Cheng Shi had never denied Pe Laya's feelings for Galusha, but he'd always assud the Wise Man's relationship with the scholar was purely exploitative. He never expected the feelings to run both ways.
What was going on — had spending enough ti together actually sparked sothing?
In that mont, the flas of gossip blazed fiercely in Cheng Shi's heart, nearly eclipsing the urgency of escaping with his life. Without thinking, he blurted out:
"Back when you first found Pe Laya — did you ever imagine things between you would turn out like this?"
Galusha gave Cheng Shi a sidelong glance and snorted with amusent:
"Mr. Prisoner, you've got the question wrong. I didn't find her — soone led
to her."
"?"
Cheng Shi froze. Several faces flashed through his mind, all belonging to the Afterglow Church's leaders — because he couldn't think of anyone else with designs on the Tower of Logic.
But what ca next was an answer Cheng Shi absolutely didn't expect.
"No need to guess. It wasn't those old fossils from the Afterglow Church. It was a different old fossil — my dear grandfather, the Supre Inquisitor of the Grand Tribunal, Lord Keinlaur."
Who!?
Keinlaur?
How could it be Keinlaur?
The founding monarch of the Kingdom of War hadn't even lived to this era!
"Surprised?
You've t him — you should know he's exactly the kind of man who sches decades in advance.
If the Kingdom of War hadn't disrupted the Shared Law Faction's plans, I imagine the bells of [Order] would already be echoing throughout the Tower of Logic's territory.
Of course, the piece he originally placed wasn't Pe Laya — it was lina. But Pe Laya was influenced by lina, which is how she ended up feeling... toward ... Forget it. Ancient history. No point bringing it up."
'How can you not bring it up!?'
Cheng Shi was practically beside himself. But as the words lina had spoken flashed through his mory, realization suddenly struck. He blinked in bewildernt:
"The one who tried to assassinate you wasn't sent by Lid Yara — it was your grandfather, Keinlaur!?"
"Oh? Mr. Prisoner certainly knows a lot. You've t her?" Galusha regarded Cheng Shi with a half-smile. "You didn't ntion that part just now. What else are you hiding from ?"
"..." 'Nothing — I told you everything except the gossip.'
Cheng Shi smiled awkwardly and ad-libbed: "I simply found the feelings between you two rather... admirable, so I did a bit of extra digging."
"How admirable?
If Mr. Prisoner truly wants to experience this kind of feeling, I think we could squeeze a spot for you between the two of us.
Perhaps with the boost of romance, our alliance would beco even more solid. What do you think?"
"???"
'I do NOT think so!'
Cheng Shi's expression turned deadly serious as he took a step back, putting distance between himself and Galusha.
Galusha let out a derisive snort, ignored the foolish act before her, and continued:
"That's right — you guessed correctly.
Lady Lid Yara is an absolutely law-abiding [Order] follower. She upholds the principle of procedural justice and would never resort to extrajudicial violence during an investigation.
But my grandfather is different. He doesn't care about any of that — just as he doesn't care what's gone wrong with [Order].
He had lina gravely wounded. Of course, it wasn't a warning to [Truth] followers — it was the opening move of his chess ga.
You know that completing a slice experint takes ti, so..."
"!!!" Cheng Shi's face changed color, disbelief written all over it. "The lina who returned to the Tower of Logic after completing her mission back then — she was a slice!?"
"Yes... The real Aunt lina died. She was already gone before I could form any attachnt to her.
The one who stayed alive was always a paranoid slice. And it was precisely because of that paranoia that she beca so obsessed with my death.
It was a brilliant move by Grandfather — planted to be useful when the ti ca to annex the Tower of Logic. But in the end, that chess piece fell into my hands.
Though I never expected...
Never mind. It was all fate."
Hearing this, Cheng Shi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
[Fate], which had been trying so long to get close to [Folly], had finally earned a glance back.
The tapestry of destiny was truly sothing wondrous.
Galusha shot a sidelong glance at Cheng Shi's peculiar expression, then huffed:
"Satisfied your curiosity?
If so, perhaps we should get moving. Regardless of the circumstances, confronting our opponents head-on is the most effective way to deconstruct their intentions.
So before we find the Truth Limit — it's ti to pay a visit to those Grand Scholars sitting so high above."
No sooner had she finished than a violent explosion erupted from the western district — Galusha's moles had clearly blasted open the underground lab. Taking the cue, Cheng Shi imdiately dispatched the Afterglow Church to lay siege while he followed Galusha toward the west side.
Along the way, teammates — all except Wei Zhi and Chen Yi — began converging. Fragnted mories lingering in their minds left them brimming with questions. Cheng Shi patiently explained, dramatizing the Erudition Presidium's "cris" to the hilt and taking every opportunity to throw shade at [Truth].
Hearing the truth, the stunned teammates all had the sa thought: the Trial had only been running for a few hours — how had the Fate Weaver already taken control of the entire situation?
Where did he find the ti to accomplish so much? Not only had he pinpointed the Grand Scholars' location, he'd rallied every available force for a "palace coup." What kind of efficiency was this?
Was this the power of a Fate Weaver who'd single-handedly taken down Zangier and 0221!?
ng Youfang's gaze at Cheng Shi was strange. Once he learned that [Truth]'s will was "ddling" with this Trial, he surmised that his own trial was being accelerated.
And his good friend Yu Xi was apparently using transcendent Envoy-level powers to cheat — all to lower the difficulty for him.
While he sincerely appreciated the help, such cheating would inevitably taint his path to reinstatent. After much deliberation, he decided to gently remind Cheng Shi not to go too far.
Cheng Shi, knowing that unifying every available force was essential right now, naturally couldn't ignore ng Youfang's concerns. He'd already prepared an excuse and told him privately:
"This isn't a test — [Truth] has its eyes on your position and is actively blocking your return.
A new round of divine struggle has begun among the gods. But don't worry — [Void] will support you, Brother ng!"
"!?"
ng Youfang froze, his gaze turning instantly cold.
"[Truth] dares to declare war on ?"
"..."
Cheng Shi stared blankly, bit back a retort, and nodded vigorously.
ng Youfang's eyes hardened again: "Understood. From here on out — don't bla
for going all out."
"..."
'Brother, just unleash your divine powers already. If you can squash [Truth] directly, I'll kowtow to you twice.'
'Who knows what got into that god's head — trying to pull its own followers out of history.'
'You're doing this, [Truth]? Did you even ask [mory] if it's okay?'
'Don't tell
you want to steal [mory]'s authority too?'
Cheng Shi was livid, but for now all he could do was take things one step at a ti, pooling everyone's wisdom to find an opportunity to break through.
Just as he finished briefing everyone, Hu Xuan approached, brow deeply furrowed as she repeatedly confird with Cheng Shi whether this Trial was truly just an experint. Cheng Shi affird it with a puzzled look, and Hu Xuan nodded:
"There's sothing I need to verify. If you have enough people to face the Grand Scholars, I'd like to..."
Cheng Shi frowned, recalling the figure he'd glimpsed earlier while searching for Hu Xuan.
"A friend?"
"Yes. A friend."
Who could the Eternal Sun consider a friend?
Since Hu Xuan wouldn't elaborate, Cheng Shi didn't press. He trusted that the Sage would never betray him, so he simply nodded:
"Co back quickly. I need your help."
Hu Xuan nodded solemnly and brushed her hand lightly in front of Cheng Shi. "Alright. Wait for ."
With that, the Sage turned and left. Cheng Shi raised his wrist and saw a wisp of [Birth] energy coalescing on his arm once more, swelling into a new "Pregnancy Rhythm."
...
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