Raging Winds

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt the atmosphere in the room shift slightly.

Something seemed different.

Before he could think it over, Dane asked again in an even more solemn tone, "Then may we know this god's name and authority?"

That caught Chaoyang off guard.

He understood the name part well enough, but what exactly was an authority?

During his time in Glorious Fortress, he had heard names associated with gods—for example, the God of Mechanisms enshrined in the church downtown, and the God of Storms Haia had once mentioned... But he had never heard the term authority.

He also knew that these "gods" were by no means traditional objects of faith. They were something that truly existed, and the pillars of light piercing the sky were the best proof. But making one up on the spot without letting them notice anything amiss was rather tricky.

But Chaoyang was no amateur.

Once he put his full bluffing power to work, he realized that these gods all had remarkably similar titles. Most of the time, people did not use their full names, instead referring to them as the God of This or That. Could that "this or that" be a summary of their authority?

First, he definitely could not use the word Demon.

Even if this world did not have that exact word, it would have an equivalent with the same meaning. The first impression would already be unfavorable.

Second, he could not be too specific. He had to leave room for imagination, so even if he made a mistake, he would have a chance to patch it up later.

After pondering for a while, Chaoyang replied in an aloof tone, "My lord's true name cannot be spoken directly. We all refer to him as Paradise. All suffering in this world will eventually be dispelled in Paradise, and in the end, only joy shall remain."

Dane and Judy exchanged glances.

Damn it, did I overdo it? Chaoyang thought. Unfortunately, after the contract ended, he could no longer take shortcuts by reading their thoughts.

"No wonder..." Judy murmured.

No wonder what? Don't stop halfway through!

Fortunately, Dane continued her thought. "Judy once prayed to the gods for news of my whereabouts, but every prayer vanished without a trace. Perhaps only this god would watch over people's suffering."

Chaoyang suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

After all, the only reason he had noticed their situation was because the Wish Force they gave off was quite tempting.

But he had already said it. There was no reason to slap himself in the face in public.

Besides, this was not some law written on paper. A little exaggeration was fine. It would not really bind him anyway.

Yet at that moment, two white threads suddenly emerged from Judy and Dane!

They rose straight upward until one end disappeared into the ceiling.

Chaoyang froze, momentarily doubting his own eyes. He lowered his head slightly and rubbed the corner of his eye as if casually, then looked at the two again—

The fine threads were still there!

And against the dim ceiling, their outlines were incredibly clear. Unlike the glow of Wish Force, they resembled condensed filaments, or tiny trickling streams—more tangible and far purer.

What was going on now?

As Chaoyang stared in surprise, another strange phenomenon appeared.

He discovered that the Wish Force within him had increased slightly!

The change was extremely small. If he had not spent so long in a state of severe Wish Force deprivation, painfully aware of every bit he consumed, he might not have noticed it immediately.

Could Wish Force have gained sentience?

"You helped us. Now it is our turn to help you." Dane tucked the note into his pocket. "This will not be easy, but I will do my best. Could you leave us an address? If we receive any news, it will be easier to contact you."

"Oh, that... won't be necessary. I have not found a suitable place to stay yet." Chaoyang quickly reined in his wandering thoughts and replied slowly, "I will visit every few days from now on. You can tell me then."

He actually did have a place to stay in Glorious Fortress.

It was the cottage that served as the starting point of the second game.

But it was so shabby that there was not even a bed inside. It hardly suited his identity as a Detective, so naturally he could not tell them about it.

"How about it, Dane... Why not lend Chaoyang the house on Emerald Street for the time being?" Judy suddenly suggested. "It is fairly secluded, and it is sitting empty anyway. We might as well use it to repay our benefactor."

"I do not have any objections, but considering your status, sir, I do not know whether such a small house would be worthy of you," Dane said cautiously.

"You can simply think of me as a Detective, really. Because I... well, Paradise does not advocate drawing attention to itself." Chaoyang used a sip of tea to cover his awkwardness.

