Chapter 76 Orbital Breakpoint (18)

Chapter 76: Orbital Breakpoint (Part Eighteen)

In the narrow stairwell.

Shi Wu lowered his head, looking at the child in his arms who had just opened his eyes.

The child's clear eyes reflected his own disheveled appearance, filled with utter confusion and fear.

"Don't be afraid, it's okay now."

Shi Wu quickly collected himself.

He carefully placed the child on his feet, then crouched, speaking in the gentlest tone he could muster to reassure him: "We... we rescued you. It's okay now."

Shi Wu tentatively reached out and gently took hold of the child's small hand.

The child flinched slightly but didn't pull his hand away, but his body continued to tremble faintly, like a frightened young animal.

Those large, round eyes were now fixed unblinkingly on the two strangers who had suddenly intruded into his world, his lips pressed tightly together.

Shi Wu looked at the child, sighed softly, then shook his head at Bao Yan. "Let's head down first. We can talk more after we regroup with the others."

"Alright." Bao Yan didn't object and took the lead, heading downwards.

Shi Wu, holding the child's cold little hand, followed closely behind.

"Honestly," Shi Wu's voice came through the comms device, "that Xiao earlier, didn't you think he lost it very suddenly?"

"Hmm." Bao Yan grunted in agreement. "His emotions spiraled too quickly, not matching the composure expected of a Security Chief."

"It was more than just not matching," Shi Wu scoffed, "it was almost like someone had hexed him."

"And that other person before, too, suddenly stepped forward demanding an oxygen tank, but was later cowed by Lin with just a look. And I always feel... the environment on this ship seems to be amplifying everyone's emotions."

As he spoke, his brow unconsciously furrowed.

He thought of his own earlier uncontrollable, intense urge to save people.

Bao Yan's footsteps paused slightly, his gaze turning dark and inscrutable.

"When I went to get the oxygen tanks earlier, I also checked the spot where Xiao fell," he said in a low voice. "The break in the guardrail was very sharp, with a large piece of his Survival Suit fabric still hanging on it. But strangely..."

"There was no blood on the fabric."

Shi Wu's heart sank like a stone. "No blood?"

"Not a single drop." Bao Yan's tone was grave. "Logically, that degree of tearing injury should have bled profusely. Unless... he's no longer a 'normal' person."

Not a normal person?

Could this instance be like the last one? Featuring a strange Old God like Cthulhu?

Shi Wu unconsciously tightened his grip on the child's hand. "And there's Lao Chen."

"Lao Chen?"

"Yes, Lao Chen." Shi Wu spoke with certainty. "We can't say for sure if he's 'normal' either, especially since he did have those 'bloodstains' on his side."

"But it's a sure thing that Lao Chen has problems. Keep a close eye on him later."

"Alright." Bao Yan gave a slight nod, not pressing for further explanation.

"Also, that safe in the captain's quarters, I always felt there was something odd about it. A safe with a purely mechanical lock, just to hold a copy of the 'Ross User Manual'?"

"Things probably aren't that simple..." Shi Wu changed tack.

"But I also searched carefully in Xiao's small room. That was the only related clue."

"A feint." Bao Yan thought for a moment, then offered his own judgment. "Or perhaps, the person who took the item wanted us to focus all our attention on Xiao, so we'd overlook the real objective."

The two of them analyzed as they walked, exchanging thoughts.

And the child, seemingly soothed by the calm conversation, no longer trembled as before.

Only his small body still pressed tightly against Shi Wu's side, his hand clutching Shi Wu's clothes desperately, as if Shi Wu were his only lifeline.

Finally, a soft white light appeared at the end of the stairs.

They had reached the second level.

This was a platform more spacious and brighter than the upper level, and it seemed to have suffered less damage than the upper level had.

Shi Wu breathed a sigh of relief. He crouched down to be at eye level with the child, forcing what he thought was a kind and friendly smile onto his face.

"Hey, little one, we've reached a safe place now. What's your name?"

The child stared blankly at him. Those beautiful eyes still held only terror and confusion, showing no reaction.

"Don't be afraid," Shi Wu softened his voice even more. "We're good people."

Bao Yan also walked over, observing the scene, and crouched down beside Shi Wu.

But the little boy still showed no reaction.

Shi Wu called out again: "Hey? Little one? Can you hear me?"

He reached out and gently patted the child's shoulder.

Immediately, Shi Wu saw the small body flinch violently as if electrocuted, instantly curling into a ball.

Huh?

Both Shi Wu and Bao Yan realized something was wrong at the same time.

What's the matter with this child?

Shi Wu tried to move a little closer, wanting the child to see clearly that they meant no harm.

