This world seems to have become more interesting.

Chapter 10: Use Fire

Olivia Harris is the one who creates nightmares for Brian Brooks.

This world has never been solely a mechanical civilization; throughout its continuation, there have always been even more mysterious civilizations in existence.

And tonight, Olivia Harris created this nightmare entirely on the orders of his boss, Emily Thompson, wanting to see what kind of person Brian Brooks really is.

At this moment, this nightmare called the “Double Ghost Dilemma” is what Olivia Harris wants to use to test what kind of person Brian Brooks is.

But the boy’s reaction is a bit inhuman.

At this very moment, Brian Brooks shows not the slightest tremble, nor the bloodthirsty courage of an ordinary person fighting back. The only thing he exudes is calmness.

Yet Olivia Harris can’t figure it out. He was clearly stopping the other from picking up the dagger, so why did the other suddenly break free from the nightmare’s restraints?

You have to know, this is Olivia Harris’s home turf.

At this moment, Brian Brooks already knows he doesn’t need to go upstairs to kill anyone. He speaks into the empty living room: “Olivia Harris?”

The nightmare hasn’t dissipated yet. Olivia Harris, dressed in a police uniform, comes smiling down the stairs: “How strange, you can actually stay clear-headed in this nightmare.”

“Why are you doing this? I don’t think I’ve offended you,” Brian Brooks asks in confusion.

“I’m not bullying you, I’m assessing you. But now it seems the nightmare doesn’t really affect you,” Olivia Harris explains, sitting on the last step of the stairs.

“This is your special ability?” Brian Brooks asks.

“Yes,” Olivia Harris shrugs. “Just like you have a photographic memory, I have my own ability. There’s nothing to hide about it.”

For a moment, Brian Brooks feels this world is becoming even more mysterious in his mind.

Instead, he relaxes.

The other party is all-powerful in this prison, while he himself is like a child just learning to walk by comparison.

Since that’s the case, there’s no need to be too nervous.

“You want to recruit me?” Brian Brooks asks.

At this moment, Olivia Harris suddenly realizes that, when facing this unknown nightmare and the unknown him, the other party has already completely relaxed and is at ease.

This boy is only 17.

Olivia Harris asks curiously, “Why did you come to Prison 18?”

Brian Brooks thinks to himself, If I say I don’t even know why I came in here, you definitely won’t believe me...

This... you’ll have to ask John Miller...

To be honest, Brian Brooks is also secretly wondering if he should find John Miller to figure out the whole story.

But thinking of John Miller’s chatterbox and sycophantic ways, he feels a bit of a headache.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to say. I’ll figure it out sooner or later,” Olivia Harris says. “Alright, get some rest. Tomorrow morning you still have to play chess with the boss.”

As soon as he finishes speaking, Brian Brooks’s vision goes black and he exits the nightmare. He slowly gets up from the cell floor, lies on the cold bed, not knowing what he’s thinking.

He looks at the heavy alloy gate; outside the door is a cold and mysterious world.

……

Return countdown 20:59:21.

Return countdown 20:59:20.

In the morning, Emily Thompson sits at the dining table as usual, quietly looking at a chess endgame.

It’s not yet time for the prisoners to leave their cells, and the whole prison is silent.

Olivia Harris squats on a chair and says, “Boss, last night I tested him with the Double Ghost Dilemma. Guess what, he was about to grab a knife and kill someone right away... That’s way too murderous.”

Ethan Clark frowns, “I told you to take it easy. Ordinary people can easily break down in the Double Ghost Dilemma.”

“Relax,” Olivia Harris says irritably, “I didn’t even go through with it. And you don’t know, that kid could actually break free from my control in the nightmare.”

“Oh?” Emily Thompson looks up. “I confirmed he’s just an ordinary person. For an ordinary person to break free from your control in a nightmare, that’s rather special.”

At this, even the big cat on the table, who had been resting with its eyes closed, gives Olivia Harris a strange look.

Ethan Clark asks, “How did he do it?”

“No idea,” Olivia Harris shakes his head.

“Maybe his willpower is strong enough,” Emily Thompson doesn’t pursue the matter. After all, Brian Brooks isn’t the only one who can break free from a nightmare’s restraints.

Olivia Harris squats and says, “Boss, I still advise you to think carefully. Brian Brooks is too murderous, he’s not one of us.”

“Murderous?” Emily Thompson suddenly laughs. “So many of our comrades have died for this cause, and even the three of us are trapped in this prison. So you have to understand, Xiaoxiao, we can’t face darkness with gentleness—we have to use fire.”

As he speaks, Emily Thompson’s expression grows a bit somber. “Ethan Clark, bring me the harmonica.”

It’s almost mealtime, and the prison is gradually becoming noisy. The sounds of the steel beasts clamoring behind the alloy gates are like water gradually boiling in a hot pot.

But suddenly, a melodious harmonica tune rises above the prison yard, refreshing and soothing.

The sound of prisoners banging on their cell doors gradually subsides. Everyone listens quietly, as if someone has poured a clear spring onto a parched wasteland.

Chapter 11: Farewell

The harmonica’s melody is very beautiful.