The Strategist was practically down to nothing but a thin shirt and thin trousers.
He emptied everything from his pockets and displayed each item one by one.
"Here! These are my keys—car keys and keychains. Anything wrong with them? Nothing, right!?"
"Here! This is my sachet, my sword, and my jade pendant. I've had them for years. You all recognize them, right?"
"Here! This is my wallet. It has my ID, cash, and phone inside. Is it shiny? Is it round?"
"Let me see that paper packet! Here! Round, shiny, and glowing at night—the Luminous Pearl was right in my pocket..."
Everyone stared at the Strategist.
The Three Brothers' eyes went wide. They had never expected this.
Zhao Ritian snapped up a hand, pointed at him, and shrieked, "You really did steal it!?"
The Strategist exploded in rage, spinning in place and stomping his feet. "What the fuck is going on!? What's going on!? What the fuck is going on!?"
The Strategist pointed at the Luminous Pearl on the ground. "Who did this!? Which bastard stuffed the Luminous Pearl into my pocket!?"
Zhao Ritian pointed at him and berated him. "So you admit that was your pocket!?"
The Strategist looked at the Sect Master. "Sect Master... I... Sect Master, listen to me... I couldn't possibly steal it. Why would I steal it? These things will all be mine someday..."
The Three Brothers spoke at once. "Hmm!?"
"No..."
The Strategist's mind was already a complete mess. "What I meant was... well... no, wait! I stole it, then displayed it myself? Do I look like I've got a hole in my brain?"
Zhao Ritian pouted. "Maybe you did it on purpose so we'd think that."
The Strategist pointed at Zhao Ritian. "Shut the fuck up!"
Zhao Ritian snapped, "I won't shut up!