Transforming Succubus: Almost Doomsday

"On what grounds do you assume Jiang Lu is unspeakably miserable, and on what grounds do you assume those men and women in the glass houses are coerced?"

"I'm not trying to doubt you, but the reasons you've given are not enough, nowhere near enough!"

Duan Kun stood up, gazing directly at Jiang Xianwu in the living room:

"Don't underestimate us. I have no doubt that in the end, it will be you who saves us. But the things you've discovered so far are insufficient to overthrow this realm."

"You think glass rooms don't exist in reality? Even in modern society, there are prototypes of such things."

Zhou Baiyu hadn't paid attention before, but Duan Kun, after all, had been around and knew the extravagances of the wealthy.

Even in a certain chaebol-ruled Kimchi country, glass rooms are legal.

Although Zhou Baiyu didn't know about glass rooms, after thinking carefully...

In the real world, there lies a nation known as the womb of Europe. In the real world, the likes of pools of wine and forests of meat exist. Still in the real world, some use iron chains and collars to lead people on leashes down the streets.

"Decadence, trampling on others' dignity to elevate oneself, trading dignity for status and money, what's so rare about that? Aren't humans the best at such things? Even the devastated party might feel joy, such twisted reality is everywhere."

Duan Kun enunciated every word:

"All three of us have our own jobs now, which is perfect, as we will reveal this place from different angles."

"And you, as a free person, you must find something more subversive, something more twisted and evil than what you currently know."

"Otherwise, you can't disprove the claim that this place is a human paradise!"

"Because as it stands, living here, even if one can only crawl on the ground and bark like a dog, it's still better than those in the lower realms living in fear, hungry and cold."

"I believe in your intuition, I have absolute trust in you, just like Guang Tongchen, so keep your eyes peeled and observe carefully. If there really is darkness lurking, then find it."

"Show us the darkest, most twisted aspects of this nation!"

Duan Kun spoke no more, Zhou Baiyu thought for a long time, then slowly nodded and smiled.

"You're right, senior. I still believe in my judgment, and I will continue to observe."

Zhou Baiyu had been wondering if he had underestimated his companions.

But as it turns out, be it the chairman or Brother Duan, although they were also indulging in the beauty here, they were all thinking.

And those thoughts were things Zhou Baiyu had overlooked. This was the first time Zhou Baiyu truly felt the benefits of "strength in numbers."

His own blind spots were precisely complemented by the chairman and Brother Duan.

Indeed, the darkness of this place—wasn't dark enough.

"We all need to stay alert, but those of us with jobs must try to blend in here, while Jiang Xianwu, you must stay ever vigilant. If this nation's joy is a kind of conspiracy, then never laugh, always keep your guard up against this place," Guang Tongchen said.

Duan Kun also had such awareness.

He realized that perhaps "laughter" is a tool of governance. Everything might be as Jiang Xianwu said: "Laughing" could strip away something.

But without accepting rule, without being stripped, one could never understand the secrets within.

So Duan Kun and Guang Tongchen, these two legendary pioneers, were prepared to be green leaves to Zhou Baiyu's bloom.

They were willing to integrate into this nation, to accept its darkness.

All this because—they had absolute faith in Zhou Baiyu.

...

...

In the following days, Zhou Baiyu continued to observe the Land of Joy under the guise of pleasure-seeking, searching for darkness more cruel and shocking than the post-apocalyptic world.

During these days, Father Wu Xin, playing his part joyously,

in the church of the northern district, solved puzzles for one person after another, guiding the lost.

Under his direction, many who were confused about the future saw hope, their laughter seemed to have a certain Infective Power.

It also allowed Wu Xin to feel joy in the process of guiding others, and he unconsciously wore a smile.

Day after day, Wu Xin smiled more and more often.

He discovered that this place truly was a Land of Joy, where he could not only indulge in pleasures but also find some meaning in life.

Also during these days, Duan Kun suddenly realized... he seemed to be quite skilled at teaching.

Likewise, in the north district, in a school filled with unruly students, he subdued them with a strong presence.

Like a tough-love teacher, using the most unexpected educational methods, he directed a group of mischievous children toward the correct path in life.

Duan Kun would always share his own past experiences, stories of those who strayed from the right path, stepping further into error with each misstep.

These stories were attractive to the children and carried educational significance.

With a face like that of an underworld chef, Duan Kun's teaching was light on preaching, as his stories seemed like reminiscences of a gangland overlord.

But the children were receptive to it, and in that process, Duan Kun also found an unconscious sense of life's meaning.

He had never imagined that someone like him, who had gone astray, could one day guide others to choose the right path.

Sometimes, seeing the willful students begin to study on their own, he would step outside the classroom, light a cigarette, and wear a satisfied smile.