novelraw Chapter 64 The Killer
Chapter 64 The Killer
What?
Jiang Ran’s eyes widened.
Qin Feng?
He had never imagined that the mysterious figure—code-named [The Magician], the world’s number one criminal, unforgivable in every sense—
would actually have the real name Qin Feng.
Qin Feng.
Was it the Qin Feng he knew?
The one who had been his best friend on Worldline 0, and a stranger whose whereabouts were unknown on Worldline 1?
“How old is this Qin Feng?”
Jiang Ran grew agitated.“What does he look like? Where’s he from? He—”
“Shut the fuck up!”
Qi Biao slammed a palm against the iron bars. With a loud clang, he cut Jiang Ran off.
“I don’t have time to humor some kid’s bullshit! Fuck it—if we can break out, we break out! If we can’t, then get the hell out of my way and go to sleep! Got it?”
Qi Biao was furious.
Anyone could see how badly he wanted to escape, how desperately he wanted accomplices—but… this was a life-or-death gamble, and no one dared to play it with him. Right now, Qi Biao was completely unhinged, and no one knew what he might do next.
So, knowing when to keep one’s head down was the mark of the wise. Jiang Ran stopped talking.
Worst case, after Qi Biao left, he could have a proper talk with the “Bookworm” in Cell No. 4 across the way. The old man looked kinder, easier to reason with—he should be able to provide some information.
“Qi Biao, if you’re going to leave, then leave. Stop scaring people here.”
The “Hothead” in Cell No. 2 clung to the bars and laughed.
“It’s a society ruled by law now, you know? You really believe that whole ‘kill to silence witnesses, cover up the truth’ routine?”
[What he said is true.]
Suddenly.
Cell No. 5 on the right spoke.
It was an extremely sharp voice.
Calm, composed, murderous, authoritative… its characteristics were unmistakable.
This was the first time Cell No. 5 had spoken since Qi Biao’s earlier questioning. Everyone fell silent and turned to look. The air stirred.
Jiang Ran swallowed.
In the current situation, Qi Biao from Cell No. 1 stood in the corridor; the Hothead from Cell No. 2 and the Bookworm from Cell No. 4 were opposite him. From where they stood, all of them could clearly see Cell No. 5.
Only Jiang Ran, in Cell No. 3, was positioned directly beside Cell No. 5 on the left, on the same plane. Even if he pressed his face against the bars, he couldn’t see next door at all. Yet even so, from the sheer presence alone…
it was obvious that the man in Cell No. 5 held an extremely high status among the inmates. He carried immense authority.
Even the loud, unruly Hothead froze in panic the moment Cell No. 5 spoke, stunned into silence. The Bookworm pushed his glasses up and looked toward Cell No. 5.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because the kid in Cell No. 3 really is dead.”
Cell No. 5’s voice was cold and steady.
“How do you know?” the Bookworm pressed.
“I smelled it.”
Cell No. 5’s voice dropped, icy and low.
“After the kid was taken away that day, he never came back. Later, a guard came to pack up his things. There was gunpowder residue on his sleeves, and blood splatter on his pant legs.”
“Firearms aren’t used lightly. There are only two situations where they’re allowed—one is a prison break or an attempted rescue. The other…”
He paused.
“…needs no explanation. Execution by firing squad.”
Cell No. 5’s words made the damp air congeal, the temperature seeming to drop.
It was as if a blade hung over everyone’s head, waiting. Once The Magician’s head fell, the next would be theirs.
“Y-you… why didn’t you say this earlier?”
Qi Biao’s face went pale as well.
It was clear that when he’d claimed earlier that the kid from Cell No. 3 had been killed, he had only half-believed it himself. It had been more about scaring everyone into following him in an escape attempt. Who would’ve thought—his words had turned into prophecy, hitting the truth dead-on.
“I—I told you!”
Qi Biao spun around twice in place.
“You’re afraid of getting caught escaping, afraid of getting shot—but listen to this! If you don’t escape and just stay here, you’ll die anyway!”
“Either way you’re dead! You might as well gamble with me and break out! If we win, we live! Are you really going to stay here and be buried along with The Magician?!”
Buried along with him…
…with him…
…him…
Qi Biao’s roar echoed endlessly down the empty corridor.
Still, no guards appeared. It seemed he was right—today, all security forces really were at the execution ground. The prison itself was temporarily being ignored.
The Hothead pursed his lips, thinking.
Clearly, he was hesitating.
If death was guaranteed either way… should he try his luck with an escape?
Across the way, the Bookworm’s glasses reflected light, his expression unreadable. But he was likely just as shaken as the Hothead.
In the end…
both of them turned their eyes, almost simultaneously, toward Cell No. 5.
Jiang Ran caught the movement.
As he’d thought earlier—these people all trusted the man in Cell No. 5.
Even Qi Biao did. All of them respected him.
The looks the Hothead and the Bookworm directed at Cell No. 5 made their intention clear—they wanted his opinion.
This prison break.
Escape, or not?
A long silence followed. No answer came. Finally, the Bookworm couldn’t help speaking.
