Igula was puzzled.
After asking him an unbelievably stupid question, Ash Hiss suddenly sank into deep thought.
But Ash was obviously not stupid. Igula would never admit that he had been defeated by an idiot.
"You've already guessed why Valkas challenged you?"
Ash came back to his senses and asked tentatively, "Because of that child?"
Igula nodded.
"That's what I thought too."
"Valkas had behaved himself in Prison for five years and almost never challenged anyone. Just harvesting Contribution Points from people who didn't like the sight of him was enough for him to live comfortably."
"This time, he suddenly stepped forward. Other than that child, there was no other reason. The fact that he had dared to risk disgrace and imprisonment just to raise that child proved how much he valued the child."
"That child had long since been receiving an education at the Nurturing Home, and many people could come into contact with him. But there was only one 'key figure' who would connect that child, Valkas, and you."
"That was Xilin Dor."
Meeting Igula's confident gaze, Ash vaguely felt that this was a name he should have known.
But he simply didn't know it.
"Who's Xilin?"
Igula stared into Ash's eyes and suddenly said, "Don't move."
He reached out and poked Ash's cheek. "Ask that again."
"Who's Xilin?"
Igula froze for a moment, then sighed and withdrew his hand.
"Xilin Dor is a professor in the History Department at Kaimeng Comprehensive University, as well as the president of the Elf Racial Rights Association. He has many other titles, but they have nothing to do with you. What matters most is that he is the faculty advisor for the Ancient Artifact Research Society at Kaimeng Comprehensive University."
The Ancient Artifact Research Society?
Ash blinked, realizing a possibility.
"I used to be a member of the Ancient Artifact Research Society?"
"More accurately, you are still its president. Though I have no evidence, Xilin probably has interests tied to you that go beyond those of an ordinary professor and student."
The Four Pillar God Heresy!
Could Hiss have bewitched so many heretics all by himself, founding the Four Pillar God Heresy, a criminal organization with underworld characteristics, through sheer personal charm and leadership?
It was certainly possible, but it was even more likely that Hiss had accepted gifts and assistance from others!
Xilin Dor was very likely one of the people helping Hiss from behind the scenes!
"I've shown my sincerity. Are you willing to answer my question now? Though I've already guessed the answer."
Igula interrupted Ash's thoughts.
"If you've already guessed it, why ask me... Go ahead."
"How exactly did you deceive me with your inner voice? Last night in the arena, I used Listen To Heartfelt Voices to predict the direction of your attacks. This move has almost never failed, because no one can deceive themselves."
Ash froze slightly.
"What? You can hear my inner voice?"
"Only in the arena can I hear the whispers of your heart through your turbulent emotions."
Igula offered an explanation. Normally, he would never say something that exposed a weakness like this. He would even prefer others to become suspicious and afraid of him because of it.
But for some reason, he felt that bluffing would be useless against Ash, so he could not be bothered to pretend.
"I didn't use my inner voice to deceive you." Ash scratched his head. "I only just found out you could cheat like that. No wonder I couldn't land even a single punch on you earlier."
"Then how did you manage to think, 'You're pretty good-looking,' while punching me in the face?"
"Thinking you're good-looking and wanting to punch you aren't contradictory!"
Igula had no choice but to explain further. "Generally speaking, I can hear the truest desires buried in people's hearts. Superficial and false thoughts can't fool me. If you wanted to hit me, I should have heard the thought, 'I want to punch you in the face,' not the compliment, 'You're pretty good-looking.'"
"Oh, I think I understand what you mean."
Ash tilted his head.
"I was probably distracted at the time."
"Distracted?"
"Yeah. When I get distracted, I start letting my mind wander. I was thinking about finding some spicy pictures to rest my eyes on, so I sincerely thought you were good-looking."
"Then why did you suddenly hit me?"
"Because once I finished spacing out, I got fired up. Naturally, I had to get back to work right away." Ash shrugged. "Spicy pictures only slow down my work."
It sounded perfectly reasonable. He had been distracted, so Igula had heard the wrong inner voice—who would believe that?
A Cult Leader of the Four Pillar God Heresy, a genius fighter capable of rapidly growing stronger in battle... would someone like that get distracted during a fight?
And when Xilin Dor had just been mentioned, Ash had acted as though he genuinely did not know the man. Igula was more willing to believe that Ash had mastered some perfect method of disguising himself!
"Impossible. Even if you were distracted, I would definitely hear your true inner voice!"
"Don't be so certain. Maybe your ability has limits..."
"Since you say so, let me test it!"
Igula reached out and pressed a finger against Ash's face. "I can tell whether you're lying by the changes in your facial temperature. Say anything, true or false! If my ability has limits, I definitely won't be able to tell whether your words are true!"
Ash blinked.
"This sentence I just said is false."
Igula froze.
Wait, was that sentence true or false? If it was true, then he had said he was lying, so it was false. If it was false, then it meant the opposite, so the sentence was true...
