How many opportunities does a person have to pause and reflect in their lifetime?
...
"This is my responsibility, I misjudged the situation."
Einstein rarely showed such a helpless and ashamed expression.
After the second emergency check, no trace of the killer was found within the headquarters.
She had considered the possibility of two people operating simultaneously, but based on the evidence, the first three acts of murder involved one person assassinating and another observing, with the artificial lake serving as a misleading secondary crime scene. Furthermore, if two people acted together, there would be more clues left behind, so it was almost impossible for them to suddenly change their strategy while being completely unaware of tonight's ambush.
Of course, there was an even smaller possibility: that there were a total of three assassins.
"The high-ranking officials have already decided by majority vote to relocate to various branches." Mei, who had been deep in thought, looked up calmly after hearing Einstein's apology. "This is an act of last resort; they have no other way to stop themselves from becoming the next victims."
"So it finally came to this…" Einstein sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration.
There were many reasons why the high-ranking officials were not relocated immediately, the main one being that—the possibility of the killer being a high-ranking official was very high.
Even though all evidence currently pointed to Lin, they all agreed that even if the killer was Lin, the mastermind was very likely one of the high-ranking officials.
Mei spoke to the contemplative Kevin behind her: "Kevin, you engaged with the killer yesterday. Tell us about your feelings."
"Ah... yes." Kevin was interrupted in his thoughts and replied instinctively. Only when he saw everyone looking at him did he react, stating gravely, "I can be certain that it was not Lin. I have sparred with Lin. The killer's moves and actions are vastly different from Lin's, and their strength is far inferior to Lin's."
"Is that so…"
"Hmph... I will continue the investigation. This is my duty." Einstein solemnly announced.
This was originally not her responsibility, but for Einstein, since she was investigating the matter, she was determined to catch the killer.
After the brief discussion, Mei was about to return to the R&D department for new development work, but before she left, Kevin called out to her.
"Mei."
"What is it, Kevin?" Seeing Kevin's hesitation, Mei smiled. "Just say it. Is there anything you need to hide from me?"
"...You're right." Kevin also showed a relieved smile, but then asked with some concern, "Don't you need to relocate? After all, you are considered…"
"I think if the killer's target is me, they will make their move eventually. Instead of facing a potentially unknown ambush at an unfamiliar branch, I'd rather face the challenge here at the headquarters."
"…"
The two attacks—the Fifth Squad incident and Sakura's incident—had already served as a wake-up call for Kevin. Even though the Chairman's "cocoon of toxicity" had been eradicated, and he himself faced the risk of being assassinated, he could not let down his guard and allow anyone to exploit the situation during this critical time.
"Is there anything else you want to say?"
Facing Mei's smile, Kevin shook his head in silence, but secretly clenched his fists.
He still had one question he wanted to ask.
Why did Mei use the word "they," as if she were an outsider, when referring to the relocation of the high-ranking officials?
Why did he feel that Mei was actually quite pleased to see this happening, as if she had already guessed what would happen after the officials relocated?
Perhaps he was just overthinking it.
...
"Lin, why don't you seem to like reading books?"
After entering the room, the man was silent for a moment when he saw the room full of exquisite assembled models. He asked Zero, who was skillfully putting a model together.
It wasn't that he thought Zero was too playful; on the contrary, he was happy to see Zero find a hobby. But the problem was that Zero didn't seem happy even when assembling the models. He just treated it like... a job?
Meticulous sanding and assembly, then placing it in a corner of the room, and mechanically opening the next box of models.
The man had bought both books and models for Zero, as they were things he enjoyed. So, when he saw that Zero neither liked reading nor treated model assembly as anything more than a way to pass the time, he felt a subtle sense of frustration.
"...I've read many books." Zero stopped his hand, which was still holding a part. He didn't look at the instructions, assembling the model purely based on his own understanding, and said calmly, "I've read most of the useful books."
"Uh... are you implying these books are useless, then?"
Being subtly put down by Zero, even the man felt a little disheartened.
The man dejectedly lit a cigarette for himself, picked up a copy of The Strongest Man in the City, flipped through a few pages, and then stood next to Zero, reading with enthusiasm.
Zero glanced at the man, who had a smile playing on his lips, ignored him, and continued to assemble the model with over a thousand parts in his hands.
Half a day passed. When Zero was nearly finished, the man had also finished the novel.
The man nodded, savoring the experience, and exclaimed: "Indeed, novels are truly interesting."
Zero applied the last water decal. Another perfectly straight-built model was complete. He said flatly: "...I don't believe there is such a thing as 'interesting' about this novel. The plot structure and character arrangement of most world-renowned novels are far superior to it. The logic of the characters' actions in similar novels is sometimes overly strange, especially... the women."
"Hehehe, Lin, you don't understand this." Speaking of his favorite field, the man wagged his finger, looking as if Zero was missing the point. "Furthermore, the purpose of a novel is not just to become a great work of art or to convey noble values to people."
"...But I truly don't see its purpose."
"Its very birth is meaningful enough."
"Its birth is already meaningful…"
"That's right. Maybe for many people, its existence or non-existence has nothing to do with them, but it is a work into which someone poured their heart and soul. It brought me joy, and that is enough."
"…"
Hearing the man's description, Zero put down the model and looked at the novel in the man's hand.
"Want to read it?" The man waved the book mockingly.
Zero nodded: "I can try."
"Haha, I knew you would!"
The man, having succeeded in his scheme, handed the book to Zero. Zero took it expressionlessly, opened the book, read a few pages, and then asked: "Why is the protagonist's identity set as someone who transmigrates from one world to another? Is there any significance to this?"
"Probably so that the 'golden finger' cheat can be somewhat more reasonable."
"But the act of transmigration itself is illogical."
"Uh…" The man wiped his sweat and gave a dry laugh, "Maybe that's just the author's preference."
"...However, the transmigration setting is quite interesting."
The man was pleasantly surprised: "Really? You think so too."
"Yes. Experiencing a life completely different from the past would probably be very interesting." Zero's tone was bland. He had already flipped through dozens of pages during the conversation. "Going from a world full of disaster to a world of peace would be the dream of many people, wouldn't it?"
"…"
The man suddenly froze. He stared at Zero, this child who was only a few years old.
He looked at his coldness and indifference, his abnormal reading speed, and his face, which he found repulsive.
Until Zero finished the entire book and picked up another novel, the man just watched him.
Silence flowed from his eyes, dripping all over his face like tears.