Chapter 199 Dawn

Backtracking.

A new dream.

A female employee approached Li Lin with two boxes of discarded documents and told him that they needed to be thrown into the trash can on the first floor, hoping that a kind person could help dispose of them.

The "kind person" smiled and agreed.

"You are such a kind person. Without you, we really don't know how our company would continue to operate."

"By the way, I heard there's a new project that needs staff involvement, it's called Eoubs. If you're interested, you can ask the executives about it."

Li Lin gave a few perfunctory words, thus changing the subject.

Fifteen minutes later, just as he returned to his workstation after throwing away all the trash, the employee came over with an apologetic smile.

"Um, I'm really sorry."

"There are a few documents here that need to be printed. Do you have a moment right now?"

Stuff the file into this bitch's mouth.

If you're willing to exchange something for it, I'd be happy to do so.

[What the hell are you printing, you think I'm your servant?]

[Printer printer printer printer printer.]

(Don't kid me, buddy, I never lay a hand on women.)

(Comment from an unknown person.)

You still harbor unrealistic fantasies.

Li Lin silently accepted the documents, silently accepted everyone's praise, and then carried them to the printer, continuing to play the role of the "good Samaritan."

The clock strikes 12:30.

Time for lunch break.

Li Lin instantly fell into a deep sleep, collapsing onto his desk to begin another round of revelry.

Interviewee: The source of all things.

Interviewer: Li Lin, Activist.

Activist Li Lin: Okay, that's roughly it. The wise ones who remained clear-headed no longer exist; all the observers have gone insane. Now, I, at node 27, am one of the dream breakers, and I will bring about the end.

That's fucking cool. That coward would love to die.

Bloodline of All Things: [Data Error: Related permissions are corrupted. Please contact the site administrator for details.]

Li Lin: I understand what you're saying. It doesn't matter. Let's just leave it at that.

Blood Source of All Things: [Error Error Error Error: You are damaged. For details, please consult site operative He Yu]

Li Lin: LOL, I'm not that idiot from the original node. Don't try to threaten me with those people's lives. Without me... what are you anyway? A complete failure, just barely surviving by sucking the blood of living beings! (The target spits out phlegm, then points to the void.)

Bloodline of All Things: [Massive data error: You and I have begun to be damaged. For details, please consult site operative Yu Jianchu]

Li Lin: Ah, let's just keep making a scene like this. Anyway, you can survive without me, but you still depend on me. You need me because I'm the first idiot to accept your existence. Hmm... you could say the 27th. 27? What a strange number. And all you can do is beg us to supply you with flesh and blood for some pathetic reasons, just to keep your dream alive. How pathetic, you're so pathetic, and I'm stupid enough too.

Bloodborne: [System Error: Data corruption, please contact Site Activist Sheehan Connelly for details]

Li Lin: How boring. Even now, you're still trying to scare me. In the memories of the first node, "I" was tormented by these meaningless cycles, dreams, and incoherent experiences. Back then, "I" felt these were the most painful memories in the world, but I still managed to survive some nodes. In the second cycle, the meaningless erasure measures drove "me" to the brink of collapse, but "I" still survived. Now... I'm almost perfect. So before you start to regret it, we only have a few chances to communicate. But you idiot, do you know? I can endure it, and I survived. (Actionist Li Lin laughs loudly, staring blankly into the void)

Bloodline of All Things: [System Error: Data corruption, please contact site operative Lu Jin for details]

Li Lin: If I end it all, well, maybe things will get back on track. I can't think of any other possibility. Maybe you'll bring 659, that even more complicated taboo, along with all my insults? Like... never mind... I'm too lazy to think about it. Like a custom-made drink with instant coffee and snake gall, or some other meaningless stuff. I think your arrogance is enough to spread throughout the entire second wave layer.

Blood Origins: [System Error: Data recovery. For details on the Revenge Plan, please consult Mr. Gore, a senior executive at the site.]

Li Lin: That's absurd. So you can't even tell what kind of life form you exist in. Then keep asking yourself, before you turn into a natural disaster and destroy the world, think carefully about who you really are. I think you're nothing but a piece of waste paper; you're nothing at all. I'm here waiting for your revenge. I'm tired of your tricks. The more you repeat things about the unknown and darkness, the less terrifying they become. I can't stand it anymore; you've bored me.

Bloodline of All Things: [System Error: Data corruption, please contact site operative Yu Yu for details]

Li Lin: Save your breath. All you're doing is replacing "me" with other nodes. I swear you'll go to hell, we all will, but some people are already there.

Blood Origins: [System Error: Data corruption, please contact Eoubs founder Mr. █████████████]

Bloodline of All Things: (We used the highest authority to throw operative Tali Lin into a black hole and annihilate him. All forbidden things will dance on the ashes of his corpse. 031 is an immortal myth.)

Concluding remarks: [If I say I will succeed, then it is destined, and even 659 cannot stop me.]

Li Lin woke up from his dream.

The clock shows 1:30 PM.

The office staff returned in twos and threes, but after sitting for a short while, they all left again.

He realized that it was the company's anniversary celebration that afternoon.

They will hold events, but the location will be in the lobby on the first floor.

Li Lin closed the newly created text file, having even saved those few meaningless characters beforehand. He then grabbed his work badge, put it around his neck, and walked out.

When I got to the elevator, it was already packed with people.

He was always just a little bit away from good luck.

This is true at all times.

I think you should force your way in.

Don't be silly, bro, I'm a germaphobe.

[I can't take it anymore, transform into a Saiyan, you bastard!]

Climbing stairs is good for your health, hey? Did you hear what I said?

Ten minutes later, Li Lin appeared in the lobby on the first floor.

[That's a bit wasteful; it takes so long to climb the stairs.]

I utterly despise you.

He looked around, silently found a corner where no one would notice, and sat down.

Just then.

Someone patted him on the shoulder from behind.

"It's been a long search for you, operative Li Lin."