Finding the trial's answer was certainly cause for celebration, yet all three players' expressions turned strange at the sa mont.
Because, based on past experience with Ti trials, future anomalies were usually the last ones discovered. Finding the answer this smoothly — on the very first day — was exceedingly rare.
Was this truly Destiny's guidance?
The Blind One looked thoughtfully at Cheng Shi. Qin Xin studied the pair of them with keen interest. Cheng Shi... played it safe and didn't dare declare this the real answer.
You had to be kidding. If the opposing god's trial were this simple — even allowing a rival deity's influence to help all along — then why bother with faith rivalries at all? Just declare Existence and Void one big happy family.
Even if Ti wouldn't make things as difficult as mory would, He'd certainly stir up sothing in His own trial. Otherwise, there'd be no explanation for why He'd suddenly appeared before Aph Ros's gate to summon him.
Though that summons had seed like a greeting aid at Brother Mouth, the ring — Ti of Eternal Imprisonnt — had very much landed on his own head!
What His purpose was, Cheng Shi couldn't begin to fathom. But he knew Ti never acted on a whim. It was just that whatever He was trying to express was beyond Cheng Shi's current comprehension.
So — was the answer he could understand right now actually the real answer?
What was He trying to say through this trial?
As Cheng Shi mulled it over, the quiet Blind One spoke up again. She wasn't particularly curious about Shi Lolin as the answer — she was far more interested in the two Folly followers' experint.
She steered the conversation back to the experint, but her target wasn't Mo Rabic or Allendor. It was the person who also knew about the experint — Shi Lolin.
"What did they show you?"
At this, Mo Rabic also turned with deep suspicion. Shi Lolin had spoken about their experint with impressive authority, as if she'd truly been briefed on it. But Mo Rabic didn't believe Allendor would have leaked experintal secrets without his knowledge. He wanted to confirm whether she actually knew sothing.
Shi Lolin paused, quickly combing through her mory, and said with a frown: "A finger segnt. A severed finger."
"!!!"
She really did know!
Mo Rabic was stunned. He whipped around to glare at Allendor, only to find Allendor already glaring back at him with fury. The two scrutinized each other without yielding an inch, each clearly suspecting the other of leaking the artifact's existence.
"You've truly disappointed , Mo Rabic."
"Fool, use your brain. I've been with you this entire ti — when would I have had the chance to spill these secrets?"
"Then why are you looking at
like that?"
"..."
"And how do you explain her knowing your na?"
"..."
Mo Rabic had no answer. His expression stiff and grave, he turned to Shi Lolin — only to see her adding fuel to the fire with evident relish:
"I don't just know Mr. Mo Rabic's na — I know yours too, Mr. Allendor. I also know that while Mo Rabic is the finger's custodian, the actual operator is you.
You replicated a small portion of the experint right in front of ."
"Absolutely impossible! Without the Abyss Colorful Crystal, how could anything be replicated?
!!!
Unless... you're a prophet?!"
In that mont, both Folly followers had finally achieved true folly.
The scene erupted into chaos. Only Shi Lolin had a vague inkling of what was happening, but she didn't dare voice it — because she wasn't sure if doing so would cost her the leadership of the Shanty Area, her position as the Extre Desire Brotherhood's representative in Falling Gate.
Desire wasn't only about indulgence — it was also about fear. She was afraid. And because she was afraid, Cheng Shi was amused.
Because the Fun Ring had finished charging.
Cheng Shi smiled, interrupting everyone's free-form debate. Naturally, the players weren't about to explain Ti "discrepancies" to NPCs. They only wanted to know what that finger was. So he cut straight to the point:
"Let's hear it, wise n. Only when you've explained this experint can we begin cooperating and help you find so Abyss Colorful Crystal.
At the end of the day, that's what you ca here for. So whoever can supply the Crystal counts as a perfect partner — isn't that right?
As for you, Lady Shi Lolin — for certain reasons, you may need to surrender your freedom for a while.
But don't be afraid. We won't do anything to you. Finding Abyss Colorful Crystal is outside our expertise, and we'll need your help. I trust you'll assist us?"
Shi Lolin's face was pale. Though genuinely shaken, she seized the mont and said through gritted teeth: "I can also cooperate with you."
"?" Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow, even more amused. "Between us and the Shanty Area — and the Extre Desire Brotherhood — I see no basis for cooperation."
"No — this has nothing to do with the Shanty Area. It's
— Shi Lolin — personally. I want to cooperate with you."
"You think you're in a position to negotiate?" Cheng Shi smiled, flicking out a scalpel.
"No, I'm not. But I know that my willing compliance will be more useful to you than coercion. I know this place. I know Falling Gate. I know the mine. I know the Proxy Hand. And I know my brother, A Rad, better than anyone.
I can tell you don't want to kill , and your real objective extends far beyond just . So I'm begging for a chance to cooperate. And the biggest chip I can offer is...
Myself.
I will submit to any arrangent and assist you in achieving every one of your goals within Falling Gate. Even if my ultimate fate is death, I accept it willingly."
"..."
Cheng Shi nearly applauded her for that speech. Even Qin Xin and the Blind One's expressions shifted after hearing it.
The Blind One was silent for a mont, then asked: "What do you want?"
Shi Lolin's head snapped up, eyes brimming with desperate hope as she looked at the Blind One and said, word by deliberate word: "I want A Rad dead. And I want you to spare the Extre Desire Brotherhood. Beyond that, I ask for nothing."
"You want A Rad dead? Isn't he your brother?" Cheng Shi blinked in confusion.
"Yes. My full-blooded brother, born of the sa mother."
"And you still want him dead? Well, that's not necessarily off the table, but... it'll cost extra." Cheng Shi rubbed his chin.
???
'Wait — he's my brother. Why would you charge extra to kill him?'
The line caught Shi Lolin completely off guard. She stared at Cheng Shi vacantly, unable to recover, until Cheng Shi cleared his throat to snap her out of it. She clenched her teeth and made another promise:
"A Rad's death can be hidden from the Proxy Hand for at least seven days. During that ti, all mining proceeds will belong to you. The Extre Desire Brotherhood won't compete — and wouldn't dare.
I know they've recently excavated several pieces of Abyss Colorful Crystal. Those would all be yours."
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