Chapter Thirty-Three: Synesthesia

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Southern region, a hive research center, quarantine zone.

Brilliant beams of light swept across the grounds as several black sedans filed in, coming to a halt before the heavily guarded iron gates of the quarantine compound.

From the two central vehicles emerged two women and a man, escorted by a squad of uniformed, armed guards, into the gloomy isolation area.

On the left strode a woman with long, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, dressed in a smart business suit with a clutch in hand. Her long, shapely legs were wrapped in sheer black stockings, slender high heels clicking on the floor, the curve of her figure beneath her fitted skirt swaying with the poised allure of a mature woman.

The man in the middle was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, his profile sharp and angular. In the dim light, his emotions were unreadable, but his steps were unnaturally heavy.

The woman on the right wore a more casual, efficient outfit. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, her pale face etched with a mixture of gravity and urgency. She clung to the man’s arm, fists clenched so tightly her nails nearly pierced her skin.

The uniformed guards said nothing. The one at the front radioed ahead to the security staff in the gray building, and as the group approached, the isolation gate swung open. Two or three researchers in white lab coats emerged, greeted the trio, and ushered them alone into the elevator.

The lead researcher, balding and middle-aged with thick glasses, waited until the elevator doors closed, then, as if finally able to breathe, pulled a pen-shaped electronic jammer from his pocket and pressed it gently, nodding to the trio.

“What’s the situation? We came as soon as we got word,” the ponytailed woman blurted out, unable to suppress her urgency. “Any news of him?”

“Don’t worry, Luoyu,” the researcher said, adjusting his glasses. “It’s a long story, and time is short. Let me explain first.” He opened a folder, drew out a personnel file, and handed it to them. “Do you recognize this man?”

Luoyu took the file and studied it. The color photo showed an unremarkable man named Meng Chang, listed as a mid-level researcher at the RCA Hive Research Center.

“I don’t know him. Jia, do you?” Luoyu passed the file to the elegant woman.

Jia shook her head, frowning. “I don’t have access to anyone in the Hive Center. If I’d known, I would have told Junwei… Wait, didn’t you contact Junwei, Dai?”

“Dai Wei? When did you talk to Ming?” Luoyu turned to the stoic man.

Dai Wei furrowed his brow and shook his head. “It was weeks ago. He was in the south, but I don’t know which research center. Security was tight.”

The researcher in the lab coat cleared his throat, interrupting. “Meng Chang isn’t an original RCA employee. He was transferred from another district and has always worked with the Hive Survey Team. I’d never dealt with him before. The reason we stumbled upon him is that he practically walked right into the line of fire.”

“A large hive appeared in the northwest of the lower city. The research team codenamed it 'The Rift.' This file was meant for direct transfer to the RCA headquarters, but for some reason, it ended up in Meng Chang's hands. After discovering the Rift, he reported it up the chain, bypassing protocol, and was removed by the direct RCA research team. To prevent information leaks, they put him under house arrest in the central experimental district. While investigating his contacts, we discovered something odd about him.”

The researcher gestured for silence as the elevator doors opened to a long corridor lit by dim, flickering lights. Along the sides, numerous dark rooms could be glimpsed, each with a palm-sized window.

Once sure they were alone, the researcher continued as they walked. “At first, the interrogation team thought he’d just stumbled onto the information and reported it in a panic. They planned to quietly remove him. But then, unexpectedly, they found he had the ability for remote communication.”

Luoyu felt a cold shiver and exchanged a glance with Jia; both women’s eyes brimmed with equal parts shock and hope.

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Dai Wei silently patted Luoyu’s hand. Though he said nothing, his heavy breaths betrayed a sense of excitement.

They walked several hundred meters and climbed a spiral staircase. The environment above was much improved; on one side, isolation rooms bustled with researchers and all manner of strange flora and fauna, on the other, corridors branched in all directions, soundproofed walls dotted with doors every few meters.

The researcher led them into a small room, barely large enough for four people to stand abreast. Before them was a massive one-way mirror. Behind it lay a monitoring cell, where a man in hospital garb sat listlessly on the bed, occasionally glancing at the camera, then raising his middle finger at it.

“That’s him,” the researcher said, nodding to the trio. “The central experimental district believed he’d undergone physiological mutation from hive exposure and sent him here as a test subject. By chance, I reviewed his file and remembered what you’d told me. Curious, I decided to cross-check his abilities.”

