Chapter 118

Upon seeing Zuo Jian, the receptionist respectfully lowered his head.

"Don't worry, Doctor, she's a long-time employee here."

"You flatter me, boss. I've simply been with you for a long time."

However, upon seeing the two people in front of him, the Doctor's pupils suddenly widened.

A long-time employee? Following Zuo Jian? No, following the original owner of this body? Could it be...?

Pfft!

Soon, a splash of bright red answered the Doctor's doubts. Spikes made of blood rapidly formed from the soles of the feet in the Zuo Jian, piercing the woman at the front desk. The woman didn't even have time to scream before the long spikes pierced her throat.

The killing began suddenly, without the slightest hesitation.

Then, to the Doctor's incredulous gaze, the blood that had been seeping from the fallen corpse suddenly reversed course, flowing back into the riddled body, healing the wounds, and even repairing the clothing.

The woman at the front desk slowly stood up from the floor, her expression unchanged from before. She simply turned her head, nodded slightly to the Doctor, and then returned to her work at the front desk.

"She was the last Rat in this building to know those 'insider secrets,' and with that, the cleanup was complete."

"Those gangs too..."

The Doctor gradually understood everything, and she turned her head, asking incredulously.

"So you're planning to...?"

Zuo Jian glanced at the stage in front of him, then at the surveillance camera in the corner. He raised his hand to signal her to delete all the footage from just now, and then continued speaking.

"I found a persistent thought within this body's memories; the gang leader seems to have realized something."

In his mind, Victoria would eventually face a purge, and regardless of the outcome, the wheels of time would eventually sever the "old" situation and build a completely "new" future from the corpses of the past.

"What this leader is thinking about is precisely how to find their new place in the near future."

Doctor listened to Zuo Jian's calm explanation, he seemed to have understood something.

"Moreover, I imagine there are many people both inside and Londinium who are pondering how to find their place in the new order of the future."

"Do you want to... participate in it?"

"Participate?"

Zuo Jian turned his Zuo Jian and spoke with a gentle smile.

"No, no, no, I just want..."

"It saves them the trouble of finding a new position themselves, or rather, it lets me arrange for them what position they should be in in the future."

Chapter 74, Cooperation and... Desire?

"Zuo Jian, are you really planning to... get involved?"

The Doctor sat at the table in front of the Zuo Jian, gazing with the latter at the view that could only be seen from the top floor of the hotel.

As night falls in Londinium, the closer to the center, the brighter the neon lights become, with all sorts of exquisite shops telling a story of "Victoria" nightlife.

However, on the other side of the line of sight, the further back in the line of sight, the fewer lights can be turned on, until it extends to the outermost edge.

An area with almost no lights, where only faint glimmers of starlight can be seen.

"It's hard to imagine that a city that is the capital of a country could have such a huge slum. After seeing the Mobile City and all kinds of Originium technology, I thought that at least the rampant slums could be solved."

Zuo Jian stood up and calmly gazed into the distance.

"... That's normal."

The Doctor looked down at the cup in front of him, the coffee inside still steaming slightly.

"In Terra's case, both the structure of the national political system and the existence of the Infected mean that most countries will have slums as their underlying structure."

"Victoria is actually not that bad. Strictly speaking, the slums of Londinium are mostly made up of factory workers with meager incomes, and can't be compared to places like Ursus."

What about the Infected?

Zuo Jian turned his Zuo Jian, looked into the Doctor's eyes, and asked earnestly.

"... There may still be some Infected, but if they are identified, whether they can continue to stay in the slum is also a question."

"However, there are no Infected in the slums of Ursus. After all, given the oppressive attitude towards the Infected there, staying in the slums is more dangerous than facing the wind and snow outside."

The Doctor picked up his coffee and took a small sip.

... So bitter!

"Ahem, Zuo Jian, to be honest, I don't think you're the kind of... not very smart guy."

She put down her coffee cup and then continued to ask questions.

"You're not suited for this kind of thing. Someone like you... is best off never getting involved in this kind of thing."

In a daze, the Doctor seemed to recall that at some point in the past, someone similar had said similar things to him.

... At that time, it seemed she... couldn't persuade the other person.

She couldn't remember what happened after that, but... she didn't really want to recall it.

"Don't worry, Doctor. I know I don't have the talent for this kind of place, and I'm really not suited for it."

"So, I'm also very glad that you were there for me when I made this decision."

Zuo Jian sat down in front of the Doctor and said with genuine joy.

