[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-gods-foolish-game":3,"chapter-the-gods-foolish-game-the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-28":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Gods' Foolish Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2361156,4617,"Chapter 28","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>The Banquet Murder Case\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feel it—this blood is still warm. He just died, and I’ve been with you the whole time. How could I have had time to kill him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he died in the room you arranged! It’s your fault this happened!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I...” The man’s voice sighed heavily, then added, “Fine, suppose I killed him. So what? He’s dead—now there’s nothing standing between us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He could die, but not now! You’ve ruined everything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What ‘everything’? Dilar, are you hiding something from me again? Lately you’ve changed—you’ve become a stranger to me. Are you... looking at someone else again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! Not at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s voice was gritted with fury, yet she offered no further explanation, instead pressing anxiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The banquet is about to begin. Once everyone learns he’s dead, we’re finished!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finished? You’re the Duchess, the victim. I’m a distant noble relative with no inheritance rights—a mere guard. At worst, I’ll be charged with negligence. How are we finished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I... got too anxious. He can’t die like this. The bill isn’t settled yet—the citizens will still protest...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dilar, that’s the Duke’s concern. You’re just the Duchess!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he’s dead! Dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duchess struggled to suppress her scream, but it still came out hysterical—Duke’s death had clearly struck her a heavy blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what if he’s dead? You inherit all his wealth. Isn’t that enough? Brooks’s fortune could fund our extravagance for generations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... you don’t understand. I can inherit his wealth, but not his title. That means Brooks’s administrative authority will revert to the Crown...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? You want to become a Duchess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! I’m only thinking of those... townspeople!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dilar, you’ve truly changed. Why care about those mud-stained peasants?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t understand! Listen: stay here and guard the room. Don’t let anyone in. I’ll find a way—make sure his death stays secret!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, footsteps clattered away as the Duchess hurried out in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Cheng Shi and Bai Ling exchanged a glance in the cramped space, both exhaling in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this “ordinary guard” was to guard the room, his next move would be to step outside and keep watch—giving them the chance to escape first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unexpectedly, the moment the Duchess slammed the door, the man calling himself “ordinary guard” smiled faintly and turned toward the wardrobe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry you had to witness such a farce, but don’t worry—it’s almost over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clapped his hands, smiling approvingly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for killing Brooks. I’d made my own arrangements, but clearly yours were cleaner and more efficient. I must say, your stealth is impressive—too bad you ran into me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out. Since you helped me out a little, I’ll give you a quick death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi and Bai Ling exchanged another glance, hearts sinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d been found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do we do?” Bai Ling asked silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi thought a moment, then replied with lip movements: “Can you fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling shook her head, but then, remembering Cheng Shi was only a priest, she nodded—and wrote a number on his thigh with her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“1321.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi instantly understood—it was her Ladder Score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was far too low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone still at this tier six months after the [Faith Game] descended must either be barely surviving in solo dungeons or have gotten by purely through luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling didn’t look like either. Cheng Shi couldn’t fathom how she’d scored so low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she fail every time—and still survive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was harder than consistently scoring high!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, she was a Hunter—offensive capability was better than his own Priest’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t panic. Take him down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi signaled silently again, then lightly tapped Bai Ling’s shoulder—indicating he’d push the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling froze, grasped his intent, and began silently counting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“3.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“2.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“1!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both burst through the door at once. Bai Ling summoned her longbow instantly, activated her Sensory Hunt talent, and pierced straight into the guard’s Sea of Desire, aiming to disrupt his actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi rolled on the ground, already casting a Healing Spell on both of them—ensuring ample healing buffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as they burst out, they saw the guard—who had shouted so loudly moments ago—standing far away by the bed, smirking coldly at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensory Hunt slammed into an invisible wall, utterly blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn—he has a mental defense skill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? So you’re servants of [Corruption]? Good. Your killing method was too clean—no traces left. I was worried how to frame the refugees. Now, perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though speaking, he remained cautious, eyes scanning Cheng Shi and Bai Ling, chuckling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The [Corruption] followers among the refugees, opposing the Duke’s bill, infiltrated the palace on the eve of its announcement to assassinate him. What a perfect explanation. Now my suspicion is completely cleared. I really must thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s sharp gaze swept the room and the guard’s entire body. Soon, he spotted a familiar object on the guard’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ring!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard wore a ring identical to the one the dwarves had!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi hadn’t expected such coincidence—he swiftly pulled the ring from his pocket and held it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many words risked mistakes. Better to say nothing and let the guard guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard stared at the ring in his hand, stunned—then burst into incredulous laughter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? I only paid the middleman three hundred gold coins. He said he hired a group of dwarves for this. So... the dwarves outsourced the job?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hahaha, you’re adorable. Who are you? How much did those dwarves pay you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi instantly understood: the dwarves had been hired by this man to kill the Duke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d killed the dwarves—and then stumbled upon the Duke’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn. Now there was no way to explain this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man clearly had no intention of letting them go just because they were hired killers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi stared at the laughing guard, his face grim:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirty gold coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Hahaha, how much did you say?” The guard laughed harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty’s fine too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?” His smile froze. He frowned, as if confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s call it even!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he spoke, Cheng Shi slapped “Accelerated Metabolism” onto the guard—targeting his leg impairment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accelerated metabolism would continuously boost leg vitality—but the sudden change from his usual state would create an unfamiliar lag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they seized that instant of lag, they might get an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling clearly understood Cheng Shi’s “countdown.” The instant he finished speaking, she fired an arrow infused with [Corruption] energy at the guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their coordination was flawless. As the guard’s legs buckled, the arrow struck his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of Desire’s Descent writhed like tentacles, clawing at his reason, tearing at his emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the guard didn’t panic. He smirked, and spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place forbids resistance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hum—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of holy light erupted from the guard, flooding the entire room in gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling’s longbow slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor. Even the arrow embedded in the guard fell away, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s pupils contracted—he knew it was bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the power of [Order]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was a Lawgiver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Singer of [Order]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since when could Singers become guards?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Cheng Shi could process it, the high-ranking Lawgiver began singing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before the Judge, the hour of execution has come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chains choke the prisoner’s cries, shackles shatter the sinner’s pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shall be judged here, bathed in the Holy Fire, washed in the Lord’s glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of [Order]...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turn to ash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each line sung, Cheng Shi felt his physical state plummeting rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silence,” “Imprisonment,” “Scorching,” “Repentance”...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four negative statuses piled atop him, crushing him with tangible weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, both of them were pinned face-down on the ground, gasping for air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling’s condition was clearly worse than Cheng Shi’s; an invisible giant foot seemed to crush her violently against the floor, distorting her entire body and face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bright red blood flowed from her seven orifices, and soon her vision began to blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Cheng Shi, equally miserable, and offered a bitter smile as she apologized:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry… Big Boss… I’m… too weak…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “Silence” affected everyone; her voice never made it past her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi saw Bai Ling open her mouth, then smile and close her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weakness is a sin, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard chuckled coldly, drew his longsword, and slowly strode toward Cheng Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>",1383,"2026-06-21T06:05:06.137Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","be5b96a81a4cfec09d8c143fa50d64c60543cbb8d832f8d73fbf0dfaecfd398f","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-29","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-27",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-gods-foolish-game-cover.jpg"]