Chapter 192

Chapter 192: The Boundless Dark Realm Part 47

“Ah…” The Silverface sighed deeply.

He was not aimlessly wandering the streets with his team; they aimed to familiarize themselves with White Whale City’s safe houses and contact points. He also needed to know the locations of the armories and supply points as well as various escape routes.

Nightscarab’s ability was certainly convenient, but incredibly exhausting. He wouldn’t waste precious energy on insignificant tasks like leading his teammates to familiarize themselves with the environment. Properly understanding one’s surroundings required meticulous effort, one step at a time.

On their first day in White Whale City, they couldn’t hastily act. Rather, they had to gather information about the city first. They dispatched Empty Moon as their deputy commander due to his extended stay in White Whale City’s Mechanized Dawn branch, giving him extensive knowledge.

They moved stealthily through the alleys, avoiding surveillance and pedestrians. Empty Moon was absent; only Thornbush and Reset accompanied Silverface.

“You have been to White Whale City before, haven’t you? Are there any particular things to watch out for here?” Thornbush asked.

After some thought, Silverface replied, “The people here have terrible tempers! They often resort to drawing knives. Meals outside cost a fortune, so does shopping. Everything’s overpriced.”

Indeed, saying that was akin to not saying anything… Thornbush gave up.

The three of them spoke rarely—Thornbush avoided talking to what he considered useless conversation; Reset consistently kept silent; Silverface’s silence stemmed from something weighing on his mind.

This time, however, the weight wasn’t because of Kuixin; it was instead due to Reset.

Reset’s behavior felt strange to Silverface, though he found it difficult to pinpoint how. Nevertheless, something familiar resonated within him… an uncanny resemblance to Nightingale.

Mechanical, cold, silent, acting like a lifeless puppet—without commands, he neither spoke nor moved, lacking any personal thoughts.

This sensation wasn’t unique to Nightingale—it had happened to his “brothers” as well. It felt like Silverface was enveloped by a mist, grasping for something unknown.

Thornbush saw a vending machine across the street and bought a can of coffee.

Silverface took this opportunity to approach Reset quietly, “Are we the same?”

Reset reacted, turning to look at him, without further action or words.

“You’ve lived somewhere else, like, in a lab, where many white coats worked around you?” Silverface couldn’t explain why he asked, but the question arose spontaneously, linking back to himself and other “brothers” regarded as failures.

“Yes,” Reset turned, “Many white coats surrounded me, many glass tubes and tubes.”

“Do you have siblings?” Silverface inquired.

“No brothers, only similar… ‘me’,” Reset said it awkwardly, but Silverface instantly grasped his meaning.

“How did you grow up?” Silverface resumed.

“In jars,” Reset replied straightforwardly.

“Were you taught reading and speaking? I spent a long time growing up, but my brothers didn’t. They grew quickly in the jars, while I grew up outside. The process was long.”

“No one taught me,” Reset looked at Silverface softly, continuing, “Once out of the jar, a person in white clothes washed my bodily fluids away. I was placed in another opaque jar, and then I had more in my head, understood more.”

“Hmm… that thing seems to be called a brain machine, capable of retrieving and implanting memories,” Silverface explained, rubbing his head and chuckling, “Seems like I understand a lot you don’t.”

Reset stared silently.

Silverface fumbled with words, scratching his head, “Perhaps, being out of those jars early contributed to understanding things…”

If only Silverface could grasp that he felt awkward right now.

This feeling wasn’t necessarily significant, nor obvious, but its complexity surpassed mere curiosity, fear, or love. The latter came naturally, born instinctually; however, awkwardness didn’t fit such simple explanations.

Thornbush returned with the coffee and they continued moving toward their destination.

Silverface walked side by side with Reset, dragging his feet through the dark streets where broken streetlights cast a shadow. Nights were chilly; he tightened his coat, sighing deeply.

Thornbush suddenly stopped, turning and narrowing her eyes at Silverface.

Shocked by her gaze, Silverface stammered, “I must have sighed too loudly, did I disturb you?”

“You disturbed nothing, it’s your attitude shaking my trust,” Thornbush’s piercing gaze cut through him, “You waver! You never intended to kill the Lady Fortune since day one, constantly sighing and hesitating. Your attitude lacks positivity, even when you’re unable to hide it.”

She cursed, irritably, “If unwilling, simply leave! Don’t delay our mission! I don’t need team members who aren’t reliable. The mission isn’t a death sentence. I need someone aiding me, not dragging down the whole squad!”

Stunned, Silverface seized on her words, “Kill Lady Fortune?”

“Would you still deny?” Thornbush pulled her gun, pointing it at Silverface, “All day long, we’ve heard about her! She defected, she’s our enemy. What’s the use of hesitation? Want to join her rebellion?” she coldly stated, “I question if you’d turn against us under circumstances.”

Struck speechless, Silverface could find no arguments.

Betrayal hadn’t crossed his mind… No, it had—it struck him hard when Ambereye Black Obsidian betrayed, knowing they had been raised in the same lab yet never having exchanged words outside. The betrayal stunned Silverface. He pondered, confused by their decision.

“I live to fulfill Mechanized Dawn’s mission! Never imagined betrayal…” Silverface murmured, “It’s just some questions… can’t figure out, clueless on what to do.”

Their eyes met briefly before Thornbush lowered the pistol.

“You better,” she walked without looking back, “Think less if unable to resolve doubts. Compliance is the answer, like the past.”

The past?

Silverface froze.

Reset remained, staring up at the taller Silverface.

“L-let’s go,” Silverface followed, trailing after Thornbush.

Reset followed.

A sparrow fluttered its wings atop a telephone pole.

“Do you know what our kind excel at?” Ambereye opened his eyes, disconnecting from the sparrows’ spiritual link.

“What?” Ghost asked from inside the body of a homeless man, “Killing? Fighting?”

“Neither, obedience,” Ambereye said, “We’re accustomed to obeying orders, hence lacking our own thoughts. Eve says kill, we comply, without thinking why or if should be done.”

“I’ve never asked, how did you develop self-awareness, or how you realized killing wrong?” Ghost inquired.

“As mentalists, we excel in invading minds. During training, they made us kill; despite compliance, we sensed complete agony, sorrow, terror of the dying victim,” Ambereye recounted, “That was the beginning. We realized death was agonizing and felt the victims’ anguish during each subsequent kill.”

“He’s a fool, oblivious to everything,” Ghost remarked about Silverface.

“It’s not his fault, conditioned in those surroundings with no proper guidance or learning,” Ambereye explained, “Living ignorantly can bring contentment too.”

“He seems saddened by feelings of late,” Ghost observed, “Perhaps a price for awareness.”

“Precisely,” Ambereye concurred, “If he chose, he’d rather not be blind, tool-like.”

“Inexperienced innocents remain carefree, burdened adults mask smiles,” Ambereye continued seriously, “A request.”

“He wants to keep Silverface?” Ghost guessed.

“Also, Zero,” Ambereye confirmed.

“You should know, Ambereye,” Ghost said, “This world offers scant sanctuary for kindness. If enemies, mercy remains distant. If you feel like Silverface, reluctant, unfeeling, others too will act likewise.”

Ambereye paused, “Alright.”

“We move,” Ghost stated, “To meet our contact.”

“Who is it?” Ambereye asked.

“Paulina von Popov. You might know her; she’s been in the media lately.”

“Intriguing,” Ambereye reflected, “It’s Paulina von Popov?”

“She, actually her illegitimate brother…one among many,” Ghost clarified, “Privileged, though illegitimate, holds immense wealth and resources. Our meeting seeks insight on the Shadowless Organization,”