Chapter 12: A Second Mind?

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Four hours earlier.

The consciousness quietly slipped out from the infirmary, like a giant cockroach crawling along the rooftop, evading the surveillance cameras, and arrived outside the office door. It pressed its eyeballs deep into the crack of the doorframe, peering inside to observe the situation.

Zhang Huai’an anxiously asked, “Captain, are we really sure it’s okay to sedate him?”

Xia An rolled his eyes. “It’s just a mild sedative, not poison. The reason he’s still so lively now is probably adrenaline. Even if he’s lying here with us, he might not rest quietly. It’s better to let him get a good sleep.”

The two eyeballs hanging on the doorframe glared angrily, staring fixedly at Xia An as if searching for a weak spot to strike.

But considering Xia An’s fighting prowess from earlier, the consciousness thought it best to plan carefully.

Zhang Huai’an finally relaxed but then looked at Xia An with curiosity. “Captain, do you still think there’s something wrong with him?”

Xia An sighed and pulled out a cigarette from his bag, lighting it. “There’s definitely something off. His logic doesn’t add up. But I’m sure he has nothing to do with the brain-eating demon. It’s more likely related to the subconscious monster.”

Zhang Huai’an pondered. “So, should we still investigate him?”

Xia An chuckled. “Of course. But I doubt we can get anything out of this guy. We just need to interrogate Liao Feng. You really think I’m at a loss here?”

At this, the eyeballs of the consciousness tilted slightly.

That big bat?

Still alive?

Just then, the female forensic doctor who had examined Zhou Mo earlier walked in, sucking on a lollipop. She looked at Xia An with some reproach. “That bat has basically returned to human form, but it probably won’t wake up anytime soon. You hit him a bit too hard, didn’t you?”

Xia An was taken aback. “Sun Yue, what are you talking about? I only kicked him twice, maybe just broke some bones. My strikes were measured.”

Sun Yue made a grabbing motion in front of her and then forcefully pried it open. She gave Xia An a strange look. “Then what about his balls? Completely shattered—can’t be pieced back together. I never thought being a forensic doctor would come with a free sterilization.”

“Huh?”

Xia An immediately got flustered. “That’s nonsense! How could I be that kind of person? I said two kicks, that’s all!”

At that moment, Zhang Huai’an suddenly raised his hand. “When I arrived, Zhou Mo said he gave Liao Feng a kick.”

The room fell silent for a long time. Xia An squinted. “Looks like Zhou Mo and Liao Feng have quite a grudge.”

“How long until he wakes up? Since he’s already become a subconscious monster, I think we can use some rather inhumane methods to make him spill everything.”

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Sun Yue glanced at her watch. “If we don’t care whether he lives afterward, you can start the interrogation in ten hours.”

Slurp.

The consciousness withdrew its eyeballs without hesitation and slipped into the city guard’s basement. After a thorough search, it found Liao Feng bound in a straitjacket on a hospital bed.

The consciousness climbed onto the ceiling and smashed the surveillance camera with an eyeball, then settled beside Liao Feng’s head and nudged him with an eyeball.

Wake up, time to work.

...

Holding a brain in his hands, with another sitting inside his own head.

Upon seeing memories from just moments ago, Zhou Mo felt like the sky was falling.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

He sighed deeply but had to admit the consciousness was indeed looking out for him.

Though he didn’t know what methods the city guard would use, as long as Liao Feng spoke, the truth about his revival would be exposed. The best-case scenario was Xia An treating him as a subconscious monster and kicking him to death.

Right now, his brain owed a blood debt...

“Forget it, one way or another, they all deserve to die. It’s useless to dwell on it now.”

“If the consciousness did it, no one can pin it on me. Overall, I’m still safe.”

“Better to find my own brain as soon as possible. Who knows what else could go wrong...”

“If Liao Feng dies, the trail ends.”

“The only thing I know now is the Chuanghe Research Center that Liao Feng mentioned.”

As Zhou Mo pondered, the consciousness jumped out of his head and pointed its eyeball at the brain in his hand—Liao Feng’s brain.

Zhou Mo: “?”

“Don’t tell me you want me to put this thing inside my head?”

The consciousness’ two eyeballs moved up and down, seemingly urging Zhou Mo to hurry.

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Although the brain in his hands looked similar to Liu Tianyou’s—no disgusting mucus or dampness, even a warm, elastic feel—the two eyeballs connected to the optic nerves appeared lifeless, swinging from side to side. Zhou Mo couldn’t bring himself to make the decision.

The consciousness grew impatient and raised an eyeball, aiming to strike Zhou Mo’s knee.

Seeing this, Zhou Mo hastily said, “Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll try, okay?”

He reluctantly placed the brain above his head, still figuring out how to fit the eyeballs in.

At that moment, Liao Feng’s brain in his hands showed signs of revival. Tiny nerves extended, connecting to Liao Feng’s brain, and the eyeballs moved, sliding into Zhou Mo’s eye sockets.

Feeling the sensation, Zhou Mo closed the skull sutured onto his scalp. The wound gradually healed, and he sat there, holding his head and clicking his tongue.

“Why didn’t anything happen?”

Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway. Sensing danger, the consciousness gestured to Zhou Mo and immediately slipped out the window, disappearing.

Zhou Mo was left sitting dumbfounded on the hospital bed.

Bang!

The infirmary door was kicked open. Xia An strode in, pistol in hand, his cold gaze sweeping over Zhou Mo, who had just stood up. Behind him, Sun Yue hurried over to check the tape and needles on Zhou Mo’s hand.

Sun Yue looked surprised and then shook her head at Xia An.

Xia An’s expression darkened. He stepped forward, grabbing Zhou Mo by the collar and shouting, “What exactly did you go to the Sunshine Physical Examination Center for? What are you hiding?”

“Tell me!”

Boom!

Xia An’s voice awakened memories not belonging to Zhou Mo—two voices overlapping across time at this moment.

“Tell me!”

“What exactly do you intend to do with the brain of the traitor Liu Tianyou?”

“Don’t you know tomorrow is the deadline to deliver to the Chuanghe Research Center? If we don’t hand over all the brains on time, none of us will survive!”