Foolish Game of the Chapter 1013: As Expected, This Round Is a Lock!

Chaotic screams flooded his ears first. Then the familiar stench of gunpowder filled his nostrils.

Before Cheng Shi even opened his eyes, his heart sank.

'Not good. War again?'

'This is supposed to be a [Truth] experint — why does it feel like I've been tossed back to the Boro Highlands!?'

As his anxious thoughts solidified, his consciousness snapped back. He cautiously stepped backward before opening his eyes — and one glance told him [Fate]'s appearance had indeed been a good on!

This round was locked down. Because he'd been matched with an old friend:

Life Sage — Hu Xuan!

Sotis [Fate] really was that wondrous. He'd literally just bluffed in front of the Doctor about consulting Hu Xuan, and now she appeared right before him.

This quasi-envoy of [Birth] had just opened her eyes too. Their gazes crossed the round table in an instant — a seamless collision — and both broke into smiles.

They both felt this round was a lock.

Their gazes shifted to survey the surroundings. They'd landed in a eting room — or more precisely, one belonging to the Tower of Logic, given the emblems and banners plastering the walls.

Before Cheng Shi sat a massive round table. Despite its capacity for dozens, only seven chairs circled it. One stood empty. In the remaining six, bodies slumped — so sprawled forward, others tipped back.

Their faces and attire marked them as grand scholars. And judging by their scholar sashes' colors...

'Huh? The Erudition Presidium!?'

The thought had barely ford when a colossal explosion rocked the windows.

The awakened players frowned and looked out. On an adjacent tower, a figure laughed maniacally while dangling a trembling scholar by the collar. Amid the cheers of those around her and the wails of the scholars below — she let go with sadistic glee, hurling the scholar into freefall.

"AAAH—SPLAT!"

The scream cut off. The scholar hit the ground and beca a puddle of flesh. Every player watched with narrowed eyes. The round-faced chubby young man beside Cheng Shi furrowed his brows deeply, speaking a na in a tone laced with complicated emotion:

"Galusha..."

'Who!?'

Cheng Shi startled. He whipped toward the stocky youth:

"The fall of the Tower of Logic?

We've stumbled into Galusha's era — which ans these bodies are..."

"Correct. The Erudition Presidium!" A different player spoke up.

This one stood across from Cheng Shi — hulking and broad, built like Da Yi, but with scholarship leagues above anything Da Yi possessed.

He lifted the nearest grand scholar's arm and began manipulating the dead fingers to point at each corpse around the table, introducing the Erudition Presidium mbers in an unnervingly theatrical tone:

"Volent — pioneer of the Consciousness Faith Departnt. Galadry — backbone of the Life Extension Departnt. Ernie — head of the chanical Engineering Departnt... These three are the Presidium's top brass.

Then Burza, Asgis, Nelliel. Good — aside from the traitor Pe Laya, all wiped out.

Based on intel I traded from the History School, they should all have died at Galusha's hands. So can anyone tell

— who killed these great grand scholars before that madwoman could?

Sha. I'd have loved to extract so delightful truths from their mouths."

With that, the hulk ripped off Ernie's arm and began greedily sucking the blood from the severed limb.

"Ahhh~

This is the essence refined by [Truth]...

Pity, Ernie. You couldn't rge with

in a younger form."

Darkened blood dribbled from his mouth, spattering the floor. The pale-skinned male player beside him frowned, stepped three paces away, and remarked with distaste:

"Hmph. With you in the Reason Association, how could reason possibly survive."

'Hmm?'

'This brute is from the Reason Association?'

That explained it. The Reason Association was notoriously a gathering of lunatics. Though one this extre was still a rarity.

Hu Xuan stood near the man too. She clearly knew him. Catching Cheng Shi's flicker of confusion, she considered her options — then decisively chose to...

Climb on the table!

That's right. Without a word, Hu Xuan gathered her skirt and stepped elegantly onto the tabletop.

The table was too vast. Walking around either side would waste ti. Better to take the shortest route.

Her slightly showy move naturally drew every eye. Everyone recognized who she was, so they weren't watching her — they were watching her target.

Anyone who knew Hu Xuan knew this [Birth] Chosen always had to birth a child during trials. So they all speculated whether this vaguely familiar "stranger" might be the father of her first child.

By rights, whenever Hu Xuan made this kind of move, Cheng Shi would normally retreat ten steps out of respect. But this ti, not only did he stand his ground — he stepped forward, offering his hand with a brilliant smile to help her down from the table.

He knew this was Hu Xuan boosting his position. A "prey" targeted by the [Birth] Chosen should be very safe — at least until she got what she wanted.

Seeing he'd caught her aning, Hu Xuan landed with a smile:

"Looks like you ca prepared today, Cheng Shi?"

"?"

Cheng Shi rolled his eyes at Hu Xuan, then whispered: "Who is that guy?"

Hu Xuan first nodded to the chubby youth beside Cheng Shi, then stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him to make introductions:

"Wei Zhi. [Truth]'s current Chosen and Head Chief of the Reason Association."

'Who!?'

Cheng Shi froze, mumbling: "He's the mad dog Zhen Yi ntioned?"

"Mad dog?

I simply wish to beco Zhen Xin's third personality — accelerating her truth-seeking within [Void]. How does that rit the word 'mad'?"

Wei Zhi had excellent hearing. He'd obviously caught Cheng Shi's words. Smiling, he set Ernie's arm down, licked his lips contentedly, then fixed Cheng Shi with a burning stare:

"Fate Weaver. Clown. Cheng Shi...

At last we et. I should thank you, in fact.

If you hadn't taken out 0221, how would I have gotten this close to [Truth]?"

His gaze shifted to Hu Xuan, and comprehension dawned.

"I see. So Go Lis's thread traces back to you. Never expected the only player bridging [Void] to have connected with [Birth]. Pity — [Birth]'s will is too conservative. No affinity with [Truth].

But I still admire you greatly.

Cheng Shi, how about a trade?

Is Zangier still alive? You know — grand scholars who've beco pseudo-gods hold a fatal attraction for . I'll give you everything I have in exchange for him. Deal?"

Cheng Shi looked at this half-bloodied Reason Association head and pursed his lips in exasperation.

"That's not how business works.

If you really want to show gratitude, make it tangible.

Once I see your sincerity, then I'll consider the trade."

The words had barely landed when a long-haired male player on Cheng Shi's other side — silent until now — began to gently clap.

"Interesting. A delightful fellow."

...