The Labyrinth of the Monsters

Chapter 33 – The second test

"Kill him? Just like that?" Qing Ling was somewhat surprised. She didn't expect the test to be so simple, even easier than playing games with Wu Dahai.

Gao Yang was also surprised. He thought it was simple, so simple that it made people doubt.

"Yes." White Rabbit looked at the two of them. "It's very easy, just chop off the head or stab the heart with a sharp weapon, similar to killing someone."

"Killing him is simple, but what about the aftermath?" Qing Ling had some concerns.@@@@

"Don't worry, I will take care of it." White Rabbit tapped lightly on the intercom at her waist, indicating that she had companions and everything was under control.

Qing Ling no longer hesitated. She walked towards Niu Xuan, and a sharp small dagger appeared in her hand.

She crouched down, cut open Niu Xuan's shirt, found the position of his heart, and aimed the tip of the knife at his gently rising and falling chest. Just as the tip of the knife was about to pierce his heart, Gao Yang shouted, "Wait!"

Qing Ling stopped and looked at Gao Yang with confusion.

"Qing Ling, wait for a moment," Gao Yang said.

White Rabbit also looked at Gao Yang. "What's wrong? Don't want to join our organization?"

"It's not that," Gao Yang asked tentatively, "I just don't understand why we have to kill him. He hasn't undergone beast transformation." And how can you be sure that Niu Xuan is definitely a lost one? Gao Yang didn't ask the latter part of the question, presumably the other party had extraordinary abilities.

"There's no reason, killing beasts doesn't require a reason," White Rabbit said casually. "If you must have a reason, our organization needs awakened beings who are decisive, firm in their stance, and have combat power. We don't need people who sympathize with and pity beasts."

"He's just a lost one," White Rabbit took a step forward and kicked Niu Xuan on the ground. "If you don't want to kill him, we can find another one. Hmm, I think that girl named Wan Sisi, does she like you? I'll check if she's a lost one later. If she is, just kill her."

Gao Yang was secretly shocked by the keen observation.

"Have you thought it through?" White Rabbit urged.

Gao Yang remained silent.

He was not a saint. Niu Xuan, a person like him, would just die, and it had nothing to do with him. Besides, he wasn't even human, just a foolish beast.

However, there were a few things that made him concerned.

First, White Rabbit's words - kill this lost one.

She could have simply said kill this beast, so why emphasize that it is a lost one? This at least indicated one thing, the attitude of the organization she belonged to towards lost ones (foolish beasts) must be different from other beasts.

Under normal logic, all beasts other than foolish beasts are dangerous, and awakened beings must treat them with the intention to eliminate. So, conversely, if there is a difference in attitude towards foolish beasts, it is probably the opposite of elimination - not eliminating.

White Rabbit said this was a test, but in Gao Yang's eyes, it seemed more like a choice.

Faced with "innocent" lost ones, White Rabbit had been inducing them.

- He's just a lost one.

This sentence weakened and belittled the value of lost ones' existence.

Then, White Rabbit brought up killing Wan Sisi to "threaten" them. This was a common comparative induction method: on one hand, there was the cute and innocent Wan Sisi, on the other hand, there was the overly arrogant Niu Xuan.

Through the white rabbit mask, Gao Yang also saw a pair of clear and cute almond eyes.

"Indeed, you have the same look in your eyes as the Captain," White Rabbit's tone became much gentler.

"What kind of look?" Gao Yang asked.

"Um," White Rabbit thought for a moment, "It's like, you look listless as if you haven't woken up, but actually, your eyes are incredibly profound."

Gao Yang thought to himself: You might as well just say I have dead fish eyes.

"Do people with this kind of look tend to be very powerful?" White Rabbit looked at Qing Ling.

"I don't know."

"You actually said something similar to the Captain." White Rabbit stepped forward, patted Gao Yang's shoulder: "Alright, you've passed the assessment."

"Oh."

Gao Yang's face was expressionless, but if he had a tail on his butt, he would definitely be wagging it vigorously - he had bet right!

White Rabbit turned around and kicked the still unconscious Niu Xuan with her foot.

"The rules are set by our Captain. There are only three, remember them well."

"One, never actively kill humans."

"Two, never actively kill the Lost Ones."

"Three, office romances are strictly prohibited."

"Violators will be permanently expelled from the organization."

"..." Gao Yang thought he had heard wrong: the first two rules sounded quite noble, but what the hell was the last one? No wonder Wu Dahai was so desperate, but even if office romances were allowed, that guy probably wouldn't be liked by anyone.

"Have we already joined the organization?" Qing Ling asked.

"Don't rush, you are now on a probationary period. If you want to become official members, there is one final test." White Rabbit reached into her pocket and pulled out a small object. She tossed it lightly, and Qing Ling caught it. It was an old-fashioned brass key.

"Find the door this key opens and take a look inside," White Rabbit said.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that," White Rabbit repeated calmly.

"Let me see." Gao Yang took the brass key from Qing Ling's hand and immediately felt a chilling aura spreading from his fingertips. He wasn't sure if it was his enhanced sixth sense or just a psychological effect. Gao Yang gripped the key tightly, "But where do we find the door?"

White Rabbit held up a finger, "Here's another hint, the range is limited to Shanqing District."

"Any other hints?" Gao Yang could never have too much useful information.

"Let me think," White Rabbit began to ponder, touching her chin, "Be careful, don't die."