Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 187 Is he a charlatan lawyer?
The sixth rule of this horror game is: The following actions are strictly prohibited: destroying balloons in any way (including but not limited to pricking, burning, and shooting), talking to balloons, or responding to their calls.

Rules aren't inherently mandatory; as long as one can bear the consequences of breaking them, it's permissible to go against the rules. For example, this rule states that destroying the enemy's balloons easily kills them, regardless of their physical strength; the powerful rule corruption will instantly kill any reincarnator. Without the "kill balloons," the Nirvana team would have had no chance of nearly wiping out the Shadow Blade and Crimson teams. Of course, this is also due to a crucial reason: this is a dungeon not contained by the reincarnation system. Otherwise, the reincarnation system wouldn't have left such an obvious bug, turning the team battle into a mere target for both sides to shoot each other's balloons.

However, just as there's no such thing as a perfect sugarcane, the Nirvana team is also subject to this rule. Once their own balloon is deflated, they too will suffer the same fate!

When Jiang Jin was suspended by the balloon, the suffocating pain caused oxygen deprivation in his brain, making it impossible for him to think. At that moment, his only hope for survival was to tamper with the rules!

However, the sixth rule is very special: modifying a single character requires consuming 30% of the SAN value!
Of course, Jiang Jin had considered different modification options in advance.

For example, to save SAN points, he considered changing "strictly prohibited" to "not prohibited"! However, he discovered that the Lawyer's rule-altering ability strictly requires the modified text to be fluent, free of grammatical errors, and logical. Simply writing "not prohibited" would result in very strange wording, so this modification wouldn't pass the review. Even changing "strictly prohibited" to "permitted" would itself be very strange, but it was necessary to modify it, and it could barely pass the review, but that would deduct 60% of his SAN points!
The problem is, Jiang Jin's SAN value was already below 60% at that time! Could he possibly deduct 60% of his SAN value? Even deducting just 30% wouldn't work, because according to the SAN locking mechanism, the SAN value after deduction cannot be lower than 30%, otherwise... he would directly fall into the annihilation layer!

Even the boning knife, imbued with the hunting curse blade, could not cut the steel cable!
In this situation, it seems utterly hopeless!
At this point, another option is to sell the stored resentment crystals to the reincarnation system in exchange for SAN points!
The current exchange rate is still one Resentment Crystal for 8% SAN value, and 8 crystals are needed for 60% SAN value! It's not a small amount, but it's acceptable!

However, there's still a problem. This requires operating the Reincarnator's Watch, and the whole process is quite cumbersome, involving multiple confirmation procedures, the most crucial being facial scanning! And even then, the face scan requires making the correct expressions according to the watch's instructions! How can someone about to be hanged accurately make the facial expression for the scan? Furthermore, once all the procedures are completed, the resentment crystals are deducted, SAN points are exchanged, and the rules are altered—this series of operations takes a very long time! By then, he'll probably be hanged long ago!

At this point, Jiang Jin knew he was doomed no matter how he looked at it!
He had no choice but to pick up his pistol and pop the balloon! At least he'd die a more dignified death!
But when Jiang Jin thought of the pistol, he came up with a solution!
However, at that moment, the finger had already pulled the trigger!

Fortunately, he was lucky. Because of the suffocating pain in his neck, he could no longer see the top of his head, so the shot missed!

He modified the following rule: If the balloon starts mimicking your facial expressions (especially when you notice the balloon's mouth turning up more than your own), immediately stop all facial muscles, cover your face with a silver thermal blanket, and walk around.

He changed the "silver thermal blanket" in the rules to "silver pistol"!
Under this rule, modifying one word only requires 5% of the SAN value! Three words, that's 15% of the SAN value!
Then he switched to the silver pistol and covered the main features of his face with it!
Sure enough, the balloon immediately plummeted, and the rope loosened around his neck!
……

“I was just suspended by a balloon,” Jiang Jin said coldly to Zhou Chen. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m a ghost?”

"He's not a ghost." Qin Mei, as a medium, was the most qualified to say on this point. When she transformed into a ghost, she even created a domain akin to a ghost realm, making it impossible for Jiang Jin to contact Liu Yan through their mental link! This person is definitely alive!

