Doomsday Wonderland c1-855

by N. Heller

  “Thank you. But he’ll be fine, it’s just a minor chronic condition!” Without explaining further, Lin Sanjiu hurriedly added, “We’ll just bring him back to his room to rest.” Chen Jinfeng responded with a reserved nod and left without saying anything.

  “Executive Chen speaks in a rather ostentatious way, but I didn’t expect him to be quite a decent guy,” Marcie commented thoughtfully as she pulled Luther’s right arm over her shoulders and struggled to walk forward. Lin Sanjiu nodded in agreement.

  It wasn’t easy for them both to walk against the stream of hungry crowd—people pushed and shoved, and they had to even retreat a little several times. Fed up by this, Lin Sanjiu disregarded any common courtesy and started shoving people aside roughly. With much effort, they made their way to Luther’s cubicle.

  After they had placed Luther on his bed, the two drained women finally had time to catch their breath. They sat on the floor and started chatting casually while they waited for Luther to regain consciousness.

  “This morning, my ability leveled up too.” Lin Sanjiu grinned, “I think our experience with that pocket dimension was a pretty big trigger.”

  Marcie nodded wistfully before sighing, “I don’t even know if my abilities will evolve…”

  Marcie had always been the weakest among the three of them—her nails could only be used for drawing blood and were quite useless for anything else as they were as brittle as glass. Each time they found themselves in trouble, she had to grab an available weapon before she could join in to help. Honestly, even though she was slighter stronger than a normal person, she was no expert martial artist after all.

  Over the past month, Lin Sanjiu came to realize a natural law regarding her newfound abilities: Evolved Abilities need to be stimulated just like knives that need to be sharpened. The presence of posthumans here at Oasis, with abilities that did not develop past their initial forms, gave her further proof. Their lives were probably too stable or too safe...

  “Maybe you have to use your ability more frequently,” Lin Sanjiu suggested. “I just got to know two other Posthumans. Maybe they’ll allow you to draw their blood for analysis.”

  After that, she recounted what had happened in the morning with full details—from the walkie-talkie being taken, Xiao Yi’s being unnaturally strict, including how Oasis members used medicine to induce their ability to resist the heat.

  “I don’t know if I am being overly cautious, but I just think we have to be careful,” Lin Sanjiu concluded.

  “Of course, isn’t it obvious?” someone replied coldly.

  Luther was already awake, propping himself up on the bed with one arm. With a perked eyebrow, he looked at them both with indifference. Lin Sanjiu had never seen Luther wearing that expression. His facial features and hair were still the same, yet with a single expression, he exuded an entirely different aura. He lost his usual lively, imm.a.t.u.r.e temperament and instead appeared to be as cold as ice. Previously, Luther could be described as a talkative young man, but the person in front of them was like a thing… wearing a human suit. Human-like but lacking an element of humanity.

  With his uncharacteristic tone, he sounded quite unlike his usual self, “Why are both of you looking at me like that?” while he said this, he observed his own palms and fingers, almost engrossed. The room was filled with an odd atmosphere as nobody answered him even after a long time.

  Marcie gulped. Lin Sanjiu could hear that clearly as the room was painfully quiet. Marcie grabbed her own hair as if she had a massive headache and muttered, “Agh!”

  With an agonized look on her face, she uttered, “So, you are next!”

  “What… what? What do you mean?” Lin Sanjiu could not make sense of the situation. Ignoring Lin Sanjiu’s confused face, Luther sat up holding his chin in one hand as a vaguely enigmatic sneer settled upon his face like a frigid winter fog.

  “Crops with growth cycle reduced to 30 days? Heat insulation? Medicine that can induce abilities? Don’t tell me you believe all that crap just like this herd of idiotic pigs here?” even though he spoke with a gentle tone, his scathing remark seemed fully loaded with malice. “Are you scared out of your wits by duoluozhongs? Don’t you realize what this implies?”

  Lin Sanjiu stared blankly at Luther. Even without activating her Keen Senses, she could tell that other than his face, she no longer recognized the person in front of her. Inevitably, a question escaped her lips: “Who are you?”

