Chapter 280: Democratic Albert

Unlike usual, Wen Xishu basically sent all facilities to the second floor. But this time, Wen Xishu sent the prison to the eighth floor—the Trick Tower Academy.

The reason is simple: a prison must account for jailbreaks, and once they break out, they will be right in the Trick Tower Academy, which presumably will make the prisoners feel right at home.

After finishing all this, Wen Xishu asked a question:

"You Guides, why did you become Guides? What is the reason for your presence here? Where does this place originate?"

This question caught the Black Trick Head off guard. After a short silence, the Black Trick Head said:

"You know what I'm going to say."

The White Desire Head said:

"Hard to say."

The Red Slaughter Head nodded and said:

"Better not to say."

Wen Xishu interrupted the Black Slaughter Head's combo:

"Let me change the question. Is this place where I am a part of the Land of Obsession?"

The Three-Tower Guides didn't quite understand why Wen Xishu was asking such... origin-related questions today.

"You are very strange today," the Black Trick Head said.

Wen Xishu didn't ask further:

"I will know sooner or later. According to the natural progress, I am about to step into the fiftieth floor now, right?"

The Black Trick Head nodded:

"Indeed, it is simply god-speed. Fifty floors in just over three months, truly gifted. Will there ever be a tower climber faster than you in the future? I am truly looking forward to it, chop chop chop chop chop."

Wen Xishu said:

"If one hundred floors is the limit... the journey is about halfway through? Although it can't be calculated that way, after all, the first half is flat and the second half is steep."

"But I am gradually realizing some things. Obsession can really create many things. Under the influence of the tower, even the people of the Underworld have begun to have a sense of crisis."

"So I am thinking, are the Guides perhaps also a part of the Trick Tower?"

No answer.

All three heads were shrunken, appearing somewhat crowded.

Seeing them not speaking, Wen Xishu did not continue to speak; his questions were indeed somewhat inexplicable.

However, Wen Xishu actually had a reason for asking this, because if the Guides were obsessions... would that also represent a task?

With the journey halfway through, Wen Xishu thought, the Guides should also tell him some key information.

But looking at the three silent Guides, Wen Xishu returned directly.

He was not in a hurry; in the process of climbing the tower, all the puzzles would surely be solved slowly.

……

……

The Bunker.

The exit of the prison connected to the "Chronicles of Remembrance."

When it suddenly appeared, people were startled. The students of the Three-Tower Academy looked up one after another at the building that had suddenly appeared in the inverted world in the sky.

Soon, people realized it was a prison.

And they also realized... what the appearance of the prison meant. The Bunker legend Wen Xishu, Dean Wen, had successfully returned again, and the completion rating was very high.

But the students were already accustomed to the miracles of Wen Xishu. Now, they were not that surprised.

And seeing a prison appear, the students' impression of the Trick Tower Academy became even more... stereotypical.

"I really... still want to climb the Slaughter Tower."

"The prison is out, what is this school trying to do? Treat us like the monsters in the Slaughter Tower? Or as prisoners?"

"Suddenly feel that those benefits from Young Master William are not that good..."

This was of course not everyone's thought; many people also felt that a place like a prison being in the Trick Tower Academy was not bad.

The mental state of those students who wanted to enter the Trick Tower Academy was like this:

"Wow, there is even a prison in the academy, you can study like a prisoner, this is very Trick Tower."

"Those who climbed the Trick Tower in the past were all death-row prisoners. It is very reasonable for us to have a prison in the Trick Tower Academy. When the time comes, the death-row prisoners can audit classes while exchanging insights with us, perfect."

"Makes sense, I really want my dormitory to be prison-style, thinking about it, it's quite interesting."

"Right next to that building that scares people crazy, two buildings connected together, I love it."

"I can't wait to attend class!"

It must be said that William Faulkner's benefits were in place, and a considerable number of the recruited students really possessed the ability to climb the Trick Tower; they were the kind of perverts to the bone.

Just like that one last time, who was scared by Tang Rui and then swore to become Tang Rui's dog.

Overall, the number of people with abnormal mental states in the Trick Tower Academy was very high.

This was related to the academy's written examination mechanism.

The Slaughter Tower Academy focused on testing whether the other party had the concept of defending the home and country, while the Desire Tower Academy tested whether the other party had love.

But the Trick Tower Academy tested whether the other party had a penchant for the bizarre, an eccentric temperament, masochistic tendencies, etc.; these were all bonus points.

The total number of enrollments was lower than expected, but it was considered a successful completion.

Now the first batch of new students for the Trick Tower Academy had all been recruited and were waiting for the "teachers" to give lectures.

……

……

The students were all enthusiastically discussing the Trick Tower Academy.

However, the Dean of the Trick Tower Academy, Wen Xishu, was not at the Trick Tower Academy at this time.

As the focus of the topic, he was currently in the forbidden garden of the Desire Tower Academy.

Still the same as usual: Evelyn, the Principal, Xun Hui, and Wenren Jing.

The reason Wen Xishu called a few people other than the Principal was that he hoped they could also participate in the vote, because he knew very well that the Principal would definitely make a decision next.

