Chapter 140 The Lord of the Divine Seal Awakens
Did Number One think I was from the apocalypse?
I quickly realized that last time, in front of him and Number Four Xuanming, Number Two Xiaowan mistakenly thought I was from the apocalypse. I didn't have time to clear up the misunderstanding, and he continued to misunderstand.
I have no intention of continuing to exploit this misunderstanding. Although the true purpose of this misty dream is still unclear, since so many people from strange worlds have gathered here, including powerful figures like Number Four Xuanming and Number Six at the Great Impermanence level, it might become a platform for exchanging information about strange worlds. At that time, the inappropriate persona of "people of the apocalypse era" might become a hindrance.
Just as I enjoy playing the role of a mysterious person and liking the atmosphere of gatherings of mysterious organizations, this mismatched persona actually has its own merits. However, if it hinders my information gathering, it's better to take it off in front of those who misunderstand and show my upright and honest attitude.
“I am not a person from the apocalypse,” I said.
“What? But you clearly…” Unexpected incident number one.
Seeing his reaction, I suddenly felt something was wrong, and then I looked at Xuanming, number four.
Before Number Four made his announcement, he didn't prejudge me as being from the apocalypse like Number One did. He seemed to naturally initiate the conversation by saying that we lived in the same era... No, that was a test. I was tricked into revealing information.
He was looking at me at that moment, and also glanced at the reaction of Little Bowl Number Two, and then said to me: "I see. You didn't plan to use your identity as a person from the apocalypse to swindle people. I was just being cynical."
I think I've figured it out. He probably didn't fully believe I was from the post-apocalyptic era last time. So when I asked him why he collected the fragments of the divine seal, he subtly tried to get information out of me. He tested me at least twice. Once, he intentionally started the conversation by suggesting we lived in the same era; the other time, when giving examples of people from the post-apocalyptic era, he deliberately mentioned the absent Number Two Bowl in front of me. He was observing my reaction.
Although he acted with integrity and uprightness, he also possessed a worldly wisdom.
However, there was also an element of my indifference to this matter. In my view, the identity of being a person from the apocalypse was initially just an guise to attract Number Two Little Bowl. After I took off this outfit in front of Number Two Little Bowl, the outfit's purpose ended there. Unexpectedly, Number One and Number Four Xuanming were still thinking about this outfit, and even made a special attempt to test it. I was truly both impressed and amused.
“Number One, I also have something I want to ask you. May I speak to you in private?” I asked.
"Say what you need to say here."
He remained wary and had no intention of interacting with me privately.
"Okay," I nodded. "Do you know someone named Ying Lingyun?"
"—You mean Ying Lingyun?"
Number One actually reacted.
"Why are you asking this? No..." He suddenly became unusually wary, "Why did you choose to ask me?"
"I'll be blunt, I suspect you are Ying Lingyun, are you?" I asked directly.
The lie detector ability of "Number Two Bowls" is limited. For example, last time, I didn't directly tell her that I was from the apocalypse; I only showed my understanding of the apocalypse. She still came to the wrong conclusion that I was from the apocalypse. This shows that even if others cannot lie to her, they can still lead her to incorrect conclusions.
Besides, I believe there are other ways to bypass her lie detector mechanism. Therefore, instead of making roundabout attempts, it's better to act decisively; the simpler the approach, the less likely it is to have loopholes.
“I’m not. How could I possibly be Ying Lingyun?” Number One answered without hesitation at first, then added in a tone of suppressed anger, “To prevent you from asking any more disgusting and pointless questions, such as whether I am his ‘possible clone’ or his clone, or some other nonsense, and whether I have a rebellious self-awareness due to some accident or other such thing… I am not. I am who I am.”
"It seems you know Ying Lingyun very well..." I said.
Number Two stood silently beside me, offering no special indication. We had agreed on a secret signal: if she heard a lie, she would signal to me. In other words, Number One hadn't lied.
"Now it's my turn to ask," Number One asked coldly. "Why are you asking if I'm Ying Lingyun? How do I look like that kind of beast?"
“You and he are quite similar in physique,” I replied.
"That's not all. I know very well that he possesses fragments of the Divine Seal. You must have learned of this information through some unknown means, which is why you suspect that he has also become a visitor to the Misty Dreamland, isn't that right?" he asked with a sneer.
The conversation here seems to have once again caught the attention of Number Four, Xuanming. For some reason, he's collecting Divine Seal fragments, so he's bound to be interested in other individuals who possess them. That's why I suggested having a private conversation with Number One earlier.
