Quinn Foster explained, “A very small number of people, after suffering injuries to the left hemisphere of the brain, experience changes in vision and perception. For example, some become especially sensitive to changes in angles, some can directly see the tangents of curved surfaces, and in some people’s worlds, codes corresponding to colors, lines, and objects appear. The Vault suffered a brain injury as a child, and after recovery, was left with some minor aftereffects.”

Henry Harris exclaimed in amazement, “She can really see them?”

“She can. In a messy room, as long as she’s looked it over once, even if you only move a single pen, she’ll notice. She says the light is different. But as for what exactly she can see, she’s never told me.” As Quinn Foster spoke, he glanced at Quinn Shelby, “But some people might think she’s just pretending to be mysterious.”

Quinn Shelby was silent, her mind in turmoil.

Henry Harris suddenly understood, “No wonder, Xavier Daniels said that many people enjoy the feeling of being decoded. Her talent attracts perverts.”

Quinn Foster: “……” Although it’s true, why does it sound so strange?

·

The Vault hadn’t had a chance to discuss their shared experiences with Xavier Daniels when the phone on the table rang.

The ringtone shattered the harmonious atmosphere between the two, and Xavier Daniels narrowed his eyes dangerously.

The Vault picked up the phone, hung up directly, and communicated with the caller via text message.

Xavier Daniels didn’t interrupt her, quietly watching as she typed. When she put the phone down again, he deliberately avoided the topic of the case and asked, “Your student doesn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities. Do you really think I’m like him?”

“His personality, background, environment, and circumstances are all completely different from yours. But,” The Vault’s gaze was sharp and piercing, and she spoke word by word, “I know you two are the same kind of person.”

Xavier Daniels said angrily, “Are you insulting me?”

The Vault replied, “He used to be a very honest person. Although his childhood wasn’t exactly innocent, it wasn’t inevitable that he’d turn out this way. He died never knowing that he’d been manipulated and brainwashed, led astray. He thought he was in control of his own fate, but in reality, he was just a pawn for someone else’s amusement. Fools hurt the weak, but true geniuses prefer to toy with other geniuses. That’s what makes it challenging, isn’t it?”

Xavier Daniels laughed, “You think I’m the same?”

The Vault said seriously, “You are. Because you inadvertently said exactly the same things as he did. As a teacher, I can’t help but suspect you two share the same origin.”

Xavier Daniels’s expression instantly darkened, his eyes filled with murderous intent, like a fierce animal facing its nemesis before a storm.

The Vault said, “You’ve been so intent on asking about him—doesn’t that mean you already have a vague premonition?”

Chapter 76: The Same

After The Vault finished speaking, the interrogation room fell into near-total silence.

After a long while, Xavier Daniels’s gaze flickered, and it was unclear whether he was resolute or evasive as he said, “Impossible.”

The Vault smiled indifferently, “To be honest, humans are exclusionary by nature. Even if it’s not intentional, many highly intelligent people can clearly feel their incompatibility with ordinary people. Whether it’s the logic of their thinking, their way of speaking, or the balance between reason and emotion, there will always be some deviation. The lucky ones are accepted and gradually adapt. The unlucky ones are hit hard by reality and end up drifting outside the world. Unfortunately, you’re the latter. And people always seek out their own kind.”

The Vault raised her hand and pointed at him. That finger, so full of presence, drew all his attention to a single, taut point, like a fuse about to be lit.

The Vault: “After being hurt by Sylvia Shaw, didn’t you try to find another person like yourself in the world? Are you sure what you found was your own kind, and not a hunter?”

Xavier Daniels’s pupils trembled, half hidden beneath his eyelids, his gaze sharp as a sword as he glared up at her, “How are we the same?”

The Vault spread her hands, “ ‘The world is made for us geniuses. What is a genius? Someone destined to be a cut above the rest.’ ‘Mediocre people love nothing more than excluding those who are different, especially those who are outstanding and exceptional—they can be extremely cruel.’ ‘Many people want to experience the feeling of being decoded by you.’ These are all things you’ve said, and my foolish student said almost exactly the same things. Only by repeating them could there be such a high degree of similarity in language.”

