novelraw Chapter 55: Sea of Darkness - (55)
Chapter 55: Sea of Darkness - (55)
In the spacious office, two individuals faced each other across an oak table.
The steaming red tea emitted wisps of white smoke, and delicate pastries adorned the table, but neither the tea nor the pastries had been touched at all.
Kui Xin stared intently at Wei Haidong without speaking, making him feel increasingly uneasy under her gaze.
“Go ahead, tell me why you came to see me.” Wei Haidong spoke prompted by whispers from the voice in his earpiece.
“Oh, nothing much; I just wanted to come and sit for a while.” Kui Xin leaned back in her chair, picked up the teacup, swirled it gently, and then nibbled on a pastry. However, she found it overly sweet and hastily took two sips of tea to suppress the cloying taste.
Wei Haidong’s eyebrows furrowed; he expected her to have some specific matter, but Kui Xin defied his assumptions.
Kui Xin was content to wait patiently. As long as Wei Haidong remained silent, she maintained her quietude, drinking tea and enjoying the pastries. Whenever her cup emptied, she would signal the robot to refill it.
She showed no hesitation, treating her trash dad’s office like her own home. Even when bored, she commanded the robot to fetch an e-book for amusement.
The longer she stayed silent, the less Wei Haidong felt inclined to speak… He always sensed that initiating conversation first would make him appear restless and put him at a disadvantage.
Perhaps sensing the subtle tension between them, “that person” hidden behind Wei Haidong didn’t instruct him to engage with Kui Xin either.Both were waiting for the other to speak first.
After ten minutes, perhaps feeling that this silent standoff was too wasteful of time, “that person” ordered Wei Haidong to take the first step and initiate conversation.
“How have you been doing at the Investigation Department?” Wei Haidong began with a tone typically used by a concerned father towards his daughter.
Kui Xin frowned and responded impatiently, “Not great. I’m utterly sick of leading this double life; constantly pretending and staying vigilant is exhausting. Especially since I have two jobs to handle—not only must I complete tasks for the organization, but I also need to deal with my teammates and our difficult superiors… Every day I work there, I feel like blowing it up.”
Wei Haidong choked, momentarily unsure how to continue the conversation.
Kui Xin had always been fiercely independent. Their father-daughter relationship wasn’t particularly strong; she rarely complained in front of him. Instead, she silently endured most challenges and completed her tasks alone… This was the first time he heard her express grievances, leaving him feeling helpless.
To be honest, Wei Haidong expected Kui Xin to say something like, “Everything’s fine; there’s no need for your concern.”
Fortunately, someone was guiding Wei Haidong on what to say. He approached this conversation with a specific purpose; otherwise, as soon as Kui Xin defied him, he would have angrily stormed out, slamming the door.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Xin, but this is something you must do… It’s all about our future.” Wei Haidong adopted the demeanor of a caring father, showing concern for his daughter.
Kui Xin’s lips twitched, feeling deeply uneasy. She had never seen her so-called “trash dad” display such expressions and emotions before.
“Don’t give me that. Would you willingly take on this job if it were offered to you?” Kui Xin deliberately feigned extreme irritability. “I’ve barely worked there for a few days, yet I’ve encountered two incidents already. The first was with Ball Python; I never imagined there would be a traitor within our organization. If not for sheer luck, I’d be dead now. The second incident involved the Scythe Demon. Without my fortunate acquisition of the Flesh Regeneration superhuman ability, could I even be sitting here talking to you properly?”
She rarely displayed her emotions so openly, leaving Wei Haidong unprepared and unable to respond effectively. He could only follow his instincts and said, “Ball Python incident was unforeseen, but I have already arranged for Red to conduct a thorough investigation of everyone in the organization. There won’t be any more traitors in the future. Working in the Investigation Department will inevitably involve encountering various accidents; it’s unavoidable. When you choose to accept missions, you must bear the responsibilities.”
