The Decaying Dream of America: I Assemble Corpses and Confront Madness

The call from an unknown number broke the deathly silence that Lin Zheng had been in, a silence filled with the mixture of formaldehyde and the stench of corpses.

The phone vibrated in his damp palm, displaying a string of unfamiliar numbers on the screen, but prefixed with Miskatonic University.

Emerald Dream City, Miskatonic University, his school.

He hesitated for a moment, then swiped his finger across the screen to answer the call.

"Feed?"

His voice was still hoarse, a stark contrast to the clear, polite female voice on the other end of the phone.

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Lin Zheng? This is the Graduate School of Miskatonic University. Lawrence Koya is here to assist you."

Lawrence Koya was a name Lin Zheng had never heard before.

The woman's voice on the other end of the phone sounded meticulous, yet it also revealed a deliberate caution.

"Professor Alistair Finch would like to invite you to participate in a project. Are you available to speak with him now?"

Lin Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

He had seen Professor Finch in Josh Vick's lingering dream a few days ago, and had planned to find an opportunity to gather information after he finished his current tasks.

Unexpectedly, the other party came to him first. Did they really want to invite him to participate in the project, or did they discover something and come to test him?

Lin Zheng took a deep breath. He was no longer a complete novice who knew nothing. He decided to listen to what the other party had to say first.

"Can."

He replied directly.

After a slight static sound, a different voice came from the other end of the phone.

It was a deep and magnetic male voice, with an irresistible charm; even through the telephone line, one could feel the profound depth behind it.

"Lin, good evening. Do you remember me? I once invited you to work under my wing as a researcher."

Professor Alistair Finch said.

"I'm very sorry to bother you so directly, but your talent has truly impressed me."

His tone carried a hint of apology, yet it was filled with undeniable authority.

"I think my secretary has already explained to you why I made this call."

Lin Zheng subconsciously gripped his phone tighter, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

The smell of cheap coffee and instant noodles in the room clashed sharply with the "invitation" coming from the phone.

"I know you come from that beautiful country, but the current president's policies are making things difficult for international students like you."

Professor Finch paused for a moment, and Lin Zheng could hear the rhythmic tapping of fingertips on the table on the other end of the phone.

"But it is precisely this 'resilience' of yours that impressed me."

"Resilience." Lin Zheng pondered this word in his mind.

"We are conducting an in-depth research project on the 'emotional-rational dynamics in urban environments'."

The professor's voice was persuasive, full of scholarly confidence and charisma.

"This is a revolutionary study designed to bring about transformative changes in the mental health of urban residents."

He slowly unfolded a hopeful picture in a tone that was almost like describing a grand blueprint.

"We very much hope that you can join our team. With your unique perspective and experience, we believe we can achieve unprecedented breakthroughs."

Every word Professor Finch utters is a fusion of grand narratives and personal destiny, all packaged into magnificent containers—

They hoped to trap him in a vat.

"Of course, we will offer you a much more generous compensation than you currently receive."

Alistair Finch seemed to know Lin Zheng's current predicament and offered the most tempting condition, a sweet bait.

"In addition, after the program, you will have the opportunity to pursue further academic studies at Miskatonic University."

"Further academic studies."

The word echoed in his mind after a long time, coming from a distant past that he had long forgotten.

That was what his parents had hoped for him.

It was also part of the "American Dream" that he had tried to achieve but failed to realize.

A tremendous temptation had taken hold of his heart.

Escape this hellish assembly job, get rid of the disgusting corpses and the endless cycle of death, and return to a normal life.

Even to gain a higher social status and become a respected scholar.

He can return to normal human society.

Not this land of death and decay.

So, should we ignore those man-made "abnormalities" and stand on the side of normality?

Lin Zheng questioned himself.

He had never had the opportunity to do this before. When people have no way out, they will choose to be firm, but when they have a choice, they will become compromised and weak.

Lin Zheng, so many people in this country are eating each other, so many people are sinking into depravity, you can't save them and you can't save them all!

There's a bright future ahead of you. If you achieve a scientific research result, you can live a good life whether you stay in the United States or return to your homeland.