Xavier Daniels pressed his lips into a tight line.

“What do these ideas represent? You should know.” The Vault gestured with her finger, drawing a circle in the air. “Set a condition, group yourselves as the same kind, give lonely people a sense of belonging to a group. Suppress outsiders, elevate yourselves, and strengthen your identification with your own intelligence. Play a role, fake emotions, and after integrating into ordinary society, enjoy the pleasure of fooling others. Set goals, establish standards, and drive yourselves toward the target to prove your abilities.”

The Vault said, “That target is me. Right? To put it bluntly, this is a brainwashing game, or rather, a high-level pyramid scheme. What lures you in isn’t money, but the pleasure you lack most.”

The veins on Xavier Daniels’s neck bulged, showing that his muscles were on the verge of exploding with anger. His Adam’s apple bobbed forcefully, but his face remained calm. This was a skill he had honed over many years.

The Vault continued, “You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. This entertainment project must have started a long time ago. Harry Forrest may be involved, but his performance didn’t satisfy the other side, because no matter how much injustice he encountered, his goal was still to be an ordinary person. So the other side kept pressing, trying to trap Harry Forrest, who wasn’t part of their plan, in their cage. And you are the other prey used to train Harry Forrest.”

Xavier Daniels sneered, “Heh, makes me sound pretty stupid.”

The Vault said in a low voice, “At the time, I thought it was a coincidence—why did Harry Forrest choose me as his teacher? He said it was because he saw a book about me in prison. Maybe the so-called coincidence wasn’t so simple, and even he didn’t realize it. Someone wanted to push him toward me, and someone wanted to push me toward you all.”

Xavier Daniels said self-mockingly, “You all resisted with clear minds, but I fell?”

The Vault looked at him and lowered her gaze.

In fact, she never really cared about what kind of person she should be. A good person? A bad person? In her eyes, there was never a clear boundary. She just needed to be someone who stayed above the line of the law and could ensure her own safety.

She had no interest in hurting others, but her past hadn’t given her much warmth, and she had no goal of saving the world.

Compared to ordinary people, she was like someone holding a weapon. Her turbulent childhood made her more dangerous, and her traits that attracted criminals made the blade in her hand even sharper. That’s why people feared her, guarded against her, and misunderstood her.

She had the same grievances and indignation as ordinary people. When she was still immature, experiencing all this led to negative emotional fluctuations. Only the rule of “not killing” was her unshakable bottom line.

Later, she met Logan Carter, who told her that “not killing” shouldn’t be the bottom line. People should be more compassionate beings. Responsibility, family, justice… Above the line of the law, there are many things you shouldn’t do, and many things you must do.

“Xavier Daniels.” The Vault called his name clearly, “The fact that you realize this means you’re still sober. Does your pride allow you to accept such humiliation?”

Xavier Daniels was silent at first, then lowered his head, hiding his expression. Then his shoulders began to shake, and he slowly burst out laughing.

The room echoed with his deliberately loud laughter, sharp and grating, with not a trace of joy in it.

“Who do you think made me kill my father? It was my own arrogance and carelessness that gave her the chance. Truly, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Tell me, who is the real player in this game? You’re right, I’m just prey.”

The Vault watched him quietly.

Xavier Daniels’s laughter stopped, and a few tears were squeezed from his eyes. He wiped his face hard, pushed himself up from the table, and stood.

“I don’t have the pleasure of letting so many people watch me make a fool of myself, The Vault, come find me.”

The Vault stood up as well, but the figure across from her flickered and disappeared first.

Xavier Daniels chose to forcefully log out. Only she was left in the interrogation room.

Henry Harris stepped forward and slapped the table. The loud noise and the gloomy aura around her made the technician restoring the data flinch.

The technician whispered, “P-please, don’t be angry?”

Henry Harris quickly regained her composure, smoothed her slightly messy hair, and said, “It’s nothing. Just took a fall.”

Everyone else remained silent.

·

Julian Grant sat in the interrogation room, originally guiding Sylvia Shaw’s emotions, and was about to succeed when he suddenly received a call from a colleague.