[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foolish-game-of-the-gods":3,"chapter-foolish-game-of-the-gods-foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-231":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Foolish Game of the Gods",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},579302,829,"Chapter 231: History's Protagonist Was Never the Players...","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-231",231,"\u003Cp>No one could have predicted that a prison disaster would be resolved this way. Cheng Shi—a deathmatch convict—had been escorted out of the very headquarters that manufactured deathmatch convicts by an official Grand Tribunal knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cheng Shi hadn't lived through the absurdity himself, he'd have slapped a clown hat on whoever told this story and given them a round of applause: \"Nice fiction!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was reality—far more absurd than any script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the laboratory's main door ran a long tunnel that terminated at the underground shaft and storage area of an abandoned quarry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melina escorted Cheng Shi there, then directed him to leave via the mine elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he'd gone, she returned to the laboratory alone and unlocked a sealed iron door, releasing the helpless Iron Law Knights trapped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Melina, you violated the Secret Experiment Protocol! You had no authority to bar our entry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right. I had no authority. But I did it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... Melina, Lord Keinlaur specifically said Lady Galusha is no longer permitted to come here—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" The lead knight ground his teeth. \"I was locked out by you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn't intentional. It was an accident. I'm not assigned to this facility, so my unfamiliarity with the laboratory's systems is understandable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don't believe me, feel free to report me to the Knight Trust Society and the Fair Arbitration Tribunal. If I have time, I'll attend the hearing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mark my words! I will!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I will report truthfully to Lord Keinlaur that you obstructed the Iron Law Knights' response, delayed the laboratory's emergency protocol, and disregarded the Secret Experiment Protocol—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do as you please.\" Melina cut the guard off for the second time, then took up her cold, expressionless post by the main entrance, quietly waiting for that lady to emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the exasperated guards raced to prove their diligence, rushing into the experiment workshop to investigate everything that had transpired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed was their exchange with Galusha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as the guards poured single-mindedly into the experiment site, the main door cracked open again. A figure slipped through and hid behind Melina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melina frowned slightly and said in a frigid tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn't you notify me before initiating the plan? If I hadn't noticed the explosion in the Colosseum and brought Galusha here, we might have missed our window.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don't get many chances to try again, Grind!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hidden figure was none other than Grind—the vice-captain of the Iron Law Knights' Seventeenth Squad, the very one who had taken an interest in Cheng Shi in the Colosseum and extended an invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, his body stiffened. His face was dark enough to drip water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't initiate the plan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'd only just found a suitable triggerman when the explosives I'd planted three months ago were detonated by someone else! I was dug out of the rubble myself. The moment I got free, I rushed here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean the plan was initiated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melina's eyes widened in shock. Abandoning all pretense, she whirled to face Grind, her expression grim:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A deathmatch convict called out your name. I assumed you'd started the plan ahead of schedule!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grind's face turned black as a cauldron bottom:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You let him go? You released Selius!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Melina, how could you! Have you been in the Grand Tribunal so long you've forgotten where you come from!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Scholars are all waiting for our report!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up, you fool. This is your failure in planning! How does a Master of Traps let someone else trigger his explosive trap?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And they knew your name! Who was this person you found? Was he wearing red prison garb?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grind froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's him. Red Number Four! How is this possible? How could it be this coincidental?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How did a mere prisoner find his way here?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Tower of Logic spent years investigating before finally pinpointing Selius's location. He's just a convict—how did he walk straight in? And right after I made contact with him...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What kind of script is this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A torrent of thoughts crashed through Grind's mind. He asked in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Selius? Is he dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did it? If you completed the mission, why are you questioning me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't do it! When that convict left, I checked him with my lance—there was no parasitic soul on his body!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know if it was him who killed Selius, but Selius is definitely dead, and that prisoner definitely walked out of the workshop where Selius was confined!