Chapter 76 Searching for People, Monsters, A Silent Smile: He only wanted the original...
Strangely, even though Rhinoceros Horn was a genuine holder of the [Key] power, Fu Ze did not extract the [Key] power from him this time, unlike when he killed Snake Eyes.
To minimize the impact of variables, Fu Zelian kept the methods of killing as consistent as possible.
After waiting a while longer and confirming that nothing else would happen, Fu Ze began to clean up the scene.
Badger teeth have little muscle, so Fu Ze had to put in a lot of effort to fit the rhinoceros horn's still bewildered and confused corpse into the back seat.
During the operation, the wound on his left forearm reopened, and bright red blood slowly seeped into the entire bandage.
But Fu Ze didn't even flinch.
After all, he injured himself.
The wound was placed here, firstly to teach Badger a lesson.
Secondly, it is to refer to previous experiences so that the next person to be reborn can be psychologically prepared for the possible pain.
After taking off the coat stained with the blood of badger teeth and rhinoceros horn, Fu Ze took a new coat from the luggage that Rhinoceros Horn had prepared for Badger Teeth in the trunk and put it on. He also casually hid the technical revolver in his inner pocket.
Immediately afterwards, he went to a nearby pharmacy and bought some strong painkillers under the pretext of toothache. Later, under the salesperson's persuasion, he also bought two rolls of gauze to reach the minimum spending requirement for a discount.
After leaving the pharmacy, he also went to the beauty store next door to buy a pair of contact lenses.
Fu Ze knew that Rhinoceros Horn must have prepared spare glasses for Badger Tooth, but he was too lazy to look for them.
First of all, he is not used to wearing glasses.
Moreover, his next actions would not be suitable for wearing glasses.
After twitching his eyelids a few times to get used to the feeling of the translucent gel film covering his pupils, Fu Ze opened the package of the painkiller, poured out the dosage indicated on the prescription, and swallowed it without water.
As expected of a powerful painkiller, in just a few minutes, Fu Ze could no longer feel the wound on his forearm, and he became energetic again.
He flagged down a taxi and gave the address: "Kangming Group Headquarters".
"The clock tower square has been sealed off by the authorities, so you might have to take a longer route," the driver kindly advised.
"Drive however you want, I just want it to be as fast as possible."
Hearing the customer's prompt reply, the driver cheerfully answered, "Okay!" and immediately turned the car around and headed towards the tallest building in L City.
After estimating the remaining time based on the car's speed, Fu Ze began to remove the bandages from his arm.
If you were stopped before you even saw the dragon's spine because of such a detail, you would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
The driver, who had just landed a big job, was happily listening to the music radio and humming along to the rhythm when he suddenly smelled something unusual.
His eyes darted around, and then he caught sight of the bright red bandages that Fu Ze had taken off and piled on the ground in the rearview mirror.
The moment he realized what it was, the driver jerked the steering wheel sharply.
Just as the vehicle was about to cross the double yellow lines and enter the oncoming lane, about to crash into the semi-trailer coming from the opposite direction, a hand suddenly reached out from the back seat and pulled the vehicle back onto the right track.
Drive carefully.
Biting on the bandage that had been temporarily handed to him by his right hand, Fu Ze's speech was not very clear, and even sounded a bit soft and sticky.
Even so, it was enough to terrify the driver.
He silently turned off the radio and drove cautiously like a novice driver, afraid of causing any more trouble and angering this Terminator-like figure.
Upon arriving at the headquarters of Kangming Group, before Fu Ze could even close the car door after getting out, the driver sped away.
Fu Ze shrugged and muttered under his breath, "Why don't you want the money anymore?" before walking towards the gate of Kangming Group.
Before he even reached the door, he saw someone walking towards him and greeting him.
"Director?" The other person was wearing a fairly well-groomed uniform, with his title written on his name tag—Lobby Manager.
"If you weren't wearing glasses or a suit, I really wouldn't recognize you at first glance."
Eager to find the Dragon Spine to retrieve the key, Fu Ze had no time to deal with the social obligations that belonged to Badger Teeth.
He gave a simple nod in response and then tried to walk past the lobby manager to continue forward.
Unexpectedly, the other party followed again and even blocked his way.
The man chuckled dryly, "Since Boss Long is here today, we have to go through the usual procedures."
As he spoke, he gestured towards the security check equipment placed at the entrance.
"We know you must have something important to discuss with General Manager Long, but please cooperate with our work."
After scanning the fully armed men dressed as professional bodyguards standing behind the security checkpoint, Fu Ze knew that he had no chance of winning, whether considering the firepower of the two sides or his current physical condition.
But it doesn't matter, he's least afraid of dying now.
