Tape #③ · A Recording of the Criminals

[A·Side --Big Sister]

The boss said very seriously, "This matter must never be told to anyone."

Victor: "Never."

BOSS: "You're not going to write it in a book, are you?"

Victor: "Absolutely not."

BOSS: "Really?"

Victor: "I swear to God."

BOSS: "No, no, no, you have to inscribe this oath on your body using the [Hell Highway]."

Victor: "Okay."

BOSS: "Wait! Victor! David Victor!"

Victor: "I've already written down the oath, is there anything else?"

BOSS: "Does your soul power truly work on you? Can it really make you obedient, like making a pact with the devil?"

"BOSS!" Victor suddenly became extremely angry. He rarely lost his temper in front of others, but at this moment, he was like an enraged lion, his expression tense and almost frantic. "You doubt me?"

Seeing his beloved translator's strong reaction, Ming De decided not to pursue the matter further.

However, Victor secretly shared his day's experiences with his friends using his nimble fingers. The brave Red Stone People was fearless; he had always been incredibly courageous.

[David Victor: Want some popcorn? It's related to the Sixty-Three.]

[Su Ling: Coming, coming!]

[9527: Let me guess! Let me guess! My employer is so gentle, even if he's from another parallel universe, he definitely wouldn't do anything to our boss! Right?]

[Jiang Xueming: To be honest, I'm not sure.]

[David Victor: Oh my gosh, you're awake?]

[Jiang Xueming: I feel okay, but my hands and feet just don't obey me. What are you guys talking about?]

[David Victor: I made a bet with Wen Bucai. I bet you won't hurt the boss—if I win, Wen Bucai to give me his logbook; if I lose, I have to give him a Dodge Tomahawk.]

[Wen Bucai: And the result?]

[Su Ling: I'm so anxious, I'm so anxious!]

[David Victor: The car keys are in locker L206 at the luggage storage.]

[Wen Bucai: I absolutely adore you, my charitable gambling king!]

[Su Ling: Please explain in detail, please explain in detail, please explain in detail.]

[David Victor: Judging from the information revealed in the tape, our Ming De seems to have been severely bullied by Sixty-Three. I promised the BOSS I wouldn't write these things into the book, but that doesn't stop me from turning them into chat logs.]

[Bu Liuxing: Teacher! You're so despicable these days!]

[David Victor: No, it's a secondary creation, just like how artistic works take many forms. A story can be written in many ways; it can become a novel, a comic book, a movie, an opera, a play, a game, or a 30-second short video. Merchants will wrap it in layers of packaging to sell the story; it's just a particular narrative technique.]

[Boss: Have you forgotten something?]

[David Victor: Damn it. Why is it still in this group?]

[Jiang Bailu: OwO]

[Wen Bucai: Does our bet still stand?]

[Jack Martin: Hahahahahahaha.]

[Robert Tang Ning: Hahahahahaha.]

"Do you know what I'm going to do to you?" The BOSS grabbed the tail of [Hell Highway], adding more clauses to Victor's list while politely negotiating with this overly expressive VIP: "I'll turn Bloodhound and you into conjoined twins—I'll remove both your kneecaps, fill them with mercury, and guarantee that for the next ten years or so, you'll never escape her grasp."

Victor maintained his cool and handsome demeanor. "It's alright, just prepare a wheelchair for me."

That's enough fun for now, let's get down to business.

Teacher Victor took the recording tape Sixty-Three from the Walkman and inserted it into the interrogation room's recording tape. It was completely black, just like the Braille cards used in the Polarized Sextant interrogation, and had been treated to prevent peeping. The title was not visible in the dim candlelight.

Under the dim red light of the WALKMAN, the emblem of the [Balason Court] was displayed, indicating a major case.

BOSS: "Were they the people Jiang Xueming brought back?"

Victor: "Yes."

The tape emitted a jumble of electrical noises, indicating that the Walkman was in an abnormally high-pressure environment while recording audio data.

Benjamin Black: "No, no, no, no. It's fake, it must be fake."

David Victor: "Prisoner Benjamin Black, please face reality. Please give your confession regarding the three thefts in these six cities, the two robbery-murders, and the rape in the surface world."

Benjamin Black: "Am I dreaming? I'm dreaming."