  This time, before “Luther” could reply, Marcie grudgingly replied, almost groaning, “Xiao Jiu, let me introduce you to… Luther’s seventh personality, Septimus[1].”

  Lin Sanjiu felt mind-blown as she continued staring at “Luther” in shock.

  Translator's note: [1] Septimus’s name does not translate well in pinyin as it loses its meaning. The original pinyin is Feng Qiqi which can be roughly translated as “seven seven”.

  Chapter 41 - Let's Get on with Proper Business

  Lin Sanjiu inhaled deeply. The cubicle must have been empty for some time because she immediately felt an irritation in her lungs due to the dust in the air. But that was the least of her concerns...

  “Seventh? Marcie, can you tell me how many personalities Luther possesses?” she asked, trying to keep her composure.

  “Err… Apart from Luther’s own dominant personality, he had been diagnosed with twelve other observable personalities. At least, that was before the New World descended…” Marcie’s words trailed off as she grabbed her red hair in frustration.

  Throwing a glance at Septimus’s idle face, Lin Sanjiu still could not come to terms with what had happened. “So, why haven’t I met this personality?”

  “The other personalities are dormant right now. A personality only emerges when it is about to take on a corporeal form. After the awoken personality ‘occupies’ Luther’s body for some time, it will take on an independent corporeal form… just like me,” Marcie tried her best to explain as she looked agitatedly at Septimus. “We didn’t mean to keep this from you. We just couldn’t tell when the next personality would emerge. Look, I have almost been in this form for 28 months before Septimus…”

  Taking a sharp breath, Marcie faced Lin Sanjiu directly and said, “Besides, among all the other eleven personalities, my relationship with this guy is the worst.”

  Septimus seemed to agree with her wholeheartedly as he nodded his head and added, “We hate each other.”

  “Huh, why?” Lin Sanjiu suddenly didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.

  “He is genderless, but his personality is the worst! Egotistic, arrogant, and rude!” Marcie exploded, ignoring the fact that the person she was insulting was right there with them. “I don’t know how this androgynous fellow can be so conceited!”

  After hearing those words, Septimus’s expression didn’t even change one bit. He(?) picked the dirt from his nails and retorted, “Biologically speaking, the sole purpose for the existence of two s.e.xes is just for s.e.x.u.a.l reproduction. Marcie, it seems like you are still hung up on the fact that you lack such functionality.”

  Septimus really stirred up the hornet’s nest when he said those words. Marcie leaped up from the ground, clenching her fist as she got ready to pounce on him. Lin Sanjiu pulled Marcie back hurriedly, as words shot out from her mouth, “That is Luther’s body! Luther’s body…” It took some effort for her to finally dissuade Marcie.

  Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Septimus interjected, as if eager to stir up more trouble, “Ha. Your ability didn’t even progress one bit, but you still have quite the temper.”

  Lin Sanjiu now knew why their relationship was so poor—she was at her wit's end. She restrained Marcie, whose face had turned fuming red while she glared at Septimus, shouting, “Cut to the chase and stop this nonsense!”

  “Fine, I really do have something to say anyway.” Septimus repositioned his pillow against the wall, finding a comfortable position to lean back before he continued leisurely, “Aside from those unbeliev
able lies that these Oasis people spew, what do you plan to do next? What’s your goal?”

  His questions stumped both Lin Sanjiu and Marcie. They quickly exchanged glances and muttered unconfidently, “We can stay here for some time, have a look at this place…”

  “Since, we are already here…”

  Septimus made a dismissive tut-tut sound as a cryptic smile appeared on his face. Despite having the same facial features and even the same body, a single expression from the “Luther” in front of her simply changed his entire persona. He bent over whispering to the two of them sitting on the floor, “Didn’t we came here to look for a Consular Officer? Have both of you forgotten?”

  To tell the truth, even though Lin Sanjiu had not forgotten about it, she did not give it a deeper thought. Now that Septimus brought it up, she found herself speechless.

  “With 1800 people here, I think it’ll still be worthwhile trying.” Septimus refuted, “That’s unless you know where we can find another base filled with only posthumans.”

