Rhodes Island does not exist.

"So, do you want to verify whether what I said is true or false?" the doctor asked.

"Confirm? How do you plan to confirm it?"

“The camera footage.” The doctor smiled. “Remember when I asked the interlocking circuit for permission to view past recordings before I left? Now’s the time.”

Chapter 232 Two Hundred and Thirty, Second Residence

When the Doctor and Skadi turned their attention back to the closed loop and the Reaper, the Reaper's body had already vanished.

Where the harvesters should have been, only a few drones hovered.

"Oh dear, you've finally finished chatting! We missed a really exciting scene, and we might never see it again. What a pity!"

As for the interlocking circuit, it reverted to its usual manic state, with its expressions and tone completely unpredictable.

"Is the Reaper dead?" Even though it was almost certain, the Doctor still asked.

“Yes.” Locked Circuit gestured, summoning all the drones back to its side, then snapped its fingers. “From now on, I won’t be bothered by her anymore, and I can hold my tea parties with my friends without worry… Just imagining it makes me happy, it’s really great.”

"So what are your plans next? Are you going straight back?" The doctor glanced at the spot where the Reaper had died. It was now completely empty, not even a speck of dust remained, only the traces of the drone's weapon bombardment.

"Yes," the locked circuit nodded. "Didn't you say you'd help me look through the old recordings? Let's go back and watch them now!"

“Perfect timing, I was just talking about this with Skadi.” The Doctor nodded. “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

"It's nothing, nothing at all. I'm too lazy to look at it myself anyway, so it would be great if someone could help me." The closed circuit seemed quite happy. "And you even helped me get rid of that bastard Reaper. I'm so grateful to you—no, I don't have time! We have plenty of time now, and I must thank you properly! I must thank you very much!"

"No need for such heartfelt thanks..." the doctor said with a wry smile. "Being able to watch the old recordings is enough as a token of my gratitude. As for anything else..."

"No way!" However, the closed circuit insisted, "Watching the video is also a labor for you, how can it be a thank you gift? We must have a tea party, otherwise how can I, as the host of the sixth floor, show my generosity! It was already disrespectful of me not to entertain you as guests because I was afraid of external enemies, and now you want to be stingy, I won't allow it!"

"Well... if you really feel bad about it, could you grant us a few requests? Or answer a few questions for us?" Looking at the enthusiastic closed loop, the doctor thought for a moment and asked.

"What requests and questions do you have? Just say them. You are now of a higher status than my friends, and I will do my best to answer and satisfy you!" The closed circuit's current behavior is less like fulfilling its duties as a host and more like playing a role-playing game.

Although she does possess such an ability.

The doctor did indeed have many questions about the interlocking circuit.

For example, the light emitted when the locked circuit was attacked by the Reapers, and the woman who appeared from the light, both caught the Doctor's attention.

Yes, he had indeed heard stories from the locked circuit about how the necklace had protected her life, but he had never heard anything about a Feline woman emerging from the necklace.

Who is that woman with the film? How does she know about my affairs? And why do I feel so familiar with her? And that necklace, why do I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?

He might find the answers to these questions from the interlocking circuit, or he might not.

But the question still needs to be asked.

If you don't ask, you lose the possibility of knowing any answer.

So, the doctor looked at the locked circuit and slowly opened his mouth.

"Regarding the necklace that replaced your heart, the Reaper originally intended to kill you completely by destroying it, but just before her blade touched your heart, it suddenly emitted a bright light... I want to ask, what is its origin? And why did it replace your heart?"

The doctor deliberately avoided discussing the important matters, leaving only those that could be described in words.

After all, it's best to say as little as possible about the matter concerning the woman in the film.

However, the answer to the locked circuit was unexpected.

No, it was more expected than unexpected.

"What do you mean by replacing my heart? That necklace was my heart from the very beginning."

Her wide mouth stretched to the sides, revealing her innocent and naive nature.

Since she wasn't thinking at all, whatever she said was simply a result of naivety.

But the doctor is still trying to guide her.

"So, why is it in that place? Do you know anything about it?"

