Chapter 175: Real monsters who thrive on malice
Underneath the towering dome was a dark hall, where one could vaguely see the motionless silhouette of small hills. The air carried a damp, musty odor, and a faint yellow liquid dripped from the pile of corpses, bringing with it an ominous atmosphere.
As 04 emerged from the darkness, the density of the barrage in the “Integrity First” live broadcast room instantly tripled.
[What? 04?]
[How did he end up here?]
[Oh, I can’t wait. Will 02 and 04 fight?]
Before the barrage could escalate further, the appearance of 01 caused the barrage in the live broadcast room to explode.
[What?!]
[No way! How is he here too?!]
[Help… Is he surrounded and intercepted?]
[While I guessed that the anchor might encounter old acquaintances on the second underground floor, I never expected this many at once…]
[Yes, with just 04, the danger didn’t seem too great, but now that 01 is here, the possibility of the anchor making it out alive seems slim.]
[But you never know? It also depends on 02’s attitude? Maybe the anchor can find a loophole…]
As Wen Jianyan’s gaze shifted, 02 appeared in the viewers’ sight.
After he finished that statement that could be described as “world-shaking,” the live broadcast room, almost completely covered by densely packed barrage, fell into a rare silence.
[…]
[…]
[…]
After a brief silence, the viewers erupted. One comment overlapped with the other, flying quickly across the huge screen in the live broadcast room, making it almost impossible to discern the words pressed underneath:
[Wait, wait… I can’t wrap my head around this. What’s going on?]
[So now the other freaks are here because he brought them over?]
[Damn, no wonder it’s you, 02!! I’m speechless. Th-this, these high-risk situations are really… playing too big.]
There wasn’t much color on Wen Jianyan’s face, appearing particularly pale in the darkness, like porcelain, calm and distant as if sculpted.
The young man remained expressionless, his gaze heavy, making it difficult to discern what he might be thinking.
He lifted his eyelashes slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the few people in front of him.
One, two, three.
Three enemies with ulterior motives.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Oh my god, I’m really starting to worry now… How will he deal with so many freaks?]
[Is it over? Is this where it ends?]
[And how are they going to divide the situation? No matter how you look at it, these people can’t peacefully coexist, right? Are they each going to get a piece?]
[Huh? Are you guys worried? I’m not worried.]
[What do you mean?]
[Haven’t you noticed? Basically, everyone gathered here now has a common trait… They’ve all given up on killing and evolved in a different direction.]
[Oh… that’s actually true.]
[I still remember the graffiti on the wall in 01’s ward, two little people holding hands; it’s hilarious, surprisingly pure.]
[Speaking of which, the relationship between 04 and the anchor has become quite subtle since last time!]
[Yeah, right after being restrained by the anchor with a prop, those eyes were completely off.]
[Oh no, so is this why 02 chose to find these two guys?]
[…]
[…]
[I’m starting to worry about the anchor from another angle now.]
While the barrage chat was in full swing, Wen Jianyan’s gaze fell on 02. He nodded and said extremely calmly, “Your judgment is very accurate, worthy of praise.”
02 smiled lightly, lowered his eyes, and gazed at the young man in front of him with those deep brown eyes, waiting for his next words.
“It’s indeed difficult for you alone to stop me. Seeking help is the best choice.”
Wen Jianyan raised his eyes again, surveyed around once more, and his gaze swept past 01 and 04 not far away. “Once your numbers become three, my weapon advantage will no longer exist, and resistance would be the least wise action.”
As he spoke, he lightly raised his hand, and his slender fingers spread open.
“Clang.”
The heavy, piercing sound of metal hitting the ground resonated in the vast hall, conveying a shocking vibration.
The firearm exchanged from the system shop fell beside the young man.
He voluntarily disarmed himself.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?]
[??]
[Oh my, is the anchor crazy? Even with weapons, it’s uncertain if he can deal with these freaks. Without weapons, isn’t it even worse!]
[I’m scared. Will this live room become the type we paid for but couldn’t watch!]
[Help, I’m so excited!]
[Aaaaaah, Nightmare, please, I’ll give you points, don’t ban us from seeing what’s coming next! Have mercy on us!]
This was a kind of implication.
Innocent lamb offering himself up for slaughter, abandoning struggle and resistance, exposing his white and defenseless body before the ferocious beasts, awaiting to be torn apart, chewed, and devoured.