However, Zhou Chen felt that this made no sense!
The rules were clearly written, and there was a ring-shaped bruise on the neck... but there was no exception for those who were hung up but later broke free!
"You were suspended by balloons and survived? How did you do that?" Zhou Chen asked.

"What does this have to do with you?" Yu Tianlun said coldly. "Can't you guess why I saved your life?"

Now that Zhou Chen and Qin Mei are both prisoners, they can only be at the mercy of others.

"Your team should also have a healer named Tang Min, right?" Xu Yinqiu said. "The Scarlet Team's healers should have quite a few good items. Where is she now?"

"I can't say," Zhou Chen shook his head.

“So,” Yu Tianlun’s voice grew even colder, “you’re not planning to tell me any information about the Bloodstained Legion, are you?”

For Yu Tianlun, sparing Zhou Chen's life was not out of pity or a display of maternal instinct.

He needs to obtain top-secret information about the Bloody Team and then use it as leverage to threaten Blood Lord.

If Blood Lord still insists on killing him, Yu Tianlun can say that if Blood Lord forces him, he will reveal this top-secret information to the Insect Nest team!
It's important to understand that the Insect Nest team's overall strength surpasses that of the Bloodthirsty team. Although the Bloodthirsty team has already wiped out one of the Misty Swamp divisions, the two Crimson Shadow Blade divisions are now practically wiped out. If the Insect Nest were to obtain further intelligence on the Bloodthirsty team at this point and launch an attack, Blood Owl would face the crisis of total annihilation!

No matter how valuable the resentment crystal is, you still need to be alive to get it!
This is the most crucial reason why he spared Zhou Chen's life!

In his view, Zhou Chen was imprinted with a soul mark and was being groomed as a future deputy leader, so he likely possessed information about the Bloody Regiment that was unknown to ordinary people!

For example, since Blood Lord advanced to LV4 through forbidden techniques, he may have some weaknesses!
“I can’t say,” Zhou Chen shook his head: “The Blood Lord has treated me well.”

Yu Tianlun drew his peach wood sword and held it across Qin Mei's neck.

"Think about the consequences before you speak."

“If I betray you, Blood Lord will kill us anyway! Qin Mei and I have both been implanted with soul imprints. Would he not give us prior orders not to reveal information to you?”

Yu Tianlun shook his head.

“I don’t think the Blood Lord could have foreseen this situation and given you such clear instructions in advance. It’s not in line with his usual character.”

Yu Tianlun knows Blood Lord very well.

This person is extremely arrogant, even paranoid, and often makes decisions based on highly emotional impulses. He is a powerful reincarnator, but certainly not a competent leader.

"He wouldn't be so shameless as to say something like that as a guarantee," Yu Tianlun continued. "Will you talk or not?"

This is a matter of life and death for the Nirvana team.

As the leader, he would never show mercy. Even if he had to torture Qin Mei until she was covered in wounds, he would still pry open Zhou Chen's mouth!
At this moment, Zhou Chen looked at Jiang Jin.

Is Jiang Jin alive? He has ring-shaped bruises, yet he's alive?
This is so weird!
Could it be that...could it be said that...

Is he the mysterious lawyer?

As soon as this thought crossed Zhou Chen's mind, he felt he had found hope of turning the tide!

That's right, he's now wearing anti-magic shackles. The problem is, this type of anti-magic shackle is designed to bind levels 1-3. Anti-magic shackles that can bind level 4 are extremely expensive and controlled by the imperial court; they're very difficult to buy even with money! Incidentally, at level 5, all anti-magic shackles are ineffective!

If he successfully reports the Demon Lawyer, he can directly advance to LV4! These anti-magic shackles will be completely ineffective against him!
At that time, there might be hope of finding a way to remove the poison from my body!

Although it is currently blocked by magic-suppressing shackles, it is still possible to contact the reincarnation system!
"Can you give me a little time to think about it?" Zhou Chen shouted, "Give me an hour!"

"Half an hour!" Yu Tianlun knew that it would indeed take some time for him to mentally prepare for betraying the Blood Lord. "I'll give you a maximum of half an hour. After that, I'll lose patience. You know what I'll do."