As the lobby manager led him toward the security scanner, Fu Ze unconsciously slipped his hand into the inside pocket of his coat, gripped the pistol in his hand, and then casually concealed his hand inside his sleeve.
Just as he was passing through the security scanner, the machine that detected dangerous items suddenly emitted a sharp roar.
Its top flashed red and blue lights alternately, stimulating the nerves of everyone present.
The moment the anomaly occurred, the row of bodyguards instinctively raised the weapons they were holding.
Some of the more hot-tempered individuals even pointed their guns directly at Fu Ze's head.
"Manager, is there something you forgot to take out...?"
The lobby manager who had led Fu Ze over tried to smooth things over, but the next second, a bullet grazed his ear and shattered several art vases placed at the entrance.
Clearly, Fu Ze refused to offer any explanation and even turned his gun directly at the bodyguard who had previously brandished his weapon.
Faced with such blatant malice, the hot-tempered bodyguard would undoubtedly strike first.
Sure enough, he immediately pulled the trigger, blasting the face opposite him, which had a faint yet meaningful smile, straight through.
With half his head gone, Fu Ze's body naturally collapsed to the ground, lying motionless, his blood flowing everywhere.
Only then did the lobby manager seem to realize what had happened in the blink of an eye.
He covered his ear, which had been grazed by a bullet, and knelt trembling in the pool of blood beside the headless body, stammering, "This...this..." for a long time without being able to come up with a coherent "this".
The bodyguards, however, seemed unfazed by the situation and rushed forward to collect the bodies.
During this time, they even exchanged knowing glances, mocking the enemy's reckless and impulsive actions.
However, the person who fired the shot was not among them.
He still held the gun level, seemingly still immersed in his own graceful and efficient movements.
"Have you filled up enough? Come on, get to work!" With his armpits under the corpse, his teammate looked at this guy who killed but didn't care about burying the body with great dissatisfaction.
This statement seemed to have a prompting effect, as the bodyguard who had fired the shot did indeed lower his gun.
But instead of helping, he turned around and strode into the interior of the Cummins Group building.
His teammate immediately asked, "Where are you going?"
Upon hearing this question, the bodyguard who fired the shot stopped, turned around, and spoke in a tone and rhythm his teammates had never heard before:
"Looking for someone."
Immediately afterwards, he raised the muzzle of his gun and aimed it at the lighting art installation hanging in the middle of the lobby.
"I won't make things difficult for you, so you'd better not stop me."
The next second, a gunshot rang out, and the huge lighting installation fell to the ground, turning the once bright building into a dark place.
-
For the next few minutes, Fu Ze felt as if he were in a black and white silent film.
The constant alarms, gunshots from all directions, and screams bursting from countless throats gradually disappeared from his world.
Instead, the regular sounds of the air conditioners embedded in the high corridor were preserved, and to Fu Ze's ears, they were as clear as the meshing of gears in an old-fashioned projector.
At the same time, the many colors in Fu Ze's eyes also faded away unnoticed, leaving only extreme black, white and gray scribbles cutting across the entire world.
Fu Ze's body and soul were also cut apart.
Fu Ze walked ahead, fighting and scrambling against countless enemies who came to intercept him.
The old fall and cease breathing, while the new carry on and move forward.
Once, again, and again.
To the enemies who came to intercept Fu Ze, this scene was like an endless nightmare, a bottomless pit that was devouring and chewing up everything around it.
Amidst the panicked crowd, Fu Ze's soul leisurely followed behind his body, strolling and observing as if he were not the protagonist of this series of human tragedies.
It is a monster.
The monster was bound by heavy shackles called "keys".
On the other side of the shackles were mountains of corpses, those who killed it and those it killed piled up haphazardly together, indistinguishable from one another.
...That's fine too.
Fu Ze became inexplicably happy.
If one is a monster, there is no need to think about the meaning of one's existence, let alone have the idea of giving up the [Key] to spend the rest of one's life with Yuan Jianxing under a certain identity.
When Yuan Jianxing's image appeared in Fu Ze's mind, a huge sense of absurdity and ridiculousness welled up in Fu Ze's heart.
No matter how much damage the current enemy inflicts, it pales in comparison to even a fraction of the harm caused by Yuan Jianxing's silent response just now.
Even so, Fu Ze would still unconsciously smile when he thought of Yuan Jianxing.
Even if we take a step back, Fu Ze actually knew that the timing of his question was terrible.
I also understand that the question itself was actually very abrupt.
From the very beginning, after careful consideration, Fu Ze readily accepted a premise—
Having lost the constraints of hierarchical social relationships, Yuan Jianxing is now taking a different approach, attempting to bind herself with love.
Admittedly, this motivation is quite dishonorable and would be very difficult for anyone else to accept.
Fortunately, Fu Ze considers himself to be a very open-minded and magnanimous person.
