CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 78 RAINY SEASON

As with every spring in Old Dunling, the cold rain washes over this steel city. Although often maintained, within this misty vapor, the entire city remains rust-stained, with countless lights blurred and transformed into resplendent neon.

The residents of Old Dunling have long since become accustomed to such weather. Black umbrellas unfurl one by one, gathering in the streets like countless blooming flowers, and these black flowers surge through the gaps between buildings, following the flow of the accumulated water.

Joey held a black umbrella, stepping over shallow puddles.

The rainy season in Old Dunling had arrived. For the next few weeks, the city would remain this way, with the drizzle continuously falling, oppressively gloomy, as if it would never stop. Joey felt as though his soul was being drenched.

This mysterious conversation ended with Lorenzo’s departure. Joey was merely following orders, standing outside that door, unaware of what exactly was discussed inside; he just saw Lorenzo leave with that hateful look.

Arthur didn’t disclose too much information, merely instructing Joey to observe Lorenzo’s mental state afterward, unclear about what had transpired between them.

Finally, Joey came once more to this building, the sign reading "121A Cork Street" hanging upon it.

After collecting his thoughts, Joey knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered.

"Has Lorenzo returned?"

Joey stood at the entrance, calling into the room. It wasn’t long before Mrs. Van Rudd came out, looking at Joey with a face of confusion.

"Hmm? Didn’t you take him away this morning?"

There are often strange people who take Lorenzo away, and of course, each time Lorenzo returns, he looks different—sometimes like an exhausted office worker, worn-out entirely, sometimes radiant as if he’d just robbed a bank, gleeful; but more often than not, he’d come back covered in blood, though it’s usually someone else’s.

"He hasn’t returned yet?"

It seemed that after leaving that place, Lorenzo did not return to 121A Cork Street, which made Joey perplexed.

As Arthur said, everyone has a place to return to, except for Lorenzo. Joey racked his brain but couldn’t fathom where Lorenzo might be at this moment, realizing how unrestrained this fellow was.

"I see..."

It seemed he came for nothing, but there wasn’t much need to worry about Lorenzo, as the guy might well be in some alley in the Lower City District, venting his anger on a bunch of unlucky souls.

"Joey?"

Suddenly, another voice spoke.

Hig slowly descended the stairs. From upstairs, he only heard a somewhat familiar voice, never expecting it really to be Joey.

Joey looked up, seeing Hig looking at him with some delight.

Clearly, Joey was among Hig’s few friends, albeit made in somewhat peculiar circumstances.

"Are you heading out?"

Joey saw Hig dressed and ready, holding an umbrella in his hand.

"There’s a Mutual Aid Association meeting today, and the doctor wants to discuss some mental issues with us."

Hig was quite attentive to the meetings. One could say that his success in quitting hallucinogens was partly thanks to his fellow patients.

"Mental issues?"

Joey couldn’t help but be intrigued by this term. After it ended, Arthur would always mention it intentionally or otherwise—it seemed to be the crux of that secretive conversation, and of course, he was here to understand Lorenzo’s mental state.

"After all, that doctor comes from Black Mountain Hospital, though I always hear strange tales about it, I’ve never seen it myself."

Hig said, somewhat perplexed.

In Old Dunling, there is never a shortage of mysterious urban legends, like the all-knowing rats, the flesh-eating Butcherbird, or the Mechanical City built deep underground... Black Mountain Hospital was one of them, as a psychiatric hospital accompanied by a sprawling sanatorium.

Some say that it hides many lunatics, they constantly mutter maddening prayers, and those who hear them become tainted, joining in the insane whispers.

Others say it conducts cruel human experiments, with Ingwig attempting to create horrifying creatures to dominate the world.

Of course, these are merely commonplace rumors; under the Cleaner’s media control, these astonishing tales become trivial pieces of gossip for citizens’ amusement.

But Black Mountain Hospital still retains its eerie qualities, like how its immense size seems almost undetectable in the crowded Old Dunling.

Indeed, everyone knows of its existence, but when asked about its location, no one knows where it is.

"Black Mountain Hospital..."

Murmuring the name softly, Joey tried not to recall his experiences in that hospital.

"Do you want to come along, Joey? You haven’t been to the Mutual Aid Association in quite a while."

Hig asked cautiously, hoping Joey would accompany him; having company was generally better than going alone.

As Joey hesitated, Hig continued.

"If you’re looking for Lorenzo...he usually comes back at night, and before he returns, you’ll never know where he might be. Waiting is waiting, isn’t it?"

Joey remained silent for a while, looking at the gloomy rain outside the window, falling in torrents. The blurry mist seemed like some unknown monster, engulfing each passerby one by one.