Chapter 267

It was like a thunderbolt striking their hearts; everyone's expression changed drastically.

Those at the top instinctively turned their heads quickly, and in their line of sight stood an ordinary member who looked unremarkable, looking up blankly under everyone's gaze.

The others quickly realized—it was Yan Yue.

However, upon seeing that Yan Yue was unharmed, their first reaction was not relief, but rather a chill running through their bodies.

Someone immediately shouted angrily, "Idiot! Help cover for us!"

The system did it on purpose. It didn't actually find Yan Yue's location; it was just trying to exploit the protective instincts of those in the know to trick them into revealing who the disguised Yan Yue was.

They fell for their trap!

However, some people still had doubts in the blink of an eye: almost all the top players had gathered here, and the entire conference hall was protected by dozens of protective barriers.

The system has repeatedly violated the rules and is severely restricted. In this situation, how easy would it be for it to manipulate the source of pollution to break through the defenses?

So there's a problem, there must be a problem...

But what's the problem?!

There was no time to think; the situation was tense and on the verge of exploding. The entire hall seemed to slow down; some people sat up abruptly, their faces showing shock. Others screamed anxiously, overturning tables. A cacophony of sounds blurred together, indistinguishable between angry shouts and screams—

*Pfft*

A soft sound.

The expert who was about to provide Yan Yue with individual protection froze on the spot, his pupils dilating in shock.

One second, just one second away!

Just a second earlier, a sharp sword pierced Yan Yue's heart from behind, blood spurting out and splashing onto the floor.

Almost simultaneously, the chaotic conference hall quieted down.

Everyone stopped moving, staring blankly at the blood-red sword tip that had pierced through the chest.

...The worst has happened.

Yan Yue looked down at the sword in his chest, stunned, and then coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He wanted to say something, but before he could open his mouth again, a flash of sword light appeared, and the tip of the sword curved upwards, slicing him in two as easily as cutting tofu.

Blood gushed out from the cross-section like a red fountain, staining the attacker's chest crimson.

Yan Yue, who had lost consciousness, collapsed heavily to the ground.

The crowd then got a clear look at the attacker, who turned out to be the Fourth Apostle, Raven.

But the raven, holding the Judgment Sword, its bright, sunny face stained with blood, looked up blankly, appearing more incredulous than anyone else present, its hands trembling: "...How could this be?"

In the deathly silence, the doubts that had been lingering in people's hearts finally became clear.

—If the system cannot act directly and the pollutants it sends out cannot break through the player's defenses in a short time, then it will definitely try to attack from within!

But why a crow?

Everyone present had experienced betrayal, whether from friends and family, superiors or subordinates, without exception.

They were still wary of the system's methods of manipulating players and never dared to take chances. All attendees of important meetings had to pass three consecutive tests of willpower.

As for Crow, he was once listed as a key target of surveillance by the Ministry of Supervision and the outside world because he had become corrupted for no reason.

The fall from angel to demon is often mistaken by many as a sign of distorted beliefs.

This happened a long time ago, before Xie Xubai had even signed a contract with Yan Shuo; he had only heard about it briefly.

As for the crow, who was a reserve apostle, he was directly locked in the monitoring room, where his will was tested and his memory was retrieved more frequently than when he was eating or drinking.

If one group of people couldn't find the problem, they would bring in another group. Countless eyes were fixed on him, and every action he took was magnified, misinterpreted, and scrutinized, in a never-ending cycle, as if this day had never come.

The crow nearly broke down.

But there was someone willing to risk his life to vouch for him.

That person didn't sleep for a week, collecting valid evidence by following various clues, and finding players with the same experience, proving that their corruption was a faction effect, and that the system was using a divisive tactic to undermine the trust between players!

And this person was none other than the Second Apostle, Raven's older brother, codenamed Holy Priest Miel.

.

The Judgment Sword unleashed a blinding divine light, creating a bloody hurricane as it charged forward, drawing a sharp straight line through the air before slashing heavily towards White!

White raised his hand to create a barrier, which clashed fiercely with the sword's edge.

In an instant, a shockwave rippled outwards, shattering the floor. Amidst the violent noise, a crow could be heard asking, word by word, "White, where is my brother?"

The crow had asked White this question once before when White was sober. At that time, the young man answered truthfully that he didn't know. Although the crow was disappointed, he remained relatively calm.

But at this moment, his face was contorted and twisted, and his pupils gradually turned red, as if he had been possessed by a demon.

The raven questioned White, giving him no chance to speak, its voice sharp and resentful: "Yes, you don't know! How could you possibly know! All the fame and glory have been claimed by you, the First Apostle. Every victory is attributed to you, and all eyes are on you. Who can remember the Second Apostle who once sacrificed himself?!"

