In the dark and warm tranquility, something fell right onto Lin Sanjiu's face with a 'pah!', instantly dispersing the sleepiness. She slowly opened her eyes and met Bohemia's gaze, who raised one hand in the air.
"You finally woke up?" Bohemia said with a hint of regret as she retracted her hand. "I forgot my ability was still active."
Judging from the burning sensation on her skin, Lin Sanjiu must have endured more than just a few hits.
"How long has it been?" She realized that she was lying on her side in a fetal position on the red brick floor; after the effect of the statues had worn off, she probably just fell down in the same posture. When she looked up, she noticed that Sesame Cake had changed positions, lying flat on her back with limbs sprawled out, snoring loudly.
"Not long," Bohemia answered with a slightly dissatisfied tone, glancing toward Sesame Cake. "I spent so much effort, and in the end, I got nothing."
'At least it didn't waste much time,' Lin Sanjiu thought. Strangely enough, she had killed people before, and the words "flawless morality" had long lost their significance to her. But compared to killing, taking away someone else's organs made her feel even more uncomfortable. However, some things had to be done, even if they made her uncomfortable. Sighing in her heart, she took out her reaper's Scythe and asked, "Why? Should I give it a try?"
"You go ahead and try," Bohemia replied, seeming disinterested. "I tried for a while, but her body is empty. There isn't so much as a single fart left."
Even if there were some left, she wouldn't want them.
Frowning, Lin Sanjiu said, "But she... She was able to move, talk, and think before. How could she have no internal organs? A person whose body is completely hollow should be in a vegetative state, right?"
"I don't know!" If Bohemia were an animal, her fur would have exploded by now. "Don't you trust me?" She seemed quite sensitive about this point and stood up abruptly, saying, "If you think I've hoarded things for myself, go ahead, wake her up. I guarantee she will still be able to speak and move!"
Without waiting for Lin Sanjiu's explanation, Bohemia, suddenly becoming angrier, said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's not right. Even if I took everything, it's because I earned it myself. What does it have to do with you? Why would I use the word 'hoard'?"
It was unclear who she was angry with.
"I'm just curious," Lin Sanjiu said, trying to soothe her. "They are all yours to begin with. What I mean is, if she has some method of keeping her internal organs somewhere safe but still able to move and think... that would be incredibly valuable for us, don't you think?"
At this point, saying something like "How can you not even understand your own ability?" would only lead them into a pointless argument. Lin Sanjiu swallowed her words and asked differently, "So, if she sleeps for another ten minutes... is it possible?"
"Who knows?" Bohemia said, her interest seeming to wane further. "Maybe."
It was really an irresponsibly unproductive conversation.
"Then, help me carry her," Lin Sanjiu said, finally deciding to end the discussion. "I know someone, and there's a patient room near the ground... I'm unsure if that person is still there, but let's take a look."
After several rounds of the game, if Ya Jiang didn't have enough points to buy the right to use the patient room, the one he got in the first round would probably have expired. Even if they went there, they wouldn't find him. However, Lin Sanjiu mentally reviewed the situation. Yes, when she caused a lockdown in the entire hospital, Ya Jiang probably didn't have time to return to the patient room and might have been locked outside. If Lin Sanjiu were Ya Jiang, she would certainly find ways to preserve that patient room after the lockdown was lifted.
Of course, all of this is under the assumption that Ya Jiang didn't encounter any mishaps during the lockdown period.
"How do you always know someone?" Bohemia asked, frowning and looking displeased with everything Lin Sanjiu said. "Are you a social butterfly?"
"Well, kind of," Lin Sanjiu replied casually, although she hadn't had many friends before doomsday. Her mind was still on Ya Jiang, who Bohemia had mentioned had a tough time during the lockdown. Lin Sanjiu couldn't help but worry about him, especially since he was already missing a waist.
"What do you want me to do?" Bohemia said, pounding on the cotton, perhaps to show her impatience, and then changed the subject. "Should I not bother?"
"Oh, that's not it," Lin Sanjiu said, quickly regaining her focus. "You still need to help, and we need to act quickly. We have to go back to the hospital's payment area before 6 AM."
Lin Sanjiu was planning to return to the basement, but she just said "payment counter" for now. It's best to take one step at a time.
Bohemia took out her leaf and looked at it, trying to read the time. It seemed more challenging than reading a clock, and Lin Sanjiu wondered why she didn't just wear a watch. "There are still less than five hours," Bohemia said.
"Just a few minutes ago, we caused quite a scene at the payment counter—"
"You mean you. You caused a scene," Bohemia corrected her.
"Okay. No matter who caused it—"
"You did."
"I caused a commotion!" Lin Sanjiu was getting frustrated. "You pretended to be kidnapped, didn't you? If you go back so soon, they will definitely become suspicious. You don't know; these NPCs are very human-like. Even if they keep you and try to force you to reveal where I've gone, I won't be surprised."
"I don't know if the rewards are still available," Bohemia said, sighing softly.
"I can give you some points, can't I?" Lin Sanjiu felt overwhelmed. "Anyway, I think you should wait for a while and go back to exchange for items when the heat dies down. It would be even better if they changed shifts. So, while we wait, let's find that person I know. Perhaps, if this woman is still asleep, then that person might be able to make her tell the truth."
Staying in any place for too long in the lower labyrinth wasn't safe, especially since the two guards earlier might return at any moment. As they spoke, they carefully lifted Sesame Cake, who murmured in her sleep. Lin Sanjiu used one arm to secure Sesame Cake's chest, half-carrying her, and used her other shoulder to support her. Bohemia grabbed her legs and, grumbling, backed into a side path.
"That person you know better have a way to make her speak the truth," Bohemia said, her tone cooing like a dove's. "Otherwise, don't blame me for turning hostile and taking both of your kidneys."
"Oh, actually, I only have one kidney left," Lin Sanjiu replied.
Bohemia was taken aback. "You're in a really tough spot, aren't you?"
But as it turned out, the person in the tough spot had enough access permits. After giving one to Bohemia, they avoided the crowds and took narrow paths, like two mice sneaking around to steal eggs. They finally reached the edge of the lower level and arrived at the round wall.
Looking up from there, Ya Jiang's patient room was about ten meters above their heads. At this moment, just like the other patient rooms around it, the door was tightly shut, and they couldn't tell if anyone was inside.
"What do we do now?" Bohemia asked, holding Sesame Cake's feet. "What about the person you know?"
Lin Sanjiu thought for a moment. She had already used up the paper cranes, so besides her last resort, she had no other way to contact Ya Jiang.
She took a deep breath and yelled with all her might, "Ya Jiang! Open the door!"
YOU ARE READING
Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 10: Lava [Complete]
Science FictionWhat is Lava? Lin Sanjiu has no idea either. - A translation of N. Heller's Chinese novel.