Chapter 980: Chapter 978: Safe Haven
The hotel entrance features a hollow glass design,
as Yi Chen sips his red tea and glances over, he sees the doorway crowded with red-clothed people, so tightly packed there’s a creaking sound from the door.
However, this congestion is quickly resolved.
It’s not the hotel staff trying to disperse them, but rather, these ‘reverse people’ at the door begin to merge; their bodies seamlessly blending into one another, reducing from thousands to hundreds to tens until ultimately forming the likeness of a woman with dreadlocks, reminiscent of a mother from a family of four.
This isn’t merely a physical fusion; Yi Chen can sense a genuine threat from this singular entity, completely different from the ease of his previous kills.
The woman pushes open the hotel door, holding a document signed with a peculiar name in her hand.
“Manager, I’m just following instructions, coming over specifically to take away this outsider named [Lorrian]; he might be of assistance to all of us.”
As she speaks, she approaches the lounge area in the lobby.
Yet no matter how she moves, she feels herself growing ever distant from the lounge, even running fails to close the gap.
Stopping brings her closer to the door instead.
“Manager, can’t you see the document in my hand?”
The manager, however, brews a steaming cup of strong tea, kindly offering it to the woman representing the Eighth Disaster, saying with great friendliness: “Priority level…My hotel holds the highest priority level; as long as they’re my guests, they enjoy absolute safety while in this hotel.
If you have any discontent, please have the person who signed this document come in person.”
“Since the manager has spoken, I won’t press further; I apologize for the disturbance. But, I’ll be watching closely, they mustn’t leave the hotel.”
The Eighth Disaster doesn’t get riled up; she places the emptied teacup on the side platform by the door before turning away, exiting through the nearest sewer.
The unrest from the underground area also completely dissipates at this moment.
The manager then steps out from behind the counter, looking curious as he asks:
“Why choose to trust me?
If following the power structure, I’m also a part of the malice. The other has rule-based documents that could very possibly drag me into the capture efforts.”
Yi Chen takes a sip of tea and gives his answer:
“I just wanted to test whether you’re trustworthy, since the ultimate outcome remains unchanged.
Lorrian isn’t someone to simply survive in hiding, spending a lifetime holed up in the hotel; once he wakes, he’ll likely choose to leave on his own.
After all, we’re situated at the root of malice, we’re inherently compelled, so it’s a good chance to test both your authority and trustworthiness as a manager.”
“Just for this, you dare offend the ‘Eighth Disaster’? It seems a bit unwise.”
“Identifying the two safe points, the [crew] and the [hotel], is extremely worthwhile for me, being currently at the root of evil.
Moreover, I’ll eventually have to offend it, doing so sooner rather than later doesn’t really matter.”
At that moment, the hotel door opens again.
The person entering walks briskly, arms outstretched, directly embracing the manager:
“It’s been so long since we last met! Indeed, you’re still the most reliable manager…I told you beforehand, Yi and his group are quite interesting; even coming here they wouldn’t fall into too much of a passive situation.”
The newcomer is William, seemingly an old acquaintance of the manager.
“Mr. Yi is indeed the most special guest I’ve ever hosted.”
Upon hearing this, William’s facial features draw together, “Oh! More special than me!?”
“Precisely.”
“Ah~ Indeed, it’s quite jealousy-inducing!”
At this point, Yi Chen interjects: “The manager once crossed through several planes to trap me, Jin, Reagan, and Lorrian. Was it your plan, William?”
William hurriedly makes a French military salute, “Mr. Yi, don’t misunderstand…I, when I first arrived here, the earliest Disaster I knew was [Manager]. Through thorough interaction, I discovered he’s a very principled and approachable person.
To accelerate your progress, and to witness the highest degree of malice, while also satisfying the manager’s curiosity about special guests, I arranged the meeting.
The result turned out well, didn’t it?
You experienced the transcendence over God by the [Disaster], quickly broadened your horizons, felt the urgency, and swiftly adjusted to the hotel’s stress disorder in a short time.
Otherwise, upon arriving in the City of Evil, you’d have ended up in an ordinary motor lodge with a pervert peeking through your windows every night, quite a passive situation.”
William, maintaining the salute, slowly approaches; seeing Yi Chen had no intention of beheading, he slowly reaches into his pocket to take out a letter and slides it across the table.
“When Lorrian wakes, show him this letter; this summoning might not necessarily be a bad thing…Of course, the risks are inevitable and indeed considerable.
It’s unpreventable, given our insufficient strength~
He can prepare after reading the letter, perhaps Lorrian will find it quite intriguing.”
Yi Chen isn’t particularly interested in who wants to see Lorrian, being outsiders in the City of Evil, they are inherently passive.
He’s solely interested in some situations he encountered.
“I have some questions.”
“Mr. Yi, please go ahead; if I can talk about it, I will.”
“The person appearing in the video store filming me, what kind of entity is that? It’s rare to see you directly intervening.”
Discussing this makes even William draw a sharp breath, “Hiss…It’s an unexpected situation; I originally thought with Mr. Yi commuting between the hotel and crew, linking with these two Disasters, you’d no longer attract other Disasters’ attention.
Who knew you were simply too dazzling.
That entity is extremely dangerous, I’m sure the manager must have warned you.
There’s not much I can say; otherwise, I’d die from breaking the contract. Anyway, the opponent is a [Disaster], the most dangerous, terrifying kind, one you’d scare yourself into wetting your pants upon knowing, requiring a friend to accompany you to the restroom at midnight.”
“The opponent seems related to the videotape?”
“That’s correct, seems Mr. Yi has seen the image in the cabinet.”
Yi Chen’s tone suddenly shifts: “You also use videotape as a medium? Are you connected to that guy?”
“Hiss…Your brain surely doesn’t have a Madness Brain installed, but you’ve become agile~ Saying there’s no connection is impossible.
Back then, to quickly earn the title of evil, I took a bit of a crooked path, and now I genuinely regret it, nearly costing me my life.
But well! Things are different now; I no longer have direct ties with that guy, but…” William’s intentionally feigned ignorance shifts to a sinister face, suddenly leaning closer.
“How about, once Mr. Yi makes a stir in the crew, we seize an opportunity to kill that guy? Anyway, Mr. Yi, you’ve already been targeted, gotta resolve this problem sooner or later.”
Without waiting for Yi Chen’s response, William retracts his head, returning to the pretentious expression, waving goodbye.
“Alright! That’s it for tonight; remember to give the letter to Lorrian, until we meet again, Mr. Yi…”