So obedient, so sweet.
No predator would refuse such a strong temptation.
Especially when they were so hungry.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Help… Even I’m tempted!!]
[Damn, did you guys see that? In that instant, the expressions of these three people changed… The live room won’t be banned, will it?!]
[Don’t go crazy, everyone; the anchor definitely has a trump card. He’s too calm right now! Having watched so many instances, you don’t seriously think he’s the type to surrender without a fight, do you?!]
[This guy is very dangerous and slippery like an eel, just a little relaxation of vigilance and he’ll turn the tables; otherwise, why do you think those three did not restrain him immediately?]
[Right… except for 01, who’s not very bright, the other two are smart, no one understands the danger of this trickster better than them.]
Even without a weapon by his side, Wen Jianyan’s expression remained unchanged.
On the contrary, compared to when he held a weapon just now, he now seemed to be able to control the situation more easily. Even standing unarmed in place, he carried a powerful, unignorable presence, emitting a magnetic attraction in the cold darkness.
His gaze shifted and fell on 01 not far away.
The blond man was tall, with burning fire in his azure eyes, the intensity of his gaze sticking closely to the young man. If it weren’t for the other two people nearby, he might have already pounced uncontrollably.
Wen Jianyan suddenly smiled.
He waved at 01, “Come over.”
His voice was light and airy, with a casual tone of command.
“!”
Edward’s eyes lit up instantly, paying no attention to the others, and he walked straight up with a few big strides.
At the same time, 04’s eyes cooled for a moment. 02 still had that carefree and smiling face, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts, but neither of them made any move to stop.
Wen Jianyan’s gaze swept quickly over them, taking in their reactions.
Finally, his gaze landed on 01, who was approaching directly.
“Was it you?” Wen Jianyan lowered his head and casually kicked the head rolling to his feet, asking lightly.
“Yes.”
01 gazed fervently at him, leaning in close. He reached out as if to embrace the other, but Wen Jianyan easily avoided him.
“All done, with no one left?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you like it?”
01’s eyes sparkled brightly as he stared at him, like a big dog yearning for praise and affection.
Wen Jianyan steadfastly gazed into his eyes and smiled softly.
“I like it.”
Unlike his previous cold detachment, his voice suddenly softened, becoming tender and intimate, like whispers between lovers.
01’s face suddenly flushed.
Clearly, he was a wild dog who didn’t care, no matter how outrageous the things he did. Even if 04 was watching from not far away, he might even struggle madly to break free just to rush up and kiss his loved one, but now he looked like he was being choked, blushing, and speechless, just leaning toward the young man in front of him.
This time, Wen Jianyan didn’t dodge anymore.
He let the other party hug his waist and even leaned back in a relaxed posture, nestling against the other’s chest.
“…!”
Feeling the other’s movements, Edward was already overheated, embracing Wen Jianyan, as if he had lost his senses, his head feeling dizzy and heavy, almost completely forgetting the existence of others nearby.
“…”
02 squinted slightly, seeming to realize the danger, the smile on his face fading for the first time.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Edward, you… really didn’t learn the lesson at all.]
[Fooled once, twice, three times, four times, and you still stick around for the fifth time. You’re really an undoubtedly stupid dog.]
Wen Jianyan looked at 01:
“There’s something I’m curious about. How did you know I was here?”
It must have been 02’s doing, but how exactly he did it, he wasn’t quite sure.
An ability? Not very likely.
If Wen Jianyan hadn’t used “Flower of Delusion” before, he might have speculated like this, but precisely because he had used the ability, he knew that 02’s ability couldn’t achieve this. And he was not an anchor with a system store, so theoretically, he shouldn’t have the ability to gather everyone together.
And… there was still a choice to gather; at least 03 wasn’t on this list.
“I just knew,” Edward replied confidently.
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes.
This answer…
It was a bit interesting.
Many fragmented pieces and trivial bits of information appeared before him, like shells left on the beach after the tide receded.
Wen Jianyan felt himself groping for some clearer threads amidst the chaos.
Firstly, these obviously abnormal high-risk patients did not turn into monsters like other patients, after the instance mutation, but instead always maintained their human form—this speculation was confirmed after he saw them with his own eyes.
Secondly, according to Edward’s recent statement, there was a high probability that several high-risk patients were somehow maintaining contact in a temporarily unexplainable way.
