Explain Yourself. Why Are You Here?

Finding someone in a deliberately orchestrated chaos may be difficult, but by eliminating irrelevant clues and peeling back the layers, it is still possible to find the instigator hidden behind the chaos.

The person who led the two to the tent Lake, was an illusion, and Lake never left their sight from beginning to end. This means that he was already an illusion back in the captain's office.

No matter how powerful Master of Trickery is, the illusions he creates cannot stray too far from his true form. Therefore, this Master of Trickery was actually maintaining his deceptive illusions near the two of them all along, and it is highly likely that he had already discovered them.

From this perspective, the explosion doesn't seem to be a random act by the Master of Trickery, but rather a premeditated trap!

How dare he attack Squinty Old Zhang and the Blind Man man during the Trials?

Su Yida gone mad?

Regardless of whether he's crazy or not, one thing is certain: he must have been nearby when the explosion occurred!

It's even quite possible that they would just watch helplessly as Cheng Shi and the other person were blown away.

When scammers are "battling it out," many people do enjoy witnessing their opponent's defeat, but this risky behavior can also leave hidden dangers for themselves. Once they are identified, it's hard to say who the final winner will be.

After all, the difference between victory and defeat is just a deception.

As for what this scam is, Cheng Shi and Zhen Xin have already guessed the answer.

Ringmaster Fait!

Isn't it strange? The Clown's tent was in such a remote location, yet after the explosion, the first person to arrive at the scene was Fitt, the leader of the Dusk Play troupe!

He had just parted ways with the Clown in the office and was about to call the other actors for a meeting. At that time, the actors were all working in various parts of the park, and the Rest Area were sparsely populated. He shouldn't have been nearby under any circumstances.

Therefore, it makes no sense that Ringmaster Fait appeared so quickly.

But if we change the logic, his appearance becomes perfectly reasonable, for example...

When Ringmaster Fait left the office, someone secretly took him into custody. Then, at a crucial moment, they used his identity to appear at the chaotic scene, openly confirming the results of the ambush and thus clearing themselves of suspicion.

What a classic case of "blind spot under the lamp"!

No wonder he dared to take action against "Zhang Jizu" and "An Mingyu"; it turns out he had planned everything all along!

Unfortunately for him, his schemes were immediately exposed when he faced the two most cunning con artists.

Cheng Shi and Zhen Xin, having made their deduction, did not rush to retaliate. Instead, they exchanged a glance and tacitly launched their Cat-and-Mouse Plan.

The chaos lasted for some time.

Soon, Royal Family Investigator arrived at the scene with the army. The Investigator, clearly fans of the Dusk Play, were filled with shock and anger. They found Ringmaster Fait with a stern face, suppressed their anger, listened to the ringmaster's account, and immediately judged that the explosion was a malicious act of competition that desecrated the honor of the circus.

He decided to first detain the main person in charge of Morning Cheer, and then hold a three-way trial attended by the emperor, the Dusk Play, and the public, so as to completely nail Morning Cheer to the pillar of shame of the Kanliwal Circus.

Ringmaster Fait remained silent, but everyone could see that his silence represented the greatest approval.

He also suspected Morning Cheer was behind it.

After the official business was concluded, the Royal Family Investigator did not leave immediately. Instead, he dismissed everyone, leaving only Ringmaster Fait in the office. He asked in a heavy tone:

"Lake... is he really dead?"

Ringmaster Fait's eyes immediately reddened. He shook his head, forcing back his grief, and clenched his fists, his voice distorted as he said:

"I don't know... but I can't believe it's all true."

The Investigator, equally saddened, sighed and took two steps closer, patting Ringmaster Fait on the shoulder to comfort him:

"I can't believe it either... but the dead are not necessarily beyond saving."

"!?"

Ringmaster Fait's body stiffened abruptly. He looked up at the Investigator in front of him in disbelief and exclaimed in astonishment:

What are you saying...?

The Investigator's eyes flickered:

"This world is far more amazing than we imagine. I have seen many people die, only to be quietly resurrected."