  Seething with anger, Marcie refused to speak.

  “If we don’t find one here, we have to move on quickly,” Septimus’s tone became resolute when he saw that both women had no objections. “We still have 12 months and 23 days to do this, we shouldn’t waste all this time in Oasis.”

  [That’s right.] Lin Sanjiu agreed with him inwardly. Septimus may have an odd personality, but Lin Sanjiu was surprised to know that he was clear-headed. Just as she was about to speak, someone suddenly shouted from outside, “Miss Lin, which room are all of you in?” it was Xiao Yu’s voice.

  Lin Sanjiu lifted the curtains and stuck her head out to look. What greeted her was a narrow snake-like corridor flanked by densely packed cubicles, she had no idea where Xiao Yu was. She raised her voice and yelled back, “Is that you, Xiao Yu? We are at 1734! What’s the matter?”

  “Executive Chen informed us that someone in your group was not well. I’m here to deliver your dinners,” Xiao Yu explained as she walked toward Luther’s cubicle, carrying a few traditional metal lunchboxes. She was rather quick, so she reached them in no time. As if she had totally forgotten the unpleasant incident in the morning, Xiao Yu handed the lunchboxes to Lin Sanjiu cheerfully, as she asked, “Who was unwell? We have an infirmary, why didn’t you go over?”

  Even though metal products didn’t melt like plastic under the Hyperthermal Hell’s temperatures, they could get very hot. Lin Sanjiu placed the lunchboxes on the bed hastily and thanked Xiao Yu, “It’s just a minor condition, he’ll be fine once he rests up. Have you eaten? Do you want to eat with us?”

  “Nah, thanks for your offer. I’ve already eaten,” Xiao Yu replied politely. She frowned when she saw “Luther” smiling, she seemed to sense that something was different about him, but she did not bring it up. Luckily, she did not mull over it but instead smiled at them and said, “After you finish your dinner, please bring the lunchboxes back to the canteen. Please go over to Executive Chen’s office after that. It is in Building 37, 306 on the 3rd floor. You will be assigned your duties today.”

  Lin Sanjiu suddenly recalled what Fang Dan said to her. She hesitated for a moment, then she smiled and asked, “Do you know what jobs we’ll be assigned?”

  Chapter 42 - The Mission and the Team Leader

  Chen Jinfeng's office was in a building right beside the entrance of the compound. When the three of them exited the canteen, everyone in Oasis had started their duties under the curtain of night. Under the illumination of the searchlight, they could see people moving around orderly, handling their own responsibility. In contrast, it made the three of them, who were leisurely strolling to their next destination, particularly out of place.

  Obviously, the one who slowed them down was Septimus. He was very interested about everything in Oasis, he observed their surroundings unhurriedly as if he were a tourist. Even when the other two protested, he wanted to look at everything in detail. When they approached the main entrance of the compound, he suddenly softly exclaimed, “Oh?”

  “What’s wrong with you again?” Marcie rolled her eyes at him without showing a shred of courtesy toward him. Septimus appeared unaffected as he smiled back at her and gestured with his chin at the door. Lin Sanjiu followed his gaze.

  Even on such a peaceful day, there were still five burly, pot-bellied men sitting by the entrance. As they guarded the entrance, they sat with their legs crossed, ankles on their knees. They were chatting randomly while two of them even held a hatchet each. Just when Lin Sanjiu turned her eyes to them, one of the men pulled out a cigarette from behind his ears and checked his own pockets. “I didn’t bring my lighter!” he immediately cursed.

  Another man beside him laughed and said something inaudible before he held the tip of the cigarette. In the darkness, they could see his fingers gradually glowing red, it became brighter and brighter. Then, the cigarette was lit, and a stream of smoke rose from the cigarette. The others did not even raise their brows, it was apparent that they were already used to this.

  This should actually be a good sign for them—this meant that there were still quite a few posthumans in Oasis—but Lin Sanjiu immediately understood Septimus’s concern. Putting aside other dubious issues… why did they have to place so many guards at the entrance. What were they guarding against?