Suddenly, a sentence jumped into his mind without warning.
“Of course, if you like everyone, that’s fine too. I don’t mind sharing.”
Those familiar words…
…came from Dr. Reese.
These high-risk patients sometimes made gestures that he found familiar… like 02 just now using illusions to help him evade Niel/Lor’s attack. That sudden sense of dislocation that Wen Jianyan never forgot.
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes.
Many clues strung together, and a concept that had been overlooked in that snake’s words jumped out clearly.
[We].
Initially, Wen Jianyan thought that this “we” was just a generic term without any real significance. The scope of the term was also very vague. But now, he could be very certain that only those high-risk patients who had connections with each other and could maintain their human form after the instance mutation were referred to as [we].
In addition to the information he found in the data room.
All these patients appeared at the inception of the Ping An Asylum.
Perhaps… these few were originally one entity?
That possibility was quite high.
If one were to reason in that direction, the Ping An Asylum was likely a manifestation of someone’s psyche, and all these high-risk patients were different personalities within it.
But what about the other patients? How do they fit in?
And the bell? The church?
How did this inexplicable fixation come about?
This logical chain seemed perfect, but there always seemed to be something very peculiar about it, something that couldn’t be entirely explained by this reasoning…
A link had been overlooked.
Without it, all the pieces of the puzzle could not be put together, and there was even a feeling of being led astray.
“…”
Within just a few seconds, Wen Jianyan’s mind had produced dozens of thoughts, swirling around before falling into silence once more.
He had a premonition that, in any case, all these questions would be answered inside the chapel.
“01, you should understand, monopolization is not allowed, right?”
02 stepped forward, casually stating, “Monopolization marks the beginning of disintegration. I believe you’ve experienced this firsthand, haven’t you?”
His gaze swept over 04 and 01 with a cold smirk in his eyes.
Both men looked slightly apprehensive; even the simplest-minded Edward showed a pensive expression.
Clearly, after the last melee, they understood that as soon as someone attempted to monopolize, it would lead to disintegration. Once chaos ensued…
Unexpectedly, Wen Jianyan nodded and said, “That’s right, sharing is the most secure way.”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze fell on him.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?? huh? What’s the anchor doing, really throwing himself into the lion’s den?]
[I’m ready to record, thank you.]
[I feel like something exciting is about to happen. Can I see something that only paying viewers can see next?]
[…Damn!!! I know what the anchor is up to.]
[?]
[He must have realized, with the experiences of the previous skirmishes, that stirring discord this time would be difficult.]
[That’s definitely the case! So I don’t think the anchor was prepared to do this…]
[No, he still did it.]
[???]
[Didn’t you notice? If they join forces, the probability of escape is almost zero!]
[So… is the anchor prepared to sow discord under hellish conditions this time?]
[Yes. The anchor just threw the bait. The purpose isn’t to give up resistance but to shift the conflict, putting himself in the position of prey to reduce his threat. It’s basically hinting to the others to turn against each other, then subtly changing the balance of power in the field, creating an unbalanced environment, and eventually picking them off one by one.]
As if to confirm the barrage’s prediction, Wen Jianyan spoke.
The amber-eyed young man smiled, like a siren bewitching sailors astray, his light lips parted, his words laced with deadly poison.
“The proposal for sharing is very good; I agree.”
He raised his finger.
“But there’s a condition.”
“I hate being manipulated,” his gaze shifted, landing on the dark-skinned man not far away, sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes, “So, I want you to take out 02.”
“Take him out, and you’ll have my agreement, free to do as you please.”
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes, his hand resting on 01’s broad shoulder, a gleam of amusement flashing in his eyes, like a true monster born of malice:
“After all, wouldn’t it be better with one less person to share?”
***
Wen Jianyan succeeded.
Even though the difficulty was high, he still succeeded.
Those who had been deceived once always believed they wouldn’t be fooled again, and those who had suffered losses always thought they’d learn from them. But for a true deceiver, this wasn’t a problem.
The atmosphere in the air shifted, and a heavy, dark smell of gunpowder dispersed—the group, though deeply connected, harbored no real feelings toward each other, at most just maintaining control over each other to avoid mutual destruction.
And what Wen Jianyan needed to do was give them a reason and break this false and fragile balance.
