Chapter 243: Ticket to the Weird Assembly

The meeting in the Forbidden Zone ended quickly.

Albert happily ran off to the seventeenth floor again, preparing to find Old Jin for a talk.

He likely understood Old Jin’s situation, so he didn’t harbor any unrealistic expectations that Old Jin would immediately come out of seclusion.

But now, just like Wen Xishu, Albert was very eager to dig out all of Old Jin’s secrets.

As he left the garden, Albert said:

"You had best not climb the tower for a while."

"Why? Actually, I feel that rather than waiting for Mr. Jin to summon me... I might as well climb the tower first." Wen Xishu felt that he had already reached the time for a new round of tower climbing.

Xun Hui and Wenren Jing were following behind; as soon as the two heard this dialogue, they immediately looked at Wen Xishu with the eyes one would use for a monster.

Regardless of what Wen Xishu’s current strength was, the extent of this grind truly made the two feel inferior.

It was no wonder that in a mere three months, he could go from a death-row prisoner to a bunker legend.

Albert said:

"Don't be in such a rush. Old Jin is about to go into seclusion, and what exactly he is doing in his seclusion, I don't know either. He is clearly already in a state of seclusion, isn't he?"

"And once he goes into seclusion, it will be next month, or perhaps even longer, before he can talk to us."

"I am worried that your next tower climb will delay your meeting with him, so this time, just don't climb the tower yet."

Wen Xishu really wanted to refuse. Not climb the tower? Eat, drink, and be merry in the bunker? Indulge in debauchery? Enjoy life? No, that was too strange.

But if Mr. Jin could provide some bombshell information, that seemed quite interesting as well.

In the end, Wen Xishu agreed.

For some reason, Albert, Xun Hui, and Wenren Jing all let out a sigh of relief.

……

……

Weird Tower Academy, Dean’s office.

Wen Xishu had nothing to do for the moment, so he thought, why not deal with that student who had gone mad first?

He was about to ask the Academy Spirit about that student’s background.

But just as he was about to do so, the door to the Weird Tower Academy office was knocked upon.

The Academy Spirit poked its head in:

"Respected Dean, there is a gentleman named Zheng Zai who says he is your friend and wishes to see you."

Old Zheng?

Actually, it hadn't been many days since he last met Zheng Zai, but inexplicably, he felt as if he hadn't seen him for a while.

"Let him in."

The Academy Spirit nodded:

"Very well. If possible, you could tell me your social connections so I can serve you more attentively."

Wen Xishu waved his hand:

"Next time."

The Academy Spirit nodded, and before long, a familiar face appeared in Wen Xishu’s line of sight.

Zheng Zai was still wearing the iron muzzle, which made him look quite ferocious.

However, he seemed a bit lost.

But the moment he saw Wen Xishu, Zheng Zai was happy from the bottom of his heart.

"Old Zheng, you came at just the right time; I was just thinking of looking for you."

Wen Xishu also smiled very happily.

Hearing the words "Old Zheng," Zheng Zai became even happier.

To be honest, he had been very afraid that after seeing Wen Xishu, he would find that a pathetic, thick barrier had formed between them, and that he would have to respectfully call him: Dean Wen.

"Little Brother Wen, this Weird Tower Academy of yours is truly interesting!"

Zheng Zai sat down opposite Wen Xishu.

Wen Xishu said:

"Sit for a while first. After you’ve rested a bit, shall I take you for a tour?"

"That would be great, that would be great."

Scratching his head, Zheng Zai decided to get straight to the point:

"Little Brother Wen, I came to see you this time actually to thank you... and, I found something. I was thinking, perhaps we could fight side-by-side once?"

Wen Xishu became interested. He really didn't mind exploring the Weird Tower with Zheng Zai. But the problem was, exploring the Weird Tower was a difficult thing to do in a team.

Could it be that Old Zheng had found some kind of item for teaming up?

Zheng Zai didn't immediately talk about the teaming up, but instead brought up something slightly more serious:

"My father... is no longer a sinner. I have to thank you, Little Brother Wen. Without you, even if he died, he would still be a sinner."

As Zheng Zai spoke, he stood up, preparing to kowtow to Wen Xishu.

Wen Xishu immediately helped Zheng Zai up:

"Between friends, why perform such a grand gesture?"

Zheng Zai shook his head:

"I told you about my past, didn't I? I once tried very hard to change my situation, to clear my father’s name."

"I participated in the Wenti Bureau’s competitions, climbed the Slaughter Tower, and finally started climbing the Weird Tower, all to bring attention to my father’s case..."

"But that time, the woman who was climbing the tower with us told me that my father was already dead."

Wen Xishu still remembered. He had actually been quite moved at the time.

Zheng Zai had said that this world had an invisible mountain that one could never finish climbing. He would take one step, and the mountain would grow two steps.

