Day of Imprisonment

“When was the last time you saw Gao Shengjie?”

“Around 7:40 this morning. I had just booted up my computer and checked the time. I saw Lao Gao coming in on my way to get water, so I said hello. I haven't seen him since.”

“Were you close to him?”

“Yeah, he's a senior employee. I've only been here for a year, and I've asked him for advice on many things. Lao Gao is a very helpful person.”

“Have you ever had any conflicts or disagreements with him?”

“Yes, there's nothing to hide. Lao Gao isn't a bad person at heart, but he's... well, he's a bit effeminate and gossipy like a woman. He likes to talk about people behind their backs. He's talked about me before, and I confronted him about it, but that was all in the past. We usually get along pretty well. Officer, you don't suspect me, do you?”

“Don't worry, we're just asking questions to understand the situation.”

On the twenty-third floor, in Manager Du Lei's office, which had temporarily become the police's place to gather information, Luo Xi was called over at 9:25 in the morning.

There were only a few male employees in the company, so it was inevitable that Luo Xi would be questioned.

Across from him was that beautiful female police officer.

“Did you go to the restroom this morning?”

“Yes.”

“What time?”

“Probably before eight o'clock.”

“Did you notice anything unusual?”

“No, I was just watching videos.”

“One last question. If you were to guess, which of your colleagues is most likely to have killed Gao Shengjie? Can you name someone?”

Luo Xi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head decisively. “No one. Even if there are conflicts, they're just minor squabbles. It's not like anyone would hold a grudge to that extent. Murder? Heh... that's even more impossible.”

“Alright, thank you for your cooperation.”

Luo Xi got up and walked out.

However, he didn't leave. Instead, he tried to get close to Manager Du Lei, seemingly just asking around, but actually waiting for someone.

Sure enough, after a while, Wu Rui and a colleague walked over.

She glanced at Luo Xi, and Luo Xi was also looking at her.

Their eyes met briefly and then quickly separated.

Wu Rui walked into the office, obviously also about to be questioned.

The colleagues here, especially those who were familiar with Lao Gao on a daily basis, had to be questioned.

“Damn, what's going on? A murder case actually happened in our company. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event...” Du Lei seemed a little agitated. The middle-aged man even subconsciously took out a cigarette pack from his pocket.

But he probably remembered the no-smoking rule in the office area and reluctantly put it back.

Next to him, Luo Xi nodded in agreement, also looking emotional. “Lao Gao was a really good person.”

“Hey, who do you think killed Lao Gao? It can't be one of us, right?” Du Lei asked at this moment.

“Brother Lei, how would I know? I still feel dizzy, like I'm dreaming.” Luo Xi certainly couldn't say that he was an accomplice and that the murderer had just gone into the room.

“Hey, it's just adding to the trouble. Our connection rate is ruined today, and now someone's dead. Forget about the bonus, I'm afraid I won't even be able to keep my position. What's going on...” Du Lei cursed. At this time, another police officer came to find him, and Lao Du immediately put on a smile and walked over.

The police officers on duty at the scene then asked Luo Xi to return to the twenty-fourth floor. The latter nodded, saying that he needed to go to the locker room to get something. A few minutes later, he walked out of the locker room on the twenty-third floor and went to the fire escape outside, but instead of going upstairs, he loitered at the elevator entrance, pretending to be on the phone when someone came.

After delaying for about ten minutes, he saw Wu Rui walking out.

“Let's talk!” Luo Xi pointed to the stairwell door next to him. Usually, people wouldn't wait for the elevator for just one floor and would just take the stairs.

Wu Rui pushed open the fire door and walked into the stairwell.

Luo Xi noticed that she kept looking at her watch, obviously concerned about the time.

“Will Mao-ge transform at ten o'clock? Does it happen every time?”

Luo Xi began to ask.

Wu Rui didn't say anything, seemingly not wanting to say much to Luo Xi. She quickened her pace up the stairs, but Luo Xi blocked her way.

“Get out of the way!”

The woman's eyes were cold, the same expression she had when she killed Lao Gao.

“What? Are you planning to kill me? That's right, kill me, and with the reward for killing Lao Gao, you can get at least two memory cards this round. Oh no, plus the card you got from me before, you're making a fortune.”

“Heh, aren't you afraid?” Wu Rui looked up at Luo Xi, like a venomous snake showing its fangs.