Throwing the bait was the first step.
He needed to reduce his own threat and divert the other’s vigilance.
Preferring 01 was the second step.
This guy acted on pure instinct; he was a beast, unlike the other smart ones who were cautious. He didn’t know how to restrain his desires, and he was the easiest to manipulate.
Wen Jianyan didn’t need to do much. He just needed to present an attitude.
He was a scammer skilled at using his own charm. Though he hadn’t figured out the source of the “infatuation” yet, once he became aware of it, that was enough to toy with everyone’s emotions and affections.
The pleasure derived from violence and plunder was sensory and addictive, but this kind of pleasure couldn’t breed control. Instead, it would incite brutality and savagery. Wen Jianyan had to nip this tendency in the bud and leave more enticing bait in its place.
Please me, and you’ll receive my favor.
I’ll bestow smiles and attention upon you, things you can never snatch away—of course, provided you have the ability to strive for it.
Choosing 02 as the target was the third step.
Wen Jianyan’s goal wasn’t to kill anyone. Whether 02 lived or died had nothing to do with him. He would never agree to any “sharing” plan; everything he said was a lie.
What he was doing was disrupting the balance and creating gaps for escape.
Provoking the bestial nature of followers while ensuring that the targeted individual couldn’t easily die—02’s ability was perfect in this regard.
At the same time, Wen Jianyan ensured his own escape route remained clear.
Just now, 01 said all the monsters had been cleared out.
Next, he just needed to wait for the right moment.
“…” 02 was first startled, then his smile became even brighter.
Even with eyes locked onto him with murderous intent, he still appeared cheerful and composed.
He gazed at Wen Jianyan and whispered, “What to do? You seem even more beautiful.”
What a powerful, cunning, and clear-minded soul.
Utilizing everything at his disposal, including himself. Rational, patient, and concealed, capable of turning the tide under any circumstances. A slight misstep, and he could be bitten into a bloody chunk.
Truly…
Delicious.
An unstoppable hunger swept over.
There was some dormant will stirring within his body.
The young man had a clear face, and a slender figure, and was more delicate compared to everyone else present. He smiled innocently and gently, even with a hint of involuntary shyness:
“Thank you.”
Chapter 175: Real monsters who thrive on malice
Underneath the towering dome was a dark hall, where one could vaguely see the motionless silhouette of small hills. The air carried a damp, musty odor, and a faint yellow liquid dripped from the pile of corpses, bringing with it an ominous atmosphere.
As 04 emerged from the darkness, the density of the barrage in the “Integrity First” live broadcast room instantly tripled.
[What? 04?]
[How did he end up here?]
[Oh, I can’t wait. Will 02 and 04 fight?]
Before the barrage could escalate further, the appearance of 01 caused the barrage in the live broadcast room to explode.
[What?!]
[No way! How is he here too?!]
[Help… Is he surrounded and intercepted?]
[While I guessed that the anchor might encounter old acquaintances on the second underground floor, I never expected this many at once…]
[Yes, with just 04, the danger didn’t seem too great, but now that 01 is here, the possibility of the anchor making it out alive seems slim.]
[But you never know? It also depends on 02’s attitude? Maybe the anchor can find a loophole…]
As Wen Jianyan’s gaze shifted, 02 appeared in the viewers’ sight.
After he finished that statement that could be described as “world-shaking,” the live broadcast room, almost completely covered by densely packed barrage, fell into a rare silence.
[…]
[…]
[…]
After a brief silence, the viewers erupted. One comment overlapped with the other, flying quickly across the huge screen in the live broadcast room, making it almost impossible to discern the words pressed underneath:
[Wait, wait… I can’t wrap my head around this. What’s going on?]
[So now the other freaks are here because he brought them over?]
[Damn, no wonder it’s you, 02!! I’m speechless. Th-this, these high-risk situations are really… playing too big.]
There wasn’t much color on Wen Jianyan’s face, appearing particularly pale in the darkness, like porcelain, calm and distant as if sculpted.
The young man remained expressionless, his gaze heavy, making it difficult to discern what he might be thinking.
He lifted his eyelashes slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the few people in front of him.
One, two, three.
Three enemies with ulterior motives.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Oh my god, I’m really starting to worry now… How will he deal with so many freaks?]
[Is it over? Is this where it ends?]
