"Judge, Bing Zhu Ren," the boy replied.

Number 2's expression turned grave. He was familiar with both names, especially the latter's ability, which was extremely bizarre. It had left a deep impression on him during the great battle back then. Number 11 had died at his hands.

Before Number 2 could speak, the boy continued nodding and said, "Besides those two old geezers, there was also a masked guy. He almost killed Number 3."

"A new S-class?"

The boy looked at Number 2, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "This person... felt familiar to Number 3, and he held back during his attack. He didn't want to kill Number 3."

"It seems to be Number 1," Number 2 said. "What a surprise."

Without delving into the source of the "joy" in Number 2's surprise, the boy suddenly fell silent. Number 1 was considered a maverick within Deep Crimson. Everyone knew very little about him, especially after that incident. His personality became even more withdrawn. When he didn't have a mission, he would just drink alone in his room.

Anyway, as long as he wanted to, he would never get drunk, no matter how much he drank.

"He's still dissatisfied about that matter," Number 2 said, his tone tinged with reminiscence and melancholy. "Back then, he tried his best to oppose Number 4's plan, disagreeing with handing Xia Tan's Door over to Wu. In his opinion, that Door should have been his."

"During that great battle, Number 1 overused his ability to save everyone, resulting in him being backlashed by the power of space. His appearance and body were completely destroyed." Even now, recalling Number 1's miserable appearance, the boy sighed in his heart. "At the time, the Chief promised him that he would find another Door for him, one that would be enough to suppress his Door."

"But such a Door is not easy to find. Over the years, until it was confirmed that Xia Tan was still alive, and the Door in her body was still there, everyone saw hope. Number 1... he finally saw hope of survival."

"And at the time, the Chief also promised that after Xia Tan died, he would help him obtain Xia Tan's Door."

"But with the appearance of Wu, the previous plans were completely disrupted. Number 4 began to lay out a plan to hand Xia Tan's Door over to Wu. He believed that Wu would be changed by Zero and protect him to the end."

"At first, the Chief disagreed. One reason was that the risk was too high. No one was sure whether Wu could be controlled. But there was another very important point: the Chief felt that it was unfair to Number 1. After all, Number 1 had become like this for everyone's sake."

"But later, Number 4 presented his detailed plan, which finally persuaded the Chief. And from that moment on, Number 1 completely lost the opportunity to obtain Xia Tan's Door."

"Although Number 1 finally compromised, and after the Chief announced the result, he no longer showed any dissatisfaction, the seeds of conflict had already been sown. It's just... I didn't expect him to choose such a path," the boy sighed.

"It seems the Night Watchers offered him something tempting," Number 2 said.

"It shouldn't be a Door. You also know that there are very few Doors among the Night Watchers that can suppress Number 1. They wouldn't do such a stupid thing as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. And they would never completely trust Number 1," the boy commented. "The relationship between them is less of a collaboration and more of a transaction."

Number 2 found the word "transaction" pleasing to the ear, as if it would alleviate some of the pain in his heart.

"If it's not a Door, then what could it be?" This was what Number 2 didn't understand.

After thinking for a moment, the boy also shook his head. "I don't know, but it's nothing more than using some method to help Number 1 perfect his body, or even replace it with a new one."

"Someone like Number 1 probably wouldn't accept replacing his body," Number 2 said, based on his understanding. Number 1 was a maverick and a very picky person. Simply put, he was a perfectionist.

Hearing this, the boy slowly shook his head. "Don't look at a person with old eyes, especially someone like Number 1. You haven't experienced his pain, so don't jump to conclusions."

Being lectured by such a young face, Number 2 didn't feel anything was wrong. He continued to listen to him. After all, the Number 13 who was serious and the little brat who got his butt spanked were two completely different people.

"Number 1 used to love drinking, but he was never picky about what he drank. Look at him now," the boy said. "His pickiness about alcohol has reached a morbid level."

"This is a reflection of his self-awareness. The pickier he is, the heavier the gloom he has accumulated in his heart, and the worse his situation is now. He's even on the verge of collapse."

"Number 1 is going crazy. He's being driven crazy. If a person loses his body, can he still be called a person? If only the spirit exists, then what's the difference between that and..." After pausing, he gritted his teeth and continued, "...those things?"

Number 2 completely understood what he meant by "those things."

They were anomalies.

In the future, Number 1 could very likely become such a thing, doomed forever.

But he also believed that the Chief and Number 4 could make such a decision, and they were very determined. Facts had proven that handing Xia Tan's Door over to Wu was the right decision.

Wu would not rashly devour Xia Tan's Door. It understood very well what that represented. But since it did, it meant that it must have encountered a crisis situation that it couldn't handle with its current abilities.

It happened on that old Chairman's bus!

Wu devoured Xia Tan's Door.

And because of this, it gained amazing power, allowing it to successfully survive with Zero and Number 10.

In other words, if they had chosen to hand Xia Tan's Door over to Number 1, then Zero and Number 10 would have already died on the old Chairman's bus, and all their previous efforts would have been wasted.

Once the Abyss Plan begins, there is no turning back, whether for them or the Night Watchers.

They had already paid too great a price. What they were carrying now was not just themselves, but also Xia Tan, and countless people like Xia Tan, the hopes of all of them.

"What do we do next?" Number 2 took off his hat and held it in his hand. His fingers could be seen slightly curling, as if he was suppressing something.

The boy gave a wry smile. "Don't ask me, okay? It's hard to make decisions."

For them now, every decision represented bearing another sin. No one wanted to take on this responsibility. Everyone was tired.

"Let's leave it to the Chief to decide," Number 2 started the car. The snow-white headlights illuminated the road ahead, dispelling the darkness in every part of the alley.

"Yeah, let's leave it to the Chief," the boy slowly closed his eyes. He was also tired.