Chapter 1998: Unknowable Truth 5

Simply, his thought process was genuine, with Faith Power sharing part of the thinking, ultimately helping him achieve this.

You're guiding me to uncover the truth of the Ghost Skull, so I'll follow your line of thought.

If I'm not mistaken, much of the information in the mission has been concealed by you, and it's just outside the city, beyond the circle I drew.

As he spoke, Lin An let out a soft sigh and silently gazed at the surrounding darkness.

Because these Fifth Stages are useless, lacking cognition, they just died—this is utterly absurd. Even if there were an explanation, like the resurrection info you had me deduce, those missing people turned into headless ghosts...

But it's still too fake, too forced.

Speaking of which, this also counts as one of my doubts. People who find this logic sound are likely those who haven't experienced a Fifth-Stage mission.

Lin An turned his head back and calmly looked at Andre.

The logic he told Gao Tian and the others at that time was fundamentally wrong. Consequently, Qing Kai and the Bull and others have always doubted this, which also led Qing Kai to leave the team, intending to find others.

Qing Kai simply doesn't believe his explanation.

But on the contrary, Gao Tian and Zhang Tie find it quite reasonable, with Gao Tian himself working out a seemingly 'fair' logic.

He casually nodded, Andre's smile unchanged, and he didn't mind Lin An's mockery that he basically doesn't understand the difficulty of Fifth-Stage missions.

I truly don't know what a Fifth-Stage mission is like, or how the system would treat Fifth Stages. To be honest, this is indeed my oversight.

But is there more? After all, the mission has mutated, so these can be explained.

Of course there is.

Lin An replied softly:

For example, if I really had rebooted, why would I lack the memory of the first round?

For example, why does this mission strip us of our power, while Jiang Haochen can regain his at the entrance?

Moreover, why does every clue lead nowhere, as if everything is merely to piece together the cognition of two minds?

Furthermore, the mission's logic is overly fragmented; the whole mission seems to revolve around me, with each person deliberately helping me supplement a certain logic...

Of course, the two most crucial points are:

1: 'Lin An's' understanding of faith—your final words are just a repetition of the line of thought I deliberately considered, but it's wrong.

2: The mission difficulty is too great, to the point that it's not reflected in each segment, but that I am bound to die...

That's not right.

Without a reboot, without the previous round's memory, even a Seventh Stage couldn't complete the mission! I can't get the camera, can't see the TV information, and can't test the dual-head logic!

This doesn't conform to system logic!

Therefore, all the problems can only have one answer explaining them!

That is, someone knows I have reboot ability, and they're thinking how to exhaust my reboot, then strike me when I'm most relaxed, about to finish the mission!

All logic, all clues, everything is completely wrong, utterly fake!

Taking a deep breath, Lin An looked at Andre with a solemn gaze.

This is tough, right...

After Lin An finished speaking, a long while passed before Andre lowered his smile and slowly nodded.

Yes.

If this were a card game, I could see your cards, playing openly. But you, Lin An, possess the ability to flip the table.

Andre couldn't help but chuckle while speaking, his smile tinged with bitterness and even jealousy.

Three reboots...

You're far more disgusting than me.

And you haven't even used it once!

Not even once used!?

In the dark space, Lin An's pupils suddenly contracted, and he froze in place.

He sensed Andre's pride, refusing to admit defeat, but the key lay in his last words.

No reboot!?

As if suddenly realizing something, Lin An's face shifted repeatedly; before he could speak, Andre broke the silence first.

Aren't you curious why I left such an obvious loophole, causing your first-round memory to vanish?

Do you think you died upon entering, then directly started the second round?

No, you haven't died even once, and I wouldn't dare let you die.

Looking at your expression, I think you've figured out the reason.

As his words fell, Lin An's eyes flickered, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

He had been on guard, curious why Andre could control the mission without forcibly erasing him.

It seems...

Now I see!

If I die, will I merge into the Ghost Skull?

Do you know what happens after merging into the Ghost Skull? I have two, even three reboot chances; if I continuously merge into the mission, I'll become like you, able to control the mission.

Cannot die, cannot kill.

Lin An's heart instantly welled up with a sense of absurdity.

If that's truly the case, from Andre's perspective it's utterly unsolvable!

No wonder... Andre would utter the word 'disgusting'!

Kill him, retain memory, Ghost Lin seizes the mission's 'authorization,' while the original continues decryption.

After two or three consecutive times, Andre would not only have to face his own self who cracked the mission, but also simultaneously confront three Ghost Lins—a five versus one—how could he fight that?

So I've never actually died?

"Yeah... you just need to pile up a bunch of clues, combine them, throw them in front of me to mislead me... you want me to commit suicide, because only suicide, only when I regard myself as a ghost, convinced I've already died, can I beat you..!"

"Cognition determines everything."

"The best way to deal with an enemy isn't to force him to reveal all his cards, but to make him feel he has none left!"

"No wonder you'd stall until the last moment, giving me a hope to leave when I was most disheartened and unwilling..!"

"Lin An took a deep breath and clenched his fists tightly."

"To be frank, his daring to kill himself with a gun at the final moment truly comes from the Faith Power inside him!"

"Lin An's understanding of faith in his true form is wrong; that was his test."

"Moreover, the Faith Power within him makes him absolutely certain that he is himself!"

"Andre's entire layout revolves around one point: making him mistakenly believe he has restarted, creating the illusion of a restart! Instilling in him the two-headed logic, the cognition of a ghost skull!"

"Wait..."

"If that's the case.."

"You want me to let me commit suicide and become a ghost skull, to go out in my place? You want to cut off my chance to leave and occupy my body!?"

"As his words fell, facing Lin An's questioning, Andre's face once again showed a gentle smile."

"Seeing him shake his head, then nod, after a long while he slowly spoke."

"\"Lin An, I have to say, you're really smart. \""

"\"I really do want to get out; after learning that you actually have the Chong Qi Neng Li ability, I realized there must be a supreme being behind you. He doesn't want you to die, and this is also my only hope of getting out. \""

"\"But I also want you guys to get out; aren't you curious why I fabricated the two-headed logic, letting you leave with flesh and blood? \""

"His voice paused; Andre walked solemnly up to Lin An and looked at him seriously:"

"\"Don't you think all the clues are problematic, with no follow-up? You must think I'm hiding information, deceiving you, right? \""

"\"No! I'm saving you! I'm saving everyone! \""

"\"You have no idea what's really happening here! You think why this place would mutate!? It's because a secret has appeared here that makes the system fearful, wanting to crush it! \""

"\"Without me, you'd already be dead! Even if you could restart ten thousand times, a hundred million times, you'd still die here! \""

"\"Lin An! \""

"\"You can't imagine what is actually hidden here! \""

"\"That is, the ultimate! \""

"\"The ultimate of human origin! \""