After Lin Yu asked the question first, Xiao Yun, Qianhuan, and Old Zhou exchanged glances. Xiao Yun then immediately spoke up in agreement with Lin Yu and pressed Fang Qing for an answer.
"It's true. When I infiltrated the 'Player Mutual Aid Society' this afternoon, I encountered the 'Benevolent King'... To be honest, he had no reason to let me go."
"And he didn't merely let me go, either... In a sense, his attitude toward me was almost excessively kind."
Xiao Yun looked at Fang Qing. "So... A Qing, I also want to know whether the 'Benevolent King's' special attitude has something to do with you."
Fang Qing spoke helplessly. "First of all, I do have some personal dealings with the 'Benevolent King.' However, since I didn't mention them before, they naturally weren't worth bringing up in the first place."
"We're not partners, allies, or even friends... If I had to put it one way, we had some temporary cooperative arrangements. We just happened to work together pleasantly a few times."
As Fang Qing spoke, Qianhuan grew curious as well.
"Boss, why did you and the 'Benevolent King' cooperate?"
"Just like what I told Zhu Ming earlier, I'm probably the most deeply researched in Authority among all the Tier 4 players. To avoid Becoming a God... or rather, to delay my progress toward Tier 5, I've conducted extensive research into Authority."
Fang Qing paused briefly before continuing. "Accordingly, when I evaluated the other Tier 4 players, I came into contact with them and discovered... the 'Benevolent King' was unusually eager to advance to Tier 5. He was also relatively 'safe.' I thought he might be someone I could work with, so we cooperated a little in exploring Authority. That's why I never told you about it. Once you knew about