Crimson Embers Chapter 1 Who the hell would write a diary?
To be honest, Mason was a little excited when he got the key from Old A's body.
Although Fury is a bastard who does no good and is an out-and-out villain, after all, a dying man's words are good. Maybe this bastard realized his mistake before he died and decided to leave the weapons of mass destruction and other things he secretly developed without telling others to Mason, who will definitely come to open his coffin.
Even if there are no powerful things, at least there should be some suicide notes like "Confessions of a Sinner" left behind, detailing the secret information that Mason should know.
But when he actually got this thing, the captain was not happy at all.
Rorschach Diaries...
The little cuties didn't know what this thing stood for, but Mason roughly guessed who the ultimate boss hidden in the council was just from the name.
Even Rorschach has appeared. How long will it take for Dr. Big Blue Bird, whose power is almost as powerful as that of a cosmic god and who has a terrible dark history, to appear?
So with a heavy heart like going to a grave, Mason sat at the table, put on gloves, and opened the worn and torn diary in front of him. There were dried blood stains on it, which made it easy to judge what had happened to the owner of this diary.
Mason felt that Old A had made such secret arrangements to preserve the diary, and that there must be some very important clues hidden in it.
This is definitely the kind of information that cannot be revealed in an ordinary way.
The diary was incomplete, as it had lost many details due to damage from external forces, but it was still generally readable. Mason found that the diary he got only had the first few pages, and the rest were missing.
The first sentence of the diary stunned the knowledgeable captain.
"I have to walk the same path as the great men and the clowns who claim to create a new world, but in their new world terrible things still happen."
This first sentence reveals the writer's bad mood and his very good literary accomplishment in the style of youthful yandere.
This familiar sentence structure also allowed Mason to quickly recall in his mind the life of Rorschach, this unique superhero, er, no, it should be called anti-hero.
To sum this guy up in one sentence, he is probably a combination of the Punisher and Batman, a person with split personality who has severe mental illness, a young man who never bows his head and never compromises, and a paranoid who puts his own morality above world peace.
A guy with a very special personality.
If Mason also had a "Most Admired Superhero Ranking", then Rorschach would definitely be in the top five easily. This guy is not a likable person. He is too straightforward and often filled with an indescribable sense of violence. However, he makes everyone who knows him think and explore.
The story of Rorschach should not have happened in this era, that happened a long time ago, but Mason has seen many worlds with chaotic timelines, so he doesn't need to think too much about it.
Based on the information currently available, Mason can determine that Rorschach should also be one of the heroes under the Council, but judging from the worn condition of this diary, he may have died before the Council really grew and became powerful.
This is also normal.
With Rorschach's mad dog character who would never give up, it would be difficult for him to survive for long in this dark age of intrigue and deception. He would either be killed by the enemy or be plotted against by his own people.
Mason prefers the latter.
With this thought in mind, he continued reading.
“I saw a lot of dead people in the world I just left. The silent mutant clones executed them just because they were unwilling to sacrifice their world.
Those bastards gave this bland world a code name, claiming that 'our cause' has new recruits, but I didn't see obedience on the faces of those who survived.
There is only meekness under fear.
I guess I've seen it for what it is. The end of the world is real, but those who claim to protect us are like rats gnawing on dead human flesh in an ever-expanding sewer. They wrap their ambitions in a veil of salvation and use it to deceive others.
I believe that when the stench of this sewer is burned away by a fire, all the rats will twitch in the ashes, and they will be overwhelmed by their own desires until their rotten souls suffocate.
I don't have any evidence, but I believe those guys are hiding a big conspiracy and are carrying it out secretly.
I also believe that when I light the fire with my own hands, those sanctimonious bastards will scream and beg me to stop, and I will say 'no' to them!
Night Owl told me his concerns, which coincided with what I was thinking.
But I didn't intend to say too much to him, because I saw his true thoughts in the eyes of that smart wimp.
He will just endure it like before, and won't really take action until the fire reaches his feet. By then it will definitely be too late, so let him and Sihun continue to live in their own world of two.
They're not bad people, they're just not strong enough.
But I'm different!
Bad guys must be punished, and I will never compromise on this point.
Tomorrow we will set off again, and another new world will face choices. They say we must race against time in the doomsday, but is it for our ideals, or is it the dark desires that are roaring?
I guess I don't have much time left, I have to find the evidence.
