Starting from Zero

Book 3, Chapter 22

Investigation

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I don't really like these options but I accepted anyway, for I don't have much choices now. However I specifically turned down that "hero show" plan. Getting admired by Rose is a good thing alright, but I don't feel like achieving that one by cheating her.

Aunt Cloudia assembled a whole group of people the next morning, who will be looking into Rose's identity. We first collected all data of female college students in New Nanjing City. The job is simple but tiring. The group entered all the information into a computer and started filtering them out according to their photos. I said Rose is astonishingly beautiful. But Cloudia said something about "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and asked to pick out any girl that "looks okay".

It took almost a day. Now I'm looking at the pile of files in front of me.

"What are these?"

"These are files of all female undergraduates recorded in New Nanjing City, who have outstanding appearance."

"Hold on a minute." I checked over several papers. "This is too many! You've done the filtering work haven't you?"

Aunt Cloudia explained: "There are more than fifty universities of various types in this city, and several best known ones across the world. 16 of them are super large entities with over 100 thousand students in each of them. The total number of undergraduates is above 4 million if we count all colleges in, and above 2 million after we removed all males. Yep, there are more female collegers than males these years.

We don't know her name so we could only try to search for anyone with a good look. We tried to find people with those two names as well. Now the files on your left are the people who go by the two specified names, including those with similar pronunciations, 2373 people in total. On your right are all students with other names whose looks are above average. About 400 thousand of them."

"That's still...a lot."

"That's the best we can do. We already excluded those we can confirm as non-match. You'd probably just give up if you see the original files."

"Alright then. Give me some time to go over them."

I reached for the 2373 files cause they're obviously easier to deal with. But I instantly noticed something wrong. Is this...a foreign girl?

"Hey auntie? You guys even considered someone with blond hair and blue eyes?"

"Oh. I...forgot to tell them to look for Asians only. I'll go ask them do it again."

"No nevermind. I don't feel like waiting anymore, will just get to it."

The profiles are pretty simple, as one sheet of paper is enough to cover everything about someone. But... 2373 of them still look like a freaking medical dictionary printed in large size. My eyes are crossed when I've read the 1700th file.

"Auntie! Help!!" I slumped on the sofa and rubbed my temples. "Ow my eyes...and my head!"

"Well I can't do anything about that. You're the only one who knows her face right?" She stuffed more papers into my arms. "Do it. You mother is itching to see what her daughter-in-law looks like and she asked you to work faster."

"My mother got too much free time." I complained while going through more files.

"I GET IT! Aunt! Bingo!" I picked out my target. "Haha! Finally."

"Lemme see it!" Cloudia rushed over and snatched it from me. "Charon. Female. Birth date 11/11/2045. Wait, you two have the same birthday? Even the same year? Aren't you a genius girlfriend hunter."

"She never told me that. This is pure coincidence."

"She's studying at...Neo-Dragon Academy, which is a subordinate organization of Dragon Fate...isn't that the same college you're attending? You never met her in there?"

I took the file and read it. "I study advanced AI technology in sector 6. While she is in advanced enterprise management department in sector 9. That's pretty far for us to just run into each other. Hey auntie, I'm going to her dorm now. Come with me would you?"

"That's your girl. Why would you need me?"

I scratched my head. "Well I can't just walk into the lady's living area! I'll need your help for that."

"It's no use. The school got nothing to do with Zhong Hua Company, I don't have privileges there. Ask your father."

This is embarrassing. But I need to find Rose.

I made a call. "Hey dad!"

"You found her?" He pushed his face against the screen again. "How was it? Have you talked to each other?"

"I just found her file. We're in the same college! Now I'm going to her place."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"They won't let me go into girl's dorm right?" I can feel my face burning. "Can you find someone and get me through the guards?"

"Which sector does she live in?"

"Nine. Why?"

"That's should be simple. You go to the gate of that sector and wait. I'll send someone. And try your best, son!"

What's he planning?

Sigh.

"I'm on my way, auntie!"

"Alright, I'll leave it to you, be careful with your driving!"

I left the building and raced all the way to the gate of sector 9. The sectors are all connected with each other but each one got their own exits. It's the most lively hour. I can see a great number of student pairs going in and out. I can also see something which is most disharmonious with the environment--a black old-school minivan-shaped maglev car, parked near the plaza outside the gate. The reflective color and the texture of the hull made it clear that it's military-grade vehicle. A good one.

