Chapter 407

""This is just a bait.""

""Of course! That's why you would list Laatio's 【betrayal】 as a key part of the plan as well. I have to say, that professor's acting is incredibly convincing.""

Shajin gave a cold chuckle: "Maybe he isn't acting at all?"

""Ha, isn't that just playing right into your hands? That meticulous oak family head has an almost obsessive need for control; you must let him grasp enough information, yet not let him notice the loophole……""

""…So you had Laatio find him and deliberately leak the plan. To avoid raising suspicion, everything you told Laatio was the truth, and he faithfully passed it on to Xingqiri.""

""Finally, through the bait you set (the Topaz Stone), that family head found another Foundation Stone as he wished—in that way——you could smuggle the third stone (Shajin Stone) past him.""

——

Saint Seiya.

""The third Foundation Stone… the third…… ha… hahaha! I understand… I understand!""

Inside the Pope's Hall, Tong Hu's low laugh was squeezed from his throat, gradually turning into unrestrained hysterical laughter. A feeling of indescribable excitement made his whole body seem as if an electric current were passing through, and even his voice began to tremble slightly.

""Ah, I see! What he originally said… 'Three chips are enough' actually meant this! Three chips correspond to three Foundation Stones…… Damn it! This guy is a one-in-a‑million extreme lunatic! He actually dares to gamble with three Foundation Stones!""

To stake something more precious than one's own life—if you ask the Golden Saints present what is more precious than their lives, there is no doubt it is the goddess Athena, leader of this holy war—just imagine if one were to wager with Hades, the king of the underworld, using Athena as the stake…… Even the slightest thought makes Tong Hu shudder involuntarily.

Moreover, the opponent had put down three 【Foundation Stones】 all at once—that wasn't just his own life at stake.

""What if we lose the bet? Has this maniac not even considered that?" Hasujia Te crossed his arms, his brows furrowed, his voice low like muffled thunder: "If Xingqiri discovers the whereabouts of his third Foundation Stone, everything will be reduced to ashes…… the cost is too great.""

""But the problem is…" Shi Ang of Aries glanced around at the assembled Saints, "Even if we know he is hiding a third Foundation Stone—may I ask, everyone, do you know where his third Foundation Stone is hidden?""

The crowd, which had just been arguing loudly, fell silent in an instant, and the hall was deathly quiet.

After who knows how long, accompanied by Manigete's soft scoff, the silence was finally broken.

""If we knew what Shajin was thinking, would that mean we're crazy too? To actually think alike with that kind of lunatic…""

Hasujia Te stroked his chin, "Could it be that the professor was moved ahead of time? Perhaps he's hidden in the amusement park right now? Otherwise, why would Shajin risk going to that place?"

""Impossible." Ashimida turned the prayer beads in his hand, shook his head slightly, "If that were the case, how could Xingqiri know nothing at all? Don't forget, every argument he and the professor had in the Daydream Hotel is known to him inside out. Every word they spoke after entering the hotel took place under Xingqiri's ears."

""But that's the crux of the problem." Shi Ang nodded slightly, "If even we, who know that a third Foundation Stone exists, cannot guess where the Shajin Stone is, how could Xingqiri possibly know?"

——

""……Stop rummaging around in my head, you bastard.""

The shadow couldn't help but laugh: "Your mind? Is it our mind? You are me, I am you, no distinction." He walked slowly to the side, and another green Foundation Stone appeared at his feet.

""If you want to avoid giving yourself away in front of others, the best method is to deceive yourself first… To be honest, you can't fool yourself. Pulling this off counts as your lucky break." He turned to look at Shajin, "This is another Foundation Stone in Xingqiri's hand. It's a lovely green, just like you—smooth and deceitful…… Tell me, what is its name?"

""Why bother asking me specifically?""

""Hmph… then I'll make you recall it myself. 【Shajin】 is the Stone of Luck and Deceit… When you obtained this stone, she said it like this, right? This stone isn't precious, but its color is very close to that of a certain gem, so it's often used as a substitute for that gem. And that more expensive gem……"

Shajin said each word clearly: "…It's called 【Jade】." He slowly closed his eyes, "Even Xingqiri couldn't tell the difference—it seems jade can also substitute for shajin."

The shadow sighed with feeling: "Shajin, Topaz, Jade… three elites, three Foundation Stones, for the tiny Pinokangni they staked everything. You are more united than a family."

——

The Abyss of Reckless Gambling.

""No, a company shouldn't be a place of scheming, buck‑passing, and internal strife, right? So why… why are they……"

In the classroom of the Private Hyakkaou Academy, Saotome Mayari stared blankly at the "Shajin" on the screen; the stark contrast of the company left her momentarily unable to accept it.

Her family also runs a company, and it is Japan's foremost toy company. Usually, the larger a company, the more severe its internal consumption problems, and the root of this issue often lies in the distribution of benefits and power—but why… would two executives be willing to stake their lives and futures to accompany a colleague in a high‑stakes gamble?

"... She couldn't understand it, she simply couldn't understand."

Is this the same company as Si Ke Te's Interstellar Peace Corporation? Or could the corporate culture be different?

No, this has long gone beyond what corporate culture can explain. No matter how harsh the corporate culture, it wouldn't brainwash two senior leaders into putting their careers and lives on the line to serve as…… "chips" for another leader.

They are practically a single person—one handles the legs for walking, the other the hands…… They have merged into one, striving solely toward a single goal.

Thinking of this, Saotome Mayari unconsciously swallowed.

""Haah… haah……"

Suddenly, a ragged gasp came from beside her.

Saotome Mayari turned her head, only to see Moko Mako's cheeks flushed crimson, her slender fingers tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, her legs unconsciously rubbing together. Her rose‑colored eyes shimmered with moisture, the very picture of a lust‑driven maniac.

As long as she doesn't talk about anything related to "gambling", she is a poised, beautiful girl—but the moment gambling comes up, Moko completely transforms into another person.

I doubt there's anyone in the galaxy who could satisfy this girl's gambling lust except Shajin, right?