Chapter 406

Shajin fell into silence.

Shadow smiled smugly: "Didn't I say so? You're exactly this kind of person—cautious and yet self‑deprecating. You've won so much, yet you're still more afraid of losing than anyone."

People only see you throwing thousands at the gaming table, but they don't know that beneath the table there's another hand, gripping the chips, trembling incessantly...

Saying this, Shadow couldn't help but feel admiration: 'Amazing, no wonder the tavern sent you an invitation. You're a natural-born actor… not only good at deceiving others, but even better at deceiving yourself.'

"To keep from showing weakness before others, the best method is to deceive yourself first." Shajin said in a light tone.

"Haha, of course, I know you too well… but it's strange—why did you refuse that invitation? You clearly had the chance to embrace joy; isn't that what you most wanted? Yet you still chose the company's gaming table…"

"For preservation? Hmph, I don't see it. Do you have any connection to preservation at all?"

"I thought you knew… you don't understand me very well, do you?" Shajin turned impatiently, "Alright, either shut up now or get out of my sight quickly."

"No problem. But—who is it that's about to disappear here?"

After saying that, his phantom gradually merged into the shadows.

Shajin gave a cold snort: "... Anyway, it's not me."

——

Pirate King.

"So has this kid completely overcome his flaws?" Green Ox lifted his gaze to the sky; he remembered how smart Shajin was as a child, and how, grown up, he became a P45‑level executive, his shortcomings all but polished away.

"He hasn't overcome them; these flaws have accompanied him from the start… and they're tied to his background." Violet Tiger rubbed his staff‑blade, shaking his head slightly: "... He just acts remarkably well—so well that everyone believes it, thinking he's the lofty figure in the company."

As Shajin, he is perfect; as a Kakawasha… no matter how many years have passed, he remains that child in the yellow sands who feels inferior and afraid.

But precisely because of these 'imperfections,' he has become Shajin, an elite of the Investment Department capable of holding the Foundation Stone.

Thinking of this, Violet Tiger couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"I really want to gamble with this guy."

Beside him, Green Ox snorted coldly: "Gamble? This guy's luck is unbelievably good—aren't you afraid of losing everything you own?"

"My luck isn't bad either." Violet Tiger smiled faintly, the scars on his face relaxing: "Besides, he won't cheat, and neither will I. Letting pure luck decide the outcome—that's the fun of gambling."

"I believe that as long as the opponent doesn't cheat, he will never break the rules first. If this kid dared to cheat first, he wouldn't be alive today—by now there'd probably be a horde across the galaxy hunting him. Would the Diamond really approve of someone who plays such petty tricks?"

——

Along the way, a child's voice kept coming from ahead.

"Ah—wanna play hide‑and‑seek? I'm the best at that—"

"Now it's my turn to hide—I bet you'll never find me—"

Shajin arrived at a filming base; everywhere were castle and balloon animated backdrops—truly a perfect spot for hide‑and‑seek.

"Hide‑and‑seek… what a sweet childhood memory." Shadow appeared again behind Shajin: "On the day you said goodbye to your mother, how many Katika people were chasing you like wolves at your heels?"

"I bet you can't forget their shrill laughter. To disappear from under the noses of those savages, you and your sister could only roll in blood, ruining the only piece of clothing your father left you…" Shadow said regretfully.

Shajin turned and gave him a cold look: "He wasn't destroyed; I've kept him safe all along."

"It's just a rag; you can't wear it anymore." Shadow chuckled lightly: "Now you don't need to hide, and you even have the mood to disdain your delicate attire getting wet in the rain… looks like your status has changed."

Shajin gritted his teeth: "... I've never changed."

"No, you have changed… you've become the one who hunts. This last game of hide‑and‑seek… enjoy it to the fullest."

——

"Is seeking an encounter in the dungeon a mistake?"

"Lord Divine…?"

Bell suddenly noticed that Hestia beside him had become very quiet.

Under the tavern's dim yellow light, the Divine One's shoulders trembled slightly; crystal‑clear tears kept dripping onto the plate before her, splashing tiny droplets on the metal surface.

"Uuu… that Shajin child…" Hestia sobbed softly, wiping her tears with white gloves: "So young, yet constantly hiding… Ahhh, the Katika people aren't human! Are they even human? How could they commit such heinous, heaven‑defying acts?!"

Hestia finally couldn't hold back; she placed a foot on the stool and shouted: "This race in the dungeon must be hunted as a group! Hunt them hard! I'll go up and slap them twice myself!"

"Hunt the Katika people! Hunt the Katika people!"

Her impassioned speech had the tavern's adventurers cheering and responding in kind, for everyone had been fiercely provoked by the Katika people's beastly conduct. But after the excitement faded, everyone quickly realized a problem—namely, there are no Katika people in Oulali… In other words, to hunt this race you must first go to outer space, cross countless star systems, before you can slap them.

... Not only is the cost a bit high, the main point is that it's simply impossible.

The tavern's patrons, who had just been fervently excited, instantly fell into silence.

Until an adventurer voluntarily spoke up to break this awkward silence:

"Hey, I'm saying… aren't there goblins in the dungeon too? Those monsters also love to abuse and slaughter weak adventurers—why don't we form a party to hunt them?"

"That makes sense; how about we switch our target? Even though they're not quite the same race or status as the Katika people… well, let's go with them."

——

Shajin wondered whether the child was inside; he pressed deeper forward, only to see something familiar.

"This is…"

He picked up the golden‑yellow stone from the ground, his pupils constricting abruptly: "Topaz stone? Why is it here…"

As he thought, a stronger wave of dizziness hit him; he had to lean on the nearby photo board, barely supporting his posture.

"How? Does her Foundation Stone hurt you this much?" Shadow approached from behind.

"... I was just curious why it's here."

"Maybe that winged head placed it here on purpose to mock you, to make you realize that your painstakingly arranged magic show is nothing but a dying struggle." Shadow said lightly, "The hue of the Foundation Stone and the radiance of the Kriplet Holy Body are identical… it's a shame you could invent such a ridiculous excuse. If he had just a bit more sense, your lies would collapse at the slightest touch."