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墨書 Inktalez
The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint light streaming in from outside, allowing a rough outline of its contents to be discerned.
With a sudden "pop," the light fixture on the ceiling flickered a few times before finally coming to life. It seemed that this light had not been turned on for quite some time. Yuan Jun placed one hand on his waist, ready to draw his gun at any moment, while he pushed open the inner door of the house, revealing a bathroom that was empty.
Only then did Yuan Jun relax. He glanced at the elderly man sitting on the bed and said to Shao the Elder, "It's safe."
Wei Demian, hearing Yuan Jun's words, chuckled softly. "Old friends meeting again—why not take a seat? I'm not as mobile as I used to be; could you please grab a chair for yourself?"
Old Shao retrieved a chair from beneath the bedside table while surveying the room. No wonder the worker who dealt with the sewer thought this old man was waiting to die; the place was indeed quite dilapidated. Compared to Wei Demian's wealth, it seemed utterly mismatched.
Old Shao settled into the chair and looked at Wei Demian on the bed. "So, what’s this? After getting used to living in a villa, you want to try out a rundown place?"
Wei Demian propped himself up with his hands and adjusted his sitting position slightly. "You should know better than I do why this is happening. Wu Zui had money, I had skills; we were supposed to be partners in construction. But after he died, my research came to a halt. Without him and the support of Domain Organization behind him, I’m just glad to be living in a place like this."
Domain Organization—a name Old Shao was all too familiar with. Thirty years ago, Old Shao's mentor, Shih Huacheng, founded this organization, which Old Shao personally dismantled a few years later. Yet many members managed to escape, especially after Zhao Mingkun's death; no one knew the identities of the remaining members anymore.
These individuals were like demons of the night; during ordinary times, they might be respected teachers, philanthropists, or even idol stars. But when they removed their masks, they engaged in frenzied and bloody acts. The organization was initially formed because Shih Huacheng wanted to save his daughter suffering from leukemia, but as it grew larger, they strayed far from their original purpose.
"Does Domain Organization still exist?" Old Shao shook his head. "It’s been over thirty years; it has long since fallen apart."
Wei Demian nodded. "Yes, thanks to you. But once a seed is planted, it needs time to grow; as long as that seed remains, it might still become a towering tree."
"What exactly do you want?" Old Shao asked, resting his chin on his hands as he stared intently at Wei Demian. "Where is Wang Chao?"
Wei Demian made a clicking sound with his tongue and shrugged. "A person who is usually praised as a good neighbor, good father, good husband, and good cop—what kind of person do you think he is?"
"A good person," Old Shao replied.
Wei Demian nodded. "That's right. From a common perspective, what exactly makes a person good, and what makes a person bad? What are the standards for a good person, and what are the standards for a bad person?"
"You have someone who just stole money meant for a neighbor's medical treatment, yet moments later, he saves a drowning child. Is this person a good person or a bad person?" Wei Demian coughed, covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
"This world is not black and white," Old Shao said slowly. "In a moment of thought, he could go from being a bad person to a good person, and in another moment, he might revert back. But so what? As long as he harms others, whether he is good or bad, he must face punishment. That is the foundation of our society."
"No, no, no." Wei Demian set the handkerchief aside; it was already stained with blood. "This is where you and I differ. No one is inherently good. The only reason he appears good is that he hasn't encountered the circumstances that would force him to become bad. In reality, human nature is fundamentally flawed, yet I don't understand why everyone refuses to acknowledge this."
"I cannot agree," Shao the Elder replied. "You see the world through your own lens. There is no coldness in the world; if you avoid warmth, you will find coldness. There is no darkness; if you reject light, darkness will exist. There is no evil; if you do not embrace goodness, evil will arise."
Wei Demian coughed several times and said, "You are a debater, but that doesn't help me. I could just as easily tell you that it is because of coldness that you can feel warmth; it is because of darkness that you know what light is; it is because of evil that you understand goodness."