"Intelligence? Intelligence is my heart; it protects me," the locked circuit said. "What else is there?"

At this moment, the doctor desperately wished that he was talking to another personality with a closed loop.

He even began to regret why he had tried to reason with the main personality in the closed loop.

Since that's the case, it's probably best to tell everyone about that woman.

"Well... do you know a woman named Felin?" the Doctor asked, looking at the locked circuit. "She has light green, shoulder-length hair, a cold expression, and speaks like Skadi."

"Huh? Who are you talking about? What are you talking about? One of my friends?" But the closed-loop's expression looked like a student who had been called on by the teacher to answer a question while sleeping in class. "I don't know any friends like that, and I don't have any Feilin among my friends... By the way, what is Feilin?"

The PhD student regretted it.

He really shouldn't have engaged in verbal communication with this personality, and especially shouldn't have asked questions when he knew there would be no positive response.

This is a complete waste of time.

It seems we can only ask her when her other personality comes out.

Given this, perhaps it's more appropriate to make substantive demands now than to ask questions.

"Never mind if you don't know," the doctor changed the subject. "Besides, you said you could agree to our request, so can I make it up to you now?"

"Of course, why not?" For a closed loop that says whatever it sees, the previous topic will be forgotten as soon as it's turned around.

"Alright, I'd like to find a suitable place to stay on the sixth floor as a base. I wonder if you can agree to this request?" The Doctor looked at the locked circuit and spoke slowly.

"What did you say?" Skadi's reaction to this question was even faster than the locking circuit itself.

-

Thank you segment.

Thank you carmensptzersega桑填白绪空祼筿蟊 for the razor blade and monthly pass, thank you.

Chapter 233, Part 231: The Price of the Transaction

The doctor's request was not unreasonable, and it sounded quite ordinary on the sixth floor, which was full of empty rooms.

The problem is, this is Rhodes Island, and he is the Doctor.

He has a place he should go back to.

So when Skadi heard this, her reaction was even stronger than the Doctor's.

"Wait a minute." She stood between the Doctor and the locked circuit, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "What do you mean you want to find a suitable place to stay as a base on the sixth floor?"

“Literal meaning.” The Doctor looked at Skadi. “I’m not going back to the fourth floor.”

"You're not going back, but why?" Skadi couldn't understand the meaning behind the doctor's words. "Even if you don't want to go back, your death will force you back to your original room, won't it? Isn't your life connected to her?"

“Indeed,” the doctor nodded. “So, as long as death is avoided, that’s all that matters.”

“No, you don’t understand what I mean.” Skadi shook her head. “Do you know what your actions mean?”

"I know."

The doctor nodded, his gaze upon Skadi as calm as ever.

"It means giving up the aid from her, losing the privilege of being resurrected, and betraying Rhodes Island."

"Since you know that, then why did you..."

"Because this kind of favor is flawed," the doctor began. "The privilege you mentioned earlier, you probably don't possess, do you?"

“Probably,” Skadi replied. “Although I haven’t died yet, I don’t think I can be resurrected by paying a price like you have.”

“That’s right, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Resurrection comes at a price, and resurrection at a price… can’t be considered a privilege.” The doctor’s voice was deep. “It’s just a two-way exploitation.”

"While I was using that woman, she was also using me."

"but……"

“You know what?” Skadi was about to speak when the Doctor interrupted her again, “Along the way, I’ve recovered many memories from the past. Although most of them are disorganized and difficult to sort out in terms of time and order, I still managed to understand a lot from them.”

“For example, your Originium Arts.” Skadi thought for a moment.

“That’s right.” The doctor nodded. “And every time I retrieve this information, I can’t help but ask myself—why did I choose to trade my life for my memories?”

"Is it because I'm already beyond redemption and there's nothing else I can trade for? Or is there some other hidden reason?"

Although his eyes were fixed on Skadi, it was as if he were talking to thin air.

"Ultimately, what does paying the price really represent?" His tone was clearly intense, but his voice remained unchanged. "Where did the price I paid go, and is it really enough to keep my life running?"

