The trial was over. But history was far from finished.
The answer Cheng Shi submitted was rely a key. The key opened the door to victory — but unlike a consumable, it wouldn't vanish after a single use. So the mont those "lords" disappeared into thin air, the trial's "answers" exchanged bewildered glances, as if reborn.
They looked at each other briefly, then sprang into action.
Shi Lolin was the first to react. Though she was the most tightly bound, ropes could restrain her body but not her voice. The mont she realized she was "free" again, she threw back her head and sang — a filthy Corruption anthem so vulgar it was unfit for ears, aid at every man present.
The next second, two Wise n, one stowaway, and one miner beca entangled in a knot of primal desire.
Once she confird no threat remained, Shi Lolin wriggled to the side and searched for a way to escape her bonds.
The Siren was clever enough. She freed herself quickly, then — brow furrowed tight — knocked out the urine-stinking miner and the disheveled stowaway, tied the two Wise n (who clung to each other and refused to let go) in a basent room, and hurried down the mountainside.
She'd been away from the Shanty Area too long. She needed to check on the Brotherhood's situation and arrange an effective response to current affairs.
Though the mysterious overlords had used up all the Abyss Colorful Crystals, Shi Lolin was no short-sighted woman. She knew that as long as the Tower of Logic on the surface still stood, the Proxy Hand's mining operations would never stop. More crystals would be mined. So as long as she kept these two powerless Wise n under her influence — no, simply befriended them — the Brotherhood could seize resources from the Proxy Hand to strengthen itself.
Ad Ric mattered too, of course. As the miner who'd witnessed A Rad's death, keeping him alive would let her reach deeper inside the Proxy Hand.
As for the stowaway...
Useless. Kill him and be done.
Lost in thought, Shi Lolin soon reached the base of the mountain. She returned to the Shanty Area looking exhausted — but what greeted her wasn't anxious subordinates or panicking underlings. It was... a wall of decadent music, suffusing the air.
The Shanty Area was running perfectly fine. As if it didn't need anyone in particular.
Shi Lolin was rather gratified. She rang the Brotherhood's communication signal. Before long, several mbers converged from all directions.
Alo Manni was among them — only this ti, she'd brought soone along. A beautiful woman Shi Lolin had never seen before.
This stranger wore a tattered form-fitting warrior's suit. Golden curls cascaded loose around her shoulders. Her face was sared with gri, her appearance thoroughly disheveled — yet even so, nothing could conceal those fierce, sharp features and that cutting aura.
She looked like a princess in exile. Completely out of place in the Shanty Area.
Shi Lolin raised an eyebrow. Intrigued by this unfamiliar woman, she looked at Alo Manni, awaiting an explanation. Alo Manni stepped forward, sowhat nervous, and clasped Shi Lolin's hand, whispering close:
"I think there's sothing wrong with this one's head. She says she's here to help us overthrow the Proxy Hand."
"?" Shi Lolin blinked, then turned to the blonde woman with a smile: "You think the Extre Desire Brotherhood wants to take down the Proxy Hand?"
The golden-haired woman showed no warmth. Cold and clipped, she replied:
"Perhaps not. But you won't have a choice.
The Tower of Logic won't tolerate an organization that continuously undermines their underground exploration efficiency lingering around the Abyssal Volcano forever.
I'll concede: no one can truly destroy the Extre Desire Brotherhood. Desire can't be suppressed or extinguished. But your problem right now is that your desires flow in too many scattered directions. You can't concentrate force.
The consequence? The Proxy Hand will keep nibbling away at your territory until... you're reduced to vassals. Or their playthings.
I can help you break the imbalance. Tip the scales of victory in your favor."
Shi Lolin laughed. Though her smile dripped with ridicule, she still afforded this beauty maximum respect.
"Well said. But here's what I want you to know: the Proxy Hand can't be destroyed.
Even now, even though I killed A Rad — the next leader was imdiately dispatched from the Tower of Logic. Those evil god worshippers on the surface will never give up the Underground's resources. So tell
— whose daughter are you? You look a bit rebellious.
But that's fine. The Extre Desire Brotherhood loves rebellion. Join us. I, Shi Lolin, can shelter your rebellious spirit and let you bloom into the most beautiful flower of desire right here."
As she spoke, Shi Lolin's hand crept along the woman's collarbone and up her neck. But the blonde didn't flinch. She simply said, even colder than before:
"Nothing in this world is indestructible. If the Proxy Hand is backed by the Tower of Logic, then destroy the Tower of Logic — and the Proxy Hand crumbles with it. Simple, isn't it?"
"???"
Shi Lolin was stunned. Now she believed Alo Manni's assessnt. This woman's head really was screwed on wrong.
Her hand froze on the blonde's neck. Looking at those seductive lines, Shi Lolin felt she could wring this cold beauty's life out in a single squeeze. But the woman didn't appear to fear death.
Shi Lolin studied her for a mont. Her gaze darkened.
"Who are you? Who sent you? You don't look like soone from the Underground."
The golden-haired beauty glanced at Shi Lolin's wrist and finally allowed herself the faintest smile.
"Galusha.
I do co from the surface. But I'm here... for myself."
"Galusha?" Shi Lolin silently repeated the na twice, furrowed her brow, withdrew her hand, and turned to whisper a string of instructions to Alo Manni — to head up the mountain first and bring down several important people.
Strange events had been multiplying in Falling Gate lately. She couldn't afford to be careless, in case this Galusha turned out to be another being like those mysterious overlords from before.
Alo Manni took a squad and departed. Shi Lolin brought Galusha into her own shack for further questioning. Before long, Alo Manni returned — face pale. She'd brought back only the two Wise n. No sign of Ad Ric.
Shi Lolin's brow tightened. She was about to ask when Alo Manni blurted out, still shaken:
"Shi Lolin, I think you were under an illusion.
A Rad isn't dead. He never died. He discovered the mine's anomalies and is currently rallying the miners to sweep the entire Crystal Pool.
Ad Ric was killed by him. Your brother seems to have..."
"He's not my brother!"
Shi Lolin shot to her feet, sweeping everything off the surface beside her.
The most nauseating scenario had materialized. After losing contact with A Rad, the Tower of Logic had deployed yet another "A Rad" to take over Falling Gate.
She had a brother again. A slice whose personality she couldn't predict.
"Can you... really bring down the Tower of Logic?"
Shi Lolin felt she was losing her mind. In a mont of dazed impulse, she turned to Galusha and asked this absurd question.
Galusha smiled again. It seed she only showed genuine warmth when discussing how to annihilate the Tower of Logic.
"If you believe ... why not let
try?"
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