[And how are they going to divide the situation? No matter how you look at it, these people can’t peacefully coexist, right? Are they each going to get a piece?]
[Huh? Are you guys worried? I’m not worried.]
[What do you mean?]
[Haven’t you noticed? Basically, everyone gathered here now has a common trait… They’ve all given up on killing and evolved in a different direction.]
[Oh… that’s actually true.]
[I still remember the graffiti on the wall in 01’s ward, two little people holding hands; it’s hilarious, surprisingly pure.]
[Speaking of which, the relationship between 04 and the anchor has become quite subtle since last time!]
[Yeah, right after being restrained by the anchor with a prop, those eyes were completely off.]
[Oh no, so is this why 02 chose to find these two guys?]
[…]
[…]
[I’m starting to worry about the anchor from another angle now.]
While the barrage chat was in full swing, Wen Jianyan’s gaze fell on 02. He nodded and said extremely calmly, “Your judgment is very accurate, worthy of praise.”
02 smiled lightly, lowered his eyes, and gazed at the young man in front of him with those deep brown eyes, waiting for his next words.
“It’s indeed difficult for you alone to stop me. Seeking help is the best choice.”
Wen Jianyan raised his eyes again, surveyed around once more, and his gaze swept past 01 and 04 not far away. “Once your numbers become three, my weapon advantage will no longer exist, and resistance would be the least wise action.”
As he spoke, he lightly raised his hand, and his slender fingers spread open.
“Clang.”
The heavy, piercing sound of metal hitting the ground resonated in the vast hall, conveying a shocking vibration.
The firearm exchanged from the system shop fell beside the young man.
He voluntarily disarmed himself.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?]
[??]
[Oh my, is the anchor crazy? Even with weapons, it’s uncertain if he can deal with these freaks. Without weapons, isn’t it even worse!]
[I’m scared. Will this live room become the type we paid for but couldn’t watch!]
[Help, I’m so excited!]
[Aaaaaah, Nightmare, please, I’ll give you points, don’t ban us from seeing what’s coming next! Have mercy on us!]
This was a kind of implication.
Innocent lamb offering himself up for slaughter, abandoning struggle and resistance, exposing his white and defenseless body before the ferocious beasts, awaiting to be torn apart, chewed, and devoured.
So obedient, so sweet.
No predator would refuse such a strong temptation.
Especially when they were so hungry.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Help… Even I’m tempted!!]
[Damn, did you guys see that? In that instant, the expressions of these three people changed… The live room won’t be banned, will it?!]
[Don’t go crazy, everyone; the anchor definitely has a trump card. He’s too calm right now! Having watched so many instances, you don’t seriously think he’s the type to surrender without a fight, do you?!]
[This guy is very dangerous and slippery like an eel, just a little relaxation of vigilance and he’ll turn the tables; otherwise, why do you think those three did not restrain him immediately?]
[Right… except for 01, who’s not very bright, the other two are smart, no one understands the danger of this trickster better than them.]
Even without a weapon by his side, Wen Jianyan’s expression remained unchanged.
On the contrary, compared to when he held a weapon just now, he now seemed to be able to control the situation more easily. Even standing unarmed in place, he carried a powerful, unignorable presence, emitting a magnetic attraction in the cold darkness.
His gaze shifted and fell on 01 not far away.
The blond man was tall, with burning fire in his azure eyes, the intensity of his gaze sticking closely to the young man. If it weren’t for the other two people nearby, he might have already pounced uncontrollably.
Wen Jianyan suddenly smiled.
He waved at 01, “Come over.”
His voice was light and airy, with a casual tone of command.
“!”
Edward’s eyes lit up instantly, paying no attention to the others, and he walked straight up with a few big strides.
At the same time, 04’s eyes cooled for a moment. 02 still had that carefree and smiling face, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts, but neither of them made any move to stop.
Wen Jianyan’s gaze swept quickly over them, taking in their reactions.
Finally, his gaze landed on 01, who was approaching directly.
“Was it you?” Wen Jianyan lowered his head and casually kicked the head rolling to his feet, asking lightly.
“Yes.”
01 gazed fervently at him, leaning in close. He reached out as if to embrace the other, but Wen Jianyan easily avoided him.
“All done, with no one left?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you like it?”
01’s eyes sparkled brightly as he stared at him, like a big dog yearning for praise and affection.
