Have you ever played billiards?
When Shi Yin was quiet, besides playing chess, she often played billiards by herself. In the simulated space, she would hold the cue stick and aim at the white ball, making one shot after another.
She was very impatient at first because she kept missing her target.
She tried to break the rules of the game by hitting other balls, attempting to take shortcuts to win faster, but the results were often worse. Not only did she break the rules, but she also failed to get the ball into the hole.
Later she learned to be quiet.
Bend down, aim at the white ball, and then aim at the other balls, remaining calm and composed in the quiet.
That's just a ball.
He shot each ball into the hole one by one, hitting every shot within the rules, until all the balls on the table were in the holes, leaving only a lone white ball on the table.
At this moment, Shi Yin put down the cue stick and picked up the white ball on the table.
In the end, no matter how many games are restarted, the only white ball that remains on the table is always the same.
She participates in every shot, every shot is part of the plan. She thinks she is the cue, the driver of the rules and goals, constantly moving towards the perfect endgame, disrupting the table and causing all possible outcomes.
However, at that moment, Yin picked up the white ball and looked at it.
It turns out that the white ball that was struck by the cue stick and propelled everything was her!
Countless times she looked up at herself, expressionless as she hit the ball, numbly staring at herself. Whether hitting the ball or entering the game, they were ultimately within the rules, in the darkness, unable to escape.
Shi Yin opened her eyes while sitting in the office.
The surroundings were quiet, still haunted by that lingering dream.
"They're here."
Shi Yin stood up from her chair, looking at the quietly changing scenery outside the window. Her expression was serious, but a hint of obvious relaxation flashed in her eyes.
There was also a suppressed excitement.
"Sister!" The office door was flung open with a loud bang, but what was meant by a violent impact sounded like a soft muffled thud.
Freya rushed in, her expression more anxious than ever before.
"Something's wrong, sister." Freya, supporting her knees, finally caught her breath: "All the detectors' ability values have gone off the charts, all of them have reached their peak and can't be lowered, and we can't find the reason."
"Also, the world seems to have changed; electronic devices can't be started." Freya came to Shi Yin and saw that Shi Yin's expression remained normal, which calmed her down a little.
"How did you get hurt?" Shi Yin looked down and saw Freya's left arm.
There was a long, thin wound there, from which blood was constantly oozing.
“Yes, I’m injured… Sister, this world has become very strange. I can’t feel any pain when I’m injured.” As if she had thought of something, Freya quickly added, “And all the zombies disappeared in an instant, and the fruits and vegetables on the stalls will reappear after you finish eating them for some reason.”
"It's just Belphegor's ability, no need to panic." Shi Yin took Freya's hand, and gentle light gathered on the wound. In no time, the wound healed completely.
It's warm and cozy.
"Belfinger?" Freya was clearly taken aback. Hadn't Belfinger been killed long ago?
"Pride waits until the very end to strike, not only because of her discord with the other Seven Deadly Sins and their tendency to operate independently, but also for another reason," Shi Yin explained calmly. "When all the other Seven Deadly Sins are dead, she will gain the abilities of all seven."
Belfinger – A haven of gentle comfort.
A utopian dream where people are devoured invisibly.
"Why are you so flustered? It's just a small problem." Shi Yin patted Freya's shoulder, signaling her to calm down.
"But things are in complete chaos outside now," Freya couldn't help but worry.
We have suffered for far too long.
From bitter cold to scorching heat, tormented by all sorts of natural and man-made disasters, most people used to be able to eat their fill and stay warm, and everyone had entered a state of pursuing spiritual life. Suddenly, the apocalypse arrived, and people couldn't even get enough to eat, and everyone was just barely surviving.
Suddenly, there are no more natural disasters or terrifying zombie insects. Everything feels like a dream. Even when injured, there is no pain. The temperature is just right, and the sunlight is not glaring. There is an endless supply of food in the fields and an endless supply of fruit at the stalls...
The streets were already in chaos, with people frantically looting.
"Didn't the country maintain order in time? It's already in chaos?" Shi Yin raised an eyebrow.
"Not really. The country is working hard to maintain order. After all, the country controls the firearms, and the situation is relatively good so far. It shouldn't be long before the situation is brought under control," Freya replied.
"Issue the order: open the national granaries. Do not touch any food that grows out of nowhere and seems inexhaustible. Anyone who disobeys will be executed." Shi Yin sat back down in her chair: "Fence off the areas where food might grow out of nowhere and hand them over to the state for control."
“Send more people to expand the exploration area, search for boundaries and weak points, and find a way out.” Shi Yin thought for a moment and continued, “If the public is unwilling and collectively opposes it and we can’t suppress it, then listen to them, go with the flow and cancel the search, and everyone should be on standby at their posts.”
Freya listened, completely stunned.
Is this a matter of strict control or no control at all?
They implemented very strict controls at the beginning, but then said they went along with it because the people were unhappy. That's so contradictory.
"Okay, I'll go now." Freya nodded, but when she looked up, she noticed that Shi Yin's water glass was empty. She asked, a little strangely, "Sister, did Nan Zhu slack off?"
Shouldn't Nanzhu stay by Shiyin's side at this time, showing concern and serving her tea and water?
“He has more important things to do.” Shi Yin waved her hand: “This time there will be big trouble. You don’t need to do much. Just protect yourself.”
Freya: "Sister..."
"Freya." Shi Yin did turn her head, and Freya saw a strong emotion being suppressed in Shi Yin's eyes: "What is your wish now?"
"Me?" Freya hesitated for a moment, then took Tokine's hand. "I hope everyone is alright."
"I miss Sister Changge a little..." Freya added softly after a while.
"Okay." Shi Yin ruffled Freya's hair, her expression surprisingly gentle: "Go out and pass on the order to hold a meeting."
Shi Yin rarely has the opportunity to initiate a meeting. It's rare for everyone to attend, but they all have different feelings about the current spectacle. Upon hearing Shi Yin's orders, their expressions are all complicated.
"You are all veterans who have been with me until now, and the time to defeat the apocalypse is not far off." Shi Yin stood beside the leader, her expression unchanged: "I sincerely urge you all not to be blinded by the current peace, and to remain vigilant."
"Will eating these foods have any adverse effects?" Some people noticed something was wrong.
"I may not have explained to you just how terrifying Belfinger's abilities are. I had Ye Shaoheng break through his limits beforehand, so that none of you have any idea what it is." Shi Yin looked at the person who asked the question, her voice gentle, but her words were extremely cold.
"The space and time here are chaotic, and everything is controlled by pride. Whether it's food or pleasure, as long as you give up the idea of leaving, everything will be controlled by pride."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com