The saying goes, "Judging by actions, not intentions, is true; no one is perfect when it comes to intentions."
As long as she remains of use to Yuan Jianxing, given Yuan Jianxing's professional competence, he will continue to use love to keep her tied down.
If you can pretend for a lifetime, then it's real. Why bother about the hollow core beneath the gorgeous robes, which has been gnawed away by termites?
Therefore, he never wanted Hara Kensei to give an answer; that would be asking for trouble.
After the two escaped from the museum building, they were teleported to the square by Rhinoceros Horn using [Mirror Image], passing over the clock tower amidst countless gazes.
Fu Ze was very clear that the reason he had treated Yuan Jianxing specially before was because the existence of the [Key] was not widely recognized.
Otherwise, Yuan Jianxing wouldn't have needed to lower her position to come to L City and fight alone, with only herself, the "follow-the-crow" trainee executive, by her side.
He was all alone, a far cry from the former CEO who once exuded the air of someone stepping off a heavy loader.
But things will be different after today. So many people have seen the aircraft that was moved out of thin air, so the handling of the [key] will naturally be formally put on the agenda of the Tribunal.
At that time, as a vanguard, Yuan Jianxing would receive a lot of support from others, while she, the "wife who had shared hardship," would become overshadowed.
Upon realizing this, Fu Ze suddenly became somewhat anxious and uncertain.
So he couldn't help but ask.
Because this unique experience of surviving a disaster may truly be the best time to ask this question from now on.
He wasn't greedy.
He just wanted to see Yuan Jianxing's panic, no matter how small.
At least this proves that he once wavered in Yuan Jianxing's mind, allowing some genuine feelings to creep into what was originally a relationship based on mutual exploitation.
But Hara no Hoshi did not.
As expected, no.
Fu Ze initially felt wronged, but then he felt relieved.
Yes, that's how a chief should be.
Yuan Jianxing will not be affected by anyone, including someone named Fu Ze.
So Fu Ze kept the alarm clock with the note written on it.
So Fu Ze deliberately let Badger Tooth kill him.
Lying in a pool of blood, watching the shell cover slowly close like a coffin lid, he smiled wryly.
It wasn't that I hoped my fabricated death would make Hara Misaki regret it, but I vaguely realized—
Perhaps I should have done this a long time ago.
Whether you give up the search for the "key" or have a stable past, it's all just wishful thinking.
Thinking of this, a resonance generated by the power unique to the [Key] forcibly pulled Fu Ze out of his remembrance.
And that attraction was coming steadily from behind the front door.
Having witnessed the previous cruise ship incident, Fu Ze knew perfectly well that someone inside the gate was activating the power of the [Key].
If what the rhinoceros horn said is true, then the person just a wall away at this moment is the dragon's spine.
The person I had previously racked my brains to get close to, I have now seen so easily.
And the price is nothing more than...
Fu Ze turned around, trying to recall how many bodies he had changed into before finally reaching the Dragon Spine Office.
Unsuccessful.
But it doesn't matter.
Perhaps this is the correct way to use death to replace life.
Instead of acting presumptuously, acting arbitrarily, and being self-righteous in a body that has been accidentally taken over, ultimately causing unnecessary torment and danger to others.
Let this all end here!
The pale moonlight streaming through the side window poured down on Fu Ze like jade dust, casting a long, lonely shadow that made him look like a lone traveler braving a hurricane in the snow.
Fu Ze took a deep breath, used the strength of his forearms, and slowly pushed open the heavy door in front of him.
-
On the other side of the Bell Tower Square, a car parked in a deserted corner of the bus station had its back door opened.
Looking at the rhinoceros lying on the back seat, the person hidden under the hood showed no panic, calmly spreading his half-gloved hand and lightly touching the other's chest.
"Want to read poetry, my friend?" the man suddenly asked.
Clearly, the long-dead rhinoceros horn would not give him any reply.
Although there was no audience to support him, this man's enthusiasm was not affected in the slightest.
"Tis some visitor. (A guest arrives late at night.)"
He began to chant to himself.
Tapping at my chamber door.
Where his fingers were clasped together, wisps of light rose up and then dissipated into the surrounding air.
"Truly your iveness I implore."
Just then, a flock of crows on the top of the station were startled and took flight, flapping their wings and flying over the man's head.
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore?!
Their hoarse cries coincided with the last line of poetry the man was reciting.
"Nevermore." (A lonely, unreturning state.)
As the crows disappeared into the sky, the man vanished as well.
Just as when he appeared, it was without warning and without a trace.
-----------------------
Author's note: A small tribute to a famous line from a fanfiction—"For mortals over a hundred years, love is a fleeting moment outside of order."
The English poem at the end of the article is adapted from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
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