"Fate Weaver, I'm not targeting you specifically. It's just that I genuinely think Zhen Yi is completely unreliable. She clearly—
"Ugh, forget it. No matter how I phrase it, it cos back to you. You're... fine. At least you're completely separated from Zhen Yi now.
"Still, I'm curious about how [Prosperity] actually fell, and what exactly the Convention is. Normally I'd get answers from you, Brother Cheng, but now that your mories have been taken, we're all in the dark.
"But you saved my life, Brother Cheng. I, Long Jing, have that engraved in my heart. So today, in front of everyone, let
be a bit uncouth and repay that debt first.
"I never like to leave things outstanding."
To outsiders, every word seed to be making excuses for Cheng Shi. But only the two of them knew: Long Jing was mimicking the Grand Marshal's style— every sentence was actually probing Cheng Shi.
As he spoke, Long Jing pulled a contract from his storage space and slapped it on the ground.
Everyone's expressions turned peculiar. Da Yi, who hadn't participated in the "escape," was still among them. This clearly wasn't the mont for "repaying debts," yet Long Jing's "gratitude" seed suspiciously eager.
Cheng Shi's eyes flickered with amusent. He roughly guessed the other's intent but didn't expose it. Instead, he feigned surprise and raised an eyebrow at the contract, which was covered top to bottom in dense text. At the very end was a signature in Chinese characters: "Long Jing."
Beside the signature was a charcoal-drawn smiley face. Though drawn with just three curves, its crooked, twisted shape unmistakably seed to be mocking sothing.
Seeing everyone's odd expressions, Long Jing explained:
"I obtained a very special [Deceit] item during a trial— the Tongue of Eating Lies that Zhen Yi used to shatter her own illusion at the diocre Person gathering.
"Don't be fooled by its S-grade rating. It's extrely useful for dispelling falsehoods.
"This is the contract I wrote with Zhen Yi. I lent her the Tongue of Eating Lies for six months. When the contract expires, she returns it, and additionally lends
her Void mory Pocket for one month.
"Since you saved us, Brother Cheng, you essentially dismantled Zhen Yi's sche. That ans she'll probably add another grudge on your account. I don't need to tell you how troubleso that pest is. So, to give you at least so ans to expose her lies...
"I'm transferring this contract for the Tongue of Eating Lies to you!"
"..."
Everyone's expressions were a sight to behold. Cheng Shi's face was especially complicated.
'This is... Brother Tongue's lending contract?'
The other party may have been a con artist with a Master of Deception talent, but this contract didn't appear to be fake.
'So once I take this contract, Brother Tongue is definitively mine?'
'Doesn't that an Zhen Xin lent MY OWN property... back to ?'
'Outrageous!'
'Well then. I won't even need to return it.'
Of course, Cheng Shi knew the Tongue of Eating Lies was already in his possession, but nobody else did. They'd been discussing trials when Long Jing suddenly produced a repaynt, drawing puzzled looks. After the explanation, Hu Wei actually laughed in anger.
He looked at Long Jing, displeasure tinging his eyes:
"My brother risked his life pulling you out of Go Lis's lair, and this is how you repay him?
"A scrap of paper?
"Long Jing, have you forgotten? That tongue thing is still in Zhen Yi's hands!"
"..."
Outwardly, Cheng Shi smiled. Inwardly, he was elated. 'As expected of my good brother— even standing up for . Honestly, this is the most sincere "brother" I've ever called anyone.'
Long Jing looked sheepish but soon stiffened his neck and argued:
"After comprehensive consideration, this is the most useful thing I can offer Brother Fate Weaver. The tongue is still with Zhen Yi, but Grand Marshal, don't underestimate this contract. It's—"
"A Law Contract that passed the Grand Tribunal's highest judicial ruling!" Mo Li cut in, brows raised in surprise. "President Gong, impressive work. Where did you steal this from?"
Cheng Shi blinked— he hadn't expected Mo Li to verify the contract's authenticity. He turned with genuine surprise: "What exactly is it?"
Mo Li smiled and explained patiently:
"Think of it as a page blessed by the Iron Law of [Order]. It was originally ant for the Grand Tribunal's pending legislation. But sohow, two con artists managed to write an absurd contract on it!
"Long Jing, do you have any idea what sothing like this could fetch in [Order]'s circles?
"Even I had only heard rumors of blank Law Contracts being lost. I never imagined you two would actually... heh, you're certainly generous.
"Cheng Shi, I can tell you with full confidence: everything written on this contract will take effect under [Order]'s watch. aning: when the lending period ends, you will definitely reclaim that [Deceit] artifact and also gain one month's use of Zhen Yi's Void mory Pocket.
"But I must warn you: though that [mory] artifact in Zhen Yi's possession is useful, taking it will only make your relationship with her even more... irreconcilable.
"As for the consequences, I trust you understand better than I do."
"..."
Clearly, Long Jing had mixed so agenda into his repaynt. But the gesture itself wasn't entirely hollow— because regardless of who Long Jing believed Cheng Shi truly was, Cheng Shi had genuinely saved him.
So surrendering the Tongue of Eating Lies was a generous repaynt. At the sa ti, this acrobat probably also wanted to shed a burden.
Mo Li's analysis had noticeably diluted the impact of Long Jing's "gratitude." Long Jing gave a dry laugh and looked at Cheng Shi, awaiting his reaction. From Cheng Shi's perspective, this wasn't purely a repaynt— it was another "cooperation" agreent.
As for the terms of cooperation, beyond mutual non-exposure, what Long Jing probably craved most was the "un-forgotten mories" Cheng Shi had ntioned.
'Long Jing wants to know what happened during that trial!'
'Good. Very good. Partnerships between fellow con artists are always this shady.'
Cheng Shi pondered briefly, confird his approach was airtight, then reached down with a smile and collected the contract.
'Well then. Brother Tongue finally has a permanent address.'
As for that "broken pocket" ntioned in the contract? Why refuse sothing offered for free?
Even if it was only for a month. After all, the Tongue of Eating Lies was technically a loaner too. And look how that worked out— borrowed and borrowed until it beca his own.
What if the Void mory Pocket...
Well. A person needed sothing to look forward to.
'Mm. This isn't greed. It's aspiration!'
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