They have just formed an organization called the 'Star Society', which could be a breakthrough, but it is also possible that they are just another group of outsiders who are bewitched by the 'great ideal', just like us invited visitors from other worlds."
The first page of the diary ended here, allowing Mason to confirm that the events recorded in the diary took place in the early days of the Council's establishment, even before the first impact.
It also confirms the theme of this diary.
“Rorschach was looking for the Council’s hidden secrets. Even at the beginning of the Council’s actions, he had sensed a hint of uneasiness. This may be the reason why Old A left this diary. He wanted me to learn about things that I had never known through Rorschach’s story.
But a more likely guess is that Old A is actually verifying something in secret, and he may have some doubts about what he has been doing.
This is in keeping with the bad character of spies.”
Mason lit a cigarette at the table, and as the smoke rose his brain started working rapidly.
Harley and Quinn, who were sitting on his left and right, were also looking at the diary that had fallen apart. As a psychologist, Harley easily judged the guy's personality traits from the order and semantics of the words.
She pouted and said:
"A typical PTSD patient has a sense of crisis like Batman, but also has a narcissistic complex that cannot be ignored. He feels that everyone else is drunk but he is sober, and he is sure that his judgment must be correct without any evidence.
I guess this guy must not have many friends, does not know how to express kindness to others and respond to kindness, has no lover and does not expect company.
He is a lone wolf.”
The little cutie propped up his chin, tilted his head and said:
“If I had to guess, I think he would definitely wear a mask when he was acting, but in addition to protecting his identity, it was also a way for the hidden personality to guide his actions.
Like an uneasy metronome, he keeps going back and forth between the two extremes of madness and rationality, relying only on his own morality to stabilize his precarious mind.
This terrible situation will further strengthen his determination , making him more stubborn and closer to the brink of collapse.
He did not set a bottom line for himself like Batman, which allowed him to use violence more freely while also sinking deeper into the role of a violent person.
I guess he must have been abused as a child and has no problem putting himself in the shoes of the abuser, maybe not a power worshipper, but definitely a sociopath.
His personal life is an absolute mess.
I simply cannot live in a social environment like a normal person. I am a natural marginalized person."
"You really frighten me sometimes, cutie."
Mason sighed, picked up a pen and drew the face of Rorschach in his memory on the paper, while saying to Harley:
"Especially when you really use your little brain and your expertise, like a crazy wise man, I wonder if you will pick up a knife and cut off my face in the next moment, or set a deadly trap for me with a laugh to try to make me understand the meaning of life.
But I have to admit, this psychological test was perfect.”
He picked up the paper.
The image of Rorschach wearing a mask, a felt hat, a khaki windbreaker and a white scarf was handed to Harley, and the little cutie lay on Mason's legs with a hum, holding the portrait in her hand and looking at it.
She said:
"Look, a martyr who uses clothes and masks to isolate himself from the filthy world. What a poor thing. I think he is suitable to be sent to Arkham Asylum for recuperation.
It would definitely help his bad mental health, and Mr. J might even consider him a close friend, just like he was crazy chasing after Batboy."
"No! Zhou Ke'er will only stay away from people like this."
Quinn shook his head and retorted:
“The result of locking Luo Xia and Zhou Ke’er together is predictable. Violence is also a weapon, and it is very useful in many cases.
He would roar and break every one of Zhou Ke'er's ribs, and let the latter strangle him to death without hesitation while laughing.
Such people are the nemesis of the Joker.
Even natural enemies.”
"See, you guys are attracted to this guy too."
Mason smiled and stopped interfering with the two little cuties' debate about Rorschach. He picked up the second page of the diary, only to find that the content on this page fluctuated greatly.
From the timestamp, it seems that several days or even months have passed since the last time I wrote in the diary, but the beginning of this time is quite explosive:
"Tonight, the Comedian died.
He died just downstairs from the council building. The bastard was drunk and jumped from the top floor. He didn't leave a suicide note. The doctor said he committed suicide, but I don't think so.
He had been living a very good life recently, immersed in the missions that kept being assigned to him, regarding killing and destruction as his job and enjoying it, and even had several conflicts with members of the Star Society because of his bad actions.
He tried to rape the witch who looked tough, but was almost killed by the dull witcher's sword. If Steve Rogers hadn't died quickly, we would have had to prepare an extra body bag.
I guess that's what the coward really did when he was drunk, not jumping off the roof.