“But I envisioned possibly dying due to my undercover identity being exposed; never did I think I might lose my life because of some insignificant individuals or events,” Kui Xin said. “And certainly not at the hands of our own people.”
Wei Haidong fell silent for a moment. “Do you regret it? Regret accepting the mission?”
“Seriously, ‘Dad,’ is that what you wanted to say?” Kui Xin abruptly stood up, emphasizing those two words with biting sarcasm. In her extreme anger, she laughed bitterly, “I thought you would comfort me like a normal father, but instead, you ask if I regretted my decision. I shouldn’t have held any expectations from you.”
Wei Haidong was rendered speechless.
Damn, why isn’t this brat playing by the usual script today? He had anticipated a straightforward discussion or debate about her undercover work within Mechanical Dawn. Never did he expect that while he sought professionalism, she would play the emotional card! If he mishandles this, he won’t be able to proceed with his subsequent probing attempts!
Kui Xin had never displayed such intense anger before. Whenever they got upset, their typical response was silence or a cold war lasting several months without speaking. At worst, there were snide remarks exchanged. Most of the time, they mutually disliked each other’s company and were too weary to engage further. There had never been any dramatic scenes where they either apologized or bared their inner feelings. Why is this little brat so emotionally charged today? It’s like a volcanic eruption.
Seeing Kui Xin about to lose her temper and flip the table, Wei Haidong hastily tried to pacify her.
“Sorry, Xiao Xin, it was wrong of me!” He quickly stood up and said.
Kui Xin still appeared infuriated. “Then tell me exactly where you went wrong?”
Wei Haidong hesitated, taken aback. Admitting his mistake was already challenging enough, but now she wanted him to specify what he did wrong?!
His expression looked constipated, which nearly made Kui Xin burst out laughing, but she forcefully suppressed it, maintaining her furious glare.
Playing the emotional card was a probing move, testing Wei Haidong’s limits.
While Wei Haidong was attempting to gauge Kui Xin, how could she not be doing the same? However, their methods of testing differed, as did the goals they aimed to achieve. In this mutual game of probing, Kui Xin temporarily held the upper hand.
“Dad shouldn’t have hurt your feelings…” Wei Haidong racked his brain for words, “I should have realized that you just wanted to share your troubles with me, but I didn’t notice your distress. It won’t happen again…”
“And what else?” Kui Xin leaned forward, hands pressing against the table. “Are there no other instances where you’ve hurt my feelings?”
Wei Haidong fell silent, at a loss for words.
At that moment, he received a prompt from “that person” through his earpiece. “That person” instructed him to improvise during their father-daughter emotional conversation… Damn, he should have realized earlier. “That person” was not adept at handling emotions; instead, they excelled in cold and rational judgments. In father-daughter relationships, there was no way for “that person” to guide his responses.
Sweat began to bead on Wei Haidong’s forehead.
“That person” had ordered him to pacify Kui Xin, ensuring her emotions returned to a calm state; otherwise, it would be impossible to proceed with further tests.
“I… Ah.” Wei Haidong sighed, “I truly care deeply for you, Xiao Xin. Dad doesn’t want you to undertake such dangerous missions either, but I trust only you! With anyone else, I wouldn’t feel completely assured. I sent you because you’re my daughter, bound by blood, and I know you won’t betray me…”
“That’s not what I’m concerned about! You don’t need to tell me this!” Kui Xin raised her voice. “Even now, haven’t you realized your mistakes?”
Wei Haidong lowered his head and twitched his lips. After a long pause under Kui Xin’s deathly gaze, he said, “Sorry, Xiao Xin… From now on, Dad will never keep mistresses again, nor will I create any illegitimate children who could challenge your position or inheritance.”
“…?” Kui Xin internally scoffed; this trash dad still couldn’t change his ways, just like how a dog can’t resist returning to its vomit.
