After drawing cards, the evil god became my source of吐槽 (tu cao, a form of humorous commentary/criti

Chapter 10 Kill them

An Jing stood at the very back of the lantern-bearer line, her body leaning slightly forward quietly, as if she were holding her breath.

She's really hit a hot potato.

Aside from the system, she really couldn't think of what that mysterious creature was looking for.

They were all there just now, and it didn't do anything.

The system must have known something; from the beginning, it kept reminding itself not to let others know of its existence.

Is the system truly innocent?
She couldn't believe it.

An Jing subconsciously clenched her fist, gritting her teeth as she pressed for an answer in her mind:

"You'd better tell me now, and be honest. Is that villa something you're after?"

A moment of silence.

The system did not respond immediately, as if it were asleep or pretending not to hear.

"You won't tell me?" Her voice grew even colder in her mind. "Fine, then I'll tell 001 right now that you exist. Tell him you're related to the residual magnetic field, and let him determine what you really are."

"You think he won't believe it? You've seen it yourself, they're already guessing what the mysterious target in the villa is trying to achieve."

"Since even the lamplighter is trapped here, my chances of survival are even more uncertain. If all else fails, I might as well fight to the death."

"If you really consider me a host, then don't treat me like an easy target."

An Jing felt a slight tremor when she uttered the last sentence.

It wasn't fear, but extreme repression and exhaustion that had accumulated to a breaking point during a long period of fear and suspicion.

She didn't mean to turn against them.

She was just really about to break down.

He kept guessing, witnessed the death of his classmate, struggled to survive in a mysterious and dangerous magnetic field, and suppressed his fear to avoid being contaminated.

After finally holding out until the lamplighter arrived, I was filled with anxiety, worried that the other party would discover the existence of the system on my body.

Things always turn into their opposites when they reach their extreme, and An Jing felt that her patience was about to reach its limit.

The silence was finally broken.

The system's voice reappeared, softer than ever before.

Let me tell you.

An Jing was taken aback.

The voice sounded somewhat helpless.

Yes, that guy was looking for me.

[From the moment we became bound, it sensed that I had already formed a symbiotic relationship with someone.]

It wasn't just the animal searching for me; the lamplighter was too.

They didn't say it explicitly, but from the moment you were "rescued unharmed" at the scene, they began to suspect something was amiss with you.

An Jing paused, her eyelids twitching almost involuntarily.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and asked coldly, "The lamplighter too?"

The system remained silent for a moment.

I could feel the interference frequency when I was being 'scanned'. There was definitely a change when the detection equipment approached me.

However, since there is no clear evidence of contamination on your body, they will leave it at that for now.

"So...you weren't actually completely hidden?"

【no. 】

I've been trying to keep a low profile, but my energy is so high, like a burning fire—even with a lid on, it still feels hot.

They can't do anything to you right now because they don't want to alert the enemy, but if this drags on any longer... they'll find an excuse to take action against you sooner or later.

So now it's a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; you are the cicada.

An Jing's heart sank.

She had considered this possibility.

She was trying to play the role of a "harmless" survivor in order to buy time.

"So tell me the truth—was it because the magnetic field wasn't dispelled that you caused it?"

【no. 】

The system responded decisively.

I can assure you, it has nothing to do with me. I'm essentially a prop and won't affect the magnetic field.

The lingering magnetic field is the reason for the survival of that mysterious creature. The magnetic field will disappear once that creature dies, but I should warn you, it was a B-rank mysterious creature.

“Grade B…” An Jing closed his eyes.

She could only barely escape for a short while by relying on cards against F-level mysteries, but a B-level mystery felt like a death sentence.

The system continues in low voice:
It maintains its disguise by imitating communication and replicating behavior.

But it's not without a way. It can't find me, nor can it hear me. It can only guess who I'm on, and it can't kill anyone currently alive, because once you die, I'll be free, and it will be even less able to catch me.

This is why it dared not act rashly and let you go.

An Jing loosened her grip slightly.

She took a deep breath: "What about the lamplighters? You said they're looking for you too?"

【Yes. 】

Although it's unclear, 001 might be a possibility in this team.

To tell you the truth, I've appeared in other mysterious magnetic fields before, so I know the Lamplighter, and I know the Lamplighter is looking for me. But I cannot let them find me.

"why?"

Is it wrong to hate them?

"..."

An Jing was speechless and wanted to scratch his head.

"You've finally said a few more words."

You forced me to do this.

The system replied crisply, but its tone wasn't angry; instead, it carried a hint of helpless compromise.

An Jing knew that there must be more to it than met the eye.

But that's okay, this is enough.

All she needs to know is that the mysterious magnetic field has nothing to do with the system.

Right now, your biggest concern should be yourself. I've said everything I needed to say.

As long as you don't expose me, I can save your life.

An Jing gave a soft "chuckle," as if she were laughing.

But her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Save my life? If you really wanted me to live, you would have said so already."

"You're only telling me this now not because you've had a change of heart, but because you're afraid I'll expose you, right?"

The system remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

An Jing didn't press it any further.

She knew that pushing too hard wouldn't do any good.

The value of information lies not in how much you possess, but in whether you know what the next step should be.

Now she knows:

The residual magnetic field is unrelated to the system.

The mystery surrounding that villa wasn't directed at her.

It came at the system, and so did the lamplighters.

She already knew the answer to what this meant.

She must live.

She also had to hide.

Although the lamplighter had some guesses, they were just guesses.

At least until she has the ability to fight against the Lamplighter—the system is her trump card, though also her biggest burden.

The wind blew again, rustling the grass.

001 glanced back at An Jing: "Stand back a bit, don't get too close."

"Next, we need to set up a blockade line. Any fluctuation could trigger new abnormal reactions."

An Jing nodded, took two steps back, and obediently whispered, "I understand."

She lowered her eyes, her gaze calm and unwavering.

No one could tell what was churning inside her.

Actually, you could wait until they deal with that mysterious creature before killing them. That way, no one will know you and I were in contact.

The system's voice carried a hint of seduction, as if it wanted to lure An Jing into the abyss of depravity.

(End of this chapter)