“When Qi Biao asked earlier, ‘What’s the most important thing for a successful escape?’ your answer was [Luck].”
He adjusted his glasses, staring at the bars of Cell No. 5.
“So what do you think now? There’s only one hour left before The Magician is beheaded.”
“In one hour, the guards and security personnel will all return. We’ll completely lose our only chance to escape.”
“So… the [luck] you’re talking about—will it come, in this last remaining hour?”
“It’s already here.”
The voice was low, heavy with authority.
Then came the sound of soft footsteps.
A lean, capable arm extended through the bars of Cell No. 5, moving toward Jiang Ran like a python.
A long, pale index finger stretched out, pointing straight at the center of Jiang Ran’s brow.
“This little brother—your name is Jiang Ran, right?”
“Yes.” Jiang Ran answered instinctively, confused.
“You.”
The finger tapped lightly. The man’s voice was deep, bottomless.
“Are what I call [luck].”
Four people froze in utter confusion.
The riddle-like declaration from the man in Cell No. 5 baffled not only Jiang Ran, but the other three inmates as well.
“What does that mean?”
Qi Biao’s already large head seemed to swell even more.
“This kid is luck? What the hell are you trying to say?”
“If he goes, I go.”
Cell No. 5’s voice hardened.
“[If he’s willing to join your escape plan, then I’ll join.]”
“What?”
Qi Biao was dumbfounded.
This… just like that?
He stared at Jiang Ran again from top to bottom, utterly unable to see anything special about him.
The Hothead and the Bookworm also sized Jiang Ran up.
And so, an absurd situation took shape.
Qi Biao was the initiator of the escape faction, with an intense desire to break out and a strong hope that everyone would help him.
The Hothead and the Bookworm were fence-sitters—hesitant and undecided. They wanted to escape but didn’t dare; didn’t want to escape but feared being silenced after The Magician’s execution. In the end, they chose to follow Cell No. 5’s judgment.
As long as the man in Cell No. 5 was willing to escape, the Hothead and the Bookworm would definitely follow.
But now, the man in Cell No. 5 had thrown out an incomprehensible condition: he would only participate if Jiang Ran agreed to join the escape. If Jiang Ran didn’t join, neither would he.
That was the situation. That was the stalemate.
All the pressure, all the decision-making power, converged on Jiang Ran.
If he nodded, a five-man escape team would instantly be assembled, and the breakout would begin.
But if he refused, then Cell No. 5, the Bookworm, and the Hothead would all stay put—leaving Qi Biao alone, a commander without troops.
Qi Biao narrowed his eyes, staring hard at Jiang Ran.
He understood it too.
The success or failure of the escape hinged entirely on this kid.
“So, what the hell are you thinking?”
He rolled the wire in his hand, his gaze full of menace.
That threat was unmistakable—if you screw this up for me, I’ll pry open your door and beat the shit out of you.
“Tell me about Qin Feng.”
Jiang Ran met Qi Biao’s vicious stare without fear.
Right now, they were all ants tied to the same rope. Who was afraid of whom?
If, as they claimed, this prison existed solely to hold The Magician—and after his execution they planned to kill everyone else to erase the evidence…
Then death was inevitable anyway. Why would he be afraid of Qi Biao now?
“Tell me about The Magician.”
Jiang Ran repeated himself.
“Then I’ll consider it.”
“No time for you to consider.”
Qi Biao was no pushover. He shoved the wire straight into the lock of Cell No. 3 and began twisting it violently, forcing it open.
“I don’t have time to tell you about The Magician either. I want an answer right now—are you escaping with me, or not?”
Clatter, clatter, clatter…
The silver wire jumped against the lock’s teeth, producing sharp metallic clicks.
Only a set of bars separated Qi Biao and Jiang Ran now; they could hear each other’s breathing.
This really was a desperado.
A man with no way out.
“I don’t need all the details.”
Jiang Ran kept his eyes locked on Qi Biao.
“I just need to confirm one thing—whether that Magician, that Qin Feng, is the same person I know.”
“…Fine.”
Qi Biao didn’t care, continuing to pry the lock.
“All right, kid. I’ll let you ask one question. Go on—what do you want to know?”
Clatter, clatter, clatter…
“Where is that Magician Qin Feng from?”
Clatter, clatter, clatter—clack!
The cell door lock popped open.
Qi Biao yanked the iron gate wide, staring at Jiang Ran without obstruction.
“Zhejiang. Quzhou.”
He pulled out the silver wire, gripping it backward in his palm as he walked over with a sinister grin.
“[Kaihua County].”
Jiang Ran clenched his fists, holding his breath.
Zhejiang. Quzhou. Kaihua County.
That was exactly Qin Feng’s hometown. Just a few days ago, he had gone there with Wang Hao.
That place had Malan Middle School, where Qin Feng had studied. His small village of birth and upbringing. The burned-down family house. The broken courtyard wall carved with a Ferris wheel emblem…
A tiny Kaihua County—it was highly unlikely that two geniuses both named Qin Feng would come from there.