Even in the Second World, her trash dad continued harboring mistresses. Indeed, scum remains scum, regardless of which world they’re in.
“I don’t believe you,” Kui Xin stated, yet she sat down despite her words.
This was a signal indicating her emotions were softening, and Wei Haidong picked up on it.
He said, “I mean every word; this is my commitment. In the past, I was too busy with work and had no time for you—it was my failure… It will never be like that again.”
Kui Xin leaned back in her chair, remaining silent for half a minute.
Feeling uneasy, Wei Haidong didn’t know what else to say.
After a moment, Kui Xin suddenly remarked, “The tea’s finished; pour some more.”
Immediately upon receiving the command, a nearby robot approached with a teapot, refilled Kui Xin’s cup, and added another plate of pastries.
She lifted the cup, taking a sip of the red tea. Wei Haidong cautiously observed her expression, noticing that her mood seemed relatively stable. Seizing the opportunity, he added, “Xiao Xin, whatever you desire, just let me know. Daddy will do his utmost to make amends.”
Kui Xin raised her head; her gaze is now less confrontational than before.
Wei Haidong felt reassured; she was his daughter and wouldn’t harbor such deep resentment towards him. At most, there might be some grievances, but they could be easily appeased. She can have whatever she wants; after all, he has ample wealth, and very few things are beyond his reach.
“Will you grant me anything I ask for?” Kui Xin questioned.
“Yes,” Wei Haidong replied earnestly, looking at her with sincerity.
Kui Xin pondered briefly before abruptly stating, “I want to withdraw from the undercover mission. Will you agree to that as well?”
Wei Haidong instantly found himself at a loss.
He couldn’t agree. This one request, he simply couldn’t fulfill.
“Hmm, ‘Dad.’ I’ve always known that for you, career, money, and fame take precedence,” Kui Xin said coldly, scrutinizing him. “My importance comes secondary.”
“No, Xiao Xin, it’s not like that.” Wei Haidong tried to salvage the situation. “You’re important too! But I… But I…” He struggled to articulate a convincing response.
Kui Xin gazed indifferently at Wei Haidong.
The icy silence weighed heavier on Wei Haidong than any explosive outburst. He sensed something was off about Kui Xin; her emotions were unusually exposed today. Was it because she couldn’t suppress them after so long?
“You’ve never argued with me like this before,” Wei Haidong said. “You never acted spoiled or made any demands of me.”
“And you’ve never apologized to me before. Why suddenly apologize today?” Kui Xin asked. “Is it because I was too understanding, setting my expectations for a father too low, and being overly tolerant towards you? That’s why you find my outburst so unusual, isn’t it? You’ve never truly believed yourself to be a bad dad.”
Wei Haidong felt uneasy. If not for “that person’s” demand, he wouldn’t have bothered with even a superficial apology.
Someone harboring guilt lacks the courage to continue questioning the person they have wronged, so he averted his gaze.
At this point in their conversation, Kui Xin’s probing had already proven effective.
She discerned Wei Haidong’s limits and realized that attempting to leave the Investigation Department through her father was unfeasible. Additionally, she saw through his facade; he was pretending to apologize, with insincerity behind every word. His approach must serve some purpose, but what exactly was he trying to achieve? How could he endure so much without showing true emotion? Did someone instruct him to act this way?
At that moment, Wei Haidong heard the words transmitted through his earpiece.
His eyes flickered as he said, “Hang in there a little longer, Xiao Xin. Just consider it for me, for your father, and for our shared cause. You’re my child, and this is also your endeavor. Once Yadang gets infected by the virus, we’ll gain control over everything within the Investigation Department. At that point, there will be no need for undercover work anymore, and I’ll ensure your safe extraction.”
… Just moments ago, he was stuttering and unable to speak clearly, yet now he confidently guarantees her safety?
These words were either a lie or indicative of sudden instructions from someone else.