What about Arthur and Evelyn?

This is America for Americans, and even if America opposes America, it's up to them to do it themselves.

He was almost convinced, but Evelyn's words, "You have a heart of gold, kind and warm," echoed in his ears.

He killed to seek justice because he couldn't stand what he saw, but now he wants to gain wealth and fame by making himself "accustomed" to what he sees.

He wasn't betraying Arthur, Evelyn, or those Americans; he was betraying himself.

In this capitalist country where everything is seen as a commodity that can be traded, his thinking seems to be quietly changing.

A chill ran down his spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

So now, calm down, think, and think it over carefully.

What is so special about him, a student with poor research skills and a "Gundam" assembler, that makes Professor Finch so fond of him?

"I will seriously consider it, Professor Finch."

He tried his best to control his voice, making it sound as calm as possible, before slowly uttering those words over the phone.

"Thank you very much for your invitation."

"I look forward to your reply, Lin. I hope we will have the opportunity to work together to accomplish something great."

The professor's gentle voice rang out one last time, and then the call was disconnected.

The phone in Lin Zheng's hand was burning hot. That invitation was a ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel, and also a lure thrown out by the abyss.

Outside the window, the leaden gray sky finally revealed a sliver of light.

He slowly picked up the old, yellowed mug, took a sip of the now-cold coffee, and the bitter liquid flowed down his throat.

He gently placed the phone on the table, but his eyes never left it.

On the screen, the string of numbers seemed to possess a magical power, wriggling and twisting.

This invitation is far more complex than it appears on the surface.

He needs help.

He thought of Arthur Morgan's weathered face and Evelyn Reed's calm yet insightful eyes.

No one understands the rot beneath the city's surface better than they do.

Night fell completely, enveloping the simple room in silence.

He took out his phone, swiped through his contacts, and finally stopped at Arthur Morgan's name.

The screen flickered, the video call connected, and Arthur's wrinkled face appeared on the screen.

He gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, making a crisp sound as the ice cubes collided.

"Kid, what's with the phone call so late? What's going on?"

Arthur's voice was hoarse from a hangover, accompanied by a heavy groan.

"What secret love could Evelyn and I possibly have?" Lin Zheng chuckled.

But then, Evelyn Reed's face appeared in the corner of the screen.

She wore black-rimmed glasses, had short, neat brown hair, and looked focused yet slightly melancholic as she gently pushed up her glasses with her fingertips.

"Lin Zheng, is it because you miss me? Or is there some new development in the Josh Vick case?"

Her gentle voice and intellectual face made Lin Zheng's heart skip a beat.

Lin Zheng shook his head and then told them in detail about the invitation he had just received from Miskatonic University and the conditions offered by Professor Alistair Finch.

He particularly emphasized the professor's mention of his "resilience" and "unique perspective," as well as the unusually generous treatment he received.

"I think this could be an opportunity to infiltrate and investigate Professor Finch."

Lin Zheng stared at the changing expressions of the two people on the screen and spoke slowly.

"I saw Professor Finch in the Josh Vick case, but the clues were insufficient."

Arthur's hand holding the wine glass froze in mid-air, his eyes narrowing into slits in the flickering light of the screen.

"Alistair Finch, that name... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before..."

He tried hard to search the forgotten corners of his old memories, but he could never find that memory.

"Lin Zheng, this water is probably very deep."

His gaze pierced through the screen, carrying an inexplicable depth and heaviness.

Evelyn frowned, her fingertips tracing circles in the air.

"Emotion-Rationality Dynamics"

She repeated the word.

"This theory sounds very profound, and based on Josh Vick's death, it may be related to mind control."

There was a hint of worry in her voice.

"Miskatonic University has always been a breeding ground for forbidden knowledge, and Professor Finch, who is in charge of such a project, is no saint."

Arthur let out a heavy sigh, the ice cubes clicking in the glass, their sound mingling with the light rain outside the window, creating a distinct symphony.

"Listen up, kid." He said sternly.

"There may be a deeper, more ancient shadow hidden behind Professor Finch."

"Once you get involved, some unimaginable things might happen."

Even so, are you still going?