Wen Xishu had thought at the time that he might be the same, and that the Anquan Bureau would consume him too.

But later on, he climbed too fast and soon reached the peak of the mountain.

Zheng Zai said:

"My father is indeed dead. Little Brother Wen, after you became a bunker legend, everyone related to you was given important roles."

"It’s the same for me. The irony is... back then, I was always suppressed by people from the Wenti Bureau. Whatever ranking I achieved, they would ignore it."

"Even when I took first place..."

"But now, that leader from the Wenti Bureau has come to my door to apologize. Because public opinion has started to overturn the verdict on my past!"

"Because I am also a hero, I am a friend of the bunker legend, so I must also be great."

"The backroom dealings of the Wenti Bureau at the time were widely reported by the media under Officer Liu Jinsen..."

"Everyone has started to sympathize with my past. All of a sudden, I have become a hero with a tragic past who finally saw his hard work pay off."

"Isn't it ironic? And that’s not even the most ironic part."

Logically speaking, Zheng Zai should be happy recounting these things, but Zheng Zai couldn't be happy.

His expression carried confusion. Wen Xishu was also slightly confused.

Old Zheng was indeed quite tragic, and could be called a hero; this wasn't ironic at all.

But soon, Wen Xishu understood what this was all about.

"Officer Liu Jinsen also brought me some things. He told me to handle them myself and that he wouldn't interfere."

Officer Liu is truly attentive to his friends... Wen Xishu had to admire that.

This is what you call widening one's path.

"What kind of things?" Wen Xishu asked.

Zheng Zai said:

"It’s evidence of my father’s crimes. Evidence that my father committed crimes, heh. Real, existing evidence... He wasn't wrongly accused; he truly, definitely... was a sinner."

Zheng Zai laughed at himself, his smile bitter.

Wen Xishu suddenly understood why Old Zheng was confused.

"I lived wishfully in the filter of my father, but my father was actually guilty; he wasn't wrongly accused... and now, he is innocent."

"This is a good thing for me, yet I suddenly fear this world."

"Little Brother Wen, you have been to the Desire Tower many times... My life is lowly, I have never been to that flashy world. Is it only the bunker that is... so reckless, or is every world like this? Always like this?"

Wen Xishu looked at Old Zheng’s confusion and could feel the impact Zheng Zai felt in his heart when Officer Liu handed him the evidence of his father’s crimes...

If Zheng Zai’s father hadn't committed crimes, then Zheng Zai would likely be enjoying the fruits of his labor right now.

He had always longed to prove his father’s innocence, risking his life for it.

If only... Zheng Zai’s father had truly been innocent, how good that would have been.

But now, Zheng Zai’s father had finally been "exonerated" amidst the carnival of public opinion.

Yet, Zheng Zai knew the truth about his father. It turned out that his father had deserved his punishment back then.

And at this very moment, the people who had wronged Zheng Zai back then were apologizing to him, and Zheng Zai’s father had become a hero who died an unjust death.

Wen Xishu could understand; no wonder Zheng Zai felt it was all so ironic.

"It is always like this, Old Zheng. I cannot lie to you."

Yes, the world is always like this. When you have power and strength, you can turn right and wrong upside down.

Crows can be white, deer can be horses, and one can be blamed for another's mistakes.

"Are you going to accept it, Old Zheng?" Wen Xishu asked softly.

Zheng Zai shook his head:

"I don't know. I'm thinking, Officer Liu Jinsen... gave me everything. He said this is the rule of the world."

"I could destroy this incriminating evidence and have a happy ending for everyone. Or... I could let my father bear the infamy."

"I am very conflicted."

Zheng Zai was still shaking his head, shaking it incessantly:

"Compared to climbing the tower to save the world... Brother Wen, I shouldn't be bothering you with such matters, but I am truly confused."

"What should I do?"

Wen Xishu said:

"You have a long time to consider this, Old Zheng. I cannot give you advice, although I have guessed what you will do in the end."

Zheng Zai was slightly stunned.

Wen Xishu recalled that a certain big star once said that after you succeed, everyone around you is a good person.

It seems that is indeed the case now.

At this very moment, the problem Old Zheng is facing, if not for the fact that Old Zheng is his friend... from the perspective of a pure passerby, it is quite interesting.

A person who wholeheartedly craves fairness and justice now holds power, standing at the crossroads of distorting fairness and justice versus upholding fairness and justice.

How will Zheng Zai choose?

Wen Xishu had the answer.

After Zheng Zai was silent for a long time, he sighed softly:

"If I choose to dispose of that incriminating evidence... then, wouldn't I have become the person I hated most back when I was desperately trying to prove my father's innocence?"

At that time, Zheng Zai loathed everyone who distorted right and wrong. Why should good people be thrown into prison?

Why were so many bad people enjoying themselves in the Desire Tower?

Zheng Zai shook his head again:

"I cannot be this kind of person... I cannot be this kind of person."

"Brother Wen, I understand now. I will return the items to Officer Liu Jinsen. Is this... the answer you saw?"

Wen Xishu did not deny it; he nodded:

"Yes, Old Zheng. Whatever you do, I can understand it, but I also know you, so I know there is only one way you will act."

"Power is good; it can make a group of people distort right and wrong for you, and you can also use power to toy with others."

"When we have no power, we despise those who abuse it. Now that we have power... we might also become one of the evil dragons."

"But fortunately, my friend, Old Zheng, you are a noble guy. This is not conducive to getting by in an environment like the bunker... but I believe that one day, if we work together, we will allow good people to get ahead."

Zheng Zai discovered that Brother Wen really had a talent for speeches; he had a kind of hot-blooded urge to go and do something big with Brother Wen.

After being told this by Wen Xishu, Zheng Zai was no longer so conflicted and pained.

"By the way, I am now... fourth on the Heavenly Ladder Ranking. Hehe, I will catch up to the third place. I feel like I can surpass him."

"I've been climbing the tower lately too! My Weird Sequence 123: All-Consuming Nourishment, even gained a rune. This means I won't have an episode for a short time."

Wen Xishu was very curious about this sequence. He still remembered that Zheng Zai had previously even used this sequence to eat a ghost.

A certain horror mission involving a grandfather crawling out of a coffin had its entire style changed because Zheng Zai ate the grandfather...

Not to mention, Wen Xishu felt that Zheng Zai's sequence was actually quite strong.

It was the same during the previous fight; controlling Zheng Zai with the gamepad could even make that Zheng Zai recover health.

"Tell me about your sequence?"

The sequence of the fourth person of the Weird Tower, All-Consuming Nourishment, is a very useful sequence.

Simply put, you gain the nourishment of whatever you eat, and it isolates the fatal dangers brought by the food.

Zheng Zai has now also obtained a rune, an exclusive rune called Accumulate Strength and Release Thinly.

For a period of time, it will suppress the power of the sequence, but after the suppression is lifted, the sequence will be exceptionally powerful for a short time.

This rune was obtained by Zheng Zai the last time he climbed the tower.

Wen Xishu had to say that this rune was very suitable for Zheng Zai.

"A very powerful and practical sequence, very great, Old Zheng, congratulations."

Zheng Zai said:

"I also obtained something... called a Weird Assembly Admission Ticket, a double pass."

Wen Xishu did not expect that Old Zheng could actually come up with a new thing in the Weird Tower that even he had never heard of.

He was very curious:

"What the heck is that?"

Zheng Zai said:

"I didn't understand at first either. It was only after I asked the Guide that the Guide told me."

Wen Xishu couldn't help it:

"Did it not give you a 'three-part combo'?"

Zheng Zai didn't understand what a three-part combo was; he shook his head and said:

"I don't really understand. Anyway, the Guide said that if you clear the Weird Tower in a weird way, and a certain weird behavior is repeated often, you might get a Weird Assembly Admission Ticket."

That's true, Wen Xishu pondered for a moment; Old Zheng's way of clearing the tower was probably just eating.

Eating from start to finish, if he isn't weird, who is? No wonder he would be issued a Weird Assembly Admission Ticket.

"A double pass means... I can fill in the name of one more friend. This way, when I climb the tower, I can forcibly summon my friend to climb the tower with me."

Zheng Zai suddenly felt a bit embarrassed:

"But I thought about it, whether it's A-Miao or anyone else... they probably wouldn't think that being invited into the Weird Tower is something that reflects friendship; it's more like something that would break a friendship."

"Probably only you, Brother Wen... would think that being invited to climb the tower is something that reflects friendship."

Why is there a feeling of being both praised and scolded? Wen Xishu wanted to laugh.

Zheng Zai said:

"The Guide said the admission ticket will take us to a specific level, not too high... but we might encounter many equally weird existences."

"However, the rewards obtained will break through the level restrictions."

"I thought about it, I'm not confident, so Brother Wen, are you willing to experience this special Weird Tower mission with me?"

Wen Xishu felt this was really not bad.

Old Zheng's level shouldn't be high... if he goes in, presumably even if the mission is difficult, he should be able to handle it with ease.

Moreover, the prizes of the Weird Assembly breaking through level restrictions made Wen Xishu very interested.

"Fine, I promise you."

"Really? That's great! Brother Wen!" Zheng Zai almost jumped up.

Although he didn't know what challenges he would face, with Brother Wen there, he felt exceptionally steady.

Zheng Zai asked:

"Then Brother... when do we set off?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Wait for my notification. I'll tell you next time I climb the tower. But I can't leave the bunker yet."

Wen Xishu really wanted to see Mr. Jin now. Because his addiction to climbing the tower was acting up.

But he really couldn't rush this matter.

(End of chapter)