STB Chapter 34: Progress

This is machine translated and all copyrights belong to the author. Please note that the translator might take creative liberties for better readability. Thank you for reading.

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So what exactly is good about Jian Hua?

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The girl bound tightly in the net gritted her teeth.

The space ability in this book was bizarre, probably because it was written by a foreigner, different from the usual fictional personal space. It indeed was a separate space but didn’t offer a huge advantage like a ‘golden finger’; its function was similar to a box, able to store things, including herself. The downside was that when the owner entered, the space manifested physically, and if someone touched it, they could feel the box’s exterior.

It seemed somewhat trivial, but the significance of a space ability user couldn’t be overlooked.

— She could bring food, water, and even weapons into the abandoned world.

A knife can’t kill a man-eating squid, but what about a rocket? What if there was a tank?

High-level space ability users were in demand everywhere.

The girl had awakened her ability not long after entering, but she was particularly unlucky, as her initial potential was low, resulting in a limited space.

If encountering a monster in the abandoned world, a space ability user could hide inside. This was a survival method. The girl didn’t dare fill her space with stuff, leaving room only for food, drink, and weapons.

Compared to a knife, a durian could be eaten, and its shell used as a weapon.

Panicking at the sight of the net, she threw the durian to make the capturers dodge or fall, hoping to escape. However, the arrival of riot police made her heart sink.

She still had two watermelon knives and some emergency items like flour in her space, but these were insignificant against national force.

The riot police’s shoes were specially made, impervious to stepping on durians. Their fire-resistant clothing contained plastic foam to cushion attacks, making them knife-proof. Not to mention the helmets, which could withstand even tear gas.

“Take her back to the military district.”

The four corners of the net were lifted, carrying her like a big fish.

Zhang Yaojin glanced through the car window before leaning back in his seat.

He easily deduced the target was a space ability user based on several invisible theft cases. After formulating a plan, he set traps around the theft areas, exploiting the “informed” mindset.

For example, the latest newspapers would highlight hurricane news or Li Fei’s new movie on prominent pages, with a nearby bulging wallet containing a tracker…

This girl was cunning, putting stolen items into her space immediately, breaking the signal. Sometimes, after taking the money, she would discard the bag, so Zhang Yaojin had to coat the money with an invisible powder.

The girl didn’t always hide in her space. Although she could steal daily necessities and food, who wouldn’t want a hot meal? She would buy boxed meals, dine at noodle shops, and occasionally shop for clothes.

After five days of observation, Red Dragon confirmed her range of activity.

The capture operation went smoothly, but Major Zhang couldn’t be happy.

“Major Zhang, this space ability is too small to be of much use…”

“Forget it,” Zhang Yaojin sighed.

The convoy returned to the Red Dragon division of the Haicheng Military District, where Li Fei had previously been brought for investigation.

The rectangular shape trapped in the net remained motionless. After entering the room, Zhang Yaojin frowned at the sight and replaced the vigilant male police with four female officers.

Seeing the ability user pretending to be dead, or still unsure of what to do, Zhang Yaojin didn’t miss the chance to pressure her. He sat down and bluntly said,

“We can have a proper talk, Lu Yuan. Or should I say, the person occupying Lu Yuan’s body?”

The rectangle trembled and then disappeared.

A young female student, caught in the net, glared fiercely at Zhang Yaojin.

The room, filled with policemen taking notes and armed policewomen, looked like an interrogation scene.

Unable to withstand Major Zhang’s intimidating gaze, the girl averted her eyes in panic and frustration.

She had believed her plan was meticulous, but after entering the book, she achieved nothing.

She had awakened an ability, but it was far from powerful; she estimated herself at E-level. If not for the early awakening, she would have been the lowest F-level, hardly different from an ordinary person. Her space ability couldn’t even fit herself, just a personal box.

She destroyed surveillance to find the suspected Jian Hua but found nothing.

Staying in Huai City, she waited for the second large-scale awakening in China mentioned in the original plot on November 18th. But before the date arrived, she was captured by Red Dragon.

Judging by the capture method and Major Zhang Yaojin, a suspected A-level ability user from the military… Red Dragon probably already knew the secrets of the abandoned world, including everything about the book-transmigrators!

Realizing playing dumb was useless and unable to hide in her space forever, as she needed baths and toilets, she couldn’t afford a drawn-out battle with Red Dragon.

Zhang Yaojin stared at her, “I want to know, what happened to the original Lu Yuan?”

“She’s dead!” the girl blurted out angrily. “When I arrived, she was already dead! So was her classmate… They tried to leave Huai City for help. They argued halfway, and Lu Yuan pushed her classmate in anger. The girl grabbed Lu Yuan’s foot, and they both fell down the riverbank and died.”

Zhang Yaojin shook his head coldly, “No, they just fainted.”

The girl’s eyes widened in shock, and she laughed incredulously, “Her classmate hit her head on a rock, bleeding everywhere…”

“You woke up, saw the body, got nervous, and to avoid trouble, pushed them into the river. If you returned alone, it would raise suspicion and hinder your actions, so you stayed hidden,” Zhang Yaojin coldly read from a file, his voice cutting like a knife, “The autopsy report shows the victim had a head injury and drowned while in a deep coma.”

The girl’s expression froze, her fingers clutched her clothes, and her eyes filled with fear.

— An ordinary person with no experience of killing instinctively fears when realizing their mistake has caused death.

