I, Izayoi Sakamaki, Joined the Chat Group at the Start

Although Sandora showed no expression, how could White Night Yaksha, shrewd as she was, not know what she was thinking?

After some thought, considering her old friendship with the Star Sea Dragon King, White Night Yaksha still pointed Sandora toward a way out. "If you truly find yourself at the end of the road, you can go to that brat Izayoi. He's someone even I can't see through."

"Izayoi?"

Hearing that name, Sandora froze slightly. The image of that blond youth who had injected her brother with the Black Death quickly surfaced in her mind.

She could clearly sense that this boy harbored a trace of hostility toward her—or rather, toward Salamandra.

"That's right. Izayoi must have already solved the riddle this time."

"How is that possible?"

Hearing White Night Yaksha's certainty, Sandora found it hard to believe. Countless people had gone days and nights without rest and still failed to solve it. How could he possibly crack it alone?

It wasn't as if he were a second Canary.

"Impossible?" White Night Yaksha lay on the hard stone slab, gazing at the stars overhead as she smiled. "If he hadn't solved the riddle, would he be this calm when all of No Name had been listed as participants?"

"Don't be fooled by the fact that he's a violent delinquent. He cares about his reputation more than anyone."

"But... he seems to hate us..." Under White Night Yaksha's confident words, Sandora could not help believing her. Yet when she recalled Izayoi Sakamaki injecting the Black Death into her brother, she hesitated.

"Isn't it only natural that he hates you? You're traitors, and you still stood there talking down to him with all those arrogant words. Anyone would hate you."

A third voice suddenly rang out, startling Sandora. "Who's there?"

"..." Hearing that voice, White Night Yaksha awkwardly scratched her cheek. "Ah, Izayoi. What a coincidence. Why did you come here?"

"I'm heartbroken." Izayoi Sakamaki slowly stepped out of the darkness, looking at White Night Yaksha with feigned hurt. "I finally squeezed out some time to come see you, yet White Night Yaksha, you sold me out! Our friendship is over!"

"My mistake, but wasn't I just telling the truth?"

"Don't say another word. Our friendship is over."

"..." Seeing Izayoi Sakamaki's exaggerated performance, White Night Yaksha understood that he was trying to extort her while he had the chance. Her expression darkened slightly. "Fine, tell me. What condition will make you forgive me?"

"Give me one Sun Authority."

"What??" Hearing Izayoi Sakamaki's condition, White Night Yaksha shot to her feet and rejected it without a second thought. "Dream on. Impossible. Forget it, then. If we can't be best friends, we can be enemies instead."

"Eh, I was joking." Izayoi Sakamaki had not expected White Night Yaksha to agree anyway. Pinching his chin as he thought, he realized he did not know what he lacked and said, "How about you owe me one condition?"

"Who knows what kind of condition you'll come up with later? If you want compensation, say it now. Otherwise, the offer expires!"

"Expires? How long is it valid for?"

"Until tomorrow morning."

"Deal. I'll have to think this over carefully. Heh heh, your condition... just thinking about it gets me excited."

Separated by a barrier of black mist, Izayoi Sakamaki and the helpless White Night Yaksha bumped fists, sealing the matter.

620 "Um..."

Watching the two interact so "amicably," a trace of envy flashed through Sandora's eyes. Ever since she had been chosen to become a Floor Master, she had been cut off from contact with her friends.

Even No Name, the community she had once been closest to, had been forbidden by her brother.

"What is it, red-haired loli?"

From the conversation he had just overheard between White Night Yaksha and Sandora, Izayoi Sakamaki naturally knew what Sandora wanted. Still, it would be a shame not to tease such a cute loli.

"Um... Lord Izayoi, have you already solved the Demon King's riddle?"

Looking at Izayoi Sakamaki's teasing expression, Sandora became timid for some reason. Still, she gathered her courage and asked.

"Yeah. What about it?"

Izayoi Sakamaki did not deny it. Instead, he admitted it openly. "But... what does that have to do with your Salamandra?"

"But... we are... we..."

Sandora excitedly wanted to say something, but stopped.

That was right. They did not seem to have any relationship, nor any obligation to help one another. So what if the riddle had been solved?

"We're both participants..."

Sandora bit her lower lip and spoke softly.

Gift Game Restarts, Bestowing a Godhead

"If you're afraid of losing, there's no need. I'll win the game before the final deadline."

Seeing Sandora's expression, as though she were about to cry, Izayoi Sakamaki instantly lost interest. He waved a hand and sat down on the ground.

"Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Provided the traitors pay the price. And while I'm at it, I can temper Hisato Asuka and Kasukabe Yō, helping them adapt more quickly to Hakoniwa's cruel environment.

"Oh? I never expected you to be so kind, Izayoi. Don't tell me you're planning to end the game only after most people are dead?"

Sandora's naive innocence made White Night Yaksha frustrated with her. If Izayoi Sakamaki were allowed to brush this matter aside so easily, wouldn't her condition have been wasted?

In the end, she had no choice but to step in herself, smiling at Izayoi Sakamaki.

My condition wasn't obtained that easily.

"More or less." Izayoi Sakamaki knew what White Night Yaksha was thinking and shot her an annoyed glare. "Anyway, as long as I ensure No Name isn't harmed, that's enough."

"Why?!"

Sandora was utterly confused. Could it be that just because Salamandra had once torn up their alliance, they had to stand by and watch so many people die?

Could lives really be so cheap?

Anger, resentment, and sorrow surged into the heart of the eleven-year-old girl.

"Don't ask me why. What you should really care about isn't that." Looking at the girl's grief-stricken expression, Izayoi Sakamaki felt no ripple in his heart. Gazing at the gradually dimming stars, he said, "What you should care about is who spread the rumor of this Demon King Attack."