David Victor: "This is the Police Department interrogation room at the Nine Realms Station. I am a juror from the Balason Qingjin. Before my Soul Power, there are no secrets."

Benjamin Black: "Hahahaha! I'm dreaming!"

Then came the heavy thud of limbs falling over, as if a pitiful, helpless, and nearly insane madman was repeatedly pounding his head against the solid floor, trying to fall asleep again.

The first recording abruptly ended.

The boss's expression turned serious; he suddenly realized that something was amiss.

"Has this guy gone mad under the influence of [Fragrant Dream]?"

Teacher Victor shook his head. "His Madness Index remains at A+, not particularly bad. To the Crow Clan, he's just a newcomer. He hasn't undergone the Blood Ceremony —it wasn't [Fragrant Dream] that drove him mad. In fact, his brainwave spectrum is close to that of a normal person. And he's always maintained a highly active state, unlike a mental patient with brain damage."

BOSS: "Then why did he turn into this inhuman, ghostly state?"

Victor: "It's a side effect of [Fragrant Dream]—it not only makes people drowsy, but also keeps them energetic when they wake up. Benjamin Black has maintained extremely high concentration since waking up, and the silken spirit body in its pupa seems to be gradually clumping together, moving towards the next stage of metamorphosis."

BOSS: "These are characteristics of the Morpho butterfly."

Victor: "That's right, in terms of [flight] and [reproduction]—Jiang Xueming helps others complete their transformation in this way; the whole process is simple and brutal."

BOSS: "Have him come to my room tonight. Sleep with me... oh no... make me dizzy, oh no..."

Victor: "Boss, are you really sure you're saying something?"

BOSS: "I'm just curious whether this ability will work on me."

Victor: "Let's hear the interrogation records from other people. Perhaps then you'll be wary of this kind of power and won't just go and sleep with any cute boy."

WALKMAN continued working.

A woman's weeping can be heard in the background.

--Flavia struggled, her skin rubbing against the straitjacket with a piercing whistling sound.

"Where's my big diamond ring?!"

"Such a huge diamond ring?! Marlon Bailan handed it to me himself! Keanu Reeves held it in his mouth and delivered it to my hand! A diamond ring bigger than my fist!"

"I know this is a dream! I know! But can I finish this dream?"

"I was so close! I was about to French kiss Daniel Wu!"

David Victor: "Flavia, I am the Qingjin"

Flavia: "I don't care who you are!! You've been caught! You have to accept your fate! What are you going to do with me? Cut off my head? Or shoot me? Strip me naked and hang me on a train for a demonstration? I don't care! But I have only one request. I have only one request."

David Victor: "Please say that we have humanitarian concerns, but we are afraid we cannot fulfill your strange requests, Flavia, such as taking a naked trip around the underworld."

Flavia: "I have only one request: before I die, use that guy's soul power to send me into a dream."

David Victor: "You mean [Fragrant Dream]?"

Flavia: "Who cares what the name is? I can't be bothered to remember it! That person's name is Jiang Xueming, right?"

David Victor: "That's right."

Flavia: "Based on my experience with ritual incense and hallucinogenic drugs, his psychic power is the most potent [poison] in the world—my perception and understanding of drugs has reached its peak. Within the entire Little Brotherhood, or among the major black market operators in Forty-Eight District, they all have to call me 'Big Sister.' But I can't resist this dreamlike feeling. It's too real, too real."

[B·Side--Who really won?]

The tape was turned over, and the interrogation continued.

David Victor: "Is this the only request?"

Flavia: "Yes, I only have this one request. Before a person dies, they might see a revolving lantern of their life. I hope to end all of this in a dream. Before the execution, I can at least sleep for seven days. For the brain, that might allow me to have beautiful dreams for decades. How wonderful, how wonderful!"

David Victor: "How much do you know about Claudia Ars Duran?"

Flavia: "What? Are you afraid I'll collude with her? Victor! Even though you're hiding behind the mirror, I recognize your voice! I always pay special attention to handsome men!"

David Victor: "Thank you for the compliment."

Flavia: "David Victor! What's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly bring up Duran? Isn't your Soul Power supposed to see into my heart? I'm completely naked and exposed in front of you!"

David Victor: "I just think that maybe there are more important people waiting for you in real life."

Flavia: "."