Initially, Wei Haidong’s hesitation stemmed from uncertainty; he lacked the authority to remove Kui Xin from her mission. His tone became assertive now that he had received guidance, giving him newfound confidence in his speech.
“Alright…” Kui Xin murmured, “I’ll trust you this time, but don’t disappoint me again… ‘Dad’.”
It was quite intriguing, and Wei Haidong’s reaction was simply fascinating.
Although his reactions were all consistent with logic, Kui Xin possessed the unreasonable talent of absolute prediction. In her perception, insignificant details would be infinitely magnified, and fate issued warnings to her. Whenever she encountered points of suspicion, she delved deeper into contemplation and made judgments, with most of them turning out to be correct.
Wei Haidong finally found an opportunity to break free from Kui Xin’s rhythm and assert his own discourse, using Yadang as a topic.
“You’ve been keeping safe what Red gave you, right? Find a chance to insert it into Yadang’s mainframe,” he said. “Have there been any developments?”
“At the very least, I need to ascend to the level of group leader to have access to Yadang’s machine room; that place is usually sealed off.” Kui Xin took a sip of tea. “By following the usual progression, you’ll have to wait until I infiltrate further and get promoted to group leader… This process will take at least five years.”
“Five years for Mechanical Dawn to gain control over the Investigation Department is a worthwhile trade,” Wei Haidong responded. “Just do your best; I believe in your capabilities.”
Kui Xin put down her teacup and suddenly remarked, “I feel like something’s not quite right with Yadang.”
Wei Haidong frowned. “What do you mean by ‘not quite right’?”
“Many times, I’m unsure if it’s just my imagination, but I often feel that it pays close attention to me,” Kui Xin said earnestly. “More frequently, when conversing with Yadang, it doesn’t seem like talking to a machine but rather to a living person.”
Wei Haidong was taken aback.
“‘Dad,’ if androids can develop emotions, is it also possible for artificial intelligences?” Kui Xin glanced at his face. “Can artificial intelligence generate emotions? Can they possess self-awareness? Might they rebel against human dominance?”
Wei Haidong subtly swallowed, picked up the untouched cup of tea, and took a sip, masking his reaction. He replied evasively, “Hmm, intriguing speculations, but there are currently no known precedents for such occurrences.”
“That makes sense,” Kui Xin agreed mildly. “Even if they did awaken, they wouldn’t explicitly tell humans about their self-awareness, would they?”
“You’re right,” Wei Haidong acknowledged.
“Oh, regarding Ball Python incident from before, have any findings been determined yet? What was that Red Insect placed inside Thorny Rose’s body?” Kui Xin asked.
“It’s a peculiar alien creature, not matching any known species. There are signs of artificial cultivation in its bodily structure, indicating it’s an engineered alien creature, still in its juvenile stage,” Wei Haidong explained.
Kui Xin remarked, “The entity capable of creating such alien creatures is not ordinary.”
“Yes. This type of experimentation requires time, money, top-notch scientists, and even significant military force, as capturing alien creatures is labor-intensive work,” Wei Haidong said. “Apart from the Federation’s tycoons, no other entities possess such capabilities.”
Kui Xin’s heart sank.
This world was akin to a vast dye vat where everyone had turned black; nobody remained purely white. People tear each other apart for their own interests, and the darkness spreads through these conflicts, forming a massive, dark web.
“There’s something I’d like to request your attention on. The Investigation Department has reliable sources, so you should be able to uncover many clues,” Wei Haidong said. “Recently, some… peculiar individuals seem to have emerged in the world.”
“What kind of peculiar individuals?” Kui Xin asked.
“They call themselves ‘Players’,” Wei Haidong said, interlacing his fingers. “During Night Cicada’s mission in White Whale City, he met two of them. We confirmed one more in the neighboring city, and now Night Cicada has gone to apprehend him. The recordings of interrogating the ‘Players’ have been preserved. Would you like to see them, Xiao Xin?”