Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Sea Without Light Part 73

Kui Xin finished her dinner, washed up, and lay down on her bed to reflect on everything that happened over the past seven days.

On August 3rd, she returned to the Second World. After a perilous fight with the Scythe Demon and receiving treatment, she reluctantly revealed her superhuman ability of flesh regeneration. On the morning of the 3rd, Kui Xin underwent Awakening qualification verification. In the evening, she met with Kui Haidong at the Headquarters of the Mechanical Dawn and visited some new projects being developed by Rick Technology Company.

From August 4th to the 5th, Kui Xin went about her normal routine and did not encounter any unexpected events.

On August 6th, Kui Xin, along with the members of the Seventh Squad, received a mission from the Investigation Bureau to prepare for a protective escort task aboard the Kraken. That night, members of the squad rode armed helicopters to the sea.

At around 3 AM on August 7th, the armed helicopter arrived above the Kraken, allowing the Seventh Squad to board successfully. Half an hour after boarding, the Kraken exploded. The small team trying to support the Seventh Squad was trapped; the rescue helicopter was destroyed, and the security team boarding the ship was annihilated. At the same moment, with the help of Adam’s guidance, Kui Xin, using her flesh regeneration ability, managed to see the cargo the Kraken was transporting – cocoons. Subsequently, Kui Xin died, time reversed, and she crossed the boundary of death, returning to August 4th.

The second cycle began.

On August 4th, after resting, Kui Xin proactively called Kui Haidong, going to the Headquarters of the Mechanical Dawn to take risks testing the situation, discovering that the Mechanized Dawn had already noticed the “Players” in the Second World.

On August 5th, Kui Xin started to try different routes to search for more possibilities, hoping to influence a wider scope with her butterfly effect theory. Early in the morning, while patrolling, she encountered Thorn Rose and Silverface, and a fierce battle between the Seventh Squad and the two occurred. The appearance of the two extraordinary ability holders in the port attracted the attention of the Investigation Bureau, which found hidden explosives during their investigation. The Mechanized Dawn’s plan to destroy its harbor was thwarted. At the same time, Red’s decisive actions dealt heavy losses to the Investigation Bureau.

On August 6th, after completing the mission meeting with members of the Mechanized Dawn, Kui Xin and the group boarded the Kraken. Early in the morning, she apprehended Tang Guan to avoid a deadly outcome and successfully returned with teammates. During the day, Kui Xin continued her usual job at the Investigation Bureau, where she learned about Deputy Minister Lin Xinji’s extraordinary abilities through Xueyao Shu. At night, she was invited to interrogate the detained players at the Mechanized Dawn Headquarters.

She met Zhao Wenyao, Reiner, and Tang Guan. After confirming Tang Guan’s real identity, the system’s mission progress reached a full 100%.

Kui Xin received a reward, an “invitation.”

On August 7th and 8th, she had relatively light activities, mainly involving office work and training.

August 9th, today, marked the return to the First World in the evening.

From August 3rd to August 9th, although only seven days had passed, under the “death reincarnation” effect, Kui Xin experienced far more than just seven days’ worth of time.

Everyday incidents were stored meticulously in her mind. She grew, gaining intelligence from those around her, eventually establishing her direction.

Kui Xin did not have a single idle day, her brain was fully occupied with various matters, making it hard for her to settle her thoughts. Most times, she would think while walking.

Whether physically or mentally, Kui Xin felt incredibly exhausted. She longed for a good rest, to enjoy a dreamless, high-quality sleep.

In the First World, Kui Xin at least didn’t need to worry about someone assassinating her while she slept, or fearing exposure while interacting with the Mechanized Dawn or coming to work—none of these worries existed here.

She glanced at the time on her phone; it was now 10:36 PM. She had wasted too much time soaking in the bath, now she needed to get some rest first.

Setting her alarm for 7 AM on the 10th, as she still needed to go to the Investigation Bureau tomorrow.

The Investigation Bureau was truly the lackeys of the conglomerate, and the employees’ rest schedule perfectly embodied the greedy face of capitalists—exploiting labor. Their monthly rotation schedule allowed three days off each month, but they were not fixed holidays—one’s off time would be pushed back if there were too many people taking leave during that period.

Kui Xin set her alarm, got up, opened the bedroom door, and stared at the slightly glowing living room, saying “Silverface, don’t stay up too late, it wastes electricity. And turn the sound down, you’re disturbing me.”

“Okay.” Silverface shrank his head, hurriedly lowering the TV volume, “I’ll just watch for another half-hour. Alright?”

He received no reply, only the sound of the door closing sharply.

Kui Xin locked the door tightly, laid down, and fell asleep peacefully.

She knew she would wake up again, returning to her familiar world.

…

“Humm… humm…”

Kui Xin’s body wobbled and almost fell.

Her strong balance immediately steadied her. Instinctively, she supported herself with an old piece of furniture by her side, opened her eyes.

Familiar city night scenes greeted her view, the distant neon lights and the river bridge shimmering, while looking down, the street of an old neighborhood where only one streetlight remained still stubbornly lit.

During Kui Xin’s senior year of high school, this very streetlamp illuminated her way home, giving her courage in the eerie night.

Kui Xin heard a humming sound. It was her mobile phone’s alarm ringing. After her encounter with the Scythe Demon in the Second World, she deliberately set a timer to make sure she had some reaction time.

