"No." Black Cocoon said while flipping through a comic, "Strictly speaking, Mr. Blue Arc didn’t commission me to protect you; and the reason I’m involved in this ’Red Light operation’ definitely comes from my other partner—’Mr. Chess Player’, don’t be too narcissistic, Miss Magician."
"Chess Player, Xia Pingzhou?" Su Zimai’s tone sank.
"Exactly, the one who scared you so badly at the auction..."
Seeing Su Zimai’s gaze turn cold immediately, like an enraged penguin ready to swoop down and peck you, Black Cocoon shook his head and chose not to continue.
"Although you have a twisted sense of humor... you’re very annoying, very deserving of a beating, as bothersome as a fly, I haven’t properly said ’thank you’ to you..." Su Zimai paused, "Thank you for saving me at the auction."
"You’re welcome." Black Cocoon replied, "But I can confirm for you that it was indeed Mr. Blue Arc who instructed me to protect you at the auction."
"Well then, before the operation starts, I’d like to advise you, Miss Su Zimai, this ’Red Light operation’ is not as simple as you think."
"A mere second-level Exorcist, could there be other variables?" Su Zimai was puzzled.
"Of course, but I can’t tell you what the variable is right now, because it would put you in a dangerous situation... Given my friendship with your brother, I just wanted to try if I could persuade you."
Black Cocoon thought, if Su Zimai were someone who kept secrets, it wouldn’t matter telling her about the Salvation Society, but he was very worried that this thick-headed sister might inadvertently reveal the Salvation Society to others, which would cause trouble.
Bear in mind, the Red Light drew wide attention everywhere by promoting the Salvation Society’s emblem, which is why they’re targeted for annihilation by the Salvation Society.
If Su Zimai learns about the Salvation Society, there’s a chance she could face a similar fate.
Su Zimai pondered for a while: "I’ve come this far, no matter how dangerous it gets, I won’t run, so don’t try to persuade me."
"As expected..." Black Cocoon anticipated her response, "Your whole family is the same, a bunch of stubborn bull-headed people."
"Suddenly I have something to ask you."
"My second brother, is he really just an ordinary person?" Su Zimai pondered and looked up at him.
"Because my captain once said he might be a Superpower User..." Su Zimai spoke softly, "I keep myself from thinking about it, but I feel that sooner or later I’ll have to face it, I hope I’m not completely unprepared when that time comes."
She paused, "Especially after knowing that my older brother is Blue Arc, this possibility suddenly increased, for several days I’ve found myself recalling my second brother’s face as I fall asleep, always wondering... could he be hiding something from me like my older brother does."
Black Cocoon silently regarded her for a moment, then shifted his gaze away, responding slowly:
"Let’s put it this way, your second brother is unequivocally a muggle, this is something you don’t need to worry about."
Su Zimai was stunned for a while, then slowly exhaled, understanding that Black Cocoon might use some ambiguous language to mislead her, but he never lied to her.
Realizing this, she felt relieved and her lips subtly lifted in a barely audible whisper:
Black Cocoon didn’t respond, but after a moment, he suddenly broke the silent spell between them.
"He loves you very much."
Su Zimai was startled, her face immediately flushed red, even her ears turned so crimson they seemed to ooze blood. She sharply looked up at Black Cocoon, speaking with embarrassment and irritation:
"Everybody knows that! Why say it out loud? It’s cheesy enough to make goosebumps sprout!"
"I doubt you really know." Black Cocoon said, "You’re as arrogant as your older brother, never valuing your own life, always causing grief and worry to those around you, yet believing you are doing the right thing... it’s like some kind of self-destructive instinct in your genes."
He scratched his chin, "I seriously suspect this self-destructive instinct is inherited from your father. Though his manifested in alcoholism and self-abandonment, you two are even more hopeless, like ascetic monks hypnotizing yourselves... even when covered in wounds, you never notice, just racing forward, awaiting death for release."
"That’s just my dumb brother, I’m not that stupid." Su Zimai’s mind flashed back to Blue Arc’s image.
"You say I make people around me sad... my second brother, is he very sad?" Su Zimai fell silent for a while, then suddenly asked.
She didn’t know what she was thinking, wanting to learn about her family from an outsider... Perhaps, despite hating the teasing from this big fluttering moth, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity whenever she saw him, thus relaxing her guard unconsciously.
"Of course... Gu Wenyu is a child not good at words, shy to express himself; he tends to hide his feelings under a facade of humor and never easily reveals what’s in his heart, probably only by wearing a mask can he be slightly more honest?"
Black Cocoon paused, lowered his voice: "Yet such a child was angered before you, asking if you ever cared about his feelings, to which you disregarded, making him seem unreasonable."
Su Zimai remained silent, her expression complex as her small face was enveloped in moonlight.
Black Cocoon flipped through the pages, his fingers creating a shuffling sound that overlapped with the sound of water falling.
In the silence, he spoke:
"Perhaps you could try to empathize, why has Gu Wenyu never used such a tone with you? He, like your older brother, doesn’t want to see you in danger, yet is powerless, because he is merely an ordinary person.
"And in fact, the truth about your mother isn’t that important to him... surely you can’t let the whole family be on the brink of death just because father couldn’t cope, right?"
Su Zimai froze, wrinkling her nose slightly, suddenly feeling sorry for Gu Wenyu left at home.
She thought: Indeed, even such a stubborn person expressed his feelings, he must genuinely be worried about me this time, thus seeming so emotional...
She was about to speak when Black Cocoon suddenly raised a finger, saying lightly: "By the way, he’s the one who entrusted me to give you the diapers, intending to remind you to stop being overconfident."
Su Zimai coldly snapped, intending to say "aren’t you the one who never lies, how could you joke like that," but was interrupted by the abrupt roar of an engine that swept away her thoughts.
Together with Black Cocoon, she turned to look, only to see a floodlight burst forth from the railroad tunnel’s exit, slicing through the night, illuminating the mottled tracks and the deserted platform.
Following closely, an enormous dark red behemoth roared out of the tunnel, its rumbling noise almost overwhelming the entire world.