Chapter Eight

Bai Mo wasn't in a good mood. The frown on his face was deeper than it usually would be. And the crinkle in the center of his eyebrows was prominent enough to see it from a distance.

He had been in this mood ever since he left Protagonist #934's hospital room. He slammed the door shut and tried his best to ignore the program's words. He remembered his face and the curve of his lips. The two moles curved along with the bend of his cheek. And the flickering light entering his eyes.

Bai Mo hated his eyes. The way that they looked so familiar, he realized that they look like his own. The way that light would go in, only to never come back out. They seemed to suck the life out of what they stare at. And that look. The look of hidden desperation. Having the chance of holding onto a dream. To feel its warmth in your hands. People like him, the most desperate and deprived of their freedom. They have two ways to go, to spend their lives living throughout their nightmares, and blame their problems on an outer force. Saying that there's nothing that can be done, they can't help themselves. And then their people like Boss Lu, who risk everything they have to get that chance, and when they get that chance, they would risk it again. Just to get more. They would be seen as reckless and rash, but as Bai Mo looked into the strayed program's eyes, he could see that that's not exactly true.

Bai Mo was able to see the difference between the two of them. They were both held by the system. But as Boss Lu was risking his life to move forward, even when he didn't have a plan, nor did he know what was ahead of him. Bai Mo was on the other side of desperation, he blamed the system for his troubles. He hated the system of why they worked. Yet when he was told to do something, all he did was obey.

Bai Mo hated how the program always stayed smiling. The joking tone and the humor in his eyes. Bai Mo thought that it was like mockery. How someone was able to stay so bright when he couldn't even remember the last time he smiled.

But the words that the program said to him. He thought it was foolish. To team up with him? What would be the point? There's no chance that they would be able to go against the system as a whole. There's no way.

As the words resonated through Bai Mo's mind. The way that the program seemed to snap at his cowardice. Bai Mo told himself that he was wrong. That if he continued to work then it was guaranteed that at some point he would be able to move on his own.

But was he right? Did the system promise?

Bai Mo held his head in pain and leaned against the wall for support. The ache in his head spread like wildfire. It burned his mind and trailed down his spine. His mind was blank as the fire in his mind wiped out his thoughts.

"Bai Mo, what are you doing?" The sound of a voice he knew. How did he know it? He didn't know why, but an intense hatred surged up in his heart and almost right through his throat and past his clenched teeth.

He forced himself to turn his head towards the voice. The man's eyes were dark and fake. Just like so many that he sees these days. He hated them. And yet at the same time, he was thankful that he could differentiate them from humans. It reminded him that no matter how much he thought that he was losing his humanity, these creatures never had any from the start.

He tried his best to remove his hand from his forehead and face the thing in front of him. A thing, he reminded himself. This thing isn't human.

"System 278." The thing holding him here. He told himself that this thing was a monster impersonating a human. The barcode on its temple was proof of it. Although it looked human, it was nothing but a product bought by the powerful systems.

"You haven't completed the job yet." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Bai Mo tried his best to stare into the system's eyes. "Apologies, It has proven to be a bit more troublesome than calculated." Lies. The program was acting almost exactly as he predicted. The only one causing problems was him. Why did he hesitate? Why did he walk away? If he had just done his job, then he would be closer. But closer to what?

Again, the program's words entered his mind. He was right, a part of his mind told him. While the other parts seemed to only scream. Either like a child. Or of bloody murder. Perhaps his mind was going insane faster than he realized.

The system only narrowed his gaze at Bai Mo. "This hasn't happened before. Is there something stopping you from continuing?" There was. He didn't know what it was. His pride? His righteousness? Definitely not. The years have gone by and he lost those long ago.

But then what was it? "I can tell that you haven't been in the right for a while now. Fix it and finish the job. Do not disappoint me." What was it that's making him act so foolish?

System 278 gave him a warning glance and walked past him. It was strange. They were close to the same height. The same build. And yet, why did he feel so pathetic next to him?

He hated these feelings. His inability to realize what he really wants.

And by the time that System 347 had walked up to him. And when a mocking gaze was sent his way, Bai Mo realized something.

And the seed of doubt bloomed into a beautiful flower.

-

"Are you admitting to murdering this man?" The investigator raised his eyebrow.

Boss Lu only laughed and leaned towards the other man, "Why would I admit to that? Of course, I didn't kill the man."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as can be."

The investigator didn't seem surprised at his statement and instead brought out several more files. "Mr. Sung had been reported missing a year and a half ago. The report said that he packed up and left himself. And it was a year ago where you met his daughter, and started a relationship with her. Is this correct?"

Boss Lu gave him a cheeky smile, "Yup, met her at my birthday banquet."

