I thought I was not myself, but who knew you were not yourself!

Cheng Shi didn't choose option two because he feared it might be a trap.

He thought of what Zhen Xin had thought of, unsure whether what he was seeing now was Dusk Play or Morning Cheer. He was afraid that [Deception] would play the Clown again at this moment, and engage in a psychological game with the Clown.

If they lose this round, it won't just be a matter of Naming the Clown; Cheng Shi might completely collapse. So he bluntly stated:

"A second option shouldn't exist; it goes against your purpose, unless the world as it is is what you're after."

I can't understand what option two means to you, but I know that after all the planning and scheming you've done, you would never let me die so easily in this Starry Sky. You can read my mind and know what I'm thinking. For me right now, death is the most 'perfect' ending.

Therefore, I am more inclined to believe that option two is a trap, a lie that will make me lose the initiative forever.

[Deception] He listened intently, his eyes gleaming with appreciative intent as he gazed at Cheng Shi, his undisguised look seeming to say:

Look, these are the collection items I personally selected.

Cheng Shi didn't want to meet that gaze, so he silently looked away and said:

But I have one condition!

The [Deception] continued with its laughter, but its words sounded as cold as [Destiny].

You have no right to negotiate.

"I have!"

Cheng Shi raised his head, his gaze bypassing [Deception] and looking towards the infinitely distant Void, saying with utmost certainty:

"Since you've presented this choice at a crucial moment when victory is assured, it means this choice is important not only to me but also to you."

Being caught in an endless series of choices is clearly not the ending you wanted, which is why you described this 'punishment' so specifically. You are spreading fear, trying to force me to make a choice.

Therefore, not choosing is my Chip, my right to negotiate terms.

I can cooperate with you more, cooperate with you to go to another Starry Sky, cooperate with you to test methods of resisting [the Origin], cooperate with your so-called vision of salvation, as long as you agree to my conditions."

[Deception] His eyes darted around, the spiraling motions making it impossible to discern his thoughts. After a moment, he chuckled softly, saying with interest:

"As expected of my Believer, tell me, what are your conditions?"

"I want to become Fool's Game!" Cheng Shi's words were unusually firm.

[Deception] Laughing loudly, "This was just one of the options; you don't need to emphasize it."

"No, it's different." Cheng Shi's eyes narrowed, he clenched his fists, and said in a desperate move, "I don't want to become that false [Deception] Emissary in the mouth of the Hope's Flame, who can only rely on lies to deceive the world for recognition."

I want to become the true Fool's Game, the Fool who holds Divine Authority and can Deception Fool's Game the gods!

My Lord of Grace... This is the last time I will call you my Lord of Grace. You once said that when I became Chosen of God, you would grant me the power to deceive the gods.

Now, you have used a Trials to cut off my path of ascent, preventing me from ever reaching the height of the Ladder of Audience. Shouldn't you offer 'compensation' for this?

"Laugh--

"The Clown is always cunning, but you forgot, I am [the Deception]. Who told you that a [Deception]'s promise counts as a promise?"

A glint flashed in Cheng Shi's eyes, as if he had been waiting for these words.

"Since your words are unreliable, what's the point of making the choice now?"

"?"

[Deception] blinked, then burst into a thunderous laugh.

"Hahaha, I think you've already Fool's Game the art of sophistry. Even if you don't have the Divine Authority use it, you've learned it perfectly."

But your intention to Fool's Game wasn't to cooperate with me, ha, you can't fool me now.

The Clown is clever; he came up with this method to 'pollute' himself. It seems you're determined to stay in this world.

Have you thought it through?

The path of resistance paved with time and lives by countless Clown could very well end in your hands. Do you... have you done right by them?

Upon hearing this, Cheng Shi fell silent.

But not long after, he suddenly looked up, met the [Deception] coercive gaze directly, and burst into laughter just like the other person.

No, he's even more insane!

I don't need to be fair to them, I only need to be fair to myself.

The premise of will-manipulation is that you must deeply understand that will. But [Deception], even if you can read minds, you will never understand that the path they paved was never to restrict, shackle, or kidnap another person, but to give them more choices later on!