He paused, and the three held their breath, waiting.

“I’m eighty percent certain he isn’t mutated by the hive,” the researcher said, each word heavy with conviction. “He has poly-sensory linkage disorder—the exact same as Song Jiu.”

Luoyu and Jia gripped each other’s hands, their joy uncontainable.

“But the problem is…” The researcher’s abrupt halt left both women frozen in anticipation.

He spread his hands helplessly. “He doesn’t know Song Jiu at all. I even used a lie detector—he wasn’t lying. There’s no trace of Song Jiu in his conscious or subconscious mind.”

The women's excitement turned to dismay, while silent Dai Wei coughed softly. “But there has to be a connection, right?”

The researcher smiled faintly and nodded. “So far, I’ve found he’s linked with two others: your little Luoli and a woman from the upper city. I’ve already sent agents to find her. With luck, she’ll be here in a couple of days.”

“Luoli…” Luoyu’s expression went blank, then lit with realization. “No wonder, no wonder Lili keeps showing strange reactions… God, yes! This can’t be coincidence. This must be Jiu Jiu’s way of sending us a signal! Otherwise, how could Luoli be linked?”

“Calm down, Luoyu,” Jia said, regaining her composure. “It’s too soon to draw conclusions. Let’s hear what the doctor has to say.”

“The others we’ve found with sensory linkage mostly aren’t aware of it. Some who notice think they’ve mutated. But Meng Chang knows a lot about it. In his apartment, we even found an inhibitor meant to block the linkage,” the researcher said, handing over some photos. “It’s not RCA tech, at least not as far as I know.”

“He made it himself?” Dai Wei asked, puzzled. “Or did someone help him?”

“He won’t say. I’ve tried everything… short of force,” the researcher admitted with some regret. “He’s different from the other subjects. Even if he doesn’t know Song Jiu, someone he’s linked with must. I just can’t confirm how many links he has.”

“How did you confirm the connection between him, Luoli, and the other woman?” Jia asked.

“He actively contacted her and tried to help her escape,” the researcher replied, pulling another file from his folder. This one was scant—just a photo, a name, and an upper city address.

“Jin Ling?” Jia frowned, searching her memory, but the name meant nothing to her.

“Random?” Luoyu took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I don’t believe it. That kind of coincidence isn’t random.”

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The researcher sighed softly. “I wish I could say Song Jiu orchestrated all this, but there’s no evidence yet. And the RCA’s central office is aware of his linkage problem. They’ll send someone to take over soon; that’s why I rushed you here overnight.”

“What do you want us to do?” Luoyu asked, frowning.

The researcher pressed a few buttons beside the one-way glass, extinguishing the lights on the surveillance equipment.

He opened a communication window and said, “This is all I can do. The rest is up to you. Try to get as much information as possible. He’s not getting out, so if you can, try to use the linkage to seek answers. This is your chance.”

Jia smoothed her hair and nodded. “Understood. Thank you, Doctor.”

He smiled, turned, and left.

The three exchanged glances, finally agreeing Dai Wei should be the one to interrogate Meng Chang.

Dai Wei could still maintain composure; the two women, at this point, could hardly think rationally.

“I’ll notify Xiaomeng and Guli. You and Dai can’t leave the island, so I’ll handle passing the message,” Jia whispered to Luoyu. “The road race has begun, and Asu’s situation isn’t clear. We can’t let anyone on the island notice something’s wrong.”

Luoyu bit her lip, struggling. “But I want to find Jiu Jiu.”

“I know. But you can’t.” Jia refused firmly, her tone serious. “We only have the faintest lead. Frankly, there’s no way to be sure it’s Song Jiu yet.”

“I think there’s a good chance,” Luoyu insisted.

Jia’s face was drawn with fatigue as she sighed. “I understand how you feel, but don’t forget—last time, we lost Lao Wu and Yao Yao because we acted on impulse.”

A look of pain flickered in Luoyu’s eyes, but she still tried to argue. “Lao Wu and Yao Yao are just missing… they might not be dead…”

Jia gave a desolate smile and shook her head. “There aren’t so many miracles. We hope for the best, but we can’t fool ourselves.”

“All right. I understand,” Luoyu said, closing her eyes in anguish, her face shadowed with sorrow.