Rhodes Island does not exist.

-

After a while.

The doctor hung up the call.

He just received the news from Kroos.

Lambert's cause of death was exactly as they suspected: the murderer was Alyosha.

“I’m not surprised at all by that, but I didn’t expect…” the doctor sighed, “that he would be so brazen as to kill someone right after escaping.”

“That’s what desperados are like.” W shrugged. “To be honest, I know these infected mobs pretty well. First, they’re fearless, and second, since they’re fearless, they’re willing to risk other people’s lives too.”

"Aren't you an infected person yourself?" The doctor glanced at her.

"Hmph, that's an offensive remark." W narrowed his eyes slightly. "Watch out, there might be a bomb in tonight's soup."

"squeak--"

The room door was pushed open.

Without a word, Kal'tsit and Gavial walked straight in, their gazes immediately fixed on Lambert, who was hanging in the center of the room.

"so fast."

To avoid disturbing their work, w stepped aside, but didn't stop talking.

"Gavial, take a sample," Kal'tsit ordered, then turned her gaze to the Doctor. "If I remember correctly, this is the second murder since Rhodes Island was captured, isn't it?"

"Yes, Eugene, the perpetrator of the first case, is still in prison," the doctor replied.

"And yet you made this decision without fully learning from the lessons of the first case?" Kal'tsit shook her head. "This isn't the first bad decision you've made, and this mistake will have a huge impact on Rhodes Island."

"I understand this was a major mistake."

Faced with Kal'tsit's admonition, the Doctor could only bow his head and listen quietly.

After all, he did make a mistake.

“Two murders, three dead.” Kal'tsit shook her head again. “It’s terrible.”

"Wait a minute," the Doctor interrupted Kal'tsit, "Three dead? Why three? Even including Lambert, there are only two."

“Alyosha,” Kal'tsit said, looking at the Doctor, “that murderer, he’s the third one.”

"I...I don't understand." The doctor was a little confused.

“If there’s one, there will be two, then there will be three,” Kal’tsit said. “Tell me, can you find Alyosha now?”

"No."

Do you know where Alyosha is?

"No."

"Can you prove that Alyosha is not dead but missing?"

"……cannot."

“In that case, Alyosha is already dead,” Kal'tsit said. “At least in the eyes of the Reunion Movement, he can be considered dead.”

-

Thank you segment.

Thank you to "Ah Lianya" for the blade and to Fantasy Claw for the monthly pass, thank you.

Chapter 47. After I leave, remember to close the door for me.

Rhode Island Dining Hall.

The doctor had a honey cake on his left and another honey cake on his right.

The honey cake on the left belongs to Amiya, and the honey cake on the right belongs to Exusiai.

What does the PhD student eat?

He ate the Furong Healthy Set Meal in the middle, which is very green.

Lambert's body had been taken away by the medical department, and afterwards he wandered into the cafeteria alone in a daze.

He wasn't actually hungry; he just wanted to find a quiet place.

Kal'tsit is right.

I have been doing the wrong things all along.

The doctor rested his arms on the table, his fingers interlaced and resting on his forehead as he pondered deeply. His worried expression, hidden under his hood, was directed at the table, preventing anyone from peeking at him from either side.

"Um... Doctor, why aren't you eating?" Exusiai, chewing on a honey cake, tentatively poked the Doctor next to her with her finger. "If you don't want to eat, you don't have to force yourself. After all, it's something made by Hibiscus... right?"

“Miss Exusiai, I don’t think the Doctor’s reason is that…” Amiya, on the other side, seemed to understand the Doctor’s thoughts and said in a low voice.

However, considering that the Doctor was right between the two of them, lowering their voices wouldn't help.

But the doctor didn't pay attention to what the two people next to him were saying.

His inner faith is gradually crumbling, and now he can only hear his own voice.

Silence fell over the dinner table once more, with only the sound of the two girls chewing their food remaining.

"Susu-"

The fabric rubs against the table body.

While the two were eating in silence, the doctor suddenly stood up from his chair.

"Doctor?" Amiya and Exusiai looked up at the Doctor at the same time, asking in surprise.

"Don't worry about me." The doctor picked up the Hibiscus Health Set Meal from the table. "I'm just a little... mentally blocked. I'm going back to my room. You guys enjoy your meal."

"PhD!"

But Amiya called out to him.

“I don’t want to read your mind, but you’ve been looking so gloomy ever since you went to the fourth-floor ward. I’m worried that you might be overthinking something… I’m very worried about you.”

The little rabbit's voice grew softer and softer, because she really didn't want to offer the doctor these seemingly polite but ultimately meaningless words of concern.

Although that was indeed her true feeling.

