That's right, I am Fool's Game

The disappearance of the two players is clearly suspicious.

Flord's disappearance indicates that the two men found their target, but instead of returning, they vanished with a key NPC, leaving a profound and intriguing implication.

No one doubted Zhen Xin's intelligence, nor did they think that Zhen Yi had possessed her and deliberately caused trouble by taking the target away. After all, she had a Grand Marshal by her side. Given Hu Wei's attitude towards Zhen Yi, the fact that no large-scale battle traces were found in the Imperial City meant that the player surnamed Zhen must have taken Flord away as her older sister.

But why did they hide the NPCs?

What secret does Flord hold?

Cheng Shi frowned and began to think.

Looking back at the entire story of the showdown between Morning Cheer and Dusk Play, it's not hard to see that all Flord could do was either hide Maxford, use the Clown's fake death to trick his Clown into putting on a show, or kill Maxford to frame his opponent in order to win the final showdown.

The problem is that, based on the feelings Flord expressed for Maxford in his diary, Cheng Shi doesn't believe that this is a Morning Cheer Circus who would completely prioritize victory over emotions. Even if the other party wanted to win through such dirty means, he would never kill Maxford.

Therefore, the truth is obvious: Flord must have used some means to hide Maxford in order to deceive Fitt.

But Maxford is not a Clown who would back down without a fight. He shares a deep connection with Fitt, and both want to defeat each other on Stage in a fair and square fashion. Would such Clown agree to Flord's plan to hide himself and exploit Fitt's "sense of justice" to achieve victory?

Probably not!

That means he had no say in the plan's initiation; he had no say in the entire plan, not even the right to refuse!

This is even stranger. The Clown is not only an actor on Stage, but also the successor to the ringmaster, equivalent to the deputy ringmaster of the Circus. How could someone with such an important position have no say in a plan that risks Morning Cheer's reputation?

This defies common sense, and it doesn't fit the relationship between Maxford and Flord, unless...

He has permanently lost his right to speak!

He's really dead!?

Cheng Shi was jolted awake, suddenly realizing the truth!

The final, gruesome entry in Flord's diary clearly shows that she had heard something shocking. But what could a seasoned Circus owner hear that could cause her to lose her composure like this?

Is it possible that this is... news of the Clown's death?

Therefore, it is highly likely that the Clown is indeed dead, but not at the hands of Ringmaster Fait, but rather from some other "accident" that cannot be guessed at present.

It could be the work of Dusk Play's die-hard fans, a thief who stole the item along the way, or even Morning Cheer's own fans who harbored resentment out of love...

In short, whatever the reason, Mrs. Flord could not accept this defeat without a fight, so she used the Clown's death to Morning Cheer deceive the Dusk Play into taking the blame for Maxford's absence from the final showdown.

After sorting everything out, the clever Cheng Shi immediately guessed why Zhen Xin had left with Flord.

It's not hard to guess. Ever since Cheng Shi heard that the Clown was the key to the final showdown at the circus, he had already put himself in the picture, not to mention how similar the competition between the Morning Cheer and Dusk Play camps was to the Fear Faction and Predestination Destiny...

That's why Cheng Shi was extremely wary of this Trials from the very beginning.

Now he has simply figured everything out and finally connected the story of the Trials with his own experience.

Since Morning Cheer never existed, does that mean that [Deception]... also never existed?

He is an outsider!?

Cheng Shi's eyes widened suddenly, a barely perceptible fear flashing in them. He finally realized that the so-called "Fear Faction" was likely a hoax, designed to lure Dusk Play's Lake to Morning Cheer's camp!

But why?

Even if [Deception] is that Outer God plotting against me, what about the other gods?

[Death], [Time], [Silence]... They can't all be Outer God!?

If not, why cooperate with an Outer God and push yourself away from this world?

Could it be that their will truly deviated from [Destiny]?

In this game, the choice of [Destiny] is undoubtedly one's own. If the stance of these gods who have been protecting one is truly to help the Outer God [Deception], then weren't all the goodwill they showed one before just a way to deceive one's mind?

They already believed that [Destiny] was wrong!?

Or perhaps, after learning the Universe Truth from the Outer God [Deception], the Fear Faction Gods deemed the offerings of [Destiny] meaningless and thus rejected the choice of this [Nothingness] Dominion!?

How foolish!

