Chapter 662: The Core Experimental Material Brought Down from the Tower of Logic!

Finding the trial's answer was certainly cause for celebration, yet all three players' expressions turned strange at the same moment.

Because, based on past experience with Time trials, future anomalies were usually the last ones discovered. Finding the answer this smoothly — on the very first day — was exceedingly rare.

Was this truly Destiny's guidance?

The Blind One looked thoughtfully at Cheng Shi. Qin Xin studied the pair of them with keen interest. Cheng Shi... played it safe and didn't dare declare this the real answer.

You had to be kidding. If the opposing god's trial were this simple — even allowing a rival deity's influence to help all along — then why bother with faith rivalries at all? Just declare Existence and Void one big happy family.

Even if Time wouldn't make things as difficult as Memory would, He'd certainly stir up something in His own trial. Otherwise, there'd be no explanation for why He'd suddenly appeared before Aph Ros's gate to summon him.

Though that summons had seemed like a greeting aimed at Brother Mouth, the ring — Time of Eternal Imprisonment — had very much landed on his own head!

What His purpose was, Cheng Shi couldn't begin to fathom. But he knew Time never acted on a whim. It was just that whatever He was trying to express was beyond Cheng Shi's current comprehension.

So — was the answer he could understand right now actually the real answer?

As Cheng Shi mulled it over, the quiet Blind One spoke up again. She wasn't particularly curious about Shi Lolin as the answer — she was far more interested in the two Folly followers' experiment.

She steered the conversation back to the experiment, but her target wasn't Mo Rabic or Allendor. It was the person who also knew about the experiment — Shi Lolin.

"What did they show you?"

At this, Mo Rabic also turned with deep suspicion. Shi Lolin had spoken about their experiment with impressive authority, as if she'd truly been briefed on it. But Mo Rabic didn't believe Allendor would have leaked experimental secrets without his knowledge. He wanted to confirm whether she actually knew something.

Shi Lolin paused, quickly combing through her memory, and said with a frown: "A finger segment. A severed finger."

"!!!"

She really did know!

Mo Rabic was stunned. He whipped around to glare at Allendor, only to find Allendor already glaring back at him with fury. The two scrutinized each other without yielding an inch, each clearly suspecting the other of leaking the artifact's existence.

"You've truly disappointed me, Mo Rabic."

"Fool, use your brain. I've been with you this entire time — when would I have had the chance to spill these secrets?"

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"..."

"And how do you explain her knowing your name?"

"..."

Mo Rabic had no answer. His expression stiff and grave, he turned to Shi Lolin — only to see her adding fuel to the fire with evident relish:

"I don't just know Mr. Mo Rabic's name — I know yours too, Mr. Allendor. I also know that while Mo Rabic is the finger's custodian, the actual operator is you.

You replicated a small portion of the experiment right in front of me."

"Absolutely impossible! Without the Abyss Colorful Crystal, how could anything be replicated?

!!!

Unless... you're a prophet?!"

In that moment, both Folly followers had finally achieved true folly.

The scene erupted into chaos. Only Shi Lolin had a vague inkling of what was happening, but she didn't dare voice it — because she wasn't sure if doing so would cost her the leadership of the Shanty Area, her position as the Extreme Desire Brotherhood's representative in Falling Gate.

Desire wasn't only about indulgence — it was also about fear. She was afraid. And because she was afraid, Cheng Shi was amused.

Because the Fun Ring had finished charging.

Cheng Shi smiled, interrupting everyone's free-form debate. Naturally, the players weren't about to explain Time "discrepancies" to NPCs. They only wanted to know what that finger was. So he cut straight to the point:

"Let's hear it, wise men. Only when you've explained this experiment can we begin cooperating and help you find some Abyss Colorful Crystal.

At the end of the day, that's what you came here for. So whoever can supply the Crystal counts as a perfect partner — isn't that right?

As for you, Lady Shi Lolin — for certain reasons, you may need to surrender your freedom for a while.

But don't be afraid. We won't do anything to you. Finding Abyss Colorful Crystal is outside our expertise, and we'll need your help. I trust you'll assist us?"

Shi Lolin's face was pale. Though genuinely shaken, she seized the moment and said through gritted teeth: "I can also cooperate with you."

"?" Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow, even more amused. "Between us and the Shanty Area — and the Extreme Desire Brotherhood — I see no basis for cooperation."

"No — this has nothing to do with the Shanty Area. It's me — Shi Lolin — personally. I want to cooperate with you."

"You think you're in a position to negotiate?" Cheng Shi smiled, flicking out a scalpel.

"No, I'm not. But I know that my willing compliance will be more useful to you than coercion. I know this place. I know Falling Gate. I know the mine. I know the Proxy Hand. And I know my brother, A Rad, better than anyone.

I can tell you don't want to kill me, and your real objective extends far beyond just me. So I'm begging for a chance to cooperate. And the biggest chip I can offer is...

Myself.

I will submit to any arrangement and assist you in achieving every one of your goals within Falling Gate. Even if my ultimate fate is death, I accept it willingly."

"..."

Cheng Shi nearly applauded her for that speech. Even Qin Xin and the Blind One's expressions shifted after hearing it.

The Blind One was silent for a moment, then asked: "What do you want?"

Shi Lolin's head snapped up, eyes brimming with desperate hope as she looked at the Blind One and said, word by deliberate word: "I want A Rad dead. And I want you to spare the Extreme Desire Brotherhood. Beyond that, I ask for nothing."

"You want A Rad dead? Isn't he your brother?" Cheng Shi blinked in confusion.

"Yes. My full-blooded brother, born of the same mother."

"And you still want him dead? Well, that's not necessarily off the table, but... it'll cost extra." Cheng Shi rubbed his chin.

???

'Wait — he's my brother. Why would you charge extra to kill him?'

The line caught Shi Lolin completely off guard. She stared at Cheng Shi vacantly, unable to recover, until Cheng Shi cleared his throat to snap her out of it. She clenched her teeth and made another promise:

"A Rad's death can be hidden from the Proxy Hand for at least seven days. During that time, all mining proceeds will belong to you. The Extreme Desire Brotherhood won't compete — and wouldn't dare.

I know they've recently excavated several pieces of Abyss Colorful Crystal. Those would all be yours."