The Qin Feng he knew was a genius, beyond question.
And the Magician Qin Feng from Qi Biao’s mouth—if he had become the most hated criminal on the planet, then his intelligence must surpass even that.
So.
[These two Qin Fengs are, with very high probability, the same person.]
What was going on with this worldline?
He had become a prisoner, and Qin Feng had become humanity’s public enemy, about to be beheaded.
What had happened?
But now—
watching Qi Biao approach step by step with ill intent, Jiang Ran realized there was no time to think further. He had to decide, now.
“I can join your escape plan.”
Jiang Ran spoke.
“But I have one condition.”
“Oh?”
Qi Biao snorted coldly.
“What condition could you possibly have?”
“I want to go to the execution ground—or rather, our escape route must pass through the execution ground.”
“Are you insane?!”
Qi Biao’s eyes bulged.
“Didn’t you hear a word I just said? All the guards and security forces are at the execution ground today!”
“And you still want to go there? That’s suicide! What’s wrong with your head?! What the hell do you want to go there for?!”
“I want to see The Magician.”
Jiang Ran didn’t back down.
“He’s your dad or something?!”
Qi Biao spewed abuse again.
“Rushing to visit his grave already?!”
“Agree to it.”
Cell No. 5!
The man from Cell No. 5 spoke again.
“Agree to his condition, Qi Biao.”
His voice remained steady and authoritative.
“He’s already willing to escape with you—that should be enough to make you happy. Otherwise… none of us will join. You can go by yourself.”
Qi Biao ground his teeth, his face cycling through every color imaginable.
Finally.
His teeth clicked together.
He walked over.
A massive palm slammed hard against Jiang Ran’s shoulder, the force nearly dislocating it.
“You’ve got guts.”
Qi Biao whispered into Jiang Ran’s ear.
“Real guts.”
Then he turned and walked to Cell No. 5, starting to pry the lock with his wire.
“I’ll only get you to the execution ground. After that, where you go is your business. If you want to die, don’t drag me with you.”
Clack!
With a crisp sound, the lock on Cell No. 5 was opened just as smoothly.
“Open mine too.”
“I’m in as well.”
The Hothead and the Bookworm called out for Qi Biao to open their locks.
At this point, staying in the cell was just waiting to die. They might as well unite and gamble on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If the escape succeeded—freedom for the rest of their lives.
If it failed—then so be it.
Clack! Clack!
Qi Biao might have looked brutish, but he was genuinely skilled at petty crime. Once he got the hang of it, the locks opened faster and faster.
As the two iron gates across the way swung open, the Hothead and the Bookworm stepped out of their dark cells one after another.
The Hothead looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, about 170 centimeters tall, with clearly defined muscles. He looked like a trained fighter—clearly, even in prison, he hadn’t neglected his conditioning.
The Bookworm looked much older, thin and somewhat listless. But under the surge of escape-fueled adrenaline, color gradually returned to his face, and even his glasses fogged slightly with nervous white mist.
Finally.
The man from Cell No. 5—the finale—stepped out.
After leaving his cell, he turned and walked straight toward Cell No. 3, taking a good look at Jiang Ran’s face.
And Jiang Ran finally saw this mysterious inmate from Cell No. 5…
He was surprised.
The middle-aged man before him was gentle and refined, with clear brows and sharp features. No matter how one looked at him, he felt completely out of place in a prison. Jiang Ran admitted he shouldn’t judge by appearances.
But—
someone like Qi Biao, for example, looked like a born prisoner. Born in prison, raised in prison, living in prison, dying in prison—he was destined to eat from this bowl.
This man from Cell No. 5, on the other hand—forty-something years old, around 180 centimeters tall, fair-skinned, eyes bright and alert—looked more like a cold, domineering CEO straight out of a novel.
He had none of Qi Biao’s ferocity, none of the Hothead’s recklessness, and none of the Bookworm’s dejection.
What he had was composure.
The composure of someone willing to accept the outcome of a gamble.
He looked at Jiang Ran and nodded with a smile.
“Just as I thought. You really are different.”
“Why?” Jiang Ran asked.
“You’ll know later.”
The man reached out in a friendly manner, shook Jiang Ran’s hand, then pulled him out of the dark cell and into the corridor.
“What should I call you?” Jiang Ran asked again.
“[Killer].”
The man replied calmly.
“That’s what they all call me.”
Killer?
Jiang Ran looked at him, puzzled.
It was clearly a nickname—just like Qi Biao, the Hothead, and the Bookworm.
But…
they said nicknames always fit the person.
Everyone else’s nickname matched them perfectly. So why did this cold, refined man carry the nickname “Killer”?
It didn’t suit his aura at all.
In truth, Jiang Ran felt a certain goodwill toward him. At the very least, during the standoff with Qi Biao, this man had consistently stood on his side and placed inexplicable trust in him.
“So why do they call you Killer?”
Jiang Ran couldn’t help being curious.
“It’s obvious.”
The man looked at Jiang Ran and smiled faintly.
“I’ve killed someone.”