There must be a reason behind the Comedian's death, and I will definitely find out!
But before that, I have to focus on my current affairs, the witcher told me nothing but his thoughts and concerns.
His words gave me a new inspiration.
Why does the so-called "help" always take the form of invasion and conquest? Even if the world before our eyes has given up resistance, perhaps this is not just because they want to expand their authority, but because they have to do so.
Just as the charming witch guessed, this might be a ritual of some supernatural power?
I have to stay away from that witch.
I knew from her eyes that she had guessed what I was doing, but the bad news was that Pharaoh had been transferred to a mysterious institution where they said his talents would be put to good use.
But I consider it an exile, simply because the Pharaoh helped me steal that privilege.
I can't wait any longer. Even though I'm sure the Pharaoh won't betray me, I have to act immediately! I have to find out what they are preparing for.
If it's a good thing, then I'll continue to participate.
If it’s a bad thing, then…”
Mason rubbed his brows after reading the second page of the diary.
He was not concerned about the Comedian's death because that happened at least seventeen years ago. What he cared about was whether Rorschach's so-called "action" had produced any results.
So he continued to flip down. The third page was unexpectedly long, and the chaotic strokes and descriptions on it undoubtedly represented Rorschach's shock, astonishment and despair.
"The impact came! I saw it right before my eyes. They weren't lying... but if they were right, didn't that mean I was wrong?
No!
wrong.
Although I participated in the rescue and transfer of those miserable worlds, and I saw with my own eyes how they generously handed over the built shelters to the homeless, I also saw the moment when the world collided with the world, and the scene of everything being destroyed and all things dying.
I see those, but I don't think they are right.
There are still many details that cannot be explained.
I saw the document called 'The End Star'. It was just a draft and not finalized. There are still many technical problems to be solved, but I absolutely do not believe that they extracted the world just to build a doomsday ark.
Even though everything made sense, I still had an uneasy feeling.
The children who were rescued called me a 'hero', but they didn't know that just a few days ago I and others broke into their country and brutally took over the regime.
Night Owl told me he was going to give up.
He said he didn't care about good or evil, he just wanted to continue to help those in need. This was a choice that really fit his character. I had no comment on this except to sneer.
But the bad news is still so rude.
Just before dinner time, I got some bad news from Silk Soul.
The dull witcher and his charming wife got into trouble. It is said that they opened a door that should not be opened, saving many people and annihilating an army of the Council in the impact.
This makes them about to be judged.
I don't know what mission that army was on, but there is no doubt that the witchers and witches made their own choices.
Although I have never had an in-depth conversation with them, I can confirm that they are rebelling against something, they should be my companions, and they are true warriors.
I must find a way to meet them, and it would be great if I could get some useful information.
But the impact...
The impact is a topic that cannot be avoided. The end of the world is real, and those guys who I regard as villains saved billions of people with their decisions and plans.
Their alliance has been built, they say it is a victory and they are going to give us medals.
A medal forged in blood, achieving salvation through death and fighting doomsday with destruction.
How ironic.
But what about me?
What about Rorschach?
Which camp are we in now?"
"What's next?"
Quinn asked from behind Mason.
She seemed to want to know whether Rorschach had met Ciri's parents, but Mason turned the page and spread his hands helplessly.
There is nothing more behind.
The diary was torn from here, but it was probably not intentional. It was because Old A only collected this much. Although there was not much useful information, some of the details were still thought-provoking.
Because he also had the same question that Rorschach described in his diary.
Is the Doomsday Star Project that the Council has been pushing so hard really just as simple as building a doomsday ark? With the technological strength of Fox Nest and its efforts over the past seventeen years, it is impossible that such a project has not been completed.
There are many problems here.
The captain believes that this is the truth that he must find in this world, which does not conflict with his coming to punish these "bastards" as Rorschach calls them.
The pursuit seventeen years ago obviously ended in failure, but seventeen years later everything is different.
"Maybe we should take a break."
Mason put the diary away and put it in his bag, then said to Harley and Quinn:
"Tomorrow I will go to the Council headquarters as a world envoy to attend a meeting. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow's harvest. As for this diary, we have to find a way to find the rest...
Um?"
The captain suddenly stopped talking, turned his head to look out the window at the unsettling night, and said:
"Pick up your baseball bats, ladies...we have an uninvited 'guest'."