I pulled my car beside the armored vehicle. The dragon symbol on the door is enough to tell me who they are. Two people got out of the car as I left mine, a male and a female.

The male is...big, strong, with lot of muscles and looks badass, which means completely opposite from me. The female has really impressive looks too. I'd say she'd have a place in any beauty contests.

"Master Sairin?" She asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "My father sent you?"

"That's right." She reached out her hand in a casual manner and shook mine. "Call me Butterfly. He is Big K. I already noticed you when I saw your car. I was just wondering why master Sairin turned into lady Sairin."

I forced a smile. "Let's take my car."

I drove us towards the gate. When we're near, the guards obviously turned to us. As expected, seven or eight of them stopped us in front of the gate.

"Excuse--"

Big K covered his entire face with just one hand before the guard can say anything else. Then he swiped a card on a device on the gate.

Beep!

"Dragon Fate Corporation, security clearance level S, identity: confidential. Thanks for your visit and we're looking forward to serving you again."

The gate split sideways and gave us enough space to get our car through.

Big K released the guard so we can head towards women's dormitory. Butterfly complained: "Can't you talk to them like everyone else? Don't just go push or grab people. You've made enough enemies!"

Big K just smirk.

"Say something!" Butterfly seems irritated.

"I--"

"Yes! Go on! Speak!"

Is she...encouraging him?

I observed the strange pair from the rear mirror without understanding what they're doing. But there's one thing I'm sure: Big K can't speak, or at least can't do it like ordinary people.

We reached the dormitory area soon. An electrical rail school bus blocked us. They deployed there things because they are safe and don't need drivers, plus the campus is just too big. We can only walk from here because of the student crowds.

Sector 9 belongs to the art and commercial departments. 20 buildings out of 27 are women's dormitories.

I see what my father meant by "simple"--there are no guards at the dorm gates. Instead, four adorable robot dogs are sitting there like statues. They look like pet dogs, but I know their bodies are made from advanced synthetic materials under those artificial fur. I don't think any living creatures out there can take on one of these things. Well, dinosaurs maybe.

The dog is actually a newly developed product--the Home Guardian 3K. Its computerized brain can register the appearance details and smells of all individuals inside their responsible perimeter. They will alarm any strangers to go away, or commence attacks (to a certain extent, based on how strong the target is) if anyone chooses to ignore the alarm.

To tell the truth I'm pretty terrified of these things. I spectated one of the experiments regarding the attacking capabilities of Home Guardian 2K. The subject tore a whole car into tiny metal pieces.

We stood at the yellow line outside the gate. The dogs stared at us without moving. Big K stepped over the yellow line, upon which all the dogs stood up in a unified formation and bared their teeth. Ouch, that look like military knives.

Big K took out his card again. One of the dogs walked over, and...something came out of its mouth. Is that a card reader?

With the identification part done, the dogs went back to their positions and started acting as statues again.

"Big K, stay here and wait for us."

We know he will be scaring the hell out of everyone if he goes in there.

He didn't say anything (again), just nodded and went over to those dogs to...play with them?

I stared at the strange scene of one really big guy playing happily with several robotic guard dogs. Butterfly noticed my curiosity and explained: "Big K is half-werewolf. Canine relationship I guess. He grew up in the labs so he doesn't know how to speak well. Now you've seen it."

I nodded in understanding and headed for the dormitory building. According to the files, Rose lives on...9th floor of the 11th building. It took us some time to find it. And the antique look of it kinda told me Rose isn't living a rich life. It's a building specially meant for poor students. Only those in real poverty will choose to live in a room with 11 other roommates. Ordinary people live in quad dorms, and rich ones duo rooms. There are no single rooms. To prevent isolation, as the school explained.

We climbed onto the 9th floor by the stairs. We both got superior physical builds but our breaths still became heavier. We tried at the elevator button for a while before, when a passing-by girl told us: "Give up. It's broken for years."

There are actually buildings without elevators at such an age huh.

At least my appearance became an advantage this time. Girls walked by without properly dressed while no one paid any attention to me. This would be a total different scene if they know I'm a guy.

We reached Rose's room. Crap! It facing the toilet. They're even using public restrooms here?

I tidied my clothes a bit and pressed the doorbell.

1 minuted passed, nothing.

Butterfly leaned on the wall lazily and knocked at the door. "Elevator is not working, do you expect the doorbell would?"

Aw foolish me.

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