Kui Xin picked up her phone to switch off the alarm. She took several deep breaths, took a few steps back, and sat on her bed, closing her eyes to calm her mind and stabilize her emotions.

After a while, a new message appeared on her social media app.

Yuan Lu: “Kui Xin, are you alright?”

When seeing the name Yuan Lu, Kui Xin unexpectedly felt a foreign sensation. She had been away for too long, too far from the peace of her original life, causing her to feel as if she were living in another era with others’ concern.

Aside from a short interaction post-return trip with Kui Xin, Yu Qiwen, and Xie Gankqing, there were very few exchanges. Returning to the Second World, Kui Xin never thought of them again.

Upon returning to the First World, the first thing Yuan Lu did was contact Kui Xin, enquiring whether she was safe. This surprised Kui Xin somewhat.

Kui Xin replied, “I’m fine. How about you?”

Yuan Lu: “Yu Qiwen and Xie Gankqing returned together with me. We’re all doing well. Did you encounter any difficulties this time in the Second World?”

“I’m fine too,” said Kui Xin.

“That’s a relief then,” Yuan Lu said, “Life goes on. Let’s keep pushing forward. Don’t think too much tonight; get a good sleep. Goodnight!”

“Good night,” Kui Xin politely responded.

On the other end:

“Um, looks like the little sister isn’t facing any troubles,” Yuan Lu muttered as he put down his phone. “The second world wore me out for those seven days. My rotten boss rejected my proposal, and after modifying it three times, he was still unsatisfied… When has anyone treated me like this before?”

“Don’t mention it, Big Sister Lu,” Yu Qiwen said with a gloomy expression. “My graduate advisor from the Second World told me that my thesis was unsatisfactory, so I rewrote it, only for him to publish my earlier article! He also threatened me if I reported it, he’d ruin my reputation.”

Yuan Lu nudged Xie Gankqing’s elbow. “What about you? Aren’t you leading a team in the Second World? Has any big shot offered you funding for your startup plan?”

“Some large companies are interested, but they all demand absolute control. I could get at most forty-nine percent shares at best,” Xie Gankqing spoke softly.

“Not surprising given the monopolistic nature of the conglomerates in the Second World. Regular folks struggle to rise,” Yuan Lu sighed.

“The class structure is rigid, the biggest issue in the Second World,” Yu Qiwen interjected.

“By the way, did you notice anything about Kui Xin in the Second World?” Yuan Lu turned to look at Yu Qiwen.

“I did notice, but I couldn’t find any information about her in the resident database. She seems like a silent existence…” Yu Qiwen said.

“There are two possible explanations, the first being that her data is encrypted and outside the general resident database. The second is that she is an undocumented person, essentially a vagrant without ID papers.”

“If it’s the first possibility, her citizen rank would at least be grade three, or even higher,” Xie Gankqing added.

“If it’s the second then…”

“She must have had a terrible run of luck,” Yuan Lu sympathized.

“In order to improve one’s citizen rank, very strict conditions need to be met: sufficient tax payments with passing relevant reviews, federal official employment, direct kinship with deputy level leaders in federal institutions, doctoral degrees or higher, or becoming an Awakened,” Xie Gankqing explained.

“If I want to reach the PhD level, I’ve calculated that it would take at least five million dollars, and to acquire the necessary certifications, I’d need another few million bribes for senior staff and professors…” Yu Qiwen added, shaking his head.

“Feels like I’ve gained a new understanding of the dark side of the Second World,” Yuan Lu blurted out his astonishment. “Considering Kui Xin, she might actually be an undocumented person. That’s the simplest explanation that fits reality.”

Mutual glances, and one sigh among the trio.

Yu Qiwen opened his computer and suggested checking forums first, possibly missing important news otherwise.

Xie Gankqing and Yuan Lu gathered by the computer monitor, Yu Qiwen staring at the bloody survivor count on top of the forum, unable to contain himself.

Survivor count: 9201

Yu Qiwen stared blankly, “Why is the number of deaths increasing so much! I thought everyone would learn to hide better, so fewer deaths would occur…”

Before he could click to check the death list, Yuan Lu interrupted him, “Post by Remover 233 here! The title is…”

Yu Qiwen read the title: “The government of the Federation in the Second World knows about Players and the existence of the First World and they are currently capturing, interrogating, and cleansing these Players.”

The post shook the entire forum like a nuclear bomb.

Initially, Kui Xin didn’t want to post such alarming news.

She expected a captured player to come forward, or at least a courageous one like Augus.

But she didn’t realize how deep and firm the implantation of Reiner’s consciousness was by the Mechanized Dawn, causing her to wait for Reiner to come forward.

This was a test, gauging whether Reiner could break free from mental control upon crossing worlds.

After waiting ten minutes, no one stepped forward.

It dawned on Kui Xin that things were more severe than she anticipated.

The players in the forum were oblivious and preoccupied with discussion about Remover 233’s latest murders.

They talked endlessly about the remote Remover 233, her threats and her madness, yet missed the looming danger right at their doorstep…

So Kui Xin tapped her finger on the screen, typing the title.

Pausing for a moment, under the post, she wrote, “Don’t harbor any侥幸. Don’t show any leaks; don’t overly trust those around you… We thought we hid ourselves, but our adversary, they lurked deeper in the shadows.”