CHAPTER 351: CHAPTER 301: QUITE VALUABLE_2

It must be very interesting, right?

Yang Qizhou was itching to try. He genuinely felt an impulse to assign all the members of ’Dark Star Moment,’ also known as the ’Dark Star’ harem group, into the Capital City’s ’Deceit Prison.’ But after thinking about it, the two of them didn’t really have a major grudge. Besides, his own actions had caused their bloodbath to erupt prematurely, almost getting him killed. Feeling guilty, he temporarily put the idea aside.

Maybe later.

"How is the situation in the ’Deceit Prison’?"

When the topic was brought up, Zhou Xu’s expression immediately turned unprecedentedly grim. "I want to say that it’s not a big deal, but the truth is... the situation is getting worse. Everyone uncontrollably tells lies and commits acts of fraud, yet they have no awareness of what they’re doing. And not just that, I feel there’s a peculiar and strange aura seeping through the ’Deceit Prison.’"

He paused for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "I suspect that at the latest, by tonight, the hidden problems in the ’Deceit Prison’ will erupt."

This serious already?

"Haven’t you reported it? What are your higher-ups, your bureau chief, saying about this?" Yang Qizhou couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Zhou Xu revealed a bitter smile. "I reported it, but the higher-ups believe that the players imprisoned in ’Deceit Prison’ are heinous criminals. Lying and committing fraud are normal behaviors for them. So, like before, they’ve shown no concern. As for the ’bureau chief’... I haven’t been able to reach him."

Pig-headed higher-ups?

In Yang Qizhou’s mind, he instinctively conjured up an image of a fat man with a big head and ears, thinking the higher-ups were just useless figures occupying a position. Yet, a sense of discord lingered in his heart, telling him something was off.

Suddenly, he realized,

As an official institution confronting supernatural phenomena and safeguarding public safety, the ’Deceit Bureau’ had the power to suppress all hidden organizations, forcing them into hiding like rats scurrying in the sewers—active only in the shadows. How could its leadership possibly be incompetent? Something must be wrong here.

At that moment, Yang Qizhou considered a possibility. "Are you saying that everyone in ’Deceit Prison’ lies and commits fraud, but they themselves are completely unaware?"

"If that’s the case..."

"Then perhaps it’s not that the ’Deceit Bureau’s higher-ups’ don’t care, but rather that something might be wrong with you."

Zhou Xu, an astute and seasoned veteran member of the ’Deceit Bureau,’ as well as a player of the ’Deceit World,’ quickly grasped the meaning behind the ’lamp holder’s’ words in just a few breaths, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Could it be that he himself had already been contaminated by the abnormalities in ’Deceit Prison’ without realizing it?

Meanwhile, the comatose ’Giant God’s Disciple,’ ’Crown’s Diocese,’ and ’Life Priest’ had already been loaded onto a vehicle by the police. The nearby residents had their memories thoroughly erased by Zhou Xu’s specially formulated medications, and every trace of the supernatural was meticulously cleaned up.

"I really appreciate your reminder, Lord ’Lamp Holder.’ I’ll head back to ’Deceit Prison’ immediately. Perhaps the answers lie there." Zhou Xu’s tone carried a heavy seriousness as he prepared to depart.

Truly, the trees wish for stillness, but the wind will not relent.

Yang Qizhou feigned a deep sigh, then suddenly recalled something. He hurriedly called out to the departing Zhou Xu. "By the way, don’t forget to claim the bounty for me—9 million."

Zhou Xu’s straightforward, decisive figure visibly faltered for a moment. After a few breaths, he finally responded...

"Understood."

The police vehicle quickly drove away, and the commotion gradually subsided.

"That guy was definitely caught off guard just now. No doubt about it—he never expected the almighty, enigmatic, towering and immortal Lord ’Lamp Holder’ to show interest in a bounty... It’s not like I wanted to care. But 9 million! That’s enough for a house in the Capital City. How could anyone resist that?" Climbing the stairs to Sister Xin’s home, Yang Qizhou muttered to himself, recalling Zhou Xu’s reaction before leaving.