Countless hypotheses popped into the doctor's mind, only to be brushed away by him.

Because he believed that these were not things that could be expressed in words.

Anything that can be said must be said.

Anything that cannot be said must be kept silent.

"Therefore, I think that rather than accepting this ambiguous resurrection, it is better to avoid death from now on. As long as we do not accept it, we will not have to pay the price—the logic is very simple."

“In that case, we’re on the same level.” His gaze was fixed on Skadi. “We equally experience the fear of death, equally avoid death, and equally conquer everything.”

At this point, Skadi had clearly lost the initiative to ask questions.

She wanted to say something more to the doctor, or persuade him not to be so radical, but she quickly realized that any persuasion would be futile, so she fell silent again and just quietly looked at the man in front of her.

At this moment, the closed loop, which had been observing from the audience outside the stadium, suddenly joined the two.

"I don't understand anything about 'price' or 'resurrection,' but if you want a place to stay, I have plenty of options here. And as my friends, you'd probably want to live with me, right? Right? Right? You'd be willing, wouldn't you?"

She is good at grasping the key points.

Children are generally good at grasping the essentials.

That's why there's the saying "children speak without restraint."

“Yes, you’re right.” The doctor smiled and nodded at the locked circuit. “Also, if we choose to live on the sixth floor, could we avoid taking such a long detour when we go out? I don’t want to go through the maze again.”

"Hmm? Hmm? Sure." The closed circuit agreed quite readily. "Anyway, the entire terrain and corridors on the sixth floor are under my control. If you want to go out, just tell me. After all, we're friends. If we're friends, things will be much simpler to talk about."

"What do you think?" The Doctor looked at Skadi. "Actually, you don't need to care about me."

"Whether I give up the chance to be resurrected or choose to live on the sixth floor again, it's all beneficial to me and there's no harm in it. And I think it's probably the same for you, right?"

He wasn't sure if Skadi would accept his proposal, so he cautiously used a question.

"What if?"

Seeing the doctor's expression, Skadi finally spoke.

What if you accidentally die?

This is the worst-case scenario.

Just because no one mentions it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Although the Doctor is now completely different from the Doctor who first awakened, it does not mean that he can completely avoid fear and death.

After all, for him and Skadi, Rhodes Island still holds too many mysteries waiting for them to unravel.

“I will do my best to avoid such a thing from happening, but if I have to face such a situation, I will accept it,” the doctor said, looking at Skadi. “After all, no one can live forever.”

“That’s right, no one can live forever, but what I’m trying to say is that even if you face death, your final destination will still be the same room you started in,” Skadi said. “At that time, you will still have to pay a price for your chance to be resurrected—don’t tell me you’ll give that chance up.”

"I do not know."

The doctor's gaze was sincere.

“Skadi, to be honest with you, I don’t know, because rehearsing such a situation is completely pointless. We don’t know what will happen in the future, nor do we know why that event that may lead to our deaths has occurred.”

"So, at least for now, trust me."

Chapter 234, Part 232: Listening Makes It Clear

Skadi didn't want the Doctor to give up his right to be resurrected.

But she found it difficult to refute every word the doctor said.

After all, as the doctor said, every resurrection and trade-off comes with risk, and if this kind of transaction continues, a serious problem will eventually arise.

“I’ve already lost a finger,” the doctor said, shaking his left hand. “And if I choose to continue down this path, I might lose even more in the future.”

As the three walked back, the professor began to speak.

"Because any seemingly advantageous trade eventually becomes a habit," the doctor said. "Imagine a store that offers you a large sum of money in exchange for any item you have around you, what would you do?"

"Perhaps you'll be skeptical the first or second time you trade with him, but after realizing there's no fraud involved, you'll gradually get used to this so-called unfair trade," the doctor said slowly. "After all, taking advantage is human nature, and almost no one can avoid it."

“My resurrection is based on the same principle.” He raised his head and looked up at the slightly worn ceiling. “Using a part of your body in exchange for a chance to live… If you get used to such a trade, it’s the same as getting used to death.”