Pretending To Be A Boss-Chapter 494 - 92: Two Catfish (Part 2)
Memories shrouded in fog were in extreme disarray, and with just a brief exchange of words, Xi He evoked the deepest fears within.
In his dreams, he always saw himself standing aside, aloof and cold, as a girl about his age was disposed of by the organization.
The people around him held record books, noting down his reactions as well as each frame of the girl's transition from vibrant life to wilting death.
In the end, it would always be accompanied by a sentence, warm and calm, like a small hearth at a slight distance in winter.
"Zero, don't cry."
Zero recalled this memory repeatedly; the girl had died many times over, yet every now and then, he would relive this ordeal.
Oddly enough, although he clearly didn't remember who she was, she spoke to him as though she'd known him for a long time.
Sorrow once again surged in the young boy's heart.
Zero gathered his spirits; Akasi and Tang Suoye were in dire straits, both his companions, friends he owed to Tang Xian for bringing them together.
He wanted to save them, wanted to feel anger for his friends being persecuted, but he couldn't.
Devoid of anger, he just felt increasingly sad.
He was still thinking about that little girl.
He didn't even know her name, but perhaps she thought he would be very sad, right?
Yet the experimenters around him were quite satisfied with his indifference.
No sadness, no anger, just a numbness as he watched the only child who knew his name die.
The removal of anger and joy made Zero's remaining emotions flood in even more easily.
His eyes finally filled with sorrow as he gazed helplessly at Xi He.
Xi He, however, did not look back at Zero, as if she knew the child's reaction all along.
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Life is composed of countless cells, each an independent entity, yet together forming a whole.
In times of crisis, they too become restless, angry, and sad.
It is like many who have witnessed the cycle from prosperity to decline, gathering to discuss how to turn waning into waxing.
Sometimes the heart shows a strong capacity to pump blood.
Sometimes adrenaline is secreted more quickly.
And sometimes, to keep the vast life they strived to assemble alive, they compromise by letting those who were usually neglected in the corner become active.
Akasi was close to death.
His body still struggled fiercely.
The blockade by the Mud People made his breathing extraordinarily difficult.
His heartbeat also began to be repressed, the spike of adrenaline from previous fights slowly cooling off.
He was in the final stages, akin to someone drowning, the most violent floundering already past.
All the parts of him yearning for life had run out of options.
Their only recourse was to rely on some not-so-pleasant memories.
As Zero remembered fragments of his life, Akasi recalled as well.
But unlike Zero, he hadn't forgotten; on the contrary, he never forgot. Many times, Akasi had wanted to tell Tang Suoye about that woman.
The one who, in the early days of the Evolution Zone, only had brief conversations of camaraderie with him.
In life's final moment, when the brain is starved of oxygen, one tends to see many illusions.
Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.
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"Do you know about catfish?"
"Huh?" Akasi from several years ago still looked like a green youth.
His silvery short hair made Akasi quite conspicuous.
The people of the Second Fortress Division didn't yet know about the Tyrant Plan. To them, Akasi's silver hair was probably a mutation from some gene or the Lei Xiao serum.
He was always alone.
After emerging from the cage fights of the trials, Akasi would have a period of freedom.
Although the extent of his freedom was merely the common areas of a few arenas.
He never expected anyone to strike up a conversation with him.
The woman looked a year or two older than him, wearing a black coat, with long, messy hair, seemingly not one to fuss over her appearance.
She appeared very efficient, and though the black clothes didn't show dirt, Akasi could tell she was covered in bloodstains.
Akasi shook his head, saying:
"Is it a fish from the mining areas? I haven't heard of it."
The woman shook her head, frowning as though in disgust:
"Don't you read books? This is a species native to our Human World, a pathetic and pitiable creature."
"How is it pitiable?"
"There's a story behind it. If you show me that you're really eager, I will tell it to you," the girl's expression seemed to say, be more proactive and I will share my story.
Akasi cooperated, saying:
"I really want to hear this story, please tell me."
The girl laughed with a snort:
"I heard you're the Silver Reaper of this place, a very boring person."
Akasi didn't know what expression to make, and at that moment, he didn't contemplate who the girl was.
The story was actually a very clichéd one, merely a slight modification of an anecdote about the catfish effect.
"Norwegians love to eat sardines, especially live ones. In the market, the price of live fish is much higher than that of dead fish.
So fishermen are always trying to keep the sardines alive until they get back to the port. But despite their efforts, most of the sardines die of suffocation along the way.
However, there was one fishing boat that always managed to bring back most of the sardines alive. The captain kept the secret closely guarded.
