Seen through

"???"

Blackers was stunned. He turned back in alarm to look at Cheng Shi and the other man, and hurriedly said:

"That's not true, I'm not lying!"

Then he turned back and patiently explained, "Fitt, these two aren't outsiders; they're private investigators I hired... very skilled ones. Repeat what you said when we met this morning. Don't worry, we'll keep it a secret!"

"Keep it secret? Keep what secret?"

I've been working all day and haven't left the house at all, so how could we possibly meet?

Blackers, you must have the wrong person. Don't cause trouble here. If you were sent by Flord, then never mind.

Considering that Golden House has resold quite a few tickets for Dusk Play, I won't hold your recklessness today against you.

But I'm too busy to keep up this farce."

With that, Fitt turned and left the lawn.

Cheng Shi and Zhen Xin watched this scene, a strange look flashing in their eyes at the same time.

Blackers was still unwilling to give up and wanted to step forward to argue, but Cheng Shi pressed him down on the spot.

He chuckled and said:

"Don't waste your energy. Haven't you figured it out yet? They've definitely found him, that's why he won't admit to seeing you this morning."

That's a good thing, after all, making someone disappear is much easier than finding them.

"!?"

Upon hearing these remarks, Blackers on the spot, a chill running down his spine.

What are these two jinxes up to!?

He dared not move, nor dared he ask, and just stood there frozen like a wooden stake.

Cheng Shi and Zhen Xin exchanged a glance, both understanding what to do next. Although the troupe leader was important, he wouldn't affect a circus performance. To keep the Dusk Drama Circus away from its "ending," they still needed to visit the Clown who had been lost and found.

A Clown suddenly disappears and then suddenly reappears is suspicious in itself.

Without hesitation, the two disappeared from Blackers's side. Suddenly freed from his "supervision," Blackers did not rush to escape. As the king of the black market, he had seen too many self-righteous fools.

Since these two ominous stars can come and go as they please, who knows if they will return or need me again? So the safest thing to do right now is to stay where I am, or at least wait until I can't take it anymore before leaving. That way, I can at least have a reason to leave.

However, since he wasn't leaving, some things needed to be arranged. He couldn't risk his vast fortune in the Golden House, lest these two outside "big brothers" learn from his mistakes and throw him from "prosperity" into the "death" camp.

While Blackers was worrying about the black market business, Cheng Shi and Zhen Xin had already reached the roof of the leader's office. They concealed their presence and tried to find the location of the Clown Lake by observing the movements of the Ringmaster Fait. However, they did not expect that Lake was in the leader's office, and the Clown's return time seemed to be not much earlier than their arrival time!

Before dealing with Blackers, Fitt didn't even know why Lake had disappeared.

As soon as the leader entered, he locked the door and loudly questioned the Clown sitting at the table:

Why did you leave without a word?

Where did you go?!

Do you know that I even risked everything to contact Golden House in order to find you!

Do you realize that your actions will plunge Dusk Play into an irrecoverable situation?

Speak, answer me!

On the other side.

Since the competition between Morning Cheer and Dusk Play on the same day was a hot topic throughout the country, Hu Wei and Zhang Jizu learned about it shortly after they set off.

Both realized that this was the key to solving the problem and began to struggle with which way to go.

With the idea of staying away from the Golden House in mind, when Hu Wei asked for his opinion, Zhang Jizu casually said:

"Morning Cheer, that sounds like guidance from the God of Merriment."

Hu Wei's expression was strange, as if he felt that "heh" was not a good word, but he did not refuse and went to the East City as Zhang Jizu suggested.

Along the way, he no longer questioned the Fool's Game as he Giggle and Mock, but instead focused on gathering clues for the Trials.

You know what, the ultimate E-person's personality is really charismatic. Before even reaching the Morning Cheer Circus's location, Hu Wei had already gotten information from the citizens and tourists about how many people were in the Circus, what their names were, what they were good at, when they performed, and even their security patrol routes.

They even encountered two black market brokers who, influenced by the Grand Marshal's righteous and generous image, insisted on leaving the Golden House to follow him, saying they wanted to make a name for themselves with their elder brother.

The eldest brother truly lives up to his title; he's the eldest brother wherever he goes.

Zhang Jizu had anticipated this, but he was still quite taken aback.

This was probably the first time he had seen Hu Wei conduct a Trials so seriously.

Based on his previous understanding of Hu Wei, when faced with this kind of situation, the Grand Marshal would most often do something like single-handedly surround both Circus, then coerce and entice them to change their performance time, ensuring that they couldn't complete their final performance within the Trials period, thus easily winning the case.

But now the other side's every move doesn't fit the Grand Marshal's behavioral logic, which means there must be a problem.

As for what the problem is...

I've probably been exposed.

The two stood in front of the entrance to the Morning Cheer Circus. Zhang Jizu narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile:

When was it discovered?

Hu Wei raised an eyebrow, turned his head, looked at Zhang Jizu, and chuckled:

"When leaving the Golden House."

Zhang Jizu was taken aback.

So early?

He thought it was a slip-up in his acting that aroused the Grand Marshal's suspicion, but he never expected that he would be exposed so soon after parting ways with Cheng Shi.

Interesting. Since you saw through it, why didn't you expose yourself along the way?

Zhang Jizu pondered for a moment and said:

"It seems you've also realized the importance of this Trials."

Upon hearing this, Hu Wei laughed heartily, patted Zhang Jizu on the shoulder, and said:

"Brother Zhang, this Trials may be important, but it means nothing to me."

You should have figured out what I'm after. Yes, I want to engage in [Deception] and see Fool's Game.

I did all this so that I could finally see the Fool's Game.

My brother told me that passing this Trials would attract the attention of the Fool's Game, and I believed him. But I felt that passing the [Deception] Trials by my own means probably wouldn't attract the attention of a [Deception] Emissary.

So I decided not to interfere in this Trials and let him do whatever he wanted.

To some extent, conforming to the judgment of [Deception] Believer can be considered akin to approaching the [Deception] will.

I believed my brother would surprise me, so everything I did was just to pass the time.

If you hadn't wanted to talk, I would have played along, but it seems you've had your share of this charade...

Indeed, playing Cheng Shi is no easy task.

If there's anyone in this world who could portray my brother so convincingly, I think it would only be...

At this point, Hu Wei hesitated, his eyelids twitched, and he swallowed the name back.

Zhang Jizu knew who the other party was referring to, and his face darkened, but he immediately frowned and asked:

"I'm curious, how did you figure that out?"

Hu Wei laughed heartily again:

"Brother Zhang, I must say your understanding of Cheng Shi is exceptionally profound. You even imitate his expressions and movements exactly. It must be quite an achievement to replicate those subtle gestures in yourself, right?"

But you're overlooking one thing: my brother doesn't actually really want to travel with me.

At this point, Hu Wei's lips twitched slightly as he sighed:

"I know this slippery fellow always objects to my decisions, and every time I see him, he tries to slip away from me."

But I really needed a Priest, so I wanted to keep him even more.

But you...

You were too cooperative today; you didn't even have the slightest intention of slipping away.

Yes, emphasizing the [Deception] Trials is indeed a plausible excuse, but compared to the real Brother Cheng, your performance is a bit too 'steady' and lacks the agility of a conman.

So when I left the Golden House and realized you still hadn't made any move, I knew that you two had probably switched places.

"..."

Zhang Jizu had planned everything meticulously, only intending to help Hu Wei stay away from Cheng Shi and give Cheng Shi some space. Little did he know that this would become the key for Hu Wei to discover his true identity.

Fortunately, although Hu Wei's mind was on Cheng Shi, he knew it was inconvenient to interfere with Cheng Shi in this situation. In this way, his mission was accomplished.

The two exchanged a smile, and Zhang Jizu narrowed his eyes and said:

"Then what should we do...?"

"Hahaha, everyone should go their own way and find out what they need to know. As for how to solve the problem, listen to the scammers."

I'm not the Grand Marshal today; I'm just a soldier under the liar Marshal.

Relax, let's enjoy the circus performance before the marshal speaks.

With that, Hu Wei left on his own.

Zhang Jizu smiled and watched Hu Wei's departing figure, seemingly gaining a new understanding of this Grand Marshal.

After Hu Wei disappeared from sight, he looked in the direction of the Golden House again, silently reciting in his heart:

I hope everything goes well.