"You're happy... that I'm here in front of you... cough cough cough... no, it's nothing..."

"... Wait, what are you trying to say?"

The Doctor was momentarily dazed, but her mind quickly returned to normal, and she looked up at the Zuo Jian.

A sense of foreboding arose within me.

"... This is a request; I hope you can help me."

"Doctor."

Zuo Jian bowed his head and pleaded earnestly.

"Huh? Wait a minute, who?! Me?"

Upon seeing this, the latter quickly pointed to himself, looking incredulous.

"What can I do to help you? You know I'm just a..."

"Amnesiac, an ordinary person without combat abilities?"

Zuo Jian was the first to answer.

The Doctor hurriedly called out like a chick pecking at rice.

And...

She doesn't want to get involved in these things!

It would be one thing if he met Zuo Jian again... but if he gets dragged into these unpleasant vortexes again...

Damn it, no way! I have to refuse!

"Doctor, to be honest, after reviewing this gangster's memories, I've gained quite a bit of knowledge from them. At the same time, my intuition tells me... you're definitely not an ordinary person."

"Laurentina doesn't know these things, and I don't want to tell her for now. Before that, it's difficult for me to accomplish anything significant on my own."

"I need a decision-maker who can see the bigger picture."

"And my intuition tells me that you have an extraordinary talent in this area."

"Of course, the main reason is... I can't find any other help."

At this point, Zuo Jian helplessly waved his hand.

"You're really honest... Wait, you're saying you didn't tell Laurentina about this?"

The Doctor suddenly grasped some crucial information.

"Ah, yes, we've communicated. Her captain is theoretically also looking for them. If both sides are just wandering around Terra without any means of communication, the chances of them finding each other are very low."

"We might as well stay in Victoria for now and start spreading the hunter's message outwards. That way, we'll have a better chance of reuniting with her companions."

"So, what do you plan to do...?"

"I'm so sorry, I'm here alone to ask for your help. To be honest, I'm quite ashamed. Liu Bei had at least two brothers with him when he visited Zhuge Liang three times, but I can only come to ask you for help alone."

After a long time, and almost jokingly, Zuo Jian mentioned a joke from his past life.

I don't know if the Doctor understood, but judging from her expression, she seemed to be thinking about something...

"No... no!"

"Well?"

The Doctor seemed to suppress some anticipation, then gritted his teeth and spoke.

"I'm sorry, Zuo Jian... I don't want... I don't want to get involved in these things anymore. Although I don't have the memories of the past... I... have..."

Unexpectedly..."

I don't want to see any more people who got caught up in the conflict with me die.

"Yeah."

It seemed quite obvious that Zuo Jian showed a slight look of disappointment, but he quickly recovered and returned to his usual gentle smile.

"I'm sorry, Doctor, I know you have your own life now, yet I still made this request—"

Um... don't show that disappointed yet forced-to-hold-back expression!

Even the Doctor wavered for a moment.

"I know it's very sudden to say these things at this time... after all, normal people might even look at me like I'm crazy if they heard my thoughts."

"However, I still sincerely hope that you can help me, Doctor... Maybe next time I come to ask, Doctor will agree."

Realizing he had been rejected, Zuo Jian made a joke, seemingly to break the ice.

In fact, one refusal would have been enough. It's clear that the Doctor genuinely didn't want to get involved; it's his problem.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that no normal person would want to get involved in such a troublesome and dangerous situation.

However, the Doctor seemed to take it seriously after hearing it.

"Huh?! There's going to be a next time?! No, no, no, no!"

After hearing this, she quickly turned her head and waved her hand, wanting to refuse.

Damn it! I almost agreed to it just now, and I made a huge decision to refuse!

There's going to be a next time!?

What if she can't refuse next time?!

Do you want to say something really harsh right now?!

Speaking to Zuo Jian?!

No, no, no!

In an instant, the Doctor closed his eyes, and his consciousness returned to that narrow room once again.

Then, she rushed to the locked door and kept banging on it and shouting.

"Help me! Wraith, Wraith! I can't do it! Please help me! I really can't refuse this request a second time!!"

Zuo Jian sat in his chair, contemplating how to send the Doctor back, the latter's aura suddenly shifted slightly.

He narrowed his eyes, sensing something was amiss, and looked at the Doctor in front of him.

The latter did not move; it didn't even lift the chair.

But... the aura changed.

He doesn't seem like Doctor.

The woman slowly opened her eyes and looked at herself.