing a bit first.
Hearing Hopkin’s sarcastic remarks, Bright explains, “I accepted the information. There is certainly many practical knowledge, which helped dispel the fog in my mind, and understand this place more.” Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. This educational shot injection could be said to be a blessing in disguise. He has managed to make unexpected gains.
Seeing as Hopkin appears to still be confused, Bright continues, “knowledge is itself the net sum of the results from humanity’s exploration of the physical world. This subjective representation of the objective world will always be skewed. Having one more perspective from which to view the world isn’t something bad in itself.”
It is highly likely the information could be real. He has nothing he can retort there. Yet, he has always been used to an environment where countless schools of thought competed, and used to thinking from multiple perspectives, so he is able to have a clear, outsider understanding of this world where nothing but science is hailed.
This isn’t to say that his intelligence is more than the other people around. It’s just that his perspective has been to see it from the outside in an independent, third-party angle. He also does not have any emotional attachment to this place, he’s a misfit that cannot be deceived or misled, so he can be impartial. If we’re talking about the intricacies and depth of knowledge, and the advancements of technology in this world, he can clearly state that where he is from is far, far behind. Probably a few thousand space cruisers behind. This world has even managed to artificially create werewolves, after all.
Bright speculates that it is precisely because technology has developed to such a great extent that it has neglected the development of culture, law, morality and other aspects, which resulted in such a twisted world.
It is like a vehicle with an unparalleled motor. It has horsepower and velocity, but the steering wheel, the coolant and the brakes are all broken. You can only look on as the vehicle flies forth off the road without being able to do anything about it.
Having an elementary understanding of the education the citizens of the City receive, Bright has a look of understanding when looking at Hopkin.
At the same time he has a deep revelation that you can only fight what you know.
“Thanks.” Bright, who has thought it all out, says to Hopkin in a friendly manner. He was originally unpleasant in mood. He even suspected he has decided to work together with the show. After all, what kind of right would a trainer have to appear in the medical room as he please? It’s not like it’s part of his job to give injections.
“What?” Hopkin looks purely and utterly shocked. The expression can be described as somewhat childish. It isn’t until then that Bright notices how young Hopkin is. He is gorgeous himself. So gorgeous, in fact, that the handsomeness transcends gender boundaries and is no longer bound by sexual orientation. Simply making all people desirous of him. In terms of age, he has probably only recently became an adult. The fruit is just between becoming sweet from the sourness. It’s just that he is normally giving off the atmosphere of a lonely flower growing atop the mountaintop, rejecting all attempts at familiarity or acquaintance, making him appear more mature than he is.
Like when talking to a younger acquaintance two years his junior, Bright continues in the manner of a guiding figure who is the most mature one of his generation, “my previous view is biased and opinionated. It is wrong to reject knowledge no matter the reason. I have to say I was slightly afraid just now, worried I’ll be unable to handle the information, and became trapped by information myself, losing my sense of self.”
After this, I’ll become firm and use all that can be used, learn all that can be learned.
He has stopped rejecting the world unilaterally, whether it’s a person or a thing. This has made his mind stronger.
Bright sounds calm. Sincere, even. He has admitted his falsehood and fear plainly, and awaiting the forgiveness of the other person. Even if your heart were made of metal and stone it would have been shaken.
Hopkin has recovered from his state of shock and becomes livid instead.
This is too much!
This is too laughable!
How can he be like that!
Something strange has smashed its way into Hopkin’s mind. It’s hard to describe and makes him fall into panic temporarily. He wants to goad Bright out of reflex. To mock his blindness, his trust, his stupidity… Yet his rational part is warning him. He then forcibly calms himself down and, isn’t this just what he wanted? He’s going to fabricate an even greater lie, lead Bright deep into the abyss, and betray him at the most critical moment. To admire him as his soul breaks apart and enters despair.
Look, I have betrayed you so ruthlessly. So easily I toyed with you like the back of my hand!
Therefore, he will continue to pretend to be friendly. He will make the deception as tragic as possible.
Hopkin has convinced himself and rejects all the other thoughts springing into his mind.
“The main reason I have come is to inform you your body check result showed everything is normal.” Hopkin recovers his own voice. Calm and collected. Not a hint of his real emotions.