David Victor: "You're not willing to speak?"

Flavia: "I'm just scared; you bringing this up all of a sudden makes me very uneasy."

David Victor: "Why?"

Flavia: "Duran is probably dreaming too. It must be a wonderful, wonderful life. There must be a wonderful me by her side—after all, she cares about me so much. If she wakes up and sees me like this, ugly and useless, how am I supposed to face her? What if I'm not as lovely as she dreams?"

David Victor: "I need your help, to assist the Abyssal Railway in their investigation."

Flavia: "What?"

David Victor: "You have dozens of lives on your hands. You can't be sent to prison; you'll only be sent to the execution ground. But I think it's necessary to use you as a witness or recruit you as a temporary employee of the [Quick Knife] Senate. You have deep-rooted social connections with many criminals in Forty-Eight District —working with the Special Operations Group on drug busts might be quite effective."

Flavia: "Come on! Great writer, there's absolutely no way we can work together! I'm a born rotten bastard! Unless you take off your pants, swing your little darling in front of your colleagues, wiggle your ass a few times, and then record that and send it to The Sun, hehehe, that'll make me laugh! Then we can talk about this—after all, you've recorded my embarrassing moments, haven't you, Victor! I've been locked up in this godforsaken place like an animal! I'm afraid the security cameras have recorded all my embarrassing moments!"

David Victor: "I'm sorry I can't grant that request, Flavia. I ask you again, are you willing to cooperate with the station's special operations team? This matter has nothing to do with the Lapis Lazuli Guards."

"It has nothing to do with the Lapis Lazuli Guards?" Flavia's voice was tinged with doubt, yet also amusement. "Are you emphasizing this to prevent me from clashing with the cops? Let me tell you, there's absolutely no way."

Victor: "You will be working with Jiang Xueming."

Flavia: "When do we leave? How long have I slept? Is there any time left for me to lose weight? I have to be ruthless and maintain my elegant image."

Victor: "He's your boss."

Flavia: "I love ruthless, cold-blooded bosses."

Victor: "I'm surprised by how quickly you defected, Flavia."

Flavia: "Actually, I've been subtly trying to sexually harass you, but you don't understand my good intentions. If you could come with me, you know I'm not picky about food; as long as someone is good-looking, my values will follow their appearance."

Victor: "That's enough. I'll write something on you to prevent you from causing trouble for my students on their journey."

Flavia: "Don't tell Duran about this, okay? I'm not a womanizer, I'm just heartbroken."

The recording abruptly stopped.

The boss covered his face, unsure of what to say.

"Didn't you take any lewd measures against her?"

Victor calmly reported, "It moved."

Boss: "What kind of torture was used?"

Victor: "Waterboarding, electrocution, all that's left is burning her alive. Her will to live is incredibly strong, and she's completely impervious to reason. She's utterly unafraid of pain and death. There's no way to communicate with this kind of person. Just like she said, she's a born scoundrel, rotten to the core, who has absolutely no respect for the law and no reverence whatsoever for law enforcement."

Boss: "Do we really want to cooperate with this kind of person?"

Victor: "We don't have any other suitable candidates at the moment."

BOSS: "I understand, shall we proceed to the next section?"

WALKMAN is back at work.

The background static suddenly increased, and the interrogation of Ms. Duran began.

David Victor: "Duran, please stop using your Soul Power."

Duran: "I won't say anything. Don't try to get any useful information out of my head. I have ways to lock down my brain. The [Timeline] will tell me how."

Victor: "Really?"

Duran: "Hmph! I have my own way!"

Victor: "But how long can this [Timeline] last? When your mental energy is exhausted, your brain will definitely be in a vulnerable state—we have many ways to put you into Gate of Death state."

Duran: "Huh?"

Victor: "You don't want Flavia to die, do you?"

Duran took a deep breath. "Yes."

Victor: "As far as I know, you are one of the advisors to the Little Brotherhood's Cult Leader. How much do you know about this man?"

Duran: "No, no, no, no—I can't say, at least I can't say it voluntarily."

Victor: "Is it a curse?"

Duran: "This guy's soul power is very strong. I can't say his name or tell you any other information. You should know what the Little Brotherhood's specialties are. If I have any subjective intention to harm our Cult Leader, I will suffer all sorts of strange retaliations."

