CHAPTER 378: CHAPTER 315: LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION

In the dim and oppressive Deceit Prison, the red alarm lights extinguished as the battle ended. Most of the prisoners had already fallen unconscious, and the place, designed to detain the most heinous ’players,’ descended into a rare silence.

Mr. Death, one of the founders of the Hidden Organization ’Death Cult,’ a ’danger-class’ fugitive sought by the Deceit Bureau and a man who nearly became the vessel for an Evil God, was now being carried away by Yang Qizhou.

Yang Feng instinctively glanced at Zhou Xu. Though his position in the Deceit Prison wasn’t the highest, in moments of crisis he still needed this seasoned superior to make decisions.

Zhou Xu struggled internally. Logically speaking, it was ’The Lantern Bearer’ who eradicated the ’Hermit Association’ and the ’Death Cult,’ resolving the crises of ’Deceit Prison’s destruction’ and ’Evil God’s descent.’ Not to mention Mr. Death, even if all the members of the Hidden Organizations were taken away, it wouldn’t be unreasonable. But as a senior member of the Deceit Bureau, he had a duty to suppress and eliminate all factors of instability associated with the ’Deceit World’ in advance. Allowing The Lantern Bearer to take Mr. Death away clearly violated that mission.

The ’Dark Star,’ however, carried no such burdens. With sycophantic eagerness, he said, "Of course you can, Your Excellency, The Lantern Bearer. You’ve dealt with the ’Hermit Association’ and the ’Death Cult,’ and saved all of us. Whoever you want to take is entirely up to you."

He had earlier heard Zhou Xu address this terrifyingly powerful enigmatic individual, and now he parroted it perfectly.

Like a bootlicker... Seriously, how does this guy manage a harem? I don’t even have a girlfriend... though his harem is full of deranged beauties.

Yang Qizhou’s gaze swept over them and finally rested on Zhou Xu. "What do you think?"

"Of course," Zhou Xu gritted his teeth. Though it violated his duty, from another perspective, leaving Mr. Death in the hands of The Lantern Bearer seemed far safer than suppressing him in the depths of Deceit Prison.

Yang Qizhou nodded in satisfaction. "No later than tonight, I’ll return him. If you’re worried about accountability, you can report to your superior. I’ll have a conversation with him personally."

A conversation with the higher-ups? The director, even? Zhou Xu visualized the thought and his expression shifted, then he fell silent.

It sounded as though that statement had scared him.

Am I that intimidating?

Yang Qizhou unconsciously raised his brow and finally shifted his focus to the ’Dark Star.’ "You’ve been enjoying yourself quite a bit these past two days, haven’t you? I was even considering whether I should lend a hand to make up for previous mistakes, but now it seems unnecessary."

Lend a hand? Mistakes? This terrifyingly mysterious Lantern Bearer is the big-shot ’Dark Crow of Profane Fortune’...

Though the Dark Star had previously speculated, the confirmation still left him unable to restrain his excitement. The shadow hanging over him might finally dissipate, and he was overcome with emotion.

"Not enjoying! Not enjoying at all! Boss, take me with you, please! I’ll do anything—be your lackey, serve tea and fetch water."

Zhou Xu and Yang Feng instantly tensed up. After all, it was acceptable for The Lantern Bearer to take Mr. Death, who wasn’t officially recorded. But the Dark Star had a registered inmate number in the Deceit Prison. If he were taken away, accountability for neglect wasn’t something they could escape.

Yang Qizhou shrugged his shoulders. "Not now..."

"Huh?"

The Dark Star’s eyes widened, his mood crashing from elation to devastation.

Once again, Yang Qizhou displayed an expression dripping with mischievous humor. "Don’t forget, you’re a prisoner of the Deceit Prison. If I take you away now, wouldn’t it be considered a jailbreak? Come find me after you’ve served your sentence... that is, if during this time none of those deranged beauties in your harem decide to dramatically confess their love and turn themselves in."

The Dark Star visibly paled, shaken to the core.

Zhou Xu and Yang Feng breathed a long sigh of relief.

The [No-True Deception Secret Ceremony], under the power of [Residual Ring of the King of Truth], had already dissipated. Most members of the ’Hermit Association’ and ’Death Cult’ were dead, and the ’Hermit’ had been slain. No lingering threats should remain as Yang Qizhou carried Mr. Death, preparing to leave the Deceit Prison.

The ’Deceiving Apostle’s’ god-making ritual—or rather, the ’Lord of Fraud’s’ descent ceremony—was still underway. He needed to quickly start the game and secure his share of this major plotline.

"Oh, right, officer. The favor has been repaid. As for that honorific title, it’s not impossible to recite it, but... pay me first." As the words fell, a stream of light enveloped Yang Qizhou, and he vanished from the room, taking Mr. Death with him.

Pay him?

That means if a massive disaster arises that cannot be resolved, invoking the full honorific title of the ’Iron Blood God’ would still summon The Lantern Bearer’s help. Afterward, it’d only require paying a certain ’Old Sacrifice.’

Zhou Xu’s heart surged with excitement. The burdensome pressures that came with the responsibilities of the Deceit Bureau seemed to dissipate significantly at that moment.

"Zhou—Director Zhou! This guy is unbearably strong and incomprehensibly powerful. He very likely holds the complete honorific title of a god! Just who is this terrifying player?" Though injured heavily, Yang Feng’s wounds weren’t fatal, and thanks to previously purchased ’Vitality Potion,’ he had healed quite a bit. His voice now trembled with awe—and unmistakable admiration.

Zhou Xu hesitated briefly, thinking that, as a participant in the Deceit Prison crisis, Yang Feng should know the identity of this individual. With a serious expression, he said solemnly, "Do not divulge this information to anyone... He is The Lantern Bearer, the Deceit Bureau’s only S-class player unregistered in the system, the God Destroyer who prevented the birth of an Abyss Old God."