"I'm fine, really." The Doctor gave an expected answer: "As the commander of Rhodes Island, I still know what I should and shouldn't do."

"You're not alright!" Amiya finally stood up and raised her voice. "I know you've never been good at regulating your own mental state. Because a person who shows infinite mercy to others will inevitably hurt themselves."

"I already said that."

The doctor turned around, looked at Amiya, and sighed.

"I'm fine now. If you don't believe me, you can read my mind. I just have work to do after I finish eating, so please hurry."

Why would Amiya be willing to pursue a doctorate?

On Rhodes Island, the thing she least wanted to read was the hearts of the Doctor and Kal'tsit.

So he could only watch as the doctor got further and further away from her, until he disappeared from her sight.

Before the doctor's figure completely disappeared, she only heard him leave behind one sentence.

That was said to Exusiai.

"Exusiai, remember to close the cafeteria door later."

-

"So, even monsters kill each other?"

The doctor shook his drowsy mind awake and refocused his eyes on the illusory figure before him.

He seemed to see the halo above the phantom's head and the wings behind it, but those only existed in an invisible dream; what was imprinted on his retina was merely wishful thinking.

“Yes,” Exia replied. “The unconscious monsters have no concept of friend or foe; all they see is food.”

"Are you staying here because it's relatively safe, or because you can't leave?" the doctor pressed.

"...both."

Exia sighed as she finished answering.

“You know what?” she said, “the same questions you just asked were the same ones you asked last time, word for word.”

Exactly the same word?

Listening to what Exia said, the Doctor realized that no matter how his memories changed, his core seemed to always follow the same logic of thinking.

In other words, although memories may be erased, habits will not change.

"Alright then, let me think if I can ask something different." After a moment's thought, the doctor said, "Could you tell me where the elevator is?"

“Of course.” Exia nodded. “The elevator is at the very back of this Polar Night Hall. Just walk straight along the path in the middle of the dining table and you’ll get there. Besides, you asked this question before, word for word.”

"So last time I also came to the thirteenth floor to find the elevator?" The doctor couldn't help but chuckle.

“Yes, and you were looking for the elevator to go to the shop on the sixth floor. By the way, the name ‘Midnight Hall’ was chosen by you when you came here last time because you thought it was too dark.” Exia looked at the Doctor expressionlessly, although the phantom itself was also expressionless.

"I see. And what happened after that? Did we meet again?" the doctor asked.

“No, that’s all.” Exia shook her head. “But if you consider this goodbye, that’s fine too.”

"Uh... are there any other strange things here besides you and that girl from earlier?" The doctor recalled the phantom that had apologized to him earlier.

“Yes, but not all the strange creatures living on this floor can communicate with you normally like I can, so it’s best not to meet them. It won’t do you any good,” Exia replied. “I’m afraid they won’t be able to control their emotions.”

"Does that mean you'll kill me?" The doctor frowned, unconsciously tightening his grip on the pickaxe.

This is not a sign of hostility, but simply a form of self-defense when danger is perceived.

“Probably not,” Exia sighed, “but it might be worse than killing you.”

"What do you mean? Can't you explain it clearly?" The doctor's expression darkened slightly, and a layer of doubt appeared on his cheeks.

“If I could explain it clearly, I would have said it already.” But Exia’s tone remained unchanged. “Rhodes Island is bound by all sorts of rules. If you want to understand these rules… try not to die, or even if you die, don’t trade your memories for them… That’s all I can say.”

"Is this some kind of hint?"

"You can interpret it however you like." Exia turned her back. "Since your purpose in coming here is still exploration, then I will not stop you, nor will I keep you to rest any longer. Please leave on your own."

As her voice faded, her figure vanished into the air like mist.

-

First of all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Then comes the usual thank-you segment.

Thank you Ahab Laura Stuart for the monthly pass, thank you.

Chapter 48, The Alzheimer's Disease Like a Tide

The Hall of Midnight truly lives up to its name; ever since the Doctor left the area where Exia was, it has been completely dark.

The doctor followed the path that Exia had indicated, without deviating from it.

Since she had already warned the doctor, it would be foolish to go and cross that line again.

Besides, his purpose in coming here was simply to access the store on the sixth floor.

But... is that really the case?

Does he really have absolutely no curiosity or desire to explore?

The doors on either side of the straight path emitted a deep, dark glow, as if enticing the doctor to open them.

They won't kill you, but things might get worse than that.

Exia said so.

Do you want to do this?

The voice within echoed.

What will happen if I do it, and what will happen if I don't?

When in dire straits, one must possess the necessary logical thinking skills.

If you do it, you may gain new knowledge or you may experience trauma. But if you don't do it, you will gain nothing and experience nothing.

The doctor decided to open it.