The Black Crow Inn is now an empty inn, its inhabitants all dead at the hands of Shirakawa Rin.

Yu Tianlun found the key at the front desk and opened the door to room 201.

He intentionally arranged to detain the two men on the second floor with the curtains open.

He won't give them the blue pills, so the balloon will find them and wait outside, putting psychological pressure on them.

"Right here." He stepped aside, allowing Liu Yan to escort Qin Mei inside.

Qin Mei's hands were bound by magic-suppressing shackles, and her face was as pale as paper.

Liu Yan arranged for her to sit in a chair, then silently checked whether the shackles were secure.

Soon, Yu Tianlun left the room and whispered to Liu Yan, who was guarding inside, "You must keep a close eye on her."

Liu Yan nodded, and the purplish-black centipede in her sleeve slowly swam out, crawling out a warning line around the door frame.

At the other end of the corridor is room 202.

Tomie kicked the door open, sending dust flying.

"Wow, it's cleaner than I expected..." she said with a grin, dragging Zhou Chen inside.

Xu Yinqiu followed behind and said coldly, "Zhou Chen, think it over carefully. This is the only way out for the two of you right now."

Tomie casually tossed Zhou Chen onto the bed, completely disregarding the fact that the latter was already covered in wounds.

"Be gentle." Xu Yinqiu frowned; Zhou Chen couldn't die now.

"It's nothing," Tomie said nonchalantly, tossing her long hair. "This guy's vitality is stronger than a cockroach's."

Zhou Chen coughed up a mouthful of blood, his voice hoarse: "Where is Qin Mei...?"

Xu Yinqiu replied, "Next door. Don't worry, she's safe for now."

in the corridor.

Yu Tianlun and Yu Zi stood at the top of the stairs, silently listening to the sounds coming from downstairs. The entire hotel was deathly silent, with only their breaths mingling in the darkness.

Yuko hugged her arms tightly, her voice trembling: "Are all the people in the hotel... really dead?"

"Hmm. I'm afraid so."

Yuko shuddered and dared not ask any more questions.

Yu Tianlun looked at the two doors at the end of the corridor and said in a low voice, "We'll take turns keeping watch tonight. You go and rest first."

Yuko hesitated and said, "Then you..."

“We’re fine,” he interrupted her. “Go on.”

201 indoor.

Liu Yan leaned against the door, toying with a Soul-Eating Bone Bee between her fingertips.

Qin Mei sat on the edge of the bed and suddenly said, "Zhou Chen won't say anything."

At this moment, Xu Yinqiu came out of the room. She had already roughly checked Zhou Chen's injuries and found them to be relatively stable. She then replaced him with Jiang Jin to go in and keep watch.

As she walked over to Yu Tianlun, she felt a little uneasy: "Give him half an hour, is he planning something?"

“Bound by the magic-suppressing shackles, what can he do?” Yu Tianlun said. “Besides, his injuries haven’t fully recovered. If we push him too far, he probably won’t say anything.”

He had also gathered a considerable amount of information about Zhou Chen. Zhou Chen was known for his strong sense of loyalty and righteousness. For someone with such a personality, making a choice must have been incredibly difficult.

“I need him to reveal as much and as valuable information as possible,” Yu Tianlun said. “Once he has revealed all the information, he can die.”

That's right.

Yu Tianlun would never allow Zhou Chen to live.

With Zhou Chen dead, Blood Lord was unable to confront him and find out exactly how much information Zhou Chen had leaked!
“I understand,” Xu Yinqiu realized. “If he refuses to talk no matter what, kill him and then tell Blood Lord that he confessed everything before he died, playing the empty city ploy!”

"He had better be able to reveal some valuable information so that I can fool Blood Lord."

At this moment...

Zhou Chen was in a very agonizing state.

This is his only hope of turning things around!

Once he advances to LV4, killing Yu Tianlun will be a piece of cake, and removing the Gu poison from his body won't be difficult either! At that time, he will be able to turn the tide and make up for his mistakes!

However, he only has one chance to report to the reincarnation system who the mysterious lawyer is!