If Number Four's actions also target Ying Lingyun, he might get there first. Actually, it's not a big deal. Mazao and I are investigating clues about the apocalypse, with our main target being the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau. Although I really want to clash with Ying Lingyun again, I won't waste any more effort covering for him; that would be a disrespect to an opponent I've once respected. Let things take their course. If Number Four's actions cause significant trouble for the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, it might actually create opportunities for Mazao and me.
Unlike me, who was merely in the skeptical stage, Number One seemed quite certain that Ying Lingyun possessed a fragment of the Divine Seal. It seems that even possessing a fragment of the Divine Seal doesn't necessarily mean one will become a visitor to the Misty Dreamland.
Number One was still relentlessly pressing me about Ying Lingyun, clearly harboring considerable hatred towards her. However, I didn't engage much in the conversation, also keeping my promise to Number Two, Xiao Wan, to refrain from probing too deeply into Number One's information.
Meanwhile, the others weren't just spacing out either. Number Two, Little Bowl, was providing lie detector assistance beside me, while Number Four, Xuanming, was observing my conversation with Number One. Although Number Six showed interest in me and Number Two, Little Bowl, he didn't rush forward to strike up a conversation. Instead, he first asked Number Five about the general situation of the Misty Dream. Number Five then told him everything he knew, which was basically what I had told him.
I turned my gaze to the arena. Besides the giant, there were already six guests. Of the seven stone seats reserved for them, only one remained empty. Once that last seat was filled, the giant would awaken.
"I guess we'll have to wait until next time."
Seeing that direct questioning yielded no results, Number One didn't seem to have given up yet, but instead adopted a roundabout approach, speaking first in the direction I was concerned about: "First it was me and Number Two, then you and Xuanming, then Number Five and Number Six... It seems that newcomers here always enter in pairs. This time there are probably only two newcomers as well, and the final 'Number Seven' should arrive in a few more days."
"Yeah?"
The person who responded was not me, but Number Six.
This figure, who appeared to be a powerful being at the Great Impermanence level, suddenly turned his head, looked into the depths of the mist, and said, "It seems it's not as you said."
"What?" Number One was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed slightly.
Because just two seconds after Number Six finished speaking, footsteps echoed again from the depths of the fog.
Soon, a new dark figure appeared in our field of vision.
This person looks slender and tall, with a curvaceous figure, and is clearly a woman.
She walked with strong, powerful strides, and even seeing so many of us didn't show the slightest surprise. Instead, she strode silently to the rock bench at the very edge and sat down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"The third newcomer... number seven?"
Number One read it in surprise, then realized what was happening and immediately looked in another direction.
I followed his gaze and looked at the giant sitting in the distance.
There were now seven guests present.
With all the people corresponding to the rock seats present, the giant, nicknamed "Zero" by Number One, finally made a move.
—He came back to life.
Like us, he was shrouded in shadow, so you shouldn't be able to see any change in his expression. However, at this moment, even though he hadn't made any physical movement, I felt that he seemed to be slowly opening his eyes.
This "statue," which was as lifeless as a pure sculpture, seemed to have gained real life.
Soon, he took concrete actions.
He seemed to have shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, very slowly propping himself up on the armrests of the rock chair, pressing his fist against his cheek, and slightly turning his face to take in all of us, observing us one by one. I could almost feel his almost tangible gaze sweeping over my body.
After scanning around, his gaze returned to me and stopped there.
Is he observing me?
I am very aware that I am probably an outsider in this misty dream world. Being scrutinized like this by the person who should be the master of this place, I inevitably feel a strong sense of pressure and crisis.
What will he say to me next? What does he plan to do to me? I can't use my superpowers right now. If I'm threatened by a giant who's at least four meters tall, I'll be completely powerless. Even if he doesn't have supernatural powers, his sheer size alone would be enough to wipe out everyone present.
As I waited for his further reaction, I observed my surroundings, considering whether I could use the existing circumstances to kill him. I even found it somewhat ironic; before he had even had a chance to express anything, I was already thinking about how to kill him.
This idea isn't based on reason, nor is it mature; it's childish and reactive. The inability to use my superpowers would make me lose my composure far more easily than I imagined. There's nothing wrong with admitting it; to me, being able to use superpowers is my normal self. But I don't intend to use that as an excuse. I won't make any excuses.
Because this situation, which I cannot face with a calm mind, is precisely what I have been tirelessly pursuing.
Instead, Xuanming, who had previously shown anger and malice towards the giants, stepped forward first and started with a conversation: "You are the Lord of the Divine Seal, aren't you?"
The giant—the Lord of the Seal—ignored him and continued to stare at me, this strange being.
(End of this chapter)
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