Chapter 251. Wailing Graffiti
With his newly gathered information, Charles felt his heart steadied considerably. No matter how formidable the relic, it was still a non-living thing. Also, it seemed to be bound by certain limitations.
Whenever it replaced a door, a faint red light would shimmer overhead. As long as he kept this in mind, his adversary wouldn't be able to easily trick him into opening any unintended doors.
But a new problem soon presented itself to Charles. How was he supposed to find Door 7 with Door 3's interference?
Charles ran a hand over the door in front of it. It was Door 15. Clearly, relying on numerical order was futile. The doors here were not arranged in any discernible pattern.
Charles strolled up and down the dusty metallic corridor as he pondered on his next step. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He began to pry at Door 15 with his dagger.
"Captain, this is Door 15, not Door 7," Feuerbach remarked from the side.
"I know!" Charles snapped back.
Despite being as sturdy as it was, the door soon gave way under Charles's persistent efforts with both his revolver and dagger.
He stepped inside to find no tangible objects in the room. The only thing he saw were walls gleaming with a metallic sheen and an abstract, horrifying graffiti portrait.
The figure was drawn in a grotesquely twisted pose, with its limbs knotted like braids. All its organs, except for the mouth, were sewn shut with needles and thread. Its mouth was agape, in apparent agony.
The sudden encounter with such an image under the oppressive dark environment was unsettling. Feuerbach instinctively took a step back.
Staring at the graffiti, Charles pondered for a brief moment before speaking to it as if it were a person.
"Do you know Tobba? The one you played Texas Hold'em with."
The graffiti remained silent to Charles' question. It didn't climb out of the wall nor make a single sound, as though it were just any other ordinary painting.
Charles let out a sigh as he mentally berated himself for trusting the words of the eccentric Tobba.
Just as he turned around and decided to think of another strategy, his gaze landed on something that had abruptly appeared on the corridor wall, sending a jolt through his heart.
The graffiti that had just been inside the room moments before had instantly teleported onto the corridor wall, its sewn-shut eyes seemingly staring blankly at him.
The oppressive atmosphere weighed down heavier on the dimly lit corridor. After all, everything contained by the Foundation was far from benign.
"Is Tobba your friend? He spoke about you before. Are you 372?" Charles asked again.
The portrait remained unresponsive. Charles slowly backed away toward the direction of the water.
Yet, as soon as the graffiti was engulfed in darkness, it suddenly emerged once again on a wall next to Charles.
Is this thing following me? Charles thought to himself. It didn't attack me. Maybe I should keep trying to communicate.
Charles placed both his hands on the wall and stared at the sewn-up eyes of the graffiti with an intense gaze.
"If you help me to find Door 7, I'll make sure Tobba waives off the debt you owe him," Charles articulated each syllable clearly.
Despite what he just said, the graffiti showed no signs of movement or response.
Perhaps this painting can only move when it's out of human sight? A speculation formed in Charles' mind.
Meanwhile, Feuerbach was growing increasingly uneasy as he watched his captain inexplicably communicating with the wall painting.
"Erm, Captain, that thing seems dangerous. Are you sure it even understands what you're saying?"
"It doesn't matter. Door 3 is already lurking in the shadows and watching us. What harm could one more do? Let's go; let's move out of its sight and see if it leads us to Door 7."
With that, Charles disregarded the graffiti on the wall and ventured deeper into the darkness.
Passing by metal door after metal door on his rights, Charles felt that this place was different from Laboratory 3. The relics in Laboratory 3 were mostly controllable and as long as one knew their patterns, they would be able to utilize those relics.
However, the entities here were different. There were no experimental logs or instructions. Even the level of security was unparalleled.
Whether it was Door 3 or the graffiti, they could surely cause immense trouble if set free.
Charles theorized that the Foundation had probably placed these entities in the deepest level to isolate them completely from the human world.
He continued forward and soon reached the end of the corridor where water was dripping from the ceiling. It was evident that the sealed space wouldn't last much longer.
Pivoting on his feet, he retraced his steps along the sloping corridor. As he approached the ninth door, he noticed the graffiti atop one of the doors.
Is 319 behind this door? Charles thought that his eyes landed on the large number 12 on the door. He hesitated for just mere seconds before he set to work prying it open.
Having gained experience just earlier, Charles easily pried the door open. But unexpectedly, instead of 319 which was a printer according to Tobba, there was a pedestal behind Door 12 with a lone marker pen lying on it.
What does this thing want? Does it want me to let out everything in this place?
A trace of annoyance flickered across Charles' visage as he closed the door and turned to face the terrifying 372 on the room's wall.
"Is this amusing to you?"
A soft thud echoed from within the room. Charles' gaze shifted to find the marker pen on the floor.
He cast a glance at 372 on the wall and pondered for a moment before walking over to pick up the pen.
The moment Charles grasped the pen, a tremendous force yanked him toward the metall wall. As if possessed, his hand began to move on its own and quickly wrote on the wall.
Very soon, a few lines of the seascape's language appeared on the wall.
Conditions: 1. Find a container; 2. Attach the Wailing Graffiti; 3. Take the Wailing Graffiti above water.
Reward: Guide the Captain to the Soul Printer.
[Agree? Disagree?]
"Ah, so 372 wants to communicate with me through this pen and wants me to bring it out of here," Charles muttered to himself as he read the text on the wall.
The conditions seemed reasonable, or in fact in Charles' favor, in exchange for the location of 319.
"I agree," Charles voiced his decision. As soon as his words fell, the pen in his hand moved on its own to swiftly draw a circle around the word "Agree".
Swish!
The text on the wall erupted into flames and in that instant, Charles felt a weight settle upon him as if he had shouldered something on himself.
The marker pen started scribbling once more on the wall.
Exit the door, turn left, walk 15 meters ahead. Soul Printer will be on the left.
"Found it!" Excitement painted Charles' face as he dashed out of the room and followed the wall's direction in search of the so-called Door 7.
Exit... turn left... walk 15 meters... On the left.
Charles turned to his left and stared at the plain wall before him. A mix of astonishment and realization flickered across his countenance.
The so-called Door 7 was a hidden door all along. No wonder he couldn't find it no matter how hard he looked.
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