Every Cheng Shi is striving to write their own story. We never interfere with the choices of other Cheng Shi. We only lend a helping hand when we can. As for whether they are willing to accept such kindness, the choice is still theirs.

This is the true goodwill that comes from countless Cheng Shi: we will always support his choice!

And you, using Cheng Shi kindness to coerce me, is utterly ridiculous!

If I succumb to your threats, waver in my will, change my inner choices, and erase my story, then I will be a true traitor who has betrayed them!

I will not yield to either of you, and that must be the reason why your original plan to 'save the world' failed!

[Deception]!

You can never impose your will on the Clown!

Your actions will only push the Clown further away, until finally, you become that true, lonely Clown, with no future!

"..."

Every word was piercing to the heart.

[Deception] fell silent for once, a strange and complex emotion flashing in its eyes, but it was well hidden and not noticed by Cheng Shi. However, [Destiny] saw all of this.

[Destiny] struggled in vain, unable to utter a sound; [Deception] remained silent for a long time, then let out a sneer.

"As expected of my Believer, he's so eloquent, he almost made a lie sound like the truth."

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

Predestination impending departure from this world is an indisputable fact. The only reason I'm wasting my time here with you is to wait for the next Space-Time Storm to arrive.

Do you remember how much time you have left in your Trials? Don't worry, you won't have to wait that long. [Time] will eventually be distorted.

While Giggle and Mock can lead to leaving this world, our destination is not the True Universe. I will not leave you any chance to 'escape' in the True Universe, as I know many Clown like you roam there.

In fact, my 'repatriation plan' failed because of them.

"If they hadn't sent you onto the Space-Time Dolphin Bridge, you would have been taken back to my world long ago."

"!!!"

Cheng Shi's pupils constricted sharply, filled with shock and rage.

Speculation and confirmation are two different things. Although Cheng Shi had been guessing that [Deception] had deliberately closed the way home, leaving them to wander the True Universe, he had never found any evidence to prove it.

Upon their return, the other party had even prepared their explanation in advance: a civil war within [Nothingness] had shattered the Giggle and Mock.

Now, the undisguised [Deception] means that His plan is truly about to succeed, and He has nowhere else to go.

Cheng Shi was still unwilling to give up. He forced himself to calm down, lowered his head, and asked in a low voice:

Is there any point in making a choice?

"Of course it's useful, but the conditions don't matter."

Don't try to negotiate with me. No matter how eloquently you try to persuade me, I will not agree to any of your demands.

"Alright, then don't ask for anything more. I just want one answer." Cheng Shi's gaze sharpened, his voice deepening. "Where did the original [Deception] go?"

[Deception] He blinked and then laughed out loud.

Didn't you already guess?

"What, you didn't find His body in that Gods’ Graveyard?"

"!!!!!"

Cheng Shi suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking in disbelief. What he thought of wasn't the death of [the Deception], but the Divine Throne that had been pieced together and hidden in the cave in the wall of the Corpse Field!

You've been there!?

Did you put that Divine Throne there?!

"What Divine Throne? There's actually another Divine Throne there. Could it be the [Origin] Divine Throne?"

[Deception] started to play dumb, but Cheng Shi didn't believe him at all. He could see that the Divine Throne was placed there by [Deception] himself!

Only He, only He, understands His own Greed, only He can guess that when that voice is uttered, He will surely delve into it to find out!

So what exactly is that Divine Throne that you shattered and brought back?

Cheng Shi could even ask, [Deception] replied quietly:

"Answer.

This is what I mean by the answer pieced together by the lives of countless Clown and gods from various worlds.

Don't you think the star-shaped eye pattern above looks familiar?

"Hmm, your Lord of Grace's corpse... it's really useful."

"..."

Cheng Shi was completely stunned. His mind was in a complete mess, and he had no idea how to react.

And it was at this moment that [Destiny], which had been trapped, suddenly broke free from the constraints of the Starry Tome of Knowledge and questioned [Deception] in an extremely cold tone:

I thought I wasn't myself, but who knew you weren't yourself!

You are definitely not Deception, who are you really!?