"How is Xiao Jin?" Wen Xishu asked.

"Still recovering his memory. The efforts of these years have not been in vain. His true colors have actually changed. I believe that after a while, Xiao Jin will be our friend again," Evelyn said.

Wen Xishu nodded, preparing to get to the point.

But at this moment, Xun Hui suddenly spoke up:

"I have already cleared the sixty-ninth floor. Am I only going to wait from now on?"

Wenren Jing also said:

"I am also on the sixty-ninth floor, having completed a level-five completion rating. My natural level is also about to reach the seventieth floor..."

Wen Xishu was secretly surprised to hear this. After all, Xun Hui had only just touched the sixtieth floor not long ago. Now he had also cleared the sixty-ninth floor.

This made Wen Xishu certain that Xun Hui must have put in a lot of effort recently.

Albert knew that climbing the tower meant killing people.

Every time one climbed the tower by force, the desire for slaughter in the body would accumulate. Xun Hui killing the Third Bureau Chief of the Anquan Bureau was only a short time ago.

Many death-row prisoners in the Bunker had been executed ahead of schedule recently, which presumably had something to do with the Xun family.

But Albert didn't care. If one needed to become a devil in the process of climbing the tower, he was willing to become a devil.

"Then let's take a break for a while. I am also thinking about a way to solve the trouble of Sagittarius, but there is no way for the time being."

"Perhaps Xiao Jin is a breakthrough point. I have always felt that Old Jin would not lie to me. He said that his death could make Sagittarius withdraw, so it must be possible."

"But Old Jin did not die; the one who died was Liu Zhizai, which is indeed very suspicious."

"At this stage, we can only start from Xiao Jin's side."

After clarifying the mystery of Mr. Jin's death, perhaps one could make Sagittarius leave from the source; this was Albert's thought.

Wen Xishu did not expect that just as he was about to sleep, someone would hand him a pillow. The topic happened to reach this point.

"Actually, I called everyone here... it's not entirely to understand Xiao Jin's affairs. His secrets are probably not easy to crack in a short time. I have always felt that all the answers are in the Three Towers."

Albert heard it; Wen Xishu had something to say.

Wen Xishu said:

"I have recently obtained something, which gives us a chance to go directly and ask the person who created the problem."

"Investigating Xiao Jin and investigating Mr. Jin's past might really be a way to know why Sagittarius wants to shoot us, but it may not solve the problem."

Evelyn was slightly moved:

"Can you communicate with Sagittarius?"

She knew that Wen Xishu had come into contact with those god-like existences.

Wen Xishu's expression was complex, and he said somewhat uncertainly:

"It's not exactly communication; there is no such peaceful atmosphere... to be precise, it is initiating a duel. The enemy is very dangerous. If the duel fails..."

"So this is a major matter, and I also need to discuss it with everyone, especially you, Principal." Wen Xishu looked at Albert.

Albert also guessed it, especially the word "duel," which made him extremely excited.

Wen Xishu also knew that the old Principal would inevitably have this reaction. He wasn't afraid at all. If you asked him whether to fight or not, he would always have only one option: fight, fight the hell out of them.

Although the rest of the words had not been finished, everyone knew the gist of it.

This was a duel invitation.

A duel invitation representing the highest combat power of the Bunker at the current stage and the highest combat power of the Three Towers.

Xun Hui and Wenren Jing looked at each other; the two of them already knew that Wen Xishu could always find a breakthrough, but this breakthrough was so direct that it really surprised them.

Albert exclaimed:

"You kid! That's great, I just love this way of solving things. Investigating Old Jin and the other Jin has always been like solving a puzzle, while the puzzle-setter hides behind the scenes."

"Now, relying on you, being able to take out the person who creates the problems along with them—that's fantastic!"

Albert stood up and clapped his hands:

"Hahahaha, that's great! That's great!"

"Principal, please don't get excited yet. First of all, the enemy is very strong."

Yes, the enemy is Sagittarius, the one who, over these years, has severed the future of the Bunker.

There is no doubt he is strong.

But Albert said:

"Striving to sprint to the one-hundredth floor, it can't just be for the sake of a nice-looking floor number, right?"

"In the Three Towers War, the way humanity participates seems to be limited to changing the future situation by climbing the towers. This point is particularly palpable among your Desire Tower and Trick Tower contestants."

"But those of us climbing the Slaughter Tower must have a chance to prove ourselves."

Wen Xishu said:

"I can create a chance for proof, but old Principal, if you lose, do you know what that means?"

Everyone fell silent.

Evelyn sighed:

"I have already lost Old Jin, Albert, you..."

If the Bunker didn't have Mr. Jin, perhaps it wouldn't have its current glory. But if it didn't have Albert, then that current glory would surely collapse.

It is imaginable that without Albert, the Five Elders might even turn evil.

Wen Xishu continued to add:

"And... this is not a prop, Principal, it is a sequence, a non-tradable sequence, and there is only one chance. In other words, in the future, I have the opportunity to face every big shot whose aura I can perceive."

"But such opportunities only come once. Once you fail, it is completely over."

"And, since it is a sequence rather than a prop, you must take me, this dead weight, along into this battle."

If it were just letting Albert go to the duel himself, Albert would accept it with excitement.

But now, discovering that the situation involves Wen Xishu as well, Albert fell silent.

He was thinking about whether he had the ability to protect Wen Xishu.

Wen Xishu said:

"There are only ten minutes. You must have the ability to ensure you won't be killed by the opponent within those ten minutes."

Wen Xishu wasn't asking for a win; ten minutes was already enough to negotiate many issues. He only hoped the old Principal wouldn't be killed within ten minutes.

Albert also understood; he was a bargaining chip, a chip on the negotiating table. If his combat power couldn't leave a deep impression on Sagittarius—

Then there would never be such an opportunity again in the future.

Xun Hui said:

"Wen Xishu, you've said a lot, but you want the old man to go, right?"

Wenren Jing smiled; this Xun Hui was always so incisive.

Xun Hui said:

"If you weighed the pros and cons and the old man couldn't go, you wouldn't even have brought it up. In your heart, you lean toward him going."

"But I think... it's not the time yet. If this were a vote, and if we are sitting here because we have the right to vote, then I refuse."

"I can wait, wait until another, more suitable way to confront Sagittarius appears."

Evelyn shook her head and said:

"I also refuse. The crisis of Sagittarius might not be unsolvable later, but if you, Albert, have an accident now—and both you and Wen Xishu have an accident—I dare not imagine how chaotic the Bunker would become."

"Old Jin's fate is unknown; at a time like this, you must not have anything happen to you."

Wenren Jing said:

"I also refuse for you, Master, to deal with Sagittarius. We will think of a way together; there will always be other paths."

Wen Xishu did indeed lean toward letting Albert fight, but he also respected the result of this vote:

"Since there are three votes against, I accept this result."

Albert looked at the few people who had all refused and smiled:

"As expected, when it comes to courage and madness, only Xishu is like me."

Xun Hui shook his head:

"I refused you, not because I'm afraid of death."

Albert agreed:

"Of course, you are upright and brave; I don't doubt your guts. But courage and guts are two different concepts. Courage is reflected in whether you can seize an opportunity."

"In this regard, you really aren't up to it. You all still don't realize—humanity cannot climb the tower slowly and comfortably. Did winning one Great Devouring make you think you've won?"

"A mere constellation can sever your future path. If you don't race against time, how do you know you'll have decades of comfort ahead?"

"Wen Xishu, you dared to hand this choice to me, which means you also have the resolve to give everything for this operation, right?"

Wen Xishu nodded.

Xun Hui realized something was wrong, and Evelyn realized it too. When this old man gets ruthless, he doesn't care about democratic voting at all.

Now, it seemed there was that trend.

Wenren Jing said:

"Master... we haven't learned enough from you yet. Could you reconsider? If you fail, then the young people of the future might not be ready to take your place."

Albert laughed, laughing extremely boldly:

"I used to love reading stories written by authors from the lower levels. The old guys would always use their own deaths to help the little ones grow before they were ready."

"That's fine; old guys should have that kind of resolve. I've also seen some sentimental lines, something about a new era having no boat that can carry me... Hahahaha, saying that before dying is truly a pity."

"But I don't like pity, and I don't like this kind of drama where old people die for the sake of the young."

"Xun Hui, Jing, if you cannot take over my burden, it only proves you aren't good enough. If you can't keep up with my pace, it means you are just so-so."

"Whether I die or not, you must progress and do your utmost to catch up to me. If you can't catch up, you're trash."

Albert's aura was like a storm; Wen Xishu had to admit that the Albert in his eyes was shining brilliantly.

"Your paths of growth have already been severed by others, and now, facing such an opportunity to drive away the enemy, you want to persuade me to give up? You disappoint me."

"Of course I'm afraid of death; that's the reason I haven't dared to enter the Trick Tower for so many years. But I'm even more afraid of dying a coward's death. The meaning of my life is to wait for a battle that I can fully enjoy."

"But I can be certain that this battle will not last only ten minutes."

Albert said:

"Dean Wen, let's set off tomorrow."

Xun Hui knew he couldn't persuade the old man, and he didn't blame Wen Xishu; everyone's way of thinking was indeed different.

Everyone was clear about Albert's aura at this moment; no voting or democracy would work.

This old man had a bit of an arbitrary and dictatorial temperament.

But Xun Hui was by no means a person without courage:

"Since you've decided, I cannot miss such a duel. I will participate too."

Albert cared about the future of the Bunker.

But as he said, if the Bunker had no one who could climb to the seventieth floor, then there was no future to speak of.

He laughed:

"Hahahahahaha, that's more like it!"

Wen Xishu admired the old Principal even more.

He actually hated those dramas where old soldiers die to make a sacrifice for the birth of a new king. In his bones, he simply didn't believe Albert would die here.

Because he had seen a more distant future.

This world loves to hear stories of new kings ascending the throne, but there is always a movement of immortal old soldiers that will play.

Wen Xishu had a premonition that this battle would become a major event in the Three Towers War.

(End of chapter)