“Initially, Lu Yuan’s classmate would have died from blood loss, but your actions now constitute intentional homicide. Lu Yuan didn’t die; she was just in a coma,” Zhang Yaojin said expressionlessly, “You should be thankful our country’s legal definition of death is the physical body, not the soul.”

“No! They were supposed to die! Without food for three days, they would have died in the abandoned world anyway!” the girl screamed. “If it wasn’t for me appearing in the abandoned world and taking over Lu Yuan’s body, this body wouldn’t have survived.”

Zhang Yaojin closed the file and slightly closed his eyes. More than the world being a book, what troubled him were the “informed parties” from outside the book, symbolizing unscientific elements that couldn’t be explained.

Chat group records showed that some people were replaced by “book-transmigrators” in their sleep.

Others died in accidents, and when book transmigrators arrived, they were barely alive and resuscitated in hospitals. How scientific is that? Taking over a dead body is soul transfer, but the original body’s fatal injuries somehow don’t affect the new occupant.

“Major Zhang!”

A soldier in uniform rushed in. Zhang Yaojin frowned and went outside.

“Colonel Lu from headquarters wants you to fly to Beidu immediately to explain in person!” The messenger sympathized. How to explain? The first report was rejected, the second was accepted but not replied to, and now he had to face the Red Dragon leader or be brought before the nation’s top leaders. To stand at attention and respectfully say, “Sorry, leader, we might all just be characters in a book”?

Zhang Yaojin’s headache intensified, and now his teeth began to ache.

***

Haicheng International Airport.

Li Fei suppressed his restless abilities, wrapped in an invisible soft white silk, and strode toward the security checkpoint.

— No alarm sounded.

Jian Hua, following behind Assistant Lin, also passed security without incident. They wore hats and masks, dragging their luggage, resembling white-collar workers flying to the capital for business negotiations.

“Lucky for us, it rained yesterday. The weather is clear, no smog,” Assistant Lin opened his newly bought phone, which immediately started ringing relentlessly. He grimaced as he checked it.

Actor Li Fei’s car was severely damaged in an accident on Ginkgo Avenue, and the photos went viral online.

“Don’t bother with it. There’s no evidence, just a barely recognizable photo of a Ferrari wreck,” Li Fei glanced at it and felt it unnecessary to respond. He hadn’t filed for insurance. Unless someone counted the cars in his garage, did the actor need permission to choose which car to drive or not use?

Assistant Lin immediately conveyed Li Fei’s instructions to the company for handling.

Li Fei’s agent didn’t accompany him to Beidu. In fact, the agent had already requested a job change from the CEO of Starlight Entertainment.

The entertainment industry had stars involved in promiscuity, drugs, and speeding, but none as dangerous as Li Fei’s daredevil antics, which caused a national uproar! Even national secret departments got involved!

Geng Tian was taken away by the military for protection, and Li Fei’s perfectly fine Ferrari turned to scrap. The agent felt his heart couldn’t take it. He took over Li Fei mid-way, and Li Fei hardly gave him face. Now, involved in these bizarre incidents, the agent decisively quit. Being an actor’s agent was glamorous and lucrative, but not worth risking one’s life.

In Assistant Lin’s view, the main reason was Li Fei’s latest bizarre act.

Geng Tian couldn’t return for the time being, but Li Fei disagreed with hiring another bodyguard, saying ‘It would be useless anyway’ (the agent’s face turned ashen at this comment) and instead signed a new contract with Jian Hua.

Yes, besides hiring Jian Hua as his exclusive stunt double, Li Fei also hired him as his bodyguard.

As a highly skilled stunt double in the industry, Jian Hua’s abilities were unquestionable, with several certificates in martial arts and karate, though he lacked knowledge of firearms and professional bodyguard training.

To Assistant Lin’s surprise, it was Jian Hua who opposed this proposal.

It was unclear what Li Fei said to Jian Hua behind the scenes, but they reluctantly reached an agreement to change the bodyguard role to a personal assistant, with a daily wage and no time limit on the contract. This meant Jian Hua could leave the second role at any time.

The existence of this contract itself was peculiar.

So, what exactly was good about Jian Hua? Why did Li Fei go to such lengths? Did they have a secret? Assistant Lin was deeply puzzled.

He observed Jian Hua throughout the flight.

Appearance? Good, but not as much as Li Fei…

Charisma? Same as above.

Skills? An excellent stunt double, but still a stunt double. In the domestic industry, successful stars like Li Fei could be counted on one hand. Why hadn’t Li Fei shown such appreciation for anyone else?

Assistant Lin was agonizingly curious but didn’t dare to ask directly.

“The day after tomorrow, the crew starts shooting. Have you read the script?” Li Fei asked in a low voice.

Jian Hua nodded, his expression hidden by the mask.
Their conversation was brief and normal, but Assistant Lin sensed something unusual.

— He felt as if Li Fei was deliberately making conversation.

Assistant Lin’s lips twitched: Impossible.

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The author has something to say:

There have been some modifications to the details of Johnson’s experiences in the previous chapter. (T/N: Didn’t read this when I was editing the previous chapter. I was wondering why some details were wrong and I just thought it was a problem with the source material. So I kind of meshed the previous translation and the new translation. Still understandable but I don’t think it’ll affect the plot that much so I’ll just leave it as is.)

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Last Edit: December 20, 2023 at 11:17 AM

This is machine translated and all copyrights belong to the author. Please note that the translator might take creative liberties for better readability. Thank you for reading.