"What do you mean?"

Hearing that question, Sandora's heart trembled slightly. She had always believed that Thousand Eyes had spread the rumor.

She turned her questioning gaze toward White Night Yaksha, who looked away. "Thousand Eyes wouldn't do something so tasteless."

Besides, a fallen Salamandra had little worth taking, aside from a Simulated Star Chart.

"Then... was it the Demon King?"

"Not a bad thought, girl. If the Demon King wins the Gift Game and brings White Night Yaksha into his community, then the Demon King would indeed gain the greatest benefit."

Hearing Sandora's words, Izayoi Sakamaki clapped his hands and continued approvingly, "Then what if the Demon King loses? Who gains the most?"

"It's your Salamandra. It's you, girl who rules the Northern Region."

Izayoi Sakamaki directly gave the answer, making Sandora's pupils contract sharply. She could not believe it.

Just for that glory and reputation, just to secure the ruler's seat, they would sacrifice so many lives?

"Was the Demon King... summoned by us?"

The truth was gradually becoming clear, but the innocent girl could not accept it no matter what.

"I can't say for certain, but it's highly likely." Seeing the girl's disbelief, Izayoi Sakamaki added fuel to the fire. "Who do you think would do such a thing?"

"Brother..."

Sandora clenched her lower lip tightly, blood seeping from beneath her pearly teeth. The revelation struck her deeply.

Her proud and confident brother had actually done something so inhumane.

Yet with the facts laid bare before her, she had no choice but to believe.

"Thank you, Mr. Izayoi, for clearing up my doubts. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

The matter lingered in her heart like a nightmare. After deeply bowing to Izayoi Sakamaki, she flew into the distance.

"Remarkable, Izayoi. I didn't expect you to see so far ahead."

After Sandora left, White Night Yaksha spoke with some admiration.

"Spare me." Rolling his eyes at White Night Yaksha, Izayoi Sakamaki took two bottles of liquor from the System Space. He placed one beside the black mist barrier and lifted the other to gulp it down. "Your acting wasn't bad either."

"Acting? I have no such vulgar hobby." With a wave of her hand, the bottle outside the barrier appeared in White Night Yaksha's hand. She took a hearty swig. "Not bad. I didn't expect you to get hold of such fine liquor."

"Pretty good, right? I got it from that Golden Light fellow."

"Golden Light?"

White Night Yaksha savored the taste of the liquor and thought over all the figures she knew who might be associated with Golden Light.

Every single one was ruled out.

"Forget it. This barrier suppresses me quite a bit. Taking a bottle of liquor is about all I can manage."

White Night Yaksha quickly shook her head and stopped thinking about it.

"I believe that. So once that spotted loli becomes my subordinate, you'd better be careful."

With a wicked smile, Izayoi Sakamaki teasingly looked at White Night Yaksha, who could not even stretch freely inside the barrier.

Mm... ordinary people really couldn't even stretch inside this black mist barrier, but White Night Yaksha's petite frame was just right.

"Tch. A riddle that has been solved has no deterrent value."

"Oh? So I need to find a Demon King capable of countering the sun?"

"Get lost."

After draining the liquor in one gulp, White Night Yaksha licked her lips and began asking about serious business. "So, have you decided on your condition?"

"My condition..." Izayoi Sakamaki also dropped his joking expression and lay down on the ground. "Didn't you already know?"

"Ruler of the Eastern Region?"

"No, an Area Ruler."

Izayoi Sakamaki shook his head. While he was interested in managing one quarter of Hakoniwa, he was too lazy to actually do it.

But he still had to fight for what should belong to him.

For example, the community's benefits.

"Oh? An Area Ruler?"

An Area Ruler was a community recognized by the most powerful figure in a region or by a Floor Master. It would be granted an Outer Gate Privilege Certificate. An Outer Gate Certificate of Rights was a special Contract Document that granted various powers over an Outer Gate.

Simply put, with the authority of an Area Ruler, the community would immediately escape the awkward situation of having neither a flag nor a name.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Suddenly, as though White Night Yaksha had thought of something, she looked solemnly at Izayoi Sakamaki. "If you achieve victory in this Demon King Attack, your No Name will never again have the chance to develop quietly. Who knows how many eyes will be watching you."

If some unknown community suddenly shone brightly, it might become famous, but it would not draw the attention of Hakoniwa High Command.

But... No Name had once been one of the strongest communities, a community that had once solved the Final Trial of Humanity.

Even though it had now fallen into decline, many important figures were still watching this community.

Mandra's Deal, Problem Children Rampaging Through Hakoniwa

"Keeping a low profile?"

Izayoi Sakamaki found that amusing. When had he ever kept a low profile? He simply had not found an opportunity to be high-profile. "Don't worry. I've been prepared for a long time."

"I understand." White Night Yaksha took a deep breath and looked solemnly at Izayoi Sakamaki. "I agree to this."

"However, after this, you will face countless powerful enemies and battles. Again and again, over and over."

White Night Yaksha looked toward the horizon and spoke in the tone of someone who had been there before. "In endless battle, you will eventually be defeated. That is the inevitable result of becoming a Demon King. Still, I hope you never see that day."

"Is that so? I'm rather looking forward to that day."

Izayoi Sakamaki chuckled. Defeat? For someone like him, who was constantly growing stronger, that might be nothing more than a luxury.

Unless someone crushed him with absolute strength while he was still relatively weak, defeating him would be impossible.

"Ah." Looking at the supremely confident Izayoi Sakamaki, White Night Yaksha seemed to see her former self. She shook her head.