"Really? That is wonderful." Judy clapped her hands and smiled. "That will make it much easier for us to visit you. As for the God of Paradise you serve, I still have many questions I want to ask..."

"Judy." Dane hurriedly interrupted her.

She blinked mischievously.

"The God of Paradise does not care much for status, and welcomes anyone to bask in his light," Chaoyang said. In other words, the more free labor willing to help, the better. With that, he stood and nodded to the two of them. "Since the matter has been settled, I will await your good news."

"I will see you out." Dane rose as well. "The key to the Emerald Street house happens to be hidden by the entrance hall."

But just as Chaoyang took a step forward, a powerful mental shock suddenly surged into his mind!

He knew that feeling all too well...

It was the rejection and discomfort caused when a player's consciousness was pulled into Paradise, something that usually took several minutes to subside.

But he had not started a new game at all. How could a player possibly have entered!?

The shock in his mind did not last long. After barely ten seconds, the strange sensation vanished completely. Yet he sensed a surging presence taking shape in the next room, as though he were standing on the shore just before a storm struck!

Something had come through the passage he had opened...

And it had not relied on one of those temporary bodies. It was condensing a physical form through its own power alone!

"Mr. Chao, is something wrong?" Dane noticed the change in his expression.

"Go back! Stay in the room and do not move!" Chaoyang pulled a pistol from thin air, strode into the next room, kicked open the door, and aimed at the center of the storm.

A woman was slowly rising from a kneeling position. She had short, curly flaxen hair, pale skin, and azure eyes. She looked very young, but what set alarm bells ringing in Chaoyang's mind was her short skirt and wool coat—clearly modern clothing!

This was an intruder from the same world as him!

"Who are you?" Chaoyang's index finger tightened around the trigger.

She did not answer. Her expression was equally astonished, but in the next instant, her eyes changed. All confusion and hesitation faded away, and it was as though she had become a different person. There was only resolve in her eyes.

Chaoyang had always wondered how anyone could read so much from a person's expression in such a short time, but that was exactly what he felt from her now.

In that brief moment, Chaoyang thought of a moth flying into a flame.

Not good!

He pulled the trigger decisively—

At that very moment, she straightened her legs and charged at Chaoyang, speaking words he could not understand.

Something unbelievable happened: the bullet failed to hit its target!

No, it was not that it had missed. It had been canceled out!

As she sprinted forward, a powerful ripple erupted from the center of her body. If the room had been a shore before a coming storm just moments ago, then the storm had now fully formed! Beneath that invisible wave, the fired bullet abruptly vanished, followed by the pistol, then the Detective's arm and torso.

His entire body was shattered by the impact!

His vision vanished at once.

Chaoyang, seated in the carriage, suddenly opened his eyes! Damn it—judging by the direction she was running, she was clearly heading for the carriage outside the house! Could she see through the illusion he had created!?

"Driver, go!" Chaoyang shouted.

"Sir... when did you come back?" The driver jumped in fright, waking from his doze.

At that moment, Dane's front door was already smashed open, and the woman appeared directly in Chaoyang's field of vision.

Damn it. He realized it was already too late to leave!

She covered three steps in two, then leaped into the air when she was still seven or eight meters from the street, raising both hands above her head. The storm raging around her rapidly gathered in her hands, forming a great sword that radiated rainbow light. Its blade was translucent, like both an exploding whirlwind and blooming neon.

Then the woman swung both hands down!

Chaoyang instinctively raised an arm before him, narrowing his eyes and gritting his teeth as he prepared to take the unstoppable blow head-on!

But the tearing pain he expected did not arrive.

There was only a muffled thud. Something slammed directly into him and knocked him over inside the carriage. It was certainly not a sharp blade, but something soft.

Chaoyang froze for a moment, then slowly opened his eyes.

The woman had crashed into his arms, and she was already unconscious.