"But what are you trying to do?" Wei Demian became agitated. "You are trying to eliminate coldness, trying to eradicate darkness, and even more so trying to destroy evil, forcing humanity to live in an illusory utopia and becoming victims of their own species. Pain is the essence of evolution—why can't you understand such a simple truth?"
As Wei Demian grew increasingly agitated, he spat out blood onto the bed.
"Thus we are destined to inhabit different worlds," Shao the Elder said. "Where is Wang Chao? What have you done to him?"
"What time is it now?" Wei Demian suddenly asked. "I don't have a watch and can't tell the time."
Old Shao glanced at his wristwatch and replied, "It's exactly ten o'clock."
"Is it already ten o'clock?" Wei Demian trembled as he extended a hand toward a television on the table. "My favorite show is about to start; please help me turn on the TV."
"Heart!" Yuan Jun said.
Old Shao glanced at Wei Demian and said, "The first time I met you, you were still middle-aged. Back then, you were impressive; I unknowingly fell under your hypnosis. But now, you can't even turn on the television by yourself."
"Everyone is bound to die," Wei Demian replied, coughing slightly. "But if one can find something they truly want to do in their not-so-long life, then they haven't wasted it. In that regard, our lives are far more exciting than those of others."
Old Shao pressed the television's power button and remarked, "Most people prefer to live a safe and mundane life. Our existence is meant to protect these not-so-great aspirations and to catch those of you criminals who impose your will on others."
The television gradually displayed an image, though the sound seemed off, with a constant crackling noise.
Wei Demian shifted in his seat and said, "Since you think that way, let me show you what humanity really is."
The sound from the television became clearer, no longer as grating.
"Unveil the false masks of this world," Wei Demian instructed.
Everyone understood that at this moment, Wei Demian was not interested in watching any television program; there was something peculiar about this broadcast. However, from the outside, the television appeared normal. It was a black-and-white model reminiscent of those from the 1970s or 80s, complete with numerous adjustment knobs and wires.
Old Shao focused intently on the screen, which was still displaying a black image.
Suddenly, the picture brightened. Old Shao could clearly see the image expanding. In the center of the screen was a person bound to a cross. The individual wore long clothes and had a bag over their head, but from her chest, it was evident that she was a woman.
As the image continued to expand, another woman appeared on screen. She wore the same long clothes as the first and also had her face covered by a bag. Like the first woman, she too was bound.
The two women were dressed identically, stood nearly at the same height, and had similar body types; without seeing their faces, it would be impossible to tell them apart.
Old Shao realized that this seemed to be footage transmitted from a camera.
"Guan Deng!" Old Shao shouted, "Check the signal source immediately."
Wei Demian waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Of course, go ahead. But if it were that easy to find this place, how would we play this game?"
"You deliberately lured us here for this, didn't you?" Old Shao gripped the edge of the table, his veins bulging as he clearly struggled to suppress his anger. "Using yourself as bait to draw us in."
"Haha." Wei Demian laughed heartily. "Shaoshilin, you're so clever. If I hadn't used myself as bait to divert all your forces into capturing me, how could this game even happen? Anyway, I'm going to die soon. Before I go, let’s play a game together; consider it my last wish."
"What do you want to do?" Old Shao asked.
Wei Demian pointed at the television. "Take your time; the exciting part of this game is just beginning. Unfortunately, I wanted to test how you would react, but there's no time left. Shaoshilin, I want you to see with your own eyes whether a person is good or bad when faced with choices."
Suddenly, a metallic clanging sound echoed from the television, and a figure appeared on the screen.
The man was scruffy and greasy-haired, clearly someone who hadn’t washed in a long time. He wore filthy clothes and looked significantly emaciated. Upon seeing the two bound individuals on screen, he rushed toward them frantically. However, it was as if something invisible blocked his path; he slammed into it with a loud thud.
Wei Demian remarked, "Ah yes, bulletproof glass that can withstand sniper rifle bullets. Haha."
A mechanical voice emanated from the screen: "Hello Wang Chao, your game has begun."
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