Chapter 381
According to feedback from Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge, "Headhunter" and "Li Dan" are real people, not just made-up pseudonyms.
In the Judge's experience, to find a player, you have to find his "roots," which is the so-called "the monk may run away, but the temple cannot."
Thorny Rose was the first to expose his existence, but that lead has gone cold. They are preparing to shift their investigation focus to the pioneers of that faction, since the gag order seems like a cover-up.
But at this moment, Li Dan jumped out. This was solid evidence of 'Taiyi', which was easier to investigate than the player with the rare Thorny Rose, and also exposed the root of 'Head Hunters'.
However, neither the Hundred Eyes nor the Judge could be found. Considering that this was a 'Reincarnation-level' trial mission, it was normal, which is why the ten Grand Judge gathered together.
"Whether out of ignorance or intention, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons has been implicated. The entire camp should be put on trial. I want to test the strength of that Satoru Gojo." The red star spoke in a volatile tone, like a chained hound ready to pounce on its prey.
"There are so many factions involved, are we going to try them all one by one? If he participates in the next faction war, are we going to eliminate the victors again?" Blue Star's tone was low and full of sarcasm.
"Yes, we are not the maintainers of order in the Reincarnation Game, nor can we become the target of the players' anger. It's easy to eliminate the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, but what about Valhalla, the Anthropomorphic Front, and the Ghost Hunter?"
"We can't have a trial; that's the only clue. If Taiyi just watches the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons be wiped out, where will we find him later?"
"Do you want the Judge to participate in the faction war? With our strength, we can easily decide the outcome, and when faced with a powerful enemy, the only option for the players is to unite."
"Heh, get your position straight. The Judge are only responsible for the elimination tasks assigned by the game. If you want to fight, don't accept the invitation."
Purple, gray, and blue stars spoke in turn, silencing the irritable voice. The Judge had ten epic-level players, so there was no need to worry about internal strife; such a force could not interfere in faction wars.
Sōsuke Aizen sat reclining on the gray throne, propping his head up as he listened to the argument, his eyes filled with disappointment.
Such a powerful force, yet it still adheres to the limitations of the game, following the rules that only the weak should follow. Even though the heavens lost their original order and overwhelming dominance after that incident, no one could fill the Blank.
Taiyi created an empty throne, but who can sit upon it?
"I believe that the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons should be tried, but we should not be the ones to do it," he said abruptly, interrupting the pointless argument.
"You mean you want Sukuna to do it?" Blue Star replied immediately, clearly having expected it.
"Yes, I've been wondering what Taiyi's purpose is. A person like him shouldn't just be clinging to life." Aizen sat up slightly and muttered to himself, "If the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is part of the plan, then this faction has value. If there's a risk of annihilation, it might be able to force Him out."
The starry sky fell silent, each star deep in thought. Yes, the Judge only needed to wait for Su Sukuna to return to his homeland; it would be a normal faction war, regardless of the difference in strength between the two sides.
"Hundred Eyes, draft a new plan. Calculate how many reinforcements Sukuna needs to regain control of the camp. Use the remaining 10%, and limit the candidates to our friends." Blue Star quickly came up with an answer, without even giving Aizen a chance to give orders.
[Understood, calculation in progress]
The murmurs resumed, but Aizen paid no heed to the other's rudeness; it was revenge for the previous massacre of his subordinates.
"How are those women from Thorny Rose doing?"
[The Judge have made initial contact, and consistent with Ulquiorra's report, through close surveillance, the possibility of 'Taiyi' existing within their copy is extremely low.]
Is it really a coincidence?
Aizen frowned, a rare sight. Li Dan had investigated thoroughly; the factions did indeed exist. In other words, Ulquiorra's report had indeed mentioned three factions within the War Tower.
Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, Aether Particles, Head Hunters.
"But this is too much of a coincidence. Is it possible that Li Dan is actually a member of Thorny Rose, and he's using a smokescreen?"
[Paradoxes. First, this violates the 'Wizard's Tower' rule that members of the same faction cannot enter two towers; second, the Thorny Rose was not on the list; third, among the 71 players found in the Thorny Rose, none had heard of the name 'Taiyi'; fourth, the Head Hunters faction is an existing faction.]
[In summary, the probability of Taiyi being in the Thorny Rose is 17.1%, the probability of having a related person is 86.5%, and the probability of Li Dan being in the Thorny Rose is 0.07%]
The murmurs were devoid of emotion, containing only the coldest logic, which silenced Aizen as he listened to the mockery of the other stars.
The Hundred Eyes is infallible; He knows all the settings of the Reincarnation Game and can predict the movements of all players, making Him the best Hound.
"But all its calculations are within the framework of the Reincarnation Game." Sōsuke Aizen never trusted any person or machine. He looked at the information Sukuna had sent back, one point of which was that Li Dan was not subject to the suppression of authority.