Matryoshka Logic churned Igula's mind into a mess. He sat blankly in the audience seats like a broken toy, muttering about truth and falsehood.
Ash spread his hands. He had encountered far too many Brain Teasers like this during interviews. It seemed the children of this world had never seen this kind of puzzle.
Just then, a commotion rose at the entrance of the Deathmatch Club.
"Oh, isn't this our esteemed elf?"
"Ul Lord, this lowly Orc offers you his most precious blessings. Would you like me to lick your shoes?"
"Move aside, move aside. Don't dirty the elf young master's clothes. You lower races aren't worthy of coming within five steps of an elf!"
Although microchips prohibited prisoners from verbally abusing others, they only prohibited "verbal abuse." The microchips were not intelligent enough to recognize Sarcastic Insults.
Ash was rather surprised that these people were so united in boycotting a single target.
It was not that he had any expectations for the intelligence or morality of Death Row Inmates. It was just that nobody here could engage in physical conflict or verbal bullying. They could not even harm a single hair on the other person's head. Sarcastic Insults were already the limit.
But in the adult world, bullying at this level was about as pathetic and pointless as a girlfriend lightly pounding your chest with her little fists. Ordinary people should have gotten bored of it soon enough.
Since they had not gotten bored, that could only mean...
"Thank you all for your concern." Valkas gave a slight bow and performed a very proper gesture. "You all speak so sweetly. You must have wiped your mouths well before leaving the restroom, right?"
"Valkas, are you calling us shit-eaters?"
"No, I only wanted to praise those who wipe their mouths properly after eating shit. Why did you jump out and accuse yourself? Could it be that you eat shit too?"
"Val! Kas! Ur!"
"Yes, I'm here. Your breath is a little strong. It smells like urine. Seems your diet is quite varied."
"Val—kas—Ur—"
"Yes, why are you getting so worked up? I wasn't insulting you. Speaking of which, I remembered a joke. I once threw garbage downstairs and accidentally hit a dog. The dog definitely started barking, right? So whenever you throw out garbage and hear a dog bark, you must have hit a dog."
"Valkas—!"
"I never expected there to be so many people who wipe their mouths after using the toilet. I once heard someone spread the rumor that prisoners in Broken Lake Prison eat shit and poop rice. I'll definitely clear things up for you in the future. It isn't a rumor."
Igula could not help laughing.
"Such a marvelous insult battle could only be seen in Broken Lake Prison."
Ash nodded. He completely understood why Valkas could suppress more than a dozen people with his mouth alone—because they could not swear. The moment they wanted to curse, the microchip automatically blocked their throats, leaving all their foul language to ferment in their stomachs. It was essentially an instant mute.
That was why those people could not say anything after shouting Valkas's name.
Then Valkas turned toward the sound and started picking them apart, making it look as though they had actively come to get insulted.
To avoid the microchips' restrictions, the two essential skills in prison insult battles were knowing how to insult people without profanity and knowing how to make them lose control and get muted by their microchips.
Clearly, Valkas's mouth was like it had been smeared with glycerin. The other Death Row Inmates were no match for him at all. They were insulted into losing control and instantly muted.
Some even tried to make a move, but their microchips directly took over control of their bodies. They stiffened up and fell to the ground with a smack.
"No need for ceremony. Dismissed."
Valkas raised his chin and strode gracefully past them. The losers of the insult battle glared at Valkas with flames in their eyes, but they could neither curse nor fight. It was a perfect demonstration of impotent rage.
No wonder these prisoners had not grown tired of Sarcastic Insults. With an expert sharp-tongue like Valkas around, the interactions they got were far too intense. They would probably lie in bed tonight pondering how to insult him back.
"Ash Hiss?"
"Valkas Ur?"
Valkas looked at Ash from afar, his gaunt face returning to its usual Apathy.
He pointed at the arena. "If there's no problem, let's begin immediately."
Every gaze in the Deathmatch Club gathered on them. Some were expectant, some mocking, some curious, some crazed.
Igula glanced at Ash.
Ash now knew that Valkas was connected to Professor Shilin. There was definitely something wrong with this deathmatch. If he were Ash, he would certainly refuse it—he never participated in battles he was not confident about.
"Sword Maiden?"
Igula was slightly startled. He heard Ash softly breathe out a name. But no one here was called Sword Maiden, and Ash was not looking at anyone.
"A little lonely..."
Ash murmured softly, then turned to Valkas.
For some reason, Igula could not help saying, "Valkas is much stronger than I am. He isn't an opponent you can defeat with little tricks. And swords are far more destructive. One strike might decide the outcome."
"Thanks." Ash smiled. "I'm not planning to use little tricks this time."
"Then what will you use?"
"My life. I'll bet my life that his first strike can't kill me."
As Valkas walked toward the arena, Ash stood as well.
"As long as his first strike doesn't kill me, then the second strike will be my opportunity."
Before you continue