The only clue he knew about the eccentric lawyer was that he had only one thing to say!
Fortunately, the person guarding him at this moment was Jiang Jin!
So he said to Jiang Jin, "Jiang Jin, if I tell you everything, will you let us go?"

Jiang Jin replied, "If you don't speak, you will surely die. If you do speak, I will naturally spare you."

Wearing magic-suppressing shackles, Zhou Chen observed Jiang Jin in front of him.

Then, he decided to test the waters.

"What kind of information do you want to know? You should all know about professional skills."

“Of course, that applies to inherent professional skills, but some professional skills will differ, especially rule-based skills,” Jiang Jin sensed that Zhou Chen might have some plan, and cautiously replied, “Anyway, whatever it is, try to tell us as much information as possible so we can let you go. Of course, it would be best if it were about the Blood Lord’s weaknesses.”

"I reckon even Vice Commanders Long Cang and Benedetta wouldn't know what his weakness is?"

Jiang Jin thought for a moment and said, "Benadeta... as far as I know, she should be both Blood Lord's subordinate and his mistress, right? Why do you think she doesn't know either?"

Leaders of large teams almost always take their beautiful female subordinates as their own, and it's not uncommon for team leaders to have dozens of mistresses. Someone like Yu Tianlun is an extremely rare exception. This was also a major reason why Jiang Jin agreed to join the Nirvana team in the first place. If he and Liu Yan had joined another team, the team leader would most likely have developed feelings for Liu Yan.

"You think she doesn't know? Could it be that you actually know... that she knows something?"

"The Blood Lord trusts no one."

"You've all been afflicted with a soul imprint."

"The longer an order is maintained, the weaker its effectiveness becomes."

Jiang Jin shook his head.

"You were one of the first people Blood Lord recruited. Did he really hide everything from you and not reveal a single secret?"

"If you insist on saying that..." Zhou pondered for a moment, then began to speak off the cuff.

"He seemed to have mentioned to me that there might be an eleventh profession besides the ten major professions."

In that instant, he observed Jiang Jin's expression!
Jiang Jin's expression did indeed flash with surprise for a moment!

"The Blood Lord believes there's a completely new profession," Zhou Chen asked. "What do you think?"

Jiang Jin suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

What does this mean? Is it a coincidence? Or just a cliché?

Indeed, there have always been rumors about hidden classes within the Reincarnator community, but these are mostly just hearsay. Two or three years ago, there was a widely circulated rumor that the eleventh class was called "Kunlun Slave," and it was described in great detail, claiming that you needed to find a hidden NPC in a dungeon to unlock it. Many people actually believed it. However, it was later proven to be completely false.

Zhou Chen continued, "The Blood Lord spoke to me with such certainty at the time, so I wondered if the Blood Lord might actually possess an eleventh profession and be a dual-professor?"

He was testing Jiang Jin!

How could Jiang Jin know Zhou Chen's true intentions?
His first thought was: Could Blood Lord also be a cunning lawyer?

Judging from the Blood Lord's extremely legendary rise, he started from the bottom of the Bug Nest, obtained his first pot of gold through a completely rule-based mission, and built a bloodthirsty team that could barely rival the Bug Nest team...

It's not impossible!

Although it's a hidden profession, it can't be so hidden that Jiang Jin is the only "Strange Lawyer" in all of China, right? In Muxu City, there's very likely more than one Strange Lawyer!
What do you think, Jiang Jin?

Jiang Jin tried his best to remain calm and said, "How would I know? What do you think his hidden profession is? There must be some clues, right?"

Zhou Chen was a little disappointed, but Jiang Jin did not outright deny the existence of hidden professions.

But he was also worried that if he continued to probe, it would be too obvious.

When the hidden profession was first mentioned, Jiang Jin was indeed a little surprised, but this level of surprise didn't really mean anything.

To find out, he needs more concrete evidence!
For example, how did Jiang Jin escape from under the balloon? Did he do it on his own, or did someone else help him?
However, if he is indeed the lawyer who escaped through this hidden profession, how could he possibly tell himself this?
He has to think of a way!

At this point, the blue pills began to lose their effectiveness.

Outside the window... a balloon with a human head that looked exactly like Zhou Chen's, but with an extremely ferocious and terrifying face, began to appear!

(End of this chapter)