"Is it possible that He transcended the game's design? That He derived the wrong result from a flawed premise?"
The starry sky was deathly silent. No one answered, not even a whispered sound rang out. Everyone's mind seemed to have crashed, unable to come up with any conclusion.
Whether they are the Hundred Eyes One or the Judge, they are all subservient to the Reincarnation Game. If someone can break free from this framework—
What's the point of playing then?
Chapter Eleven: Because I'm strong enough, I'm not afraid.
Phew, that was close.
Just as the ten most powerful epic-level players were scratching their heads in frustration, Yuki in the courtyard broke out in a cold sweat.
The fax machine delivered the latest news: the senior students and others had indeed encountered the Judge in the 'Void Temple'. These cunning old foxes had been secretly observing them and only approached them directly after confirming that only a few of them were participating in the mission.
It's the same old three methods: Mental Impact and causal investigation, all used together, but still no result.
The senior students and others were already mentally prepared, and their strength had reached the monster level. Mental skills were not so easy to take effect, and tracing cause and effect was even more useless. Just like before, they had never even seen 'Taiyi', so how could there be a causal relationship?
The process was naturally very dangerous, but fortunately, the player passed the test. The two Judge even helped the player with the quest, and the player was able to return soon afterward.
"It seems that without a clear objective, the trial mission cannot proceed, and they can only remain ordinary players."
"And now I'm still Yuki Sorajima, damn it, it's like high blood pressure, I have to use causal tracing to check it every now and then."
Yuki was very happy, suddenly realizing that the Judge were actually a good group of comrades, and that they could indirectly verify who he really was.
Even if there is the slightest sign that 'Taiyi' is going to take over, the senior students will immediately feel a causal relationship, just like in 'Future Diary'.
"Tsk, when will this thing be unlocked?" Yuki glanced at the panel, saw the 'locked' notification, and then turned his attention back to reality.
With the loopholes patched and the crisis averted, the Judge are now preoccupied with finding Li Dan from "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," as they are finding no clues from "Thorny Rose."
They cannot go in themselves and make direct contact with themselves.
We've tried tracing the cause and effect dozens of times, but no player has any connection to 'Taiyi'. Yuki was worried that they would find Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and then follow the clues, but now it seems he overcomplicated things.
"What does your seeking out 'Taiyi' have to do with my Thorny Rose?"
"What does your meeting with Li Dan have to do with my Yuki Sorajima?"
"And then in the future, if you look for Raymond, what does that have to do with me, Li Dan?"
Hehe, nesting dolls are so interesting.
During a break in a dungeon, Yuki put on three layers of Sōsuke Aizen's IQ was as high as a monster's, he would still be confused. It wasn't that Yuki's IQ was superior, but rather that he had broken out of the game's framework.
Nothingness is existence, existence is nothingness. I am a ghost in the cycle of Reincarnation Game. Finding me is not so easy.
Splash--
The paper door was pulled open, Mena Ryougi complicated expression, knelt at the entrance. She hadn't been raiding at night lately.
As she gradually got to know Yuki, she understood why her mother dared to take such a risky gamble, and she also understood why this man was terrifying.
He's not just insidious, he's insidious beyond common sense. Even the Manas Consciousness wouldn't know how many aliases lie behind the identity of 'Li Dan.' Relying on his extraordinary abilities, he can be any player, belonging to any faction.
How can you find it? It's like a ghost; you can only identify it by its abilities.
Monster IV, a melee powerhouse, black-armored flames, and spatial abilities—it wouldn't be hard to find if all three were combined, but this guy was predicted again.
"Are you feeling smug?" Mona sighed inwardly, but her words remained sharp.
"There is some truth to that. After all, according to the intelligence from the Borderlands, no player targeted by the Judge can survive more than two dungeon cycles." Yuki seemed somewhat arrogant, which was a requirement of his new character design.
The 'Hidden Sage' Raymond wasn't something he made up; the Aether Particles really is a real person, whose origin lies in the local customs and traditions that Frieren told him when he first entered the Wizard's Tower.
This character, whose strength is estimated to be at least Monster II, never interacts with others. As a lone wolf, Isshin conquering dungeons, and will suddenly reappear whenever other players think he has perished.
His strength was uncertain, but he was skilled in spatial abilities. When Yuki immediately thought of him, and there was another reason for his decision.
I've never heard of the name Raymond before. He must be some random player from another world. Having ascended for so long, Yuki knows that the 'success rate' of protagonists or important supporting characters is relatively high, since they have a strong presence in their hometown.
A casual player means someone without messy interpersonal relationships or grudges from their hometown, and the lone wolf style suits them better.
"Hmph, I really admire you for that." Mona wrinkled his nose and placed a piece of information on the floor. "This is the information on the 'Hidden Sage.' Very few players have seen him. We've done our best. If things go well, we'll give you a big gift."
"What wonderful gift?"
"Hehe, you'll see later."
