Chapter 42

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

Seeing the two reach a compromise, other Inner City aristocrats are relieved as the atmosphere warms back up to a casual relaxed state.

“When you’re done playing, give his body to me. He will be a good experimental material,” the person whose voice is as cold and slippery as a snake says, “you know that I hate wasting.”

“Certainly, Scientist.” Hopkin agrees with a neutral expression. This will be a matter after the fact. At the time he will definitely have consumed Bright and become sick of him. He can be handled any way afterwards, including giving to someone else.

“What do you plan to make him into?” Someone follows up.

The Scientist does not answer with language, but emits a series of hissing that sounds as if pleased, like a snake putting its forked tongue out to locate its prey, making people’s hairs stand on end.

They continue their interesting discussion on human modification, exchanging thoughts and ideas, and praising in admiration at displays of creativity. Seeing how almost everyone is here at the same time, they then discuss the arrangements of the show after this.

“You will have to ask Statistician.” The Director hands it over to a youngster.

The Statistician arrived with the Director. They interact mostly as colleagues and have already had a discussion on the way here.

“Compared to previous seasons the survival rate for the same period is 22% higher,” the Statistician’s voice is completely devoid of human emotions. He reads out many pairs of data for comparison, and returns a result like a machine, “too many contestants will disperse audience voting and adversely affect making TV stars. It is recommended that contestants without potential and popularity be eliminated as soon as possible.”

“Certainly.”

“A list has been compiled and sent to your smart chips.” The Director said.

“Hopefully there will be no more accidents.” Like this time when a bear and tiger fight ended up with a sudden plan B because the bear got itself crippled.

Someone complains, “we should insert chips into the brains of the contestants.”

“That will be too boring. Unexpected circumstances are good for spicing things up, to have a surprise now and then.”

“That is true…”

The sounds of chatter have left him far behind. Hopkin appears to be checking information like others in his smart chip on the surface, but his consciousness is focused on how to deal with Bright.

After his initial displeasure, that is, his fury, anxiety and dejection have passed, he now has to face a great challenge, which is how to keep his lie that he is the ‘Detective’ from being exposed, and especially how to keep this matter away from the real Detective.

Hopkin could theoretically reveal his identity early and still see Bright’s fury and vengefulness regardless, but doing that will mean he has lost. Not to Bright, but to the game.

Hopkin refuses to accept this possibility.

Just imagining it is churning his innards and making him uncomfortable. He interprets this as his reaction to losing control.

This unaccounted event orchestrated by Detective has severely impacted Hopkin’s target of extracting entertainment from the game he designed himself.

He must conquer the man completely. He has already half-succeeded by now, and gained his trust as an Inner City aristocrat, but he has not even obtained his body, not to mention his mind! It’s as if the tree has already begun bearing fruits, but before they’re ripe, he who is thirsty must continue to wait. No way will he ever allow others to come with an axe and chop it to smithereens.

The Detective’s reasoning is impeccable, but they both know that it is but a ruse.

Bright does have a lot of incongruities on him, and filled with secrets; however, there is someone who has spent all that time and effort to construct someone whose thoughts and actions are utterly contrastive with City residents, eliminated his identity before putting him into the show under the spotlight. What could their motive be?

Even if we were to step forth assuming Bright’s sudden appearance is indeed orchestrated for some unknown purpose, he is still only a lowly slave in the end. His existence itself cannot change anything but continue to be a marionette controlled by the show. He has no freedom nor rights. Why not put him in a higher position if he were to play a role? If the person who is behind it is that blind and wasteful of resources, they are nothing to be concerned about.

Right now, any resident of the City, any free man can tightly grasp him in their palms and do as they please to him. Killing a slave is too easy. Even the foolish Watchdog knows to stuff a group of Dog Soldiers into the show and not one so that they can face the endless dangers with teamwork. The show can very easily kill off any suspicious contestants to eliminate the risk at any time and won’t waste time investigating.

In conclusion, the Detective has become interested in his toy only and wants to borrow him for a few days.

Others are probably able to tell that, like the Director, who chose to oppose him and go with the flow.

The Gentleman half-closes his eyes. His long eyelashes covering the coldness deep within his eyes.

The sixth episode competition is near its end. Bright has not seen Grizzlybear up to this point. He suspects some accident may have occurred and frowns lightly.

“Isn’t this a good thing?” Harry asks. He calculated his points just now and, thanks to the sharks, most of their group are in the top half in terms of points. Their situation is favourable and he is very happy.

Piers sniggers. He is probably still not over the ‘green hat’ joke that Thin Bamboo made before, and says in a displeased tone, “dumbass, he is supposed to be antagonising Grizzlybear. Now we killed so many sharks and yeah, we got the points, but we might replace Grizzlybear as the target of attack of the animal protection groups.”

More concerningly, this has been completely different from what the show has arranged for. Everyone knows how deep their need for control is and how vengeful they are. They worked night and day for the plan only to be disrupted by all these braindead uncooperative contestants. Anyone would be unhappy.