The child looked at him, looked into those amber eyes trying hard to convey goodwill. His tense body seemed to relax a little, as if some tension had drained away.

But the next second, his eyes suddenly reddened. Large teardrops fell, one by one. He opened his mouth, struggling to say something to the two of them, but only a breathy "hah... hah..." sound came from his throat, no words.

Just then, Shi Wu's gaze noticed the spot concealed by the child's soft black hair and the edge of his helmet—right by the child's ear, there was a long-dried, dark red bloodstain.

Shi Wu was stunned.

This child, he's...

Bao Yan also saw the bloodstain. He stepped forward for a closer look. "There are signs of bleeding in the ear canal. It's likely temporary hearing loss caused by the shockwave from the explosion."

He looked at the child's mouth opening and closing without making a sound, frowned, and continued analyzing, "I observed his lip movements—they're normal, so he should be able to speak. Given the medical context of this simulation, it's unlikely to be a physiological condition. That leaves only..."

"Psychological trauma," Shi Wu took over his words, his voice slightly hoarse.

Gazing at this child, trembling like a startled bird, enduring immense fear alone in a silent world, Shi Wu was reminded of himself from many years ago—locked in a pitch-black storage room, crying and shouting with no one to answer.

Shi Wu extended his arms and gently, yet firmly, embraced the small, trembling body.

The child's tiny frame stiffened at first, but then, the long-suppressed sorrow seemed to finally find an outlet.

He stopped making meaningless gasping sounds, instead burying his face deeply into Shi Wu's chest, opening his mouth wide in a silent, wailing cry.

Shi Wu and Bao Yan quietly kept him company until the child's sobs gradually subsided and his quivering body slowly calmed.

Perhaps this hug had given him a tremendous sense of security, as the child finally stopped resisting.

He lifted his tear-streaked little face and looked at Shi Wu again, his eyes now holding a trace of dependence.

"Alright, we need to find a safe place for now," Shi Wu said softly. Knowing the child couldn't hear, it felt more like he was speaking to himself and Bao Yan.

The structure of the second level was completely different from the first, filled with tightly closed hatches marked with various complex symbols. They were wandering aimlessly, with no idea where the main team had gone or where the so-called "safe zone" might be.

"We're completely unfamiliar with this place. How long will it take to find anything?"

At that moment, the child seemed to understand their predicament.

He let go of Shi Wu's clothes and instead firmly grasped Shi Wu's hand.

His eyes, still red and swollen, looked at Shi Wu before he took small, determined steps toward a clear direction.

Was he leading the way?

"How does he know the way?" Shi Wu asked in surprise over the channel.

Bao Yan's eyes flickered. "Perhaps, because of Ross."

Right. Everyone on this ship deeply admired and trusted Ross, turning to him first in times of trouble.

This child was likely no different.

Shi Wu understood instantly.

He crouched down, faced the child, and slowly, very clearly, formed a word with his lips—

"Ro—ss?"

Seeing this, the child's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded vigorously!

Then, pulling Shi Wu's hand, he walked even faster.

It seemed this child indeed knew the way to Ross's main control room.

Shi Wu and Bao Yan exchanged a glance and followed the child, who wasn't even half their height, through several complex branching paths.

They finally stopped before a massive, circular door made of pure white alloy.

Above the door, a soft blue indicator light was blinking rhythmically.

This should be the core area of the second level.

Bao Yan stepped forward and operated the control panel beside the door a few times.

The door slid open.

Inside was a space even larger and more technologically advanced than the cafeteria.

In the center of the room, a huge blue orb of light floated silently.

"Welcome back, survivors," Ross's gentle electronic voice echoed in the vast hall, carrying a hint of barely perceptible admiration.

"It appears you chose a route with an extremely low survival rate and successfully rescued this life signal. According to my database, the probability of success for such an action is remarkably low. Truly incredible."

The previously tense child relaxed instantly upon seeing the blue orb.

Then, he toddled over on his short legs, stumbling toward the base of the orb, reaching out a small hand as if wanting to touch the seemingly gentle light.

"Hello, friend. Long time no see," Ross's tone was affectionate.

The child looked up with a silly grin.

"Ross," Shi Wu cut straight to the point, interrupting the "reunion" between the child and Ross.

"Help us find the others."

"Of course. Initiating search for you now."

As soon as the words fell, the two giant screens on either side of the hall lit up almost simultaneously.

After a brief wait, two distinctly different real-time feeds clearly appeared on them.

The left screen showed the scene with Lao Chen, Qi Lan, and their group.

The right screen displayed an empty surveillance room.

"Now, please make your choice."