  She continued ruminating about the matter even as they climbed up to the 3rd floor of Building 37 and found room 306. She went ahead and knocked on the door.

  “Ah, another visitor!”

  They heard someone laughing and a stranger opened the door for them. The three of them were stunned. The stranger in front of them was a young man that was very tall, he was about 190 cm and was about the same age as Luther. He had an athlete's physique beneath the blue hoodie he wore. He warmly welcomed them into the room: “Are the three of you new here? Welcome! Welcome! We will need to look out for each other in the future!”

  Lin Sanjiu and the others were bewildered as they walked into the room. They were shocked immediately when they saw that Chen Jin Feng’s small office could actually fit that many people. There was a tanned, muscular man who looked as if he was made of steel. He wore a sleeveless shirt and stood in one corner crossing his arms with closed eyes as he rested. An attractive woman stood beside him. They could not tell her age, but her head of large curls gave her a seductive allure. She carried a young girl in her arms, the girl looked like she hasn't been in elementary school for long. She was about eight or nine and even wore two French braids. Within the group, she saw a familiar face, Hu Changzai. With the inclusion of Sanjiu’s group, the ten people filled every inch of that 10m² room, it was even a little difficult to turn around.

  “Oh, so Luther and you guys are here. Great! All the members of this squad are here!”

  That young man nodded when Chen Jinfeng’s voice suddenly rang out within the room. Lin Sanjiu scanned the room but couldn’t spot him. She only saw him when that muscular man shifted and Chen Jinfeng squeezed out from the spot behind him with much difficulty. Chen Jinfeng walked to the center of the room, waving the piece of paper in his hand and announced loudly, “Everyone, pay attention now. First, I’ll brief you on today’s mission!”

  The suddenly quietened down as eight pairs of eyes locked their gaze at Chen Jinfeng.

  “According to the yesterday night’s report from our scouting team, the small group of duoluozhongs in the west have already started wandering around the area near Long Hua Road. It is only a 20 minutes walk from Long Hua Road to our factory compound. This is already a dangerous distance for us, so the mission today for this squad is to head west, seek out the small group of duoluozhongs and attack them. You have to destroy this potential threat! I will pass the specific report to your team leader. Your team leader will lead the mission today. Does anyone have any questions?” Chen Jinfeng looked at the group.

  The mission didn’t sound difficult, and the planned course was straightforward, so no one raised any objections. The room remained silent
for a few seconds. Hu Changzai looked around him and realized that nobody else showed any intention to talk. After feeling conflicted for some time, he finally raised his hand and asked, “Uh… uh… who is our team leader?”

  Suddenly, an unfathomable expression flashed across Chen Jinfeng’s face. It was quickly followed with a cough as he looked down at the piece of paper in his hand, “Let me introduce all of you to your team leader, Student Xu Xiaoyang. She will be heading the mission today.”

  [Student… Xu Xiaoyang?]

  Just when Lin Sanjiu had her suspicion about that form of address, the little girl with the french braids stood up. She nodded to the group and said in a crisp voice, “Hello everybody. I am your team leader, Xu Xiaoyang. I will need all your cooperation for the mission later.” The room fell silent again.

  If the previous silence was because nobody wanted to be singled out, this silence was because everyone was struck dumb. The only two people in the room with unchanged expressions were Chen Jinfeng and that seductive long-haired woman...

  Chen Jinfeng hung down his eyes, not even bothering to look at that man, “I would never make a joke out of this. This is a decision we made after much consideration. Tie Dao, you must cooperate with your Team Leader Xu for this mission.”

  The muscular man immediately rebutted with a “Ha?” With a rebellious tone, he mocked, “Even if I call you Executive. Don’t think too highly of yourself. If you want me to listen and follow this silly little girl, I won’t do this!”

  Lin Sanjiu took a glimpse at Xu Xiaoyang even before she knew why. A loud “bang” rang out in the room as the strong, muscular Tie Dao was thrown against the wall like a rag. The wall trembled for a while as a large piece of reflective material fell from off.