CH 51.2

Mentor smiles at Jiang Yiyi, and starts out by using his only connection with Jiang Yiyi, “I was in charge of Lin Yi for some time when he was but a fresh recruit.” His tone is steady and almost melodic in a way, “a very righteous little guy.”

Jiang Yiyi glances to the side at the object of the description, but Lin Yi maintains his poker face and shows no particular response.

“You do not look much older than him.” Jiang Yiyi starts making a play for the initiative, “this may be somewhat inappropriate, but can I ask for your age?”

Mentor smiles, “it is certainly ever so slightly inappropriate.” But he hands over the initiative quite generously, “I would put it this way – not exactly young when compared to him.”

A rather slippery answer, that is.

Jiang Yiyi is also able to see how slippery the conversation is going to become——This conversation target is, in all respects, a respectable opponent.

“This appearance of yours… is it one of an Extraordinary?”

“No, I am not, actually.” He denies with a smile, then guides the topic where he wants it to be, “all Extraordinaries are insane…”

He looks at Jiang Yiyi with loving, blue eyes, “the only exception we’ve learned of thus far is Doctor.”

“You would like to learn more about me…” Jiang Yiyi asks with a lazy tone, “what price are you ready to pay?”

Mentor’s smile flattens ever so slightly, “I have certainly heard of Doctor’s habit of reaching deals with others.”

Not exactly a habit, he’d call it. Jiang Yiyi simply finds it more comfortable to establish an equal trade.

Even if the others do not really see it as ‘equal.’

Which would be disappointing——According to Jiang Yiyi, who is quite handicapped by his own promises, anyway.

“It sounds like you are not interested in giving up anything in exchange.” Jiang Yiyi judges him quite highly – from his intelligence and everything else displayed so far.

That does not help the conversation becoming dull, however.

Mentor notices, and knows very well what would happen if Jiang Yiyi loses interest——The conversation would be over.

“No, I do not plan to make any deal with you, Doctor.” Mentor speaks quite frankly, staring into Jiang Yiyi’s eyes, “based on everything that has happened thus far, I would say that that is the wisest choice to take.”

Jiang Yiyi quietly waits for what he is going to say.

“I would like to ask the Doctor to answer a few questions.” Mentor glances at Lin Yi, currently standing quietly behind Jiang Yiyi, “I do not think you would refuse?”

Jiang Yiyi also looks towards Lin Yi following the gaze.

Lin Yi, finding himself the subject of stares out of nowhere, suddenly realises that he has become a stake in this bloodless battle.

Mentor is coercing Jiang Yiyi using him?

How would he even remotely qualify? ——By ‘qualify,’ Lin Yi is wondering how he would even have enough worth in him to sway Doctor.

Then he finds himself recalling what Magician said before, and the question he asked Jiang Yiyi himself——The one and only exception.

But, why? Why the special treatment, distinct generosity, and even making exceptions for him?

【“I admire people who walk a path of certain doom, in order to achieve their righteous objective.”】

Lin Yi can still remember that answer given by Jiang Yiyi himself. If that really is the correct answer…

The question is narrowed down even further.

Why does Jiang Yiyi ‘admire people who walk a path of certain doom, in order to achieve their righteous objective’ to the degree that he would grant exceptions?

Because these people have a special place in his heart.

Lin Yi has a foreboding feeling, that he is soon going to be able to take a peek at the part of the glacier below the waves, that is Jiang Yiyi’s mind.

Why would these people have a special place in his heart?

There is a most simple explanation for a normal person.

That they are the same, and so they subconsciously rate similar people highly; or that they had a friend who ‘walked a path of certain doom to achieve their righteous objective,’ in which case, it is a form of projection.

When it comes to Jiang Yiyi, though, a third, rather different answer is possible.

For example, he simply admires such people for no particular reason, even if, for that admiration alone, he is willing to offer them exceptional treatment.

Without asking Jiang Yiyi and receiving an answer, though, Lin Yi cannot tell which of the three is correct, or, if they are all wrong.

However, Lin Yi is certain of one thing at least.

Jiang Yiyi’s ‘admiration’ towards him is the only reason for all his generosity.

Jiang Yiyi has stopped looking at Lin Yi. Usually, he would be reacting to such an open threat, but this is Mentor——They’ve managed to soften the hostility inherent in such an action to a degree that is difficult to evoke hostility in response.

In other words, it feels more like a friendly prank he’s pulling than his trying to threaten him.

“Ask away.” Jiang Yiyi tells Mentor.

Mentor’s eyes widen slightly before shrinking back in no time. It is obvious he is surprised at this choice.

“Doctor, your purpose for coming to Stargaol?”

“To serve my sentence.”

“Doctor, do you possess skills that can broadly be described as psychological in effect?”

“I am a surgeon who has also studied psychology, but I am unlicensed.”

“Doctor, your reason for denying being an Extraordinary?”

“Because I am not one.”

Mentor pauses, and his smile turns slightly awkward, “Doctor… You truly are not letting your guard down at any time, are you?”

Then he puts his blue eyes back on Jiang Yiyi, and asks a new question, “Doctor, what do you think of Stargaol?”

This time, Jiang Yiyi pauses for a few seconds before answering, “ones who harbour a majestic vision for changing the world, in a magnificent display of their stupidity.”

Magician’s brow lifts up slightly.

“It sounds like you harbour animus towards it.” Mentor asks further, “is this an opinion formulated from being a prisoner? Or an opinion formed on other grounds?” Pausing, he suggests, “for example, sympathy towards Extraordinaries.”

“Neither.” Jiang Yiyi smiles at him, “Her existence itself is a fool’s errand.”

“I am curious why you would say that.”