Foolish Game of the Chapter 829: My Ears Fell Here

"Yu Xi? You're...!?"

Ai Si's eyes flew wide. Cheng Shi laughed through his nose and nodded.

"Exactly what you're thinking.

Allow

to introduce myself. I am the Envoy of Deceit, a Servant God of Void who walks the mortal world. You see

here because my ears fell in this place. I've co to retrieve them."

Cheng Shi spoke as though discussing the weather. Ai Si listened with her heart in her throat.

'Surna Cheng is claiming to be an Envoy?'

'No — whether he's actually "Surna Cheng" is another question. But an Envoy... does Deceit even have one?'

'She'd never heard of such a thing.'

Ai Si frowned. A 2,400-point War Supervisor was no rookie. From the ga's descent until now, she'd never once heard of a Servant God within Void.

And given the indisputable fact that whoever this person was, they were a Deceit believer of so sort, she cautiously chose to watch and wait.

But she couldn't deny: the appearance of "one of Them" was enormously tempting for a player in her bracket. Peak Players had no chance of an audience with their god; 2,400 was light-years from that privilege. An Envoy beca the only conceivable bridge.

From the Descent Faction to the God Worship Society, plenty of mid-to-high-tier players were pragmatic. Knowing a divine audience was hopeless, they poured themselves into trials for one reason — to find a living god's Envoy, in hopes of earning divine recognition.

Ai Si wasn't among them. But if she could actually connect with an Envoy in this trial... she'd take it in a heartbeat.

Even if the Envoy served Deceit. Even if this deity was a better liar than Surna Cheng — soone who'd decimate her sense of direction. So what? Sotis being deceived was a better gamble than waiting around to die.

After several silent seconds, Ai Si's cautious posture softened a fraction. She deliberated, wavered, and finally asked a question.

She knew that probing was the signal of taking the bait — that it would pull her into the other's rhythm. But if she let this chance slip, she'd walk away from this trial with nothing.

'Are you really going to try snatching that one treasure from three Cheng Shis?'

'Impossible. Absolutely impossible.'

So she bit — even if the hook was poisoned.

"You... Your Excellency and Surna Cheng's relationship is...?"

Yu Xi laughed softly, gazing casually toward the fog where the two figures had vanished.

"Cheng Shi? Hmm — he's a player with a very interesting fate. I often assu interesting personas to observe people like him up close.

And this Fate Weaver is more interesting than I expected."

"Fate Weaver?" Ai Si blinked. "Isn't he a Clown?"

?

"...Which is precisely why I find him interesting."

A flicker of undetectable shock crossed Lord Yu Xi's eyes — followed by instant comprehension. Masking the anomaly, he continued with breezy nonchalance. "I once guided him onto the path of Deceit. In hindsight, it suits him far better than Fate."

"???" Ai Si was even more confused. "You an — by the end of month three since the ga's descent, Surna Cheng had already fused Deceit and obtained his second faith?"

"!!??"

'Month three? That early?!'

Lord Yu Xi's expression froze. Behind his back, his fists clenched bone-white. An unmistakable flash of envy darted through his eyes. But he concealed it flawlessly — not a single crack.

And after that, he refused to say another word on the subject.

Watching the Envoy smile enigmatically, Ai Si suddenly felt he might actually be genuine. No player she'd ever t could replicate this "toying with the mortal realm" attitude.

Besides, the thirty-second stall window had long since passed. If this were really a player, wouldn't he be desperate to catch up with Cheng Shi and claim the Faith Theater's treasure?

What possible benefit could there be in wasting ti showboating in front of her?

No — there were no such fools among peak Players. They knew exactly what they wanted.

So everything pointed to one conclusion: Lord Yu Xi already had the recovery of his ears well in hand. This so-called "performance" was simply watching these Players scramble for ears that already belonged to Him!

The realization hit like lightning.

"My lord — they're all searching for those ears... to get close to you?"

The War Supervisor had instinctively switched to formal address. Hearing "my lord," Yu Xi's smile brightened.

And reading that increasingly loaded smile, Ai Si understood.

'No wonder. No wonder this lord trailed behind without a hint of urgency. While everyone else sprinted toward the answer, He strolled at the rear.'

'Because those ears would be His regardless. He was rely observing the Players. And among them, Surna Cheng probably wasn't the only one who'd caught His eye.'

'So who else?'

Regardless, for Ai Si this was a golden opportunity. If everyone was chasing the ears to approach Yu Xi, then she was already standing right beside Him.

She hadn't even broken a sweat. Just got outplayed by a teammate — and landed a chance to et an Envoy. Who said fortune and misfortune don't walk hand in hand?

Excitent surged through her. But she knew she had no standing to ask an Envoy for anything. Keeping her proportions, she targeted her goal and began to work toward it.

And the first step was... a pledge of loyalty.

"Lord Yu Xi... what can I do for you?"

Yu Xi turned, appraising the War Supervisor with a scrutinizing, amused gaze. After a mont, he spoke.

"What I need is an audience mber who'll watch the show with

and share in the fun — not a servant who runs errands.

I have no shortage of servants. Only a shortage of amusent."

That answer shut one door. Ai Si's expression faltered; a shadow of disappointnt crossed her eyes.

But swiftly, Lord Yu Xi offered the carrot.

"If you're not comfortable sitting in the audience... then go on stage.

Join this performance. Compete alongside these fascinating Players. Fight for the chance to stand in the spotlight."

Hearing this, Ai Si thought 'I knew it.' This Envoy was indeed observing Players who interested Him. But besides Cheng Shi — who else?

She hesitated before asking. She knew that once she joined the fray, her sympathies would naturally lean toward the man who'd saved her life. But she didn't want to inadvertently undermine Yu Xi's other subject of interest, so she needed to confirm first.

Lord Yu Xi glanced at the Devout Land. His tone was loaded.

"So you're cautious too. In this era, who isn't?

He's a lot like you, actually — another little scher looking for a way to get close to .

His na is Long Jing. You probably know him. He's the one who stole your original spot beside the Clown.

I'm growing more and more interested in this Acrobat. Hmm... the Clown's path has been too smooth; he lacks tempering. In that case...

Here's what you do: go help Long Jing. Tell him I want to raise the difficulty for the Clown.

If the two of you can retrieve my ears during this trial, I'll consider what's in your heart.

Provided, of course, that you're willing to embrace Void."

"!!!"

'Willing? Of course she was willing!'

At her bracket, what choice did she have? Seeing faith fusion dangling before her eyes, Ai Si's breath hitched. Excitent blazed.

"I will not fail your trust, my lord."

She lowered her head. A flash of guilt crossed her eyes.

'Sorry, Surna Cheng. Once I've gotten what I need, I'll make it up to you.'

'Besides — this is a test from a Servant God. He doesn't test anyone else, only you. That can only an one thing: you truly are Deceit's darling.'

...