Crows talk fast, but they act even faster.

The Judgment Sword, imbued with immense divine power, slashed towards the youth. In the blink of an eye, the vast conference hall was subjected to a barrage of thousands of sword winds. The sword's edge cleaved through six layers of the castle, and sunlight poured down from the crack, illuminating the interior. Stone walls collapsed, and the crowd scattered in terror!

Some people tried to step forward to help, but before they could get close, they were injured by the sword wind and could only dodge and create distance.

White remained silent, and golden light flashed like a sudden rainstorm, deflecting the crow's deadly attack.

In the gap where the sword wind and golden light intertwined, he met the crow's resentful gaze. His eyelashes drooped almost imperceptibly, then suddenly opened wide in the next second, his pupils shining with brilliant golden light.

Spiritual deterrence!

In an instant, the crow seemed to have been struck by a heavy blow out of nowhere, its whole body jolting violently.

But his actions did not stop.

He stretched out his trembling hands, gripped the hilt of the sword, and raised the tip. An unusually dense dark aura surged forth, as if brewing a powerful blow.

If this attack lands, buildings within a ten-mile radius will likely be pulverized in the impact.

In the critical moment, White did not retreat but advanced.

He forcefully dispersed the accumulated energy fluctuations with his barrier, instantly closing the distance with the crow, their golden eyes meeting, and they established a spiritual link!

Even half a second is enough for White to capture those key moments.

.

The first scene is of a crow's degeneration.

Consistent with the truth revealed by the Second Apostle's investigation, Corruption is a faction-specific effect in the instance, and the system deliberately set this effect to be impossible to hide in order to sow discord.

This tactic failed at the time because the Second Apostle trusted his younger brother implicitly and successfully saw through and exposed the system's conspiracy.

But the system succeeded again, because the extraordinary measures secretly taken by the Federation ultimately sowed the seeds of estrangement in the hearts of the crows.

The seed did not take root and sprout at that time, thanks to the Second Apostle.

When many people advised the two brothers to give up, Miel abandoned his usual gentle and humble demeanor, defied the pressure from all sides, rushed to the Federation, flew into a rage, pointed his sword at several leaders, and demanded an explanation.

Not only was he indignant, but Xie Yuchun and Pei Yuheng were equally furious when they learned of the incident afterward.

At that time, there was no Ministry of Oversight, and the Apostles Guild was jointly established by the Federation and other top organizations.

Xie Yuchun spent most of his time handling the internal affairs of the Federation, training Xie Xubai, and researching system flaws, while Pei Yuheng was in charge of the research department, analyzing the Infinite Game.

However, the messy things the Federation had done in its various struggles made them realize that these scoundrels had completely used the Apostles as tools for fighting for power and profit.

Xie and Pei acted decisively to purge the guild. More than 30 co-chairs and guild managers involved were successively punished. Five ringleaders were dismissed and imprisoned, while more than 20 accomplices were demoted and imprisoned.

Afterwards, Xie and Pei publicly apologized for failing to protect the apostle members and offered compensation to the crows who had been persecuted.

It was from that time that Xie Yuchun decided to advance to the Goddess of Destiny, step down as CEO, and gradually shift her focus and energy to the Apostle Guild.

Pei Yuheng also took time out of his busy research department to establish a supervisory department. The guild has an internal supervisory system to prevent any more members from being taken away for private interrogation.

During that time, the crow often suffered from mental instability, and the second apostle tirelessly watched over him every night, healing his mental trauma.

The brother's unwavering support, and the protection and compensation from Xie and Pei, were timely acts of justice.

The crow felt it shouldn't complain and that the matter should be left unresolved.

However, not long after, White appeared.

The appearance of the young man was like a boulder thrown into a pond that was already turbulent, instantly causing a great upheaval and a great commotion.

The guild is unsure how many official apostles it will ultimately recruit, but regardless of the number, they will be ranked.

And there is a position—the First Apostle.

It has always been there, always constant, representing absolute status and power, and there is no doubt that most people would be envious and crazy about it.

At the time, the Holy Angel Miel and Lilith, the hawkish candidate of the Federation, were the two most promising, but also the most controversial, candidates.

Their followers frequently fought openly and covertly over this matter, to the point of no return. At their most heated moments, even at the risk of being imprisoned by the supervisory department, they would still roll up their sleeves and engage in a fierce battle.

However, no one could have predicted that the prize would ultimately go to no one, but would be won by an unknown ordinary person.

Crow's dissatisfaction with White and his anger towards the Apostle Guild began on the day Xie Yuchun solemnly announced in front of all the members that White was the First Apostle.

Lilith questioned the fairness of White's appointment as the First Apostle, and her supporters protested loudly and made a ruckus.

Miel said nothing.