"Alright, I'll look forward to it then." Yuki rolled his eyes, picked it up and looked at it thoughtfully.
Having no presence whatsoever, all power comes from the Reincarnation Game —good, at least it avoids the awkwardness of running into acquaintances.
"Hey, the dungeon is about to start, are you ready?"
"Anytime is fine." Flames burst from Yuki's fingertips, igniting the paper. The mere few thousand words were already imprinted in his mind.
"Then come out with me to meet your teammates. Hurry up, everyone's waiting for you." Mona grabbed Yuki's hand, but it was gently shaken off. The latter put his right hand on his chest, like a frenzied gentleman.
"Yes, my dear lady."
"You've gotten into the swing of things so quickly. By the way, which one is the real you?" The girl pursed her lips. They'd been together for almost ten days, and she still couldn't see through this man.
"I am neither in the future nor in the past; this very moment is my True Self."
Bah, what a load of rubbish about True Self! This is just something I learned from intelligence reports.
Mona rolled her eyes, just as Fool's Mask Yuki.
Hmph, one day I'll take your mask off!
Yuki was unaware that he had triggered Mena Ryougi's 'youthful rebellion'. He first left the courtyard through a secret passage he had prepared beforehand, wandered around the streets for a while, and then took two items from the secret stronghold of Valhalla.
One of them is the Heart of the Frost Goddess. This item went through the auction house and is now registered under the name of 'Hidden Sage'. This is a very common business in the Borderlands. Players often kill to steal treasures, and they deliberately try to clear their names to avoid being targeted by their enemies.
Only high-end exchanges can offer this kind of service, and they will keep the seller's identity absolutely confidential.
The second was an eyeball, the gray pupil seemingly still alive. Yuki held it in his hand and adjusted his frameless glasses.
[Epic Bloodline Object: Void Eye]
This type of creature only lives in space and appears in high-difficulty dungeons.
[Evolutionary direction: Energy manipulation, energy simulation]
"This is it."
Yuki grinned, finally holding the last piece of the puzzle. This kind of thing was priceless and extremely rare, requiring considerable connections. As for the Judge finding him by following the trail?
Once the Bloodline Object is used, it disappears and creates no causal relationship. This clue will eventually end with the Hidden Sage of the 'Aether Particles'. As for the problem with the Demon Extermination Squad?
They're just middlemen; you didn't give any orders against doing business with Li Dan.
"Four specialization points needed. Hmm, no rush. I'm only a few meters from the door, and a mission is coming up right away. It's best not to level up before the mission starts."
Yuki put away the Bloodline Object. He still remembered the setting Bradley had told him: each player would have a rating, so why set the initial rating so high?
Having received the two most important gifts, Yuki, dressed in a sharp suit, took another stroll outside the 'Ouroboros'. He could sense subtle gazes watching every player, and special detection items quietly swept over them.
Oh dear, they were watching.
They're looking for 'Head Hunters'; they simply don't believe that a faction that actually exists wouldn't have other players.
'This is a pretty high-end detection tool. It will react when it encounters a pre-set faction. Fortunately, there aren't many of these; most are just confirmation tools.'
Yuki kept his eyes straight ahead. Now, apart from the player panel being displayed, no one else could know that he was in the 'None' faction. This was why he was willing to take the risk himself to draw aggro for his seniors.
I know their strengths and weaknesses, and they know mine.
If any member of the team is caught, the truth will come out, and his risk will be within a manageable range.
After wandering around, Yuki returned to the courtyard. It was a secluded and quiet place, but it was also being watched. At least two pairs of eyes immediately focused on him.
Standing at the entrance were Diarmuid and another silver-armored knight, who was handsome with dazzling blond hair.
Gawain.
The players in Valhalla were too recognizable; at least they couldn't escape the eyes of Yuuki, a former fan of the Yuki. Before he could even get close, a player stepped out from the roadside and blocked his way.
The person looked very strange, like a rag doll wearing a purple eye mask, and holding a scale in his hand.
"Who are you?"
"'Aether Particles' Raymond, invited by Valhalla to participate in the cooperation, is that not allowed?" Yuki extremely polite, but his aura was very chaotic.
He wore the Fool's Mask, but disguise items are a basic skill in the Reincarnation Game. At least one-fifth of the players wear this thing often, the only difference being their ability and whether others can see through it.
The Fool's Mask, of course, couldn't see through it; the Borderlands could not take hostile actions; and the purple eyeball would not do anything impolite. It watched as the scales tilted to one side and silently made way.
The truth is, they are indeed players belonging to 'Aether Particles', and it's confirmed that they are in cooperation.
Yuki asked nothing, nodded slightly, passed by it, and came to the door, where he bowed to the two gatekeepers with his hand on his chest.
"Raymond, you've come to accept the commission. How will the assessment be conducted?"
This isn't part of a 'matryoshka doll project,' but rather Valhalla has genuinely issued a request, with very simple requirements: