Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Sea Without Light Part 68

“Behave yourself, then answer whatever I ask,” Night Cicada said, looking at the battered Zhao Wenyao.

Kui Xin did not hold back but also knew how to gauge his strength.

Mechanized Dawn wanted to interrogate Zhao Wenyao, so they wouldn’t let him be killed. Kui Xin could hit him harder, but not enough to endanger his life.

Zhao Wenyao lay on the ground, already unable to cry due to the numerous injuries on his body. When he moved, the pain from his wounds was excruciating.

“You just ask, why do you have to beat me up… why…” Zhao Wenyao said weakly, “Just ask!”

“This guy is really incapable,” Night Cicada sighed.

“Ask quickly, finish this tonight so I can go rest,” Kui Xin pulled out a spare tissue and wiped the blood off his fingers leisurely. “Isn’t it easier to interrogate the incompetent?”

“Alright,” Night Cicada walked to Zhao Wenyao, leaning down to look at him, “Tell me your name.”

“Z-Zhao Wenyao.” The man on the ground trembled as if having a seizure.

“Zhao Wenyao, are you sure your name is Zhao Wenyao?” Night Cicada asked, “Do you have any other names? Only Zhao Wenyao?”

Zhao Wenyao was bewildered by Night Cicada’s question, “Well… No, I am Zhao Wenyao.”

“Was your name also Zhao Wenyao before entering this so-called game?” asked Night Cicada.

Zhao Wenyao froze and then fear spread across his face.

He had considered various possibilities—he thought perhaps his Second World parents were too wealthy and drew criminals who wanted to kidnap him. Or maybe it was about corporate competition with Rick Technology.

But he never imagined that he was captured because of his identity as a player in the game.

This situation had signs early on, but Zhao Wenyao didn’t notice. He mistakenly believed his rich second-world parents confined him because he was a troublemaker. He fled his room just to look around and experience the “flowers and the young world.” Zhao Wenyao realized his actions shocked his Second World parents, yet he hadn’t expected their suspicion of him in the game to reach such depths, even leading them to report him to Mechanized Dawn.

Zhao Wenyao had been caught and locked up without understanding why.

Kui Xin watched Zhao Wenyao’s terrified face and thought— he might die without understanding why.

Only the smart survive in this world.

And even intelligence is not enough; one needs determination and a bit of luck.

People lacking both intelligence and determination, and especially those lacking luck, often find death a better outcome, avoiding an endless torment of living in agony.

After being tortured, Rainier Brandonberg had his limbs restrained and all his teeth pulled; he couldn’t even commit suicide. This is a classic example of someone tormented alive, lacking a clear end to his suffering.

“I… I…” Zhao Wenyao stammered, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand!”

“Lady Fortune, hit him again,” Night Cicada said. “See, he still won’t cooperate. Make it hurt more.”

Hearing this, Zhao Wenyao shut his eyes tightly but kept his mouth closed, refusing to make a sound. He had cried and pleaded for mercy when Kui Xin hit him earlier, almost calling her grandmother. Now, despite his fear, he was determined to endure.

Night Cicada poked Kui Xin’s arm, stunned, “Oh, I misjudged him, he’s actually a bit tougher.”

Zhao Wenyao knows what to say and what not to. Previously, he had knelt out of ignorance, assuming it was just business competition or a kidnapping for ransom. To save himself, he needed to spill everything he knew—even if he wasn’t sure what was useful.

But players’ secrets were different. He couldn’t reveal them.

If he did, many players would die.

The bloody numbers on the forum after his return to the First World had left a deep impression.

Zhao Wenyao considered himself neither smart nor brave, but he was normal. A normal person wouldn’t do harmful things to others.

“You may not know, but several of your companions have been arrested,” Night Cicada said, “Be honest, or else you’ll pay with your life.”

“Do you have no humanity?” Zhao Wenyao said angrily, “While beating me, you ask for secrets. Normally, you should entice me first! You skipped right to coercion… had you offered something, I might have talked. But after hitting me, demanding my secrets? That’s impossible! Don’t even think about it!”

Night Cicada contemplated, then said, “You do have a point.”

This was a typical action of Mechanized Dawn, known for harshness. The previous prisoner, Rainier Brandonberg, was particularly resilient, so Mechanized Dawn resorted to intimidation instead of temptation.

But intimidation didn’t work on Rainier.

“Seen him?” Night Cicada snapped his fingers. A holographic projection shone down from the ceiling, “Disobey, and this will be your fate.”

Rainier was bound to a chair, unconscious. His head drooped, and his tangled golden hair was caked with dried blood, which also stained his legs. Blood pooled below the chair.

Zhao Wenyao’s eyes widened, and his body shook uncontrollably.

Back then, the woman’s beating made him fear for his life; she was brutal. Seeing the blood-covered scene now, Zhao Wenyao couldn’t doubt the severity of the situation further.

“Y-You…” Zhao Wenyao struggled to speak, “Are you forcing me to choose between death and torture?”

“Don’t bother, just tell us everything!” Zhao Wenyao exclaimed in desperation.

“Pleased with your choice,” Night Cicada said, “But remember, lying in the interrogation leads to instant death. Our capability to discern truth and falsehood is absolute.”

Zhao Wenyao’s lip quivered, tears streaming down.

His newly awakened resolve not to betray his fellow players was almost shattered by the immense pressure of life and death…

Night Cicada agreed with Kui Xin and added, “This is a matter of life and death; we can wait a bit longer… Ten seconds, if you don’t respond, you choose death.”

“Just ten seconds?! Is this some joke?” Zhao Wenyao exclaimed, horrified.

Kui Xin silently drew a black gun from her waist, loading it. Seeing her armed, Zhao Wenyao broke down immediately. Before Night Cicada counted to five, he shouted, “I’ll talk! I’ll say everything!”

“Good decision,” Night Cicada said, “But if you lie during the interrogation, I’ll shoot you.”

Zhao Wenyao confessed everything he knew.

When Night Cicada interrogated Zhao Wenyao, Kui Xin’s mind was heavy, watching silently. She could only control her pulse and emotions, pretending appropriate shock at each turn.

Once Zhao Wenyao capitulated under threat, Kui Xin lost her justification to kill him.

She had considered silencing him, but key information could not be leaked. Rainier endured torture out of fear for others, as killing the players meant retaliation from people in the Second World.

Without Zhao Wenyao, others could still be interrogated, though not all had the willpower of Rainier. Players’ existence was bound to be revealed eventually.

In a loop without solution.

Now Kui Xin could do nothing but watch Zhao Wenyao spill everything he knew.

An hour later, the interrogation ended. The whole process was recorded.

Kui Haidong watched from behind the scenes as Night Cicada questioned Zhao Wenyao.

Kui Haidong was dumbfounded, his jaw dropping, unaware the scene ceased until someone called.

“What… kill him?” Kui Haidong gasped, “Zhao Wenyao can travel between worlds!”

“Why kill? We should keep him.”

“I’ll comply with your order.”

Kui Xin paused, “If Zhao Wenyao’s information is genuine, he’s valuable. Let’s not kill him.”

“Not my decision. You must kill him.”

“Alright, if father decides…”

Zhao Wenyao looked at Kui Xin beseechingly. Before he could speak, the shot rang out.

Blood splattered.

Kui Xin holstered her gun calmly, “There’s another Rainier, can I see him?”

“Yes,” Kui Haidong said tersely, “Cicada, bring her.”

The gaming hologram flickered: “Execution of [Proxy Zhao Wenyao].”

“I did my best,” Kui Xin muttered, “Surviving while doing my part.”

She turned and followed Night Cicada.

“I agree, it’s a pity to kill him so soon,” Night Cicada observed, “But orders are orders.”