He simply looked up at White, remaining motionless for a long time.

That silent, unseen figure made the crow's heart clench painfully.

After that, many more things happened.

Despite the crow's displeasure with White's appearance, it had to admit that the guy was indeed very capable.

He felt awkward saying those words of praise aloud, but he heard them from his own brother, Miel.

Like the Holy Apostle Miel, White majored in mental magic, specifically mental attack and manipulation, while Miel leaned towards mental healing and defense.

Thanks to the fact that the contracted deity was the holy angel Raphael who wielded healing magic, White was no match for Miel in terms of spiritual comfort and healing at that time.

But Miel is gradually being caught up by White.

Miel felt immense pressure when someone who wasn't good at what he was best at caught up with him.

Some of his followers even began to question him, and under the influence of the First Apostle's halo effect, they directly switched sides to White.

After all, with first place, who cares about second?

Even Lilith, who once considered him a formidable rival, no longer regarded him as an opponent, which was an extremely devastating blow to Miel.

The crow felt sorry for its brother, felt indignant on his behalf, and cursed those who had turned against it as opportunistic villains.

After a long silence, Miel turned his gaze away from White and suddenly spoke.

"I heard from the staff of the ability assessment that White's ability to comfort is not so much a skill that he has developed through hard work, but rather that he is born with the ability to love others."

“He didn’t seem to like offering emotional support before, but the moment the victims appeared, saving them became his instinct. I, on the other hand, have to think more carefully about whether those people are worth saving and whether I can save them.”

The Second Apostle shook his head and smiled resignedly, swirling his water glass: "He is indeed more suitable than me, in every way."

The crow felt a sharp pain in its heart and immediately shouted its disapproval: "White isn't too bad, but I'm definitely better! The best!"

The second apostle raised an eyebrow, suddenly put down his water cup, and asked leisurely, "Brother, you speak so highly of him, do you like him?"

*Clap*

The crow's hand trembled, and the cup fell onto the table, spilling water all over the floor. He quickly picked it up: "Who likes him?"

"I'm your brother."

The Second Apostle hooked his arm around Crow's shoulder, a sly smile on his face: "Let me think, was it the time you caused trouble and got a lesson from White, or the time White risked his life to lead people to rescue you, or the time White launched a counterattack and broke through the enemy camp? That scene was indeed very cool."

The crow blushed under Miel's smiling gaze, raised its voice, and vehemently denied it.

White, who was not far away, seemed to have heard them mention his name and looked over suspiciously.

The crow noticed the young man's gaze and immediately blushed as if burned by him. It pulled away Miel's hands that were trying to pry him off and pretended to turn its face away as if nothing had happened.

.

The crow asked himself, if the knot in his heart had long since melted away during those difficult yet warm days, then what was the reason that led him to get involved with the system?

Is it because people constantly compare White and Miel, who are both spiritual beings, praising the former while criticizing the latter?

Is it because Miel's status has declined significantly and his presence has become increasingly less noticeable?

No, no, no, my brother is kind by nature and has never cared about fame or power. I can't impose my resentment on him.

...But the question is, does my brother really not care?

The contradictions and problems remain, and even if they are ignored for a while, they will eventually erupt.

That day came sooner than the crow had imagined.

In one instance trial, the BOSS took 100,000 NPCs hostage, forcing the players to reveal themselves.

White advocated an immediate withdrawal and a direct assault on the enemy stronghold to claim the reward. However, Miel, contrary to his usual humble and gentle nature, excitedly demanded that headquarters rescue the NPCs. After being reprimanded, he openly defied the command's orders and led hundreds of players to the rescue.

The apostle members had all studied strategic planning, but with only a few hundred players, the idea of ​​dealing with tens of thousands of elite monsters who far surpassed their combat power at the time was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Even with the Second Apostle fighting against a hundred, the result was still tragic. Although more than 20,000 NPCs were saved, the players who participated in the rescue suffered a loss of nearly 80%.

The remaining 20% ​​of players were saved from total annihilation only because White led his trusted followers to provide timely reinforcements at the critical moment.

Because of this incident, Miel was questioned by the Inspectorate, the Federation's top officials, and the outside world. The live broadcast was filled with sharp and sarcastic insults and attacks, and Miel never recovered.

Crow didn't understand. Upon hearing the news, he even suspected that the intelligence was wrong. His brother wasn't a fool. How could he sacrifice his teammates for the lives of NPCs?

There must be more to this story. Even the survivors said that Miel was in terrible condition at the time, in a daze, as if the sky had fallen.

But Miel refused to tell anyone the specific reason, even to his death.

He is one of the top mental talents, and if he intends to hide his secret, no one but White can force him to comply.

What's intriguing is that White actually refused the Ombudsman's public interrogation and requested a private meeting with Miel instead.

