Faced with the choice given by boss, Yi Chen didn't hesitate. He stepped forward into the "sister's room."
A strange sensation underfoot made an odd noise.
His foot had landed directly on a floor covered in fish scales.
At that moment, both his sense of smell and sight were overwhelmed by the room’s atmosphere.
A nearly tangible stench filled the air, like a living stick of rot that invaded Yi Chen's body, repeatedly striking his stomach.
In his view, the ground was covered in fish scales, some even embedding themselves into the damp floor as if they had grown directly from the room.
If it had been the Yi Chen who first arrived in this world, he likely would have protested this sight by vomiting.
The boss remained quietly by her side.
Little Grape's voice echoed in Yi Chen's mind.
"Hey! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? The person in front of you is an 'infected' by the Disease. If she successfully sheds her scales, she'll fully evolve into an intelligent [Pathogenic infected Being].
They’re the source of this world’s plague and decay! By nature, they resent the uninfected, and their instincts drive them to invade and occupy your body."
“If they really intended harm, they’d have done it last night. Besides, since I entered the bathroom, the boss has had plenty of chances to act.
I still don’t fully understand this world, but from what I’ve observed and deduced, I conclude that helping her could be worthwhile. If we can establish a mutual aid relationship, we might uncover critical clues about this town’s truth and the mastermind behind it, and pass the organization’s evaluation with flying colors.”
"I really doubt you’re a creature of this world. Your actions might rub some humans the wrong way… but it’s interesting."
Little Grape said no more and silently observed the boss’s every move.
Like a major surgery, eight hours passed until the last scale was extracted.
By then, it was noon the next day. The boss turned on the bathtub faucet, submerging his sister in the water.
When she awakens, she’ll be fully transformed into what Little Grape called a 'Pathogenic Infected Being.'
At that moment, the boss gently placed a hand on Yi Chen’s shoulder. Yi Chen, still slightly on guard, instinctively reached for his hatchet.
However, it was only a gesture of gratitude.
“Thank you, Mr. William.”
“No problem… I helped willingly.”
“You can rest now. I’ll make sure nothing disturbs you while you sleep. When you wake, it’ll probably be night... and you’re welcome to come down for dinner.”
Yi Chen made an "OK" gesture and turned to leave.
Back in his room, the exhaustion was overwhelming.
Little Grape detached himself, standing guard by the door.
“Hurry up and get some rest. I’ve slept enough inside you already. Don’t overwork yourself. If this brother-sister duo gives us useful information or even lends a hand, we might just get that super-sized eyeball.”
But Yi Chen, leaning against the bed’s headboard, couldn’t shake his concern.
“After tonight, the assessment countdown begins. I doubt tonight will be peaceful. When the sun sets, wake me up.”
“Enough talk—go to sleep already!”
Little Grape, like a security guard, moved a wooden chair to the bed, sitting watchfully beside him.
It was the most restful sleep Yi Chen had since arriving in Green Lake Town.
Possibly due to the plant inside him, he woke naturally as the sun set, photosynthesis ceased, and sleep faded.
His blurry eyes opened to an oversized mouth, filled with black fur around it, staring at him with a bulging eye almost glued to his face.
In a distorted voice from merged vocal cords, it said, "You’re awake?"
“Little Grape, stop scaring me!”
Dressing up and gearing up, Yi Chen opened his room door to pitch darkness—the hallway’s candlelight gone, leaving only inky shadows.
He lit the kerosene lamp on his waist, stepping as quietly as possible toward the first floor.
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