The inspection process was deliberately prolonged, the tense atmosphere tightening like an invisible net. Officer Gin sat behind the desk, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the surface, each tap piercing the volunteers' ears like a countdown. He didn't need to be there, but he enjoyed it, his gaze slowly and precisely sweeping over each face, as if savoring the game of making them nervous.
Suddenly, he smiled. It wasn't a simple mocking smile, but one filled with a certain... interest.
"Volunteers..." he said in a low, raspy voice,"Such noble spirits."
His hand lightly brushed over the red stamp on the documents, a hint of amusement in his eyes, which Mo Wen keenly noticed. Mo Wen quickly recalled the entry process and realized that their documents were stamped with red transit stamps. On the desk, there were also green and black stamps neatly arranged. The look in the stamper's eyes back then was identical to Gin's now.
Mo Wen's heart felt like it was being squeezed.
Gin's voice rang out again,"You people are truly brave. Willing to come to a place like this for some vague 'justice.' Tell me..." He looked at Dr. Tanaka in the crowd, a faint smile on his lips,"Do you think you're saving the world?"
Tanaka was pinned in place by his cold gaze, opening his mouth but unable to make a sound.
"No matter." Gin waved his hand,"I know you won't tell the truth. In fact, I admire you. Truly." He said, slowly standing up, pacing as he spoke casually,"But justice... usually dies the fastest."
At that moment, soldiers began searching everyone's communication devices. Gin maintained his smile, as if familiar with the process. When Jerry tried to hide his device, a sharp slap landed, crisp and piercing. Jerry staggered, his glasses flying off and rolling on the ground with a fragile sound.
Gin walked over slowly, crushing the glasses under his boot with a twist. The cracking sound was like bones being ground, making Jerry's face flush red.
"You know," Gin said softly, his voice gentle as if chatting,"I hate liars the most."
Jerry gritted his teeth,"You madman!"
Gin smiled slightly, not answering. His fist landed directly on Jerry's stomach in the next second, causing him to collapse in pain, gasping like a dying fish.
The air froze. No one dared to move, even Dr. Tanaka lifted his foot slightly, then stiffly pulled it back.
Gin scanned the crowd, as if looking for the next challenger. After a moment, he shrugged,"No one wants to speak up? What a pity. I was really hoping to hear your thoughts."
His tone was light and casual, as if the violence just now was a gentle warning.
Mo Wen took a deep breath, stepped forward, and helped Jerry up, slowly retreating. He felt Gin's gaze locked on him, like a wolf eyeing its prey.
"Interesting," Gin said softly.
-----------------
The distant commotion drew everyone's attention again. A group of workers in protective suits hurried towards the bodies, black body bags swaying in their hands. Seeing the scene, Mo Wen felt a tightness in his chest, a chill crawling up his spine. The acrid smell of disinfectant wafted over, ruthlessly reminding them of the harsh reality here.
The officer finished the inspection but had no intention of letting them go. With a wave of his hand, the surrounding soldiers closed in, their guns subtly pointing at the group.
The already heavy atmosphere now felt dense enough to be cut with a knife.
"What are you doing?" Dr. Tanaka's voice trembled slightly,"We are legal volunteers, sent by the government."
At this moment, Uncle Sima pulled out a good cigarette and offered it to the officer. Amid the protests, the officer lazily lit the cigarette, taking a deep, enjoyable drag before blowing smoke towards the group,"Quit whining, my men will escort you to the safe camp! You've seen, the roads aren't safe!"
The thirty-odd volunteers were marched along the cracked sidewalk like prisoners, flanked by mercenaries on both sides. The echo of their boots on the cracked pavement sounded like a death knell. The air was filled with the acrid smells of disinfectant and rust.
Jerry nervously leaned close to Mo Wen,"I have a bad feeling about these people..."
Mo Wen didn't respond, instead observing the mercenaries closely. Their uniforms were dark camo, and their arm badges bore a shield with two crossed axes. Many had tattoos, and a few wore masks, revealing only their eyes.
Mo Wen could always feel Gin's gaze, occasionally sweeping from the rear of the group, carrying scrutiny and... an indescribable emotion.
"Jerry, don't you think this Gin..." Mo Wen whispered.
"Is crazy," Jerry immediately replied, his voice filled with fear,"and he's enjoying it."
Mo Wen remained silent. He didn't entirely agree. Gin's behavior showed a certain pleasure in wielding power, but there was something... else.
At that moment, a pale face appeared behind the iron bars of a distant residential building. The woman's withered hair hung beside her gaunt cheeks, and she slowly raised the corners of her mouth into a stiff, eerie smile. Soon after, a girl's face appeared behind a cracked window, her lips moving silently,"Run."
Mo Wen's heart raced, coldness creeping up his spine. He was about to warn Jerry when suddenly—
"Bang!" The gunshot exploded.
The figure quickly vanished. Gin walked slowly to Mo Wen's side, lowering his gun, as if he had just casually dealt with a trivial matter.
"They're warning us," Mo Wen said quietly, testing Gin's reaction.
Gin was silent for a moment, a barely noticeable... confusion? No, the cold smile remained on his face, but it seemed like just a mask.
"They're begging you to leave," Gin murmured, his voice almost swallowed by the wind.
Mo Wen's eyes widened,"Then why did you..."
Gin's gaze sharpened,"What do you think this place is? Paradise?" He took a few steps forward, his back to Mo Wen, his voice unusually weary,"Sometimes, dying is safer than living."
Instead of being taken to a safe camp, everyone was herded into an empty clothing store.
"Rest here for a while. The safe camp is still far. Food and water will be here soon!" Gin waved his hand, and the soldiers pushed the last few reluctant people inside, then guarded the entrance.
"Resources are limited, so you'll have to rest on the floor." Gin stood by the iron door, a malicious smile on his face,"The camp administrator will come for you in the afternoon. Or... maybe tomorrow. Depends on how busy they are."
The door clanged shut.
-----------------
Through the small window in the door, Mo Wen saw Gin standing outside, lighting a cigarette. He didn't leave but stood there quietly, looking at the group inside with a complex expression.
After a moment, Gin murmured,"You better pray no one comes."
Inside, the room was filled with the acrid smell of mold and urine. The exhausted volunteers collapsed on the ground, while others paced nervously in the cramped space. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to slowly strangle hope.
Mo Wen approached the window, seeing the thick iron bars outside."Can they really do this? Isn't this illegal?" he muttered.
Sima let out a bitter laugh,"Law? The opposition leaders have disappeared. Wake up, we're prisoners now."
The room fell into a deathly silence, with despair spreading like toxic fog. Mo Wen's thoughts lingered on the strange badge he had seen earlier—a shield and a battle axe. That symbol unsettled him, like a warning gripping his heart.
He tried to push the door open, only to find it firmly locked. The cold metal conveyed a chilling message—the door was painted iron.
"Escape" echoed sharply and urgently in his mind. But... how?
Seeing Mo Wen's actions, Jerry also moved to the window, trying to shake the iron bars. Across the street, a few workers in white protective suits smoked lazily, occasionally glancing over with mocking smiles.
A soldier joined the smokers, asking for a light and blowing out clouds of smoke.
"Are these the new test subjects?"
"Yeah, I hope they survive."
"Haven't heard of test subjects leaving alive. Haha, good-hearted people don't last long in this world!"
"Pah! Pah! Pah!"