Having learned its lesson from the unauthorized trial, the crow was still deeply troubled.

During that time, he also heard a lot of rumors.

It is said that Miel met with White privately before the operation and obtained his consent before leading troops to the rescue.

It is also said that White had long anticipated that Miel would act rashly, and deliberately let him go even though he could have stopped him, just to make Miel make a mistake so that the biggest threat could be eliminated.

There are many different opinions, and all sorts of things are said.

Raven knew how hateful and despicable rumors were, and tried his best not to look at those negative news or speculate about White with malice. However, his concern for Miel and his anxiety about not being able to confirm his brother's safety made it impossible for him to calm down.

That day, as if divinely inspired, shadows flowed beneath his feet, and darkness concealed his tracks. He managed to bypass numerous security checks and, using eavesdropping devices bought on the black market, overheard part of White and Miel's conversation.

Miel's voice was filled with despair: "So you already knew the truth?"

White's voice rang out after half a second, accompanied by a noisy electrical hum, but remained calm as always: "...I know...but so what?"

Miel: "I don't understand why you can be so indifferent, that's...!"

"If everyone were as hesitant and indecisive as you, it would only lead to the deaths of more people."

Miel, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, roared, "Does winning justify any means necessary?!"

What followed was a long string of chaotic noises.

Raven's heart leaped into his throat. He frantically pounded on the eavesdropping device, and finally, after a crackling sound of electricity, he heard White's indifferent voice: "Give up, Miel. I know you have ambitions, but it turns out you're not cut out to be a leader."

"...Your mistake is irreparable, and it's impossible for you to remain unscathed in the guild. Give yourself a mental pep talk: obey me completely. This is your only way out now."

That was the last thing the crow heard during this private hearing.

.

The crow was enraged when it realized its memories had been spied on.

His eyelids blinked rapidly, and his pupils once again glowed with a bloodshot red light; he was about to break free from the mental link—

*Pfft*

The blade pierced through flesh and blood.

It made the same soft sound as when the Judgment Sword pierced Yan Yue's heart.

This sword is no ordinary object; it actually managed to break through his defenses!

Crow caught a glimpse of the sword tip in his chest out of the corner of his eye. He coughed twice, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. It was hard to tell whether the excruciating pain restricted his movements or he was so shocked that he forgot to act.

His contracted deity is Gabriel, who is in charge of judgment and battle. His sense of danger is as keen as that of a wild beast. How could anyone approach him silently without being detected?

As if sensing his shock, the attacker whispered, "I told you, I'm quick."

The crow suddenly turned around and looked at the man in disbelief.

Not only him, but everyone except White was astonished when they saw the face of the person who made the move.

That is the current First Apostle, Messiah.

From the moment they met, the raven felt a deep disconnect with Messiah.

Sometimes he was insane and cruel, sometimes he was as cold and ruthless as a machine. Especially when Messiah laughed, his inhumanity was overwhelming, which disgusted him to the extreme.

But at this moment, the Messiah changed.

He met the crow's angry and shocked gaze, his eyebrows curved, and his smile revealed an indescribable sorrow. His hand holding the sword was steady, and with a forceful thrust, it moved forward another inch.

The crow was in so much pain that he broke out in a cold sweat. With both old and new grudges combined, he disregarded even the white figure in front of him, roared as he drew his Judgment Sword, and turned the blade to strike Messiah!

But then, golden light burst forth from behind the Messiah, and six pairs of magnificent and holy wings suddenly unfolded.

The young man's face was shadowed by the backlight, his eyes shimmering as he lowered his eyelashes. The whole scene was sacred and inviolable, yet sad as if an angel with broken wings had fallen.

The crow's attack was parried by the burst of divine light. He was shaken to his core, and the sword he could no longer hold flew out and crashed to the ground.

Looking at those six familiar wings and feeling that incredibly comforting divine power, golden feathers fluttered and reflected in the raven's violently trembling pupils, sinking into its heart like a boulder.

"……elder brother?"

In an instant, the crow recalled how White had forced the Messiah to give him a mental suggestion, and a flood of emotions surged through its mind: shock, anger, absurdity...

He trembled with rage, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at White, spitting out blood as he roared, "It's you! It's you again! My brother is like this because of you!!"

Before White could make a move, Messiah kicked the unfortunate child away.

The sword was still stuck in the raven's chest. He scrambled to his feet, dizzy, and before he could speak, Messiah grabbed him by the collar, pressed his forehead against the raven's, and transmitted a real memory to him—the complete conversation about that one-on-one interrogation.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the long wait, everyone QAQ. As compensation, we're giving away 50 small red envelopes in this chapter. Simply comment to receive one, first come, first served. We sincerely apologize.