The investigator ignored him and continued. "Witnesses say that your relationship with Ms. Sung was healthy. But paired with other accounts we have evidence against that." Investigator Yi pulled out more photos and showed them to Boss Lu. And at the sight of them, Boss Lu became a little exasperated.

They were photograms of his lookalikes. The same ones that he sent to do some dirty work. "I should have expected you to bring these up."

A photo of him walking out of a sex toy shop. Carrying a multitude of different toys typically meant for the opposite sex. And another two of both his bottom sticking out of a dumpster and his top half sitting in the dumpster. And the last one being him, or someone with his stature, standing outside of a girls' high school. Looking very suspicious with a hat and mask.

"Mr. Lu has committed some very suspicious actions until now. Do you have any explanations?"

If Boss Lu was actually being interrogated, then he would probably have snapped at the investigator. What's suspicious? Maybe the standing outside of girls' schools is, but the dumpster diving, and sex toys! You have no right to be suspicious of, only Ms. Sung has that right! Maybe he just had an interesting personal life, alright?

Instead, Boss Lu gave out a small chuckle, "I'm sorry good sir, but those aren't pictures of me."

Well, he wasn't lying. They really weren't.

"Is that so?" Investigator Yi placed his chin on his interlaced hands.

They were going to continue, but the knock on the door stopped Investigator Yi from questioning. "Come in." He called out. A younger-looking employee walked in and whispered into the investigator's ears. "She what?" He said after the employee finished. He took a quick look towards Boss Lu and widened his eyes at the 'smug' grin on his face.

"Ah, is that supposed to be my mother?" He asked the younger. "You better let her see me, she can be pretty violent when she doesn't get what she wants. Trust me, I speak from experience."

After saying that it wasn't long until his mother walked in.

"Son, the problems you cause are turning my hair white." She said.

"That's an exaggeration, Ma. You look just as if you're still in your thirties."

His mother gave a small smirk at his comment and responded with, "That's right."

Boss Lu's mother, despite her rough upbringing, was very elegant. Her hair was neat and tied up to the top of her head. And a single beautiful hair clip adorned it. That hair clip was a gift from his grandfather, she wore it everywhere. Her clothes were elegant and flowy, and very movable. That's something she prioritized in her outfits.

His mother glanced at Investigator Yi. Who was still seated in his seat. She looked at him with her sharp eyes and asked him. "Is there a reason why you're still in here?"

Investigator Yi looked back at her with close to the same gaze he did to Boss Lu. "Madam Lu, your son is currently being questioned by me, it would be best if you left to watch from the window if you really want to be here."

"You want to question my son, and I want to see him. Which do you think matters more to me, you or him?" Madam Lu was prideful and strong, her husband isn't able to deal with her, nor Boss Lu, who was raised by the woman isn't able to. So of course, some random investigator wouldn't be able to do anything.

The investigator couldn't say anything against her, and gave out a tsk, "Fine," He stood up from his seat, picked up the files and photos, and walked towards the door. "You have five minutes. I'll be watching from the window."

The door closed and Madam Lu sat on the seat. She crossed her legs and leaned back. She looked down on her son who had his hands bolted to the table. She looked at Boss Lu's face, which still had a bandage on his forehead. "Does it still hurt?" She asked. It would have sounded like she was going to comfort him, but after Boss Lu complained and said yes, she made no movements to comfort him.

Aish, he missed Leng Zhang. He would probably insult him.

At the thought of his friend, Boss Lu's gaze darkened slightly. His mother, as the observant person she was, said to him, "I've heard about your secretary, Mr. Leng, you have my condolences."

Boss Lu gave her a sad smile, "Mother, you speak of him as if he's six-feet under."

His mother didn't feel that it was right to respond and instead brought up another subject. She studied the cuffs around her son's wrist and said, "Do you plan on letting them get away with it? I can stop them if you want."

She didn't even care for the authorities outside of the window and spoke what she wanted. That was Madam Lu for sure.

Boss Lu threw his head back and let his messy hair fall back. He let out a breathy laugh, "Yah, I'll just let it happen. I appreciate you stalling time for me though."

"You don't have someone set up to come for you?"

Boss Lu thought of the man in the hospital. He remembered the way that he looked at him, "Maybe, but that depends on him."

His mother looked a little annoyed, "So, not a chance." She made that accusation on her own. Rightfully so Boss Lu himself didn't think that there was a chance. He was currently planning a way to escape from the systems as a whole.

The door opened and Investigator Yi walked back in. He took a glance at Madam Lu and said to her, "Times up." His mother didn't fight back and willingly stood up. She looked back at the investigator and told him, "I'll be seeing you in court." It wasn't an angry statement. Nor was it threatening.

Investigator Yi seemed confused and looked back at Boss Lu. "You're willing to submit to the court?" Boss Lu looked back at him to say, "Sure, hand in all your evidence, I can handle it."

Investigator Yi tried his best to keep his face straight.