Soon he thought of something else, his eyes narrowing. "The order to kill ’Little Ding’ was issued by a core member of the ’Rose Sect.’ Without a doubt, they’ve figured out Sister Xin’s home address. Once the ’Deceit Bureau’ winds pass and they uncover why ’Giant God’s Disciple,’ ’Crown Diocese,’ and ’Life Priest’ were captured, they’ll certainly send more people to target Little Ding."

"In other words, Little Ding is still in danger, and Sister Xin may also be harmed."

"However,"

"This could also be an opportunity to draw the serpent out of its hole."

Yang Qizhou quickly came up with a plan. He entered the house and approached ’Ding Xiaolan,’ dispelling the effect of the ’Dream Hidden World Clothes.’

When Ding Xiaolan saw ’Brother Qizhou’s’ silhouette gradually becoming clear before her, she thought about how, standing amid the frozen twilight, he had effortlessly rendered the three powerful ’Deceit World’ players unconscious. Her eyes filled with admiration, and she bounced with excitement, exclaiming, "Brother Qizhou, Brother Qizhou, you’re amazing! Just swish, bang, and they’re all down. Next time someone bullies me, I’ll just call Brother Qizhou for revenge."

What a brat. She thinks I’m some free laborer.

No respect whatsoever.

I’ll have to tell ’Sister Xin’ to find an excuse to discipline this little troublemaker later, spare her from causing issues in the future.

"Enough with the jokes, Little Ding. There’s something serious I need to tell you." After pondering for a moment, Yang Qizhou still decided to explain things clearly to Ding Xiaolan. He then repeated the potential second wave of retaliation from the ’Rose Sect’ and said earnestly, "Little girl, you now have two choices. First, move out of this neighborhood immediately and live elsewhere. The headquarters of the ’Deceit Bureau’ is in the Capital City. The ’Rose Sect’ wouldn’t dare to cause too much of a ruckus, so at least until they find you, you’d be safe."

Ding Xiaolan’s pretty face turned pale with fear. Thinking that if Brother Qizhou hadn’t happened to show up this time, she would’ve been doomed, her heart filled with terror. "Brother Qizhou, Brother Qizhou, what’s the second option?"

Yang Qizhou said gravely, "Stay here and act as ’bait,’ waiting for the ’Rose Sect’ to take the bait and come out of hiding. This way, we can eradicate the threat once and for all. But this also means you and Sister Xin will bear significant risk."

Ding Xiaolan fell silent.

She was just a child. Faced with such matters, deciding within such a short time was difficult. Yang Qizhou even thought the little girl might get scared and ask him to make the decision.

But to his surprise, it only took her less than a minute to make up her mind. Her round face showed a determined expression.

"Brother Qizhou, I choose the second option."

Yang Qizhou was slightly astonished. "That’s a heinous and dangerous hidden organization. Aren’t you afraid?"

"I am..." Ding Xiaolan nodded. "But you adults always say that a thief can’t be guarded against every day. If we don’t resolve the ’Rose Sect’ threat, Mom and I will always be in danger. I don’t want Mom to be at risk, so I’m willing to be bait."

This child,

Yang Qizhou couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion in his heart.

He then handed Ding Xiaolan the [Evil Wand] and [Twilight Radiance], which he had looted from the ’Giant God’s Disciple’ and ’Life Priest,’ and revealed the true name of the ’God of Victory’ to her.

Ding Xiaolan looked incredulous. "The complete true name of a deity?!"

Yang Qizhou nodded. "If you ever face danger or notice anything unusual, immediately recite this true name. You will receive help instantly. As for [Evil Wand] and [Twilight Emblem], though their rankings aren’t very high, they should be enough to protect you temporarily and help you complete this task."

After a pause, Yang Qizhou added with a lighthearted smile, "But for now, there’s no need to be too nervous. Losing three top members—’Giant God’s Disciple,’ ’Crown Diocese,’ and ’Life Priest’—in one day has shaken the ’Rose Sect.’ Until they figure out exactly what happened, they neither would nor dare to act rashly. You have a brief respite."

Ding Xiaolan let out a long breath.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, she blinked and asked, "By the way, Brother Qizhou, I still don’t know why you came looking for me in the first place."

Yang Qizhou smacked his forehead.

Being sidetracked like this, he’d almost forgotten his original purpose.