The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

The overwhelming mental pressure that nearly crushed Zhou Jian's soul dissipated abruptly with the Bone King's final roar.

Zhou Jian staggered and almost knelt on one knee.

He was panting heavily, his whole body already soaked in cold sweat.

But the physical exhaustion paled in comparison to the shock he felt inside.

Ainz Ooal Gown also considered changing the future.

Moreover, he failed.

"I couldn't even save one person..."

This statement alone explains a lot.

His hostility toward Comrade Lin Mo may not have stemmed from his stance or his ideology.

Simply because what Lin Mo wanted to do was exactly the same as what he had wanted to do before.

Is this stemming from the envy of the losers?

Or is it... a more complex, twisted protective instinct, a desire not to let others repeat the same mistakes?

Zhou Jian's mind was completely in turmoil.

The S-rank undead Bone King before them was rapidly collapsing, only to be reassembled in an even more bizarre and complex way.

He was no longer a purely superior enemy.

Instead, it was someone who... once shared the same ideals, but was utterly crushed by reality...

forerunner!

Just as Zhou Jian was deeply shaken and trying to make sense of the massive amount of information,

Ainz Ooal Gown, however, acted as if nothing had happened, reverting to his usual calm and collected demeanor.

He belatedly realized that he had said too much, but he just chuckled lightly, a laugh tinged with self-mockery.

"My friend, you're still so smart."

"They can always easily find the answers they want from my words."

Ainz took two steps forward, and the suffocating sense of oppression had completely disappeared, as if the hysterical madman from before was just Zhou Jian's illusion.

"But...that's exactly what I love about you."

Zhou Jian's body tensed instantly, and he looked at him warily.

friend?

The mere sound of that word coming from his mouth sent a chill down Zhou Jian's spine.

The Bone King seemed unconcerned by his vigilance. He glanced at Zhou Jian's empty hands and asked casually.

"Where's the bone ring I gave you?"

Zhou Jian's heart sank.

The cracked bone ring had been hidden in the closest place to his body the moment he saw the Bone King.

Once Ainz Ooal Gown discovers the crack in the bone ring, he will definitely guess about the matter of the Death Authority.

That would be his biggest trump card, and he absolutely could not reveal it under these circumstances!

He hid in a very secret place.

He was confident that Ainz Ooal Gown would never discover that place.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in a flash, and Zhou Jian finally chose the most direct answer, which best reflected his current state of mind.

He raised his head and looked directly at the other person.

"It's been put away."

"After all, I can't tell whether you're a friend or foe right now."

After saying that, he stared intently at Ainz's reaction, preparing to deal with any possible rage and interrogation.

However, Ainz Ooal Gown laughed again.

It wasn't the manic laughter of before, but a sneer filled with contempt and all-knowing insight.

"hehe......"

"It seems you have acquired the power of death."

Ainz Ooal Gown gave Zhou Jian absolutely no chance to explain or cover up.

With just one sentence, he tore all his pretense to shreds.

Zhou Jian was somewhat surprised by this answer, but that was all.

The opponent is Ainz Ooal Gown; he's not so easily fooled.

But Zhou Jian's expression was one of utter shock.

Before Zhou Jian could answer, the Bone King waved his hand, as if he had seen through Zhou Jian's thoughts.

"Don't pretend to be shocked. It's okay if you don't admit it, I don't care."

His posture was so casual, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"I just want to tell you that I have always been sincere towards you."

"I truly do consider you a friend."

Zhou Jian fell silent.

sincere?

An S-rank undead Bone King, meticulously disguised as an ordinary person, lurks near the human safe zone.

They even wanted to destroy all of humanity's hope.

Now you're telling him he's sincere?

Ghost letter!

Zhou Jian ignored this feigned emotional appeal; he only wanted to know the other party's ultimate goal.

"so what?"

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Upon hearing this reply, so characteristic of Zhou Jian, Ainz Ooal Gown's smile deepened.

"Talking to you is so relaxing."

He nodded approvingly, and then the playfulness and gentleness vanished instantly.

A sense of supreme authority and solemnity returned to him.

"help me."

After uttering those two words, Ainz immediately shook his head, seemingly feeling it was inappropriate.

He put it another way.

"Or rather, get the people behind you to help me."

"No......"

He rejected it again, but this time, he finally found the most precise wording.

A look of fervor and confidence appeared on Zhang Heng's face.

"Let me help you!"

"You, and those people behind you, all you want is to change that damned future!"

"On this point, we share the same goal."

"So, I can help you!"

Zhou Jian was completely stunned.

He simply couldn't understand why the other person's thinking would jump to this direction.

One second they were all high and mighty, the next they wanted to discuss cooperation and even help us?

Ainz Ooal Gown took a step forward, opened his arms, as if to embrace the whole world.

"As long as you nod, the entire Endless Bone Domain behind me will become your ally."

"And I'll help you unconditionally, help you achieve anything you want, even if it costs me the entire Endless Bone Domain!"

His words were full of irresistible allure, like a devil tempting mortals to fall.

"Believe me."

Ainz Ooal Gown stared intently at Zhou Jian, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"I can only do it better than that guy."

Zhou Jian smiled.

It was a kind of mockery born from extreme repression.

"But you can't even get into the safe zone."

The Bone King's face remained unchanged, displaying the same gentle demeanor as Zhang Heng's.

He simply gazed calmly at Zhou Jian with an air of complete detachment.

"Just because you can't get in now doesn't mean you won't be able to get in in the future."

This answer, though understated, conveyed an undeniable confidence.

For him, entering the safe zone was merely a matter of time.

Ainz Ooal Gown took a step forward, and the distance between the two of them closed once again.

"I told you, if you help me, I will do a better job than him."

Zhou Jian did not retreat.

He forced himself to meet the other person's seemingly harmless, yet unfathomable gaze.

"What do you want me to do for you?"

As soon as the question left his mouth, Zhou Jian held his breath, and all the muscles in his body were in a state of readiness to explode at any moment.

He was intently watching for any subtle change in the other person.

However, Ainz Ooal Gown simply laughed.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it made Zhou Jian feel like a clown jumping around.

"Even at this point, you're still trying to trick me into revealing information."

The Bone King shook his head, and for the first time, a hint of disappointment appeared on Zhang Heng's face.

Do I really look that stupid?