Wen Jianyan steadfastly gazed into his eyes and smiled softly.
“I like it.”
Unlike his previous cold detachment, his voice suddenly softened, becoming tender and intimate, like whispers between lovers.
01’s face suddenly flushed.
Clearly, he was a wild dog who didn’t care, no matter how outrageous the things he did. Even if 04 was watching from not far away, he might even struggle madly to break free just to rush up and kiss his loved one, but now he looked like he was being choked, blushing, and speechless, just leaning toward the young man in front of him.
This time, Wen Jianyan didn’t dodge anymore.
He let the other party hug his waist and even leaned back in a relaxed posture, nestling against the other’s chest.
“…!”
Feeling the other’s movements, Edward was already overheated, embracing Wen Jianyan, as if he had lost his senses, his head feeling dizzy and heavy, almost completely forgetting the existence of others nearby.
“…”
02 squinted slightly, seeming to realize the danger, the smile on his face fading for the first time.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Edward, you… really didn’t learn the lesson at all.]
[Fooled once, twice, three times, four times, and you still stick around for the fifth time. You’re really an undoubtedly stupid dog.]
Wen Jianyan looked at 01:
“There’s something I’m curious about. How did you know I was here?”
It must have been 02’s doing, but how exactly he did it, he wasn’t quite sure.
An ability? Not very likely.
If Wen Jianyan hadn’t used “Flower of Delusion” before, he might have speculated like this, but precisely because he had used the ability, he knew that 02’s ability couldn’t achieve this. And he was not an anchor with a system store, so theoretically, he shouldn’t have the ability to gather everyone together.
And… there was still a choice to gather; at least 03 wasn’t on this list.
“I just knew,” Edward replied confidently.
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes.
This answer…
It was a bit interesting.
Many fragmented pieces and trivial bits of information appeared before him, like shells left on the beach after the tide receded.
Wen Jianyan felt himself groping for some clearer threads amidst the chaos.
Firstly, these obviously abnormal high-risk patients did not turn into monsters like other patients, after the instance mutation, but instead always maintained their human form—this speculation was confirmed after he saw them with his own eyes.
Secondly, according to Edward’s recent statement, there was a high probability that several high-risk patients were somehow maintaining contact in a temporarily unexplainable way.
Suddenly, a sentence jumped into his mind without warning.
“Of course, if you like everyone, that’s fine too. I don’t mind sharing.”
Those familiar words…
…came from Dr. Reese.
These high-risk patients sometimes made gestures that he found familiar… like 02 just now using illusions to help him evade Niel/Lor’s attack. That sudden sense of dislocation that Wen Jianyan never forgot.
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes.
Many clues strung together, and a concept that had been overlooked in that snake’s words jumped out clearly.
[We].
Initially, Wen Jianyan thought that this “we” was just a generic term without any real significance. The scope of the term was also very vague. But now, he could be very certain that only those high-risk patients who had connections with each other and could maintain their human form after the instance mutation were referred to as [we].
In addition to the information he found in the data room.
All these patients appeared at the inception of the Ping An Asylum.
Perhaps… these few were originally one entity?
That possibility was quite high.
If one were to reason in that direction, the Ping An Asylum was likely a manifestation of someone’s psyche, and all these high-risk patients were different personalities within it.
But what about the other patients? How do they fit in?
And the bell? The church?
How did this inexplicable fixation come about?
This logical chain seemed perfect, but there always seemed to be something very peculiar about it, something that couldn’t be entirely explained by this reasoning…
A link had been overlooked.
Without it, all the pieces of the puzzle could not be put together, and there was even a feeling of being led astray.
“…”
Within just a few seconds, Wen Jianyan’s mind had produced dozens of thoughts, swirling around before falling into silence once more.
He had a premonition that, in any case, all these questions would be answered inside the chapel.
“01, you should understand, monopolization is not allowed, right?”
02 stepped forward, casually stating, “Monopolization marks the beginning of disintegration. I believe you’ve experienced this firsthand, haven’t you?”
His gaze swept over 04 and 01 with a cold smirk in his eyes.
Both men looked slightly apprehensive; even the simplest-minded Edward showed a pensive expression.
Clearly, after the last melee, they understood that as soon as someone attempted to monopolize, it would lead to disintegration. Once chaos ensued…
Unexpectedly, Wen Jianyan nodded and said, “That’s right, sharing is the most secure way.”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze fell on him.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?? huh? What’s the anchor doing, really throwing himself into the lion’s den?]
