Foolish Game of the Chapter 561: Time Gives an Answer Again

"How did you get here? That's new!"

Cheng Shi was amused. He didn't mind that Zhang Jizu had found his rest area — one glance at the skull's appearance told him the visit was probably arranged by that lord.

Since there was divine authorization behind this, there was little risk. Besides, the visitor was Squinty Old Zhang — a fellow priest, also working two jobs under that lord and the Fun God alike!

He trotted over to the little skull, squatted down, and examined his forr teammate with brimming delight.

"Nice new skin! Wearing the work uniform really makes you look sharp!"

It took Zhang Jizu a mont to realize "work uniform" referred to his current skull form. He sighed helplessly:

"That lord granted

a small gadget. It can locate you. So here I am."

'Knew it was Him!'

'But... a small gadget?'

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow as sothing sprang to mind. His tone instantly turned teasing:

"That doesn't add up, Old Zhang. Did you hear

talking about getting gadgets from that lord, and then go whine to Him for your own reward out of jealousy?"

"..."

The question shut Zhang Jizu right up.

Honestly, he really hadn't asked. Nobody knew why that lord had suddenly bestowed upon him a key leading to Cheng Shi's rest area. And it so happened that Zhang Jizu's cetery was filled with endless corpses — so already rotted to bone. And Death loved bones.

So he ca. And then... he got mocked.

Worst of all, there was no good way to counter it. Explain — and it looks like you're making excuses. Stay silent — and it's taken as admission.

So the curious squinty-eyed arrival could only accept the loss and squeeze his eyes even tighter.

But since he was in skull form, the squinting didn't register on the bone surface. To Cheng Shi, the complete lack of rebuttal equaled confirmation.

So his grin grew wider still.

"Tsk — Old Zhang, that competitive streak of yours is a bit much, huh."

"..."

Zhang Jizu could no longer laugh. He was seriously questioning why he'd even co.

Cheng Shi roared with laughter at the little skull's dazed look, but he also knew when to stop. Before long, he cut the laughter and patted the squinty skull on the cranium:

"Alright, alright, I'll stop laughing. So what brings you here, little bone?"

"..."

Zhang Jizu narrowed his eyes with a wordless stare at Cheng Shi. He had to talk himself down for a good while before restraining the urge to curse. He sighed once more and began: "I—"

"Hey, hold on!"

Cheng Shi suddenly cut him off, as if recalling sothing extrely urgent. He leapt to his feet and darted into the rest area warehouse.

After a bout of rummaging, he returned carrying a battered old wooden chair, which he set down right in front of the Death Chosen.

"Sit — it's more comfortable."

Zhang Jizu blinked, then a flash of surprise crossed his mind.

'Since when was this guy so considerate?'

'He probably doesn't want to talk down to

from above. So he wants to put

on this chair?'

'But the way I am now, how am I supposed to hop up there?'

'He'll have to help , I suppose?'

So Zhang Jizu slowly turned his gaze toward Cheng Shi, waiting expectantly.

What he absolutely never expected was that just as he waited for Cheng Shi's next move, this absurd clown suddenly flashed a wicked grin — and walked right past him to sit down himself.

Yes. Cheng Shi sat down himself!

Right in front of Zhang Jizu!

As Cheng Shi sat on the chair, looking down at the little skull on the ground from an even loftier position, sounds of amused wonder escaped his lips.

"Tsk — so this is what it feels like when that lord looks down at ."

"?????"

Zhang Jizu was dumbstruck.

'What is this person doing?'

'He's imitating the lord on the Bone Throne right in front of ?'

'Dude...'

'What kind of brain circuit does a person need to do sothing like this?'

'Even the Prisoner wouldn't stoop this low, right?'

'Well, maybe Zhen Yi... forget it, that jinx probably could.'

'Fine, fine, fine. You Deceit people really are sothing...'

This thought was barely ford when he caught himself — because he suddenly rembered that he was now a Deceit follower too.

"..."

Zhang Jizu's heart seized. His lip corner twitched, eyelid spasming wildly. Though the skull couldn't display his expression, there was no question: the Death Chosen had reached peak speechlessness.

At this mont, Squinty wanted nothing more than to headbutt Cheng Shi off his feet, drag him back to the cetery, and bury him — let this unreliable liar keep Mo Shu's fake grave company.

Though the little skull was expressionless, Cheng Shi sensed the atmosphere crumbling around him. He quickly tucked away his sly grin, cleared his throat casually, and pivoted:

"Ahem... let's talk business. Business."

Zhang Jizu slanted a sidelong look at him and said nothing.

Cheng Shi's face stiffened with embarrassnt. He got off the chair and squatted back down on the ground.

Squinty continued his silence.

Cheng Shi twitched his lips, sighed, and obediently lifted Zhang Jizu onto the chair.

Only when those pitch-black eye sockets were level with Cheng Shi's gaze did Zhang Jizu finally speak in a slow, asured tone:

"I ran into Poison."

"?"

Just the opening line nearly sent Cheng Shi reeling. He blinked rapidly at Zhang Jizu, frowned in thought, then brightened:

"What — you two butted heads?"

The little skull shook: "No. She helped . Though I don't rember exactly who she shielded

from after the trial ended, I'm certain she did help .

And it was on your account."

Cheng Shi's eyebrow rose. He was even more pleased.

Repaying kindness was a good thing. But as for Poison... 'Forget it. Once the trade is done, let's mind our own businesses.'

He didn't respond aloud, because Zhang Jizu was still going.

"She's already found her own second faith."

"?" Cheng Shi froze. He wasn't surprised per se, but he was taken aback by how quick Poison moved. "That fast?"

'That fast?'

A gleam flashed in Zhang Jizu's eyes. Understanding dawned: "So it is connected to you."

Cheng Shi gave an awkward laugh: "Not exactly connected. I had a tiny bit of influence, maybe. So — which faith did she embrace? Don't tell

it's actually Birth?"

At the word "Birth," Cheng Shi involuntarily shuddered.

He was genuinely terrified.

"Birth? No — not Birth. Not even Life.

I'm curious, Cheng Shi. You clearly have a Fate sub-personality. So why did you push Poison toward your own opposite?

Was that calculated, or was it a mistake?"

"???"

Cheng Shi's brain short-circuited.

"What opposite?

Huh?

Old Zhang — what do you an? Are you saying she... rged with Ti?"

Zhang Jizu automatically filtered out the irrelevant words. With a grave expression, he nodded:

"Yes. The Wicked Sin concurrently serves as an Another Day Assassin. The current Poison has beco... very powerful."

"..."

6.

6 out of 6.

'Aph Ros, how exactly did you guide her?'

'You steered your own Benefactor's follower straight to your warden?'

'What is this — offering a beauty to the jailer in hopes of getting your sentence reduced?'

'Hm?'

'Does that even work?'

'And Ti — everyone else runs from Corruption, but You don't seem to care at all.'

'Could You possibly be tougher than the Corruption that took down Order?'

'Why does this Existence feel so... narcissistically powerful? Am I imagining things?'

'And Poison — your heart is truly made of steel. Harder than mine by a wide margin. I an, I did owe her a favor, so I have no right to criticize her choices. But you just waltzed right over to the enemy team?'

'Absolutely incredible. Existence just ca by to play , and the idle chess piece they left behind inexplicably wound up in the opposing team's box.'

'Spectacular. But what can I do about it?'

'All I can say is — praise fking Fate.'

"#$%&...#"

...