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grind's mind went blank again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're certain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless one of Them is providing cover—yes, I'm certain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ironic. The very person you recruited, and you know nothing about him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He wasn't like this before. Today it's like he became a completely different person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it. It doesn't matter. As long as you can confirm the real Selius is dead, our mission is complete. I'm sick of these rules. Damn [Order]—so rigid it drives people insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch your tongue. This is His domain. If you want to curse, do it when we're home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone's coming. I'm leaving. I hope the next time we meet, it's at the academic symposium in Tusnat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Peer into essence. Walk toward truth. Until we meet again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grind vanished—as silently and formlessly as he'd arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melina sensed his departure. Her lips moved in a silent prayer: \"Peer into essence. Walk toward truth. Until we meet again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she turned back and lifted her gaze, the little girl flanked by two knight escorts had already drawn near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aunt Melina, who were you talking to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Galusha, Melina shed her coldness. She cracked a warm smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one. I was rehearsing my defense statement, in case someone reports me to the Knight Trust Society and the Fair Arbitration Tribunal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She cast a sidelong glance at the two knights behind Galusha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both young knights broke into a cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They won't. Everything you did today was under my orders. I'll ask Lord Keinlaur to pardon your offense of ignorance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go. Grandpa Selius has been killed. I have no reason to come here anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards trailing behind hesitated, then one whispered a reminder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Galusha, Mr. Selius is still tidying up his documents. If you wish to consult him, you may still—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it. I don't want to speak with a counterfeit. You know what I mean by counterfeit. Let's go, Aunt Melina.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl took Melina's hand and walked quietly toward the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Montelani Fair Arbitration Tribunal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its highest level was a suite that could only be described as lavish. This had once been a place for worshipping [Order], but ever since the Deathmatch Sentence was enacted, it had become the lodging of choice whenever a Supreme Inquisitor visited Montelani.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now evening. Seven or eight hours had passed since the morning's explosion. The setting sun clung stubbornly to the horizon, unwilling to depart, draping all of Montelani in a warm amber filter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Supreme Inquisitor Keinlaur stood on the suite's balcony, gazing toward the collapsed Colosseum, his expression grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, a knock echoed through the room, followed by a little girl pushing the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't turn around, yet he already knew who it was. Even so, his face showed not a flicker of change—his expression remained stern as ever:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Galusha is back. What did you learn today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl walked obediently behind Keinlaur and spoke softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I learned that useless people should be discarded. If someone must be killed, don't hesitate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very good. Who taught you that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, honorable Supreme Inquisitor. My dear grandfather, Lord Keinlaur.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[Order] above, law below. Even killing must follow rules. One must not act on whim. I don't believe I taught you any such thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But your every word and action taught me exactly that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Little Galusha has grown up.\" Keinlaur's words sounded approving, but his expression never softened—still just as severe and cold. \"Selius was not a good teacher. He shouldn't have filled your head with the noise of [Truth] this early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I asked him to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wish to pursue [Truth]?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. I simply feel that none of the three lords truly like [Order]. So I wanted to seek answers from another deity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[Truth] peers into essence. Perhaps it can tell me why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Childish prattle. As [Order]'s Favored One, I both believe in Him and revere Him. How could I not like Him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The lords live surrounded by lies. How tiring that must be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, Lord Keinlaur, I still want to ask one question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If one day [Order] is no longer orderly—what do we do then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keinlaur watched the sunset slowly sink below the horizon, its afterglow fading into nothing. Without joy or sorrow, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The knowledge you learned today has already written your answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go now. I have matters to attend to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Galusha lowered her head obediently and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she'd gone, another figure appeared on the windowsill—a knight cloaked in shadow, kneeling respectfully on one knee. He reported in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Master of Traps, Grind, has left Montelani. The Learned Poet, Melina, has made no move—she remains at Lady Galusha's side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, are we truly letting them go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why shouldn't we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regardless of who orchestrated this chaos, someone must bear the crime. Wouldn't you agree?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Tower of Logic is already in turmoil. I doubt those old men on the Erudition Presidium would mind a little more chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go. Find an opportunity to tell Galusha about Melina's true identity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, Lady Galusha still believes she helped Selius escape. In that case...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She's so young...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn't matter. She can endure it—and she must.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, after I'm gone, how will [Order]'s radiance reach beyond the Grand Tribunal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Civilization's fire endures. [Order] persists eternal.\" The shadow-cloaked knight struck his left shoulder in salute and withdrew into the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... [Order] persists eternal. I too wish He could persist forever. But I have already seen His decline and decay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So how, then, do we survive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1673,"2026-05-30T16:17:59.407Z","2026-06-01T04:31:40.442Z",1,"novelbin.me","1a9125e54e081c2f5fee625ea31a4649ba2fc5035fdefe162e723954b649ea95","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-232","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-230",1463,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffoolish-game-of-the-gods-cover.jpg"]