“Afraid of what?” Luo Xi smiled. “You just got questioned by the police. You can't possibly be carrying a knife. You must have hidden the knife you used on Lao Gao. If it's a hand-to-hand fight, you're a woman, and I'm a man. Even if you've trained, you might not be able to beat me. And even if I can't beat you, could you stop me from shouting? At this distance, if I shout, people will be here immediately, and the police downstairs will rush up. Why don't you try?”

A blatant threat.

But sometimes, people can only understand 'threats.' They might not take good words and sincerity seriously.

“What do you want? Our deal is already done.” Wu Rui's attitude wasn't as tough anymore.

“Our deal is that you tell me everything you know, but you're clearly hiding something from me.”

“No, I've told you everything I know.” Wu Rui first spread her hands, then crossed her arms.

A very obvious defensive posture.

“Do you even believe that?” Luo Xi smiled, spreading his hands to get closer. “Wu Rui, we have a good relationship, right? Even a little bit of ambiguity. After all, our workstations are next to each other, and you've even given me snacks, remember?”

Wu Rui sneered twice, still not planning to speak.

“I understand. Information is always the most crucial thing, and sometimes it can play a decisive role. You've obviously retained your memories more than once, but how many rounds do you think you can last?”

“What do you mean?”

“According to you, the Day of Confinement keeps looping, like a maze you can't escape. I guess you don't know how it all started or when it started. You just got involved at some point, and you were lucky enough to retain your memories, just like me... You must have experienced a lot of terrible things, and you've killed people, because a normal person couldn't coldly and ruthlessly insert a pen so accurately into another person's eye.”

“...”

“Also, you're very professional at handling corpses. I guess you were planning to kill me in the restroom back then, but maybe you felt that killing me would be too risky and easily expose you, or maybe it was just because you didn't have enough time, because other colleagues could come in at any time, and you didn't dare to take that risk.”

“Heh, keep talking.” Wu Rui's expression began to look unnatural.

It seemed that Luo Xi had hit on her true thoughts.

Luo Xi, who hadn't taken his medicine, was extremely clear-headed at this moment. In fact, he felt that his thinking was clearer than ever before. The doctor had said that this was a symptom, but at this moment, this symptom was helping Luo Xi.

He accurately captured Wu Rui's changes in expression, even the most subtle ones.

“To be honest, you're just eking out an existence. With your level, you'll eventually run out of memory cards. And if nothing unexpected happens, you'll be targeted in the next round.”

“Hmph, scaremongering! And what do you mean 'with my level'? Are you at a high level?” Wu Rui frowned, obviously offended.

Luo Xi nodded. “Let me answer your second question first. That's right, my level is higher than yours, and I'm much stronger than you. As for whether I'm scaremongering, heh heh, the reality might be even more serious than what I said. First of all, your identity has already been exposed. Lao Gao definitely knows. If he can still retain this memory, do you think he won't kill you first next time? Or reveal your identity as a Memory Holder to other Memory Holders?”

Wu Rui's eyelids twitched when she heard this.

This possibility was extremely high.

No, it was inevitable.

“Although Lao Gao is effeminate, he's still a man. If he fights you, what are your chances of winning? And if Lao Gao and I join forces and deal with you together next round? Because you weren't honest with me, you lied to my feelings and my card, so I'm very angry. Lao Gao also has a grudge against you. It's only natural for us to team up.” Luo Xi continued to put pressure on her.

Amplifying the opponent's weaknesses and then deducing the disadvantages is the most basic misleading technique. Luo Xi was very good at this, because when he debated or talked with those 'selves' in the mirror in the past, he was always the winner.

Wu Rui's face was already very bad.

She was obviously frightened.

Everything Luo Xi said would become her nightmare.

Seeing that the time was about right, Luo Xi put on a smile. “Don't be afraid, I'm just talking about one possibility. Then, let me talk about another possibility, which is that I won't team up with Lao Gao, but I'll help you. The situation will be completely different. At least Lao Gao won't be a threat.”

“You'll help me?” The fact that she could ask this question meant that Wu Rui had been moved.

“Of course, because I have no choice. According to you, this is like a survival game. You're a veteran player, and I'm a newbie. Mastering and fully understanding the rules of the game is a necessary condition for survival. I understand the principle that a single tree cannot make a forest, and you should understand it too. So, helping you is helping myself.”

Luo Xi opened his hands, very sincerely.

“So, beauty Wu, what's your choice?”