Victor: "Like [Modern Siren]? I remember your Soul Power, catalyzed by the Red Mountain Stone, gained a similar power of luck."

Duran: "It's not that outrageous. I still don't understand how the [Modern Siren] did it. Maybe it requires a lot of calculations to send all the guys who tried to harm me into the [unfortunate] deadly abyss—but it's not like you said, the Cult Leader's abilities aren't that strong."

Victor: "That's really interesting."

Duran: "What do you want me to do? Asking about these things, you probably want me to help you fight drugs? Or to be an undercover agent?"

Victor: "Your partner isn't very cooperative."

Duran: "Please don't hurt her, she's just a child."

Victor: "It's good that you're willing to cooperate."

Duran: "I have a request."

Victor: "Please speak."

Duran: "Can I sleep in the same bed with her? In the cell?"

Victor: "I'm afraid that won't work."

Duran: "It's been such a long, long time since I've slept in the same bed with her. Is it that hard? Is it that hard for you?"

Victor: "I need a reason to convince the head of the Police Department."

Duran: "In my dream, Flavia had moles on her lower abdomen. I don't remember if it was two or three, but it turned out to be two and a half ugly moles. They were really ugly, so ugly that I threw up on the spot—I need to confirm this."

Victor: "A very convincing reason, I agree."

Duran: "Huh?"

Victor: "I believe the person in charge understands your feelings. It takes immense courage to bring this up formally during the interrogation. Claudia Ars Duran, it seems you and your lover haven't hugged, kissed, or shared a bed in a very, very long time—you once teamed up with Wood Plark to defeat FE204863, and I was planning to defend you in the tribunal."

Duran: "Why?"

Victor: "I had to attend the harvest season ceremony beforehand."

Duran: "Congratulations, you 'Detective King."

Victor: "But I couldn't guarantee I'd survive, so I told the editor at The Sun that if I died, the boss wanted to receive a will after my death—in which he'd say that you were the first choice to fill the translator position."

Duran: "Me?"

Victor: "Because your Soul Power [Timeline] has the same ability as [Hell Highway], which allows you to deduce people's past by examining their spiritual essence, you can completely take my place."

Duran: "Um, that big shot... I... I didn't expect you to do this. I... I suddenly don't know what to say. Do you have a gun and Universal Elixir? I want to try. I feel like I'm still living in a dream; I can hardly believe this isn't a dream."

Victor: "."

The trial of Ms. Duran has concluded.

Boss: "Is that really what you think?"

Victor: "I believe she has the ability."

BOSS: "I won't let you die, Victor."

Victor: "BOSS"

BOSS: "If this wretched woman weakens your will to live, making you think, 'Even if I die, someone else can take my place'—I will not allow that to happen. I'll send this girl into the meat grinder before you do, turning her into human flesh buns to give you Inspiration."

Victor: "I'm not a carnivore."

BOSS: "Do you prefer her large intestine or small intestine? It would make a nice chewy filling for steamed buns."

Victor: "Your Madness Index is skyrocketing, Boss. This worry is unnecessary."

BOSS: "Let's move on to the next section."

Arriving at two recordings by Billy and Fuyanni --

--The content is very simple, almost entirely consisting of interspersed interrogation segments.

Billy: "In my dream, the Clippers won! The game was over in the fourth quarter! A thirty-point deficit! How could they possibly catch up!"

Fuyanni: "I want to see the news! The Lakers won, right? A game-winning three-pointer at the last minute! Right?"

Victor was running back and forth.

--They brought the latest sports daily from around the world.

"It's a draw."

The two little ones were almost in despair, but the influence of the Fragrant Dream was relatively weak on them. They had no obsessions they couldn't let go of, nor any inner demons.

Finally, there is Victor's message to the BOSS.

"Boss, let Jiang Xueming carry out his trial mission in six months. Flavia and Duran are prominent figures in Forty-Eight District. Releasing them immediately after their arrest will only arouse suspicion from the enemy."

"We'll arrange a proper prison break, so that these two women can naturally return to Clearwater Bay in Forty-Eight District as their first stop."

"Jiang Xueming used B·SIDE's superpowers to switch into the female account of [JoeStar]'s leader to carry out this drug bust mission."

He had to abandon his real name and make everyone understand—she was the real [Big Sister].