[I’m ready to record, thank you.]
[I feel like something exciting is about to happen. Can I see something that only paying viewers can see next?]
[…Damn!!! I know what the anchor is up to.]
[?]
[He must have realized, with the experiences of the previous skirmishes, that stirring discord this time would be difficult.]
[That’s definitely the case! So I don’t think the anchor was prepared to do this…]
[No, he still did it.]
[???]
[Didn’t you notice? If they join forces, the probability of escape is almost zero!]
[So… is the anchor prepared to sow discord under hellish conditions this time?]
[Yes. The anchor just threw the bait. The purpose isn’t to give up resistance but to shift the conflict, putting himself in the position of prey to reduce his threat. It’s basically hinting to the others to turn against each other, then subtly changing the balance of power in the field, creating an unbalanced environment, and eventually picking them off one by one.]
As if to confirm the barrage’s prediction, Wen Jianyan spoke.
The amber-eyed young man smiled, like a siren bewitching sailors astray, his light lips parted, his words laced with deadly poison.
“The proposal for sharing is very good; I agree.”
He raised his finger.
“But there’s a condition.”
“I hate being manipulated,” his gaze shifted, landing on the dark-skinned man not far away, sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes, “So, I want you to take out 02.”
“Take him out, and you’ll have my agreement, free to do as you please.”
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes, his hand resting on 01’s broad shoulder, a gleam of amusement flashing in his eyes, like a true monster born of malice:
“After all, wouldn’t it be better with one less person to share?”
***
Wen Jianyan succeeded.
Even though the difficulty was high, he still succeeded.
Those who had been deceived once always believed they wouldn’t be fooled again, and those who had suffered losses always thought they’d learn from them. But for a true deceiver, this wasn’t a problem.
The atmosphere in the air shifted, and a heavy, dark smell of gunpowder dispersed—the group, though deeply connected, harbored no real feelings toward each other, at most just maintaining control over each other to avoid mutual destruction.
And what Wen Jianyan needed to do was give them a reason and break this false and fragile balance.
Throwing the bait was the first step.
He needed to reduce his own threat and divert the other’s vigilance.
Preferring 01 was the second step.
This guy acted on pure instinct; he was a beast, unlike the other smart ones who were cautious. He didn’t know how to restrain his desires, and he was the easiest to manipulate.
Wen Jianyan didn’t need to do much. He just needed to present an attitude.
He was a scammer skilled at using his own charm. Though he hadn’t figured out the source of the “infatuation” yet, once he became aware of it, that was enough to toy with everyone’s emotions and affections.
The pleasure derived from violence and plunder was sensory and addictive, but this kind of pleasure couldn’t breed control. Instead, it would incite brutality and savagery. Wen Jianyan had to nip this tendency in the bud and leave more enticing bait in its place.
Please me, and you’ll receive my favor.
I’ll bestow smiles and attention upon you, things you can never snatch away—of course, provided you have the ability to strive for it.
Choosing 02 as the target was the third step.
Wen Jianyan’s goal wasn’t to kill anyone. Whether 02 lived or died had nothing to do with him. He would never agree to any “sharing” plan; everything he said was a lie.
What he was doing was disrupting the balance and creating gaps for escape.
Provoking the bestial nature of followers while ensuring that the targeted individual couldn’t easily die—02’s ability was perfect in this regard.
At the same time, Wen Jianyan ensured his own escape route remained clear.
Just now, 01 said all the monsters had been cleared out.
Next, he just needed to wait for the right moment.
“…” 02 was first startled, then his smile became even brighter.
Even with eyes locked onto him with murderous intent, he still appeared cheerful and composed.
He gazed at Wen Jianyan and whispered, “What to do? You seem even more beautiful.”
What a powerful, cunning, and clear-minded soul.
Utilizing everything at his disposal, including himself. Rational, patient, and concealed, capable of turning the tide under any circumstances. A slight misstep, and he could be bitten into a bloody chunk.
Truly…
Delicious.
An unstoppable hunger swept over.
There was some dormant will stirring within his body.
The young man had a clear face, and a slender figure, and was more delicate compared to everyone else present. He smiled innocently and gently, even with a hint of involuntary shyness:
“Thank you.”