If the choice of [Destiny] is meaningless, then what is the Outer God [Deception] striving for!?

What He wanted was also an answer that could satisfy the Creator's questions!

And that answer... now it seems undeniable, is himself!

The moment he thought of this, Cheng Shi felt a chill run down his spine, a thunderclap exploded in his mind, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

[Deception] It's time to confront yourself!

She dared to reveal everything through a Trials at this time, which means she has definitely taken control of the situation and is confident of victory.

It's laughable that I did so much in accordance with His Will. Looking back now, wasn't I just helping human traffickers sell me?!

What about [Destiny]?

Are we just going to watch this [Deception] succeed!?

At that moment, Cheng Shi felt like a Clown.

He profaned [Destiny] all the way, but when he finally shattered the Deception and saw its true nature, he found that only [Destiny] could save him.

Of course, "saving" here only means that [Destiny], according to its own will, will Cheng Shi from [Deception] and leave the Clown in this world.

But don't forget, [Destiny] is not without purpose; the Sacrifice He chose was still Cheng Shi!

In other words, for Cheng Shi, the two paths that remain in front of him are very likely to be two dead ends!

They will either be taken away by the Outer God [Deception] and become Sacrifice to Another World; or they will remain in their own world and become Sacrifice to [Destiny].

There was no other choice!

"Ha~"

Cheng Shi, who had been frowning, suddenly burst out laughing, his exaggerated expression startling the other two people present.

I've finally confirmed one thing.

So that unlucky guy... really was me.

I can't fool myself anymore, and I have no chance to fool myself any longer.

Cheng Shi took a deep breath, looked at the two bewildered Clown in front of him, and said, word by word:

"When it comes to a life-or-death situation, I can no longer hide it from you all."

Yes, I am indeed Fool's Game, a Clown tricked into becoming a god, a pathetic creature whose fear only grows stronger with each passing moment.

This is a long story, and if you two want to hear it, you'll have to answer one question for me first.

I...

Can I trust you?

Are you Fool's Game!?

How could you be Fool's Game!?

The people of Long Jing were dumbfounded.

He had his doubts at some point, after all, in his understanding, Fool's Game around was Cheng Shi. But I've already convinced myself that the Fool's Game by someone else, and now you're telling me you're the Fool's Game!?

What about my thoughts then?

Do you think I have a brain? This is clearly brainless!

The Acrobat was furious. He didn't know if Cheng Shi was lying again, but all he wanted to say was, "Even if you're going to lie, can't you at least stop lying to one person?"

But seeing Cheng Shi's serious expression, Long Jing swallowed back the complaints in his heart.

He rarely saw Cheng Shi so serious; the last time was at the Jester's Gathering when the other party revealed the Universe Truth to them.

What secret will this real Clown reveal to them this time?

What if, by the end, everyone suddenly realizes I'm the Clown?

I should be a charismatic Acrobat on Stage, not Clown with a red nose making the audience burst into laughter!

Long Jing was filled with mixed emotions and remained silent.

Zhang Jizu, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes, his expression equally grave as he stared at Cheng Shi, and asked:

How can we trust someone? How can we open our hearts to them and know their true intentions?

Cheng Shi nodded solemnly, and just as he was about to ring the Bone Clock again, he heard Squinty Old Zhang say in a deep voice:

"Cannot.

Because I lied to you.

The Bone Clock was not a gift from that the Great One, but a Deception lie.

He said He would save the world, so I believed in Him.

"!!??"

Cheng Shi was stunned.

He stretched out his hand, looking at the only "hope" in his grasp, and the sky seemed to fall.

[Deception] Not content with one person playing three roles, does he also have to impersonate the Great One to deceive people?

Squinty Old Zhang, how could you possibly believe in Him?

Ha, savior?

It is indeed about saving the world, but whose world is being saved by this [Deception]!?

Is the world of Outer God the same as our world?

Cheng Shi gripped the Bone Clock in his hand, then let his arm fall limply to his side.

"I..." Zhang Jizu looked apologetic, as if he wanted to say something more.

Cheng Shi waved his hand, interrupting him.

It doesn't matter anymore.

Since He has revealed everything, it means that everyone has fallen into the trap He has woven with lies.

You weren't the only one who was deceived; I was too. If His schemes could be seen through, He wouldn't be called [Deception]...

I was wrong; I trusted the wrong person.

But it might not be too late to change it now!