LRAB Chapter 80: 80 Concealment
Chapter 80: 80 Concealment
Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Concealment
When he saw the Genius Club’s emblem covering the entire moon...that dark hand seemed not to point upwards, but appeared to mockingly point at himself.
Just moments ago, Lin Xian believed that in this future world, the Genius Club no longer existed and might have even been extirpated by the rapidly advancing technology.
But look at the outcome...
Not only had they not vanished or disbanded, but they had also become even more brazen, plastering their logo across the moon.
“What is that thing?” Lin Xian asked, pointing at the moon.
“The moon, of course!”
...
“I mean, that black shadow on the moon, is that a projection? Or is there really such a huge building on the moon, spanning from the North to the South Pole?”
“I’m not sure about that.”
Big Face Cat shook his head:
“The moon has looked like this for centuries, it has been like this since I was small, and I’ve never found it strange.”
“Actually, you’re lucky today. The moon is clearest on the fifteenth and sixteenth, when you can see the pattern crystal clear. When the moon is not full on other days... it’s not so clear. And sometimes, the angle makes it look just like a middle finger.”
“That’s not the issue, Brother Lian.”
Lin Xian looked up again at the eerie and terrifying moon:
“The problem is, even if the moon has been like this since your birth, since centuries ago, it’s clearly man-made; go back thousands or tens of thousands of years, and the moon definitely did not look like this.”
“Isn’t that stating the obvious! How could I not know that!”
Big Face Cat rubbed his arms and took the cigarette trapped behind his ear, placing it in his mouth to light it with a match:
“Obviously, the black pattern on the moon is man-made, but exactly who did it and which country did it, nobody can say for sure.”
“There are many rumors. Some say a certain country built such a huge black structure on the moon as a show of power, so it looks like an outstretched right forefinger.”
“But there are also rumors that it was the work of some wealthy artist using some material that absorbs light or some other reflective material to lay out the pattern on the lunar surface... with the purpose of showing it to the people on Earth.”
“Some people claim aliens did it... but hahaha, only kids would believe that! Do aliens also have a right hand like this? Do aliens also have five fingers? I don’t buy it.”
...
Lin Xian let Big Face Cat’s rhetoric go in one ear and out the other.
Because he knew very well.
The truth was also quite apparent.
The sinister black shadow on the moon was most likely the doing of the Genius Club.
Mysterious and arrogant.
It matched Lin Xian’s impression of this enigmatic organization.
But such a massive moon-landing and construction project couldn’t have happened without a record in history:
“Brother Lian, isn’t there a record about it in the history books?”
“History books?”
Big Face Cat sneered disdainfully:
“We people don’t even have the right to know about history...”
He pointed towards New Donghai City, glittering with lights, miles away—
“History and knowledge, they are all in their hands. If you want to see a real history book, you would have to enter New Donghai City. There they have bookstores and all kinds of high-tech gadgets.”
“So, little brother...”
Big Face Cat exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes complex as he looked at Lin Xian:
He looked up at Lin Xian:
“I could tell at a glance that you’re not a bad guy, I trust my judgment.”
“So, does that mean today—”
“But not today.” Big Face Cat’s eyes were firm as he raised his glass to clink with Lin Xian’s:
“I wanted to take you with me, but it’s not something I can decide on my own.”
“So... just listen to me and go to bed early today. Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet the boss and introduce you to him.”
“Rest assured, Brother Lian has a lot of clout. With me vouching for you, the boss will definitely let you join.”
“But before that, stop asking so many questions. Every line of work has its rules, I can see you’re talented, but even talented people can’t be exceptions.”
...
Since Big Face Cat made it so clear, Lin Xian did not press any further.
He never expected that in the last dream, he kept brushing off Big Face Cat with “tomorrow”... How the tables turn, now Big Face Cat gave “tomorrow” back to him.
But Lin Xian was not in a rush.
As long as there were no major temporal fluxes, the dream could last as long as he wanted; there was plenty of time to explore these matters. For now, all he needed to do was gather information.
Lin Xian picked up his glass:
“There’s another big brother above you?”
“Not a big brother, but a boss, we work for him.”
Click.
After their glasses clinked, they both downed their drinks.
Big Face Cat showed Lin Xian around the house, including the layout and the location of the bathroom. After watching him wash up, he pushed him into the tidy bedroom.
“Have a good sleep tonight, and don’t wander outside, ha, the neighborhood’s not safe.”
Big Face Cat cautioned.
“Got it, Brother Lian.” Lin Xian replied:
“Don’t worry.”
I’m definitely going out!
You’ve hinted as much... If I don’t go out and take a look, it would be a true disservice to my curiosity.
Besides, I’m already dreaming; there’s no reason to keep sleeping in a dream.
He had tried before and found it impossible to sleep within a dream.
“Goodnight, Brother Lian.”
“Goodnight, little bro.”
...
Lying on the stone bed, Lin Xian lay with his eyes open, listening to every move in the room.
Sister-in-law Lian seemed to be chopping radishes in the kitchen, probably to pickle for tomorrow’s breakfast.
The eldest daughter and young son also fell asleep amidst their giggles and fuss.
There was completely no sound from Big Face Cat, he must have long been gone.
Finally...
When the house was completely quiet and the sister-in-law had also fallen asleep...
Lin Xian got up.
He pushed open the door—