For example...

You!

Su Yida, can you tell me why you're still alive?

Before he could finish speaking, a mocking smile appeared on the Investigator's face. To the shock of Ringmaster Fait's pupils shrinking, the Investigator's shadow instantly left his body, flashed behind him, and wrapped his hands around his neck and armpits, locking him tightly!

Fitt was shocked. "Investigator, what are you going to do?!"

Seeing that Su Yida was still pretending even as death approached, Cheng Shi sneered and played along:

"I told you, this world is far beyond your imagination."

It's not you who needs to be resurrected, it's me. I am the world's first Scarlet Hunter, trapped in a human body and unable to move. As long as I devour you, I can be reborn, hehehe--"

As he spoke, the Investigator's mouth dropped open.

"..."

Ringmaster Fait's face was twitching so badly it was almost spasming; people really do curse when they're speechless to the extreme.

Faced with this scene, he blurted out:

"You fucking..."

"Snap!"

Before Fitt could continue to offer his friendly greetings to the Investigator, his limbs were snapped one by one by the Investigator's shadow. The crisp cracking sounds, accompanied by a wail, caused the Circus, who had lost his support, to collapse to the ground instantly.

The Investigator stomped on Ringmaster Fait's chest, instantly reducing him to his original form.

Su Yida!

He really is Su Yida!

As that face, so familiar it was almost unrecognizable, came into view, Cheng Shi —yes, Cheng Shi— sneered.

"It's been so long, Daijo!"

"That's a clever plan. Impersonating Lake himself and having the Investigator control Morning Cheer —this one move alone can reverse the outcome on both sides. You're quite shrewd."

Blood gushed from Su Yida's mouth. He glared at Cheng Shi with intense resentment and shouted in despair:

Why is it you again?!

I refuse to accept this!

Cheng Shi continued to sneer:

"Scammers operate on a cycle of mutual deception; if you get scammed, you just have to accept it and then scam them back. What's the point of complaining?"

Unfortunately, it seems you no longer have a chance.

As he spoke, Cheng Shi swiftly thrust the Scalpel in his hand into Su Yida's throat.

Actually, he didn't want to kill the other party. He just followed Zhen Xin's advice and prepared to get involved himself to completely clean up Da Jiang's backup plan.

Unexpectedly, facing such a swift and fierce thrust, Su Yida, whose limbs were broken, seemed completely unaffected. He raised his limp hands and grabbed Cheng Shi's ankle, using an inexplicable force to send Cheng Shi flying. He then instantly got up, sprang to the roof, and escaped by breaking through the tent at a terrifying speed.

Cheng Shi was startled. His pupils contracted sharply, and he tumbled to the ground. Watching the other person disappear into the tent, he strangely urged Shadow Cheng Shi to chase after him.

Before Shadow Cheng Shi could catch up with the person, the figure coughing up blood was thrown back into the room through the hole in the roof.

"Bang--"

Su Yida coughed up blood and fell to the ground, accompanied by countless magic cards raining down.

The Miss Magician, using cards as an umbrella, gracefully floated down, glancing at the equally disheveled Cheng Shi, and said mockingly:

"How?

Did the cat get scratched by a mouse?

But it's not your fault; we all underestimated this Demon Realm Big Sauce.

"If you hadn't insisted that I add several layers of traps, this colleague might have actually managed to break through."

As she spoke, Zhen Xin's gaze sharpened, and she looked at Su Yida at her feet:

"I'm quite curious, where does a Master of Trickery like you get such brute strength?"

Su Yida lay on his back on the ground, his limbs twisted, his eyes vacant as he stared at the hole in the roof, silent, seemingly resigned to his fate.

Cheng Shi, standing nearby, slowly rose. Cheng Shi trying to subdue the other person, he pulled over a chair, plopped down, and then pointed at the figure on the ground, saying irritably:

"Didn't you hear me? I'm asking you a question!"

Say!

Explain yourself, Longjing!

"?"

"..."