Bright straightens his posture. Finally, they’re onto the main subject. He is trying to deduce the role of Hopkin in all this. Is he part of the show, the army, or representing himself and nothing more? Or is he part of another faction?
“Anything wrong with it being normal?”
“It is the complete normalcy that is abnormal.” Hopkin says on purpose, trying to catch Bright in his act.
“I know what the show is suspecting,” Bright answers, “I did conceal my true strength. It’s just my strategy to win.” Not only winning this Killing Gauntlet, but also the fight with the people of the City. “I’ve always fought alone. I don’t know how many more enemies will pop up the next second, trying to tear me to pieces. I must stay vigilant at all times, even forcing myself to be alert as I sleep.” Even though I actually sleep pretty well every night. “Just this much has already made me the prime target of all the contestants. If my true capabilities were exposed, I’d have died a long time ago.”
Bright tries adopting the strategy of the moaning army . He looks into the pair of black eyes, not finding any empathy or sympathy in there. He is disappointed and so retrieves it and turns to something else, “instead of focusing on me, why not look at those dangerous and comprehensive teams? I’m just one person myself, easy to take care of. If it’s like the Wolves, they’re definitely not just 1+1=2 when they team up; they might even split the heavens.”
“What is it that you’re trying to say?” Hopkin looks as if he is asking casually, but his attention is completely in focus now. Even the Director who is monitoring outside has his gaze locked firmly on Bright.
What Bright answers right now is going to decide his fate from now on——if he helps defend them, it means they are probably allied. The show will become wary and give him due punishment or even eliminate the threat entirely. The werewolves have military backing but not Bright. Just like he said, he’s always been alone; if he betrays the werewolves, it will be safe for him, but it’ll also deeply antagonise him in the eyes of the werewolves and the military. He won’t have a good time then.
Bright has made the right choice standing against the werewolves, “the Wolves are a danger. If you happen to run into them afterwards, try to avoid them.”
He is probing Hopkin in turn. He made his speech vague on purpose, trying to get information from Hopkin.
If Hopkin already knows the true identity of the Wolves, he’s probably sent to interrogate him from the show. Otherwise, he’s probably just used by the show.
Hopkin sees through Bright’s tricks and stays silent. He can feel how slippery this guy is. There’s no flaw he can use.
Without speaking, Bright also understood the meaning of his silence as an admission. He sighs in his mind.
Still, for Bright, that the show has not decided to upset the status quo and instead sent someone who appears to be on his good side to probe him in a friendly manner, means the situation isn’t severe right now, being under control——He really has low expectations for the show. It’s good as long as there are no inhumane tortures or secret assassinations.
Time passes as the two remain silent. The mood becomes awkward. Hopkin feels bored and is leaving when Bright calls him.
“Can I still see you from now on? I want to…” He pauses for a moment before saying, “get to know you better.”
Get to know him better? Hopkin furrows his brows, does he mean what he thinks he means?
“I was a bit sad you wanted to end our relationship. Maybe I was partly responsible. Hopkin, I treasure our current relationship. Even if there isn’t an appropriate word to describe it for now, I think it’s better than strangers but not yet acquaintances. Yet I do really treasure this. There’s no one else besides you.”
Hopkin feels complicated, like both pleasure and displeasure mixing together at the same time. He’s happy that the prey has stepped into the trap actively, quicker than he thought. Yet it is a bit unlike the situation he has in his head, this is not under his control. He hasn’t done anything yet, or used any of his methods, before the other person is already surrendering.
This man in front of him is someone he cannot just describe in terms of being interested or not in terms of attitude. The man can easily manipulate his emotions, more easily than ever. This is making him a bit worried. Though he cannot deny that he is extremely excited and emotionally piqued at the same time. It’s like a window suddenly opening in a dusty, forgotten room. The sunlight shines in, and the wind brings the flow of fresh, live air inside. There is no longer just silence and depression.
Hopkin’s mind is blanked. Bright is already dominating their interaction without Hopkin noticing.
The man climbs up from the medical bed. He walks in front of Hopkin, his perfectly proportioned body and his muscles on display. He lowers his head slightly, looking at Hopkin with those pair of piercing brown eyes currently emanating some kind of kindness.
“I wish to be able to still see you from now on. If there’s something I can do, please do tell me about it.”
So this was it, Hopkin realises that it was not a capitulation. It is a reverse hunting. The deceptive prey wants to deceive the hunter.