The later mories barely needed looking — Cheng Shi could guess the rest.
Galusha had co to Tusnat as a vanguard. To destroy the Tower of Logic, she had to lay pieces on the board here. But what Cheng Shi never imagined was that her very first pick was Pe Laya — of all people.
From there, Galusha used her [Folly]-born brilliance, guiding Pe Laya through experint after experint until she'd climbed into the Erudition Presidium. At that point, the Tower of Logic's downfall was all but sealed.
Pe Laya had tripped herself on a twisted emotion inherited from her ancestor — and tripped the Erudition Presidium with her. Yet here and now, the grand scholars had no idea they were about to send this "original instigator" back into the past!
The mories ended there. But Cheng Shi still couldn't find the "transferred affections" Chen Yi had ntioned.
Though even the most emotionally obtuse person could guess: Pe Laya could only have fallen in love with Galusha. There was no "transfer" possible — because this emotion was genetically inherited from lina, etched into bone. Even if she did transfer... the object wouldn't be a stranger. It would be—
Another Galusha.
Cheng Shi was silent for a long ti before waking Pe Laya, his expression peculiar:
"So this is why you want to go back?
Her [Folly] and your [Truth] run in opposite directions. You felt betrayed?"
Hearing this, Pe Laya knew her mories had been laid bare. Face ashen, she collapsed sideways and shook her head:
"She didn't betray . I betrayed her...
I can't see [Truth]'s path forward — not because [Folly] interfered, but because [Truth] was always cold and heartless.
I grew accustod to [Truth]'s indifference. But I couldn't bear watching her grow more deranged in her obsession with destroying [Truth].
Perhaps I can accept a road that will never reach [Truth]. But I cannot accept my beloved changing beyond recognition.
So it was I who proposed going back — to et the version of her who hadn't yet embraced [Folly], who was absolutely perfect in lina's eyes.
She... agreed."
"..."
'Of course Galusha agreed. If she could sabotage the Erudition Presidium's last resort while satisfying your wish — why wouldn't she?'
"But why did it have to be lina?
Don't you see the problem with that?
Grand Scholar, you're intelligent. If your return to the past is inevitable, then taking lina's identity will trap you forever in [Ti]'s prison — a prisoner bearing the weight of both [Ti] and [Truth].
Galusha may want to eliminate the Erudition Presidium's legacy. But you? You'll beco the sole victim. Aren't you afraid?"
Pe Laya blinked. Then suddenly smiled.
Her smile was radiant — utterly content.
"Afraid?
What is there to fear?
If that prison is filled from beginning to end with her — her childhood, her growth — then isn't that exactly the world I've always longed for?"
"..." Cheng Shi paused. "Even without [Truth]?"
Pe Laya smiled and shook her head:
"You're wrong. The present and future may have no [Truth]. But in the past — He was always there.
And so was she."
"..."
'Ha. What a grand scholar — running from reality.'
'Who says love makes people blind? She was calculating perfectly. As long as she lived in the temporal loop woven from [Ti] and [Truth], she'd be "the happiest" person forever.'
The gossip was done. But Cheng Shi felt no satisfaction — because one question had nagged him throughout: [Truth] appeared determined to seize [Ti]'s authority. He just didn't know what He'd seized, or what terrifying experint He planned to use that temporal power for.
[Ti] surely knew. But He didn't have the ti to intervene. So did the Fun God know?
Hmm. To be safe, he'd need to report to the Fun God imdiately after the trial ended.
Cheng Shi thought for a long while. Having learned the full story, he began evaluating how to crack this trial.
Simply completing the experint wouldn't work. Galusha's success equaled the Erudition Presidium's failure, and the grand scholars' failure ant [Truth] couldn't continue.
That directly contradicted the trial's objective. Definitely not the solution.
But with so many moles, how could the grand scholars succeed?
Actually, Cheng Shi had already thought of a simple, effective plan: clear the departure platform, send a player back to prevent young Galusha's growth — or more historically accurate, just eliminate Selius. Because without slice technology, Galusha could never have survived to the present.
Also, eliminating Selius might an Keinlaur didn't last long either. Then the Common Law Faction's funding of the Tower of Logic's internal wars would stall — letting the Tower stand longer and stronger.
Sounded solid. One problem: who could guarantee they'd return from that historical retrogression after completing the mission?
One wrong step, and the person sent back could end up like Aph Ros — lost forever in [Ti]'s cage...
He was a [Ti] follower, true. But he couldn't risk it. Better to send a teammate. Soone like the Old Days Hunter — a [mory] follower who could traverse history...
Besides, [mory] and [Ti] both belonged to [Existence]. Surely they wouldn't be that cruel to each other.
So... how to dupe — no, how to persuade Chen Yi into biting?
Cheng Shi stroked his chin, deep in thought.
'Not this ti. I already promised him a sculpture via the Ritual of Truth. Before fulfilling that promise, he probably won't trust
again. So the only option is...'
Cheng Shi snapped his fingers without hesitation. Once more, he returned to the city center ruins.
Sixth ti.
His objective was crystal clear: use the sa pitch to lure Chen Yi into the experint ground and have him replace Grind and lina — go back in ti, eliminate Selius (or even Galusha), then return to the trial victorious.
Of course, as a peak player, perhaps no one wanted to target Galusha directly. Just killing Selius would suffice.
Cheng Shi quickly found Chen Yi. He made lavish promises again — but this ti Chen Yi agreed to nothing. He simply stared at Cheng Shi, brow tight, feeling he'd sohow lived through this scene before.
He rummaged through his mories to confirm this wasn't delusion. Seeing the hook go untouched, Cheng Shi pivoted, offering a condition Chen Yi couldn't refuse:
"Have you... ever had an audience with your god?"
"!?"
Chen Yi froze. He looked up in shock, seemingly guessing what Cheng Shi was about to say. Cheng Shi didn't hide it, nodding firmly:
"That's right. Exactly what you think. If you've never had an audience with Him...
I happen to have one opportunity to et [Ti]. I can transfer it to you. As for how you'd convince [Ti] to connect you to [mory]... that's your problem.
Well? Is this enough?
Don't forget — winning the trial earns points too. If you're the key player who clears this trial, [mory] will see you.
Usually His gaze might be a casual glance. But if this ti you're standing before [Ti]... do you think there's a chance you might..."
He didn't need to spell it out. The mont these conditions left his lips, Chen Yi's eyes went crimson.
"What do I need to do?"
Watching the Old Days Hunter pant and tremble with his whole body, Cheng Shi felt he'd suddenly acquired a puppet that could be deployed at will and would obey without question.
'Tch. [Deceit] followers really are too wicked.'
'Good thing I'm a [Ti] follower.'
...
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