The happiness in the others’ expressions dampens as they hear Piers’ analysis. Only Big Retard is focused on eating right now making lots of meat-chewing noises.

Ginger on the left side of Bright starts to blame himself, and lowers his head in guilt, “I’m sorry…”

“No use to overthinking things. We’ll deal with things as they go.” Bright interrupts Ronald as he soothes his own anxiety and worry. He is staring blankly into the campfire and preparing to be punished.

When he is taken by armed personnel again, Bright knows that what’s to come has come.

Blindfolded with his head stuffed into a bag, it’s the familiar method, and the familiar Shithead.

His hands and knees have been locked by cuffs. Someone puts a ventilator on him then throws him into some liquid. After his initial panic he calms back down. He uses his hands as support and climbs back up.

Bright discovers that the water is shallow, just barely over his thighs when he stands straight. He tries to explore in the dark, and finds himself to be in what appears to be a cage. There is tough iron fencing both above and around him.

The ground he is stepping on shudders before he hears the sound of machinery operation. The water surface is rising, no, actually, the cage is sinking – he is sinking into the water with the cage, which explains the ventilator.

Bright has started to worry. The Shithead does not want to drown him, which means there is something much worse in store for him than water torture.

Remembering how the Shithead seems to love electricity, he has a terrifying premonition.

Bright can only laugh bitterly in his mind. The Shithead is an expert in torturing and interrogations. They know how to use the darkness, inattention and silence to construct a formless pain and psychological pressure on the tortured.

When the familiar current runs through his body, the man starts screaming without restraint. The pain is unlike any that he has experienced before.

Before, it was an attack on a specific part of his body. The pain is most intense at that location before dispersing outwards, weakening as it goes like a net being expanded. It is tolerable when it is the centre that hurts the most and the rings around less so; this time, as the body is completely immersed in the conductor that is water, every inch of his body, every muscle, from top to bottom, has been caught in a giant net. There is nowhere that does not feel pain, nor is there anywhere that is the most painful. There is nowhere to dodge. There is nowhere to escape.

Bright cannot hear his own voice because his ears were not stuffed and the water has flowed in with its sparks of electricity. His eardrums have probably been fried into charcoal and he suspects his brain is being fried too. His brain plasma is boiling, and so is his blood. He has developed a ridiculous hallucination, picturing himself being roasted dry on a fire even though he is completely surrounded by water.

The Detective, who is invited as a witness, has witnessed in detail the truly terrifying characteristics of Gentleman.

“His brain will be numbed for at least three days!” He angrily complains. How is he supposed to interrogate a retard?

“I’ve given you the man. Feel free to repair or interrogate him.” The Gentleman gives a fake smile. He has not gone back on his words.

The Detective is livid. Yet the toy is his and he is only borrowing. That he has decided to give it to him broken he has to take it still. He will have to fix it as soon as possible and return him on time.

After one-upping Detective, Hopkin has let Bright go.

When the man was fished out he has completely lost consciousness. He only wakes up after 35 hours of treatment, and he has not immediately become conscious even after waking up. His reaction speed to stimulations is slow, those stimulations including light, sound and touch. It is due to his severe brain damage. Medical staff informs the Detective after a diagnosis that the man will need at least two days to completely recover.

That meant that the Detective only had a bit over three days.

Since Hopkin’s scheme has not critically endangered him, the Detective confidently thinks that he will only need one day.

Observing Bright’s condition, the Detective tells Hopkin, “I’ll let him rest back at the show. Even toys need proper maintenance, especially if it is the favourite.”

Being back where he is familiar can give a sense of security to number 199. Even if he were to interrogate him now, he would be completely alert and defensive, which is disadvantageous for information gathering. He must be led to think that the crisis has passed and lower his defensive guard and relax his mind before he can easily manipulate him.

Hopkin looks at the expressionless and motionless man through the glass. He has sat on the hospital bed in the same posture for one whole day.

Bright has refused any and all interaction since he woke up. Even if he were lying flat on the bed the skin on his back would feel pain from the reaction force between his body and the bed. He is therefore intentionally reducing all physical contact with objects, but he is too weak to stand right now, so he can only barely stand up by leaning on his back or using his hand as support.

While the lingering pain is receding and the man is able to move a bit more, it is obvious to the eye that his body is stiff and his mind is numb. Even the light in those pair of eyes has dimmed a great amount. Not even the aristocrat knows why there is a slight sense of regret in his mind.

A bit more… and he would have broken his toy…

So, when he hears Detective’s request, he nods his head without speaking.

Author’s notes:

Bright: You’re torturing me again!

Hopkin: I’m helping you. Did you want all your secrets revealed by Detective?

Bright (suspicious face): I still think this is your revenge for the Gentleman’s Green Top Hat Incident.

Hopkin coldly chuckles.

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