Am I going to be controlled by the players too?

"Good sister, cheers!" Cicero downed his drink in one gulp, patting Cheng Cheng's shoulder with drunken eyes. "To be honest, seeing you reminds me of my unlucky little sister."

The firelight danced on his face, revealing a rare tenderness.

“If Hannah were still alive, she might already be married… What a pity, she was too kind, too weak. In this cannibalistic world, kindness is the most useless thing.” Cicero laughed self-deprecatingly. “Sister, remember, mercy and pity will only make you and those you care about die faster.”

Cheng Cheng gnawed on his pork chop and nodded vaguely.

Cicero seemed to have taken a liking to this, and he shouted to a nearby esoteric monk, "Go, bring me my 'Ren'!"

Before long, the believer came over respectfully carrying a long, rectangular wooden box.

Cicero took the wooden box, opened it, and an elegantly designed one-handed sword lay quietly on the red velvet.

The scabbard was made of some unknown white wood, with delicate carvings of wheat ears and doves of peace. A warm, milky-white gemstone was inlaid at the end of the hilt, and the whole sword exuded a sense of holiness and peace.

“I obtained two swords from the abyss,” Cicero said, stroking the scabbard with a dreamy look in his eyes. “One is called the ‘Sword of Benevolence,’ and the other is called the ‘Sword of Righteousness.’ With these two swords, I returned alive from the battlefield of the abyss. I am truly a hero!”

A sudden clap of thunder streaked across the night sky, and Cheng Cheng's fork fell to the ground with a "clatter."

"Please excuse my amusement. The power of that thunderclap was truly astounding. That thunder scared me to death." Cheng Cheng awkwardly picked up his fork.

“Alas, how similar… Hannah was also afraid of thunder when she was a child.” Cicero sighed. “It is a pity that later, in order to fight against the tyranny of the kingdom and the church, I abandoned ‘benevolence’ and kept only ‘righteousness’.”

He patted the menacing black sword at his waist: "Now everyone calls me 'the righteous Cicero,' but they don't know that this sword, Benevolence, is my strongest sword."

“Today, I present this ‘Sword of Benevolence’ to you as a gift.” Cicero pushed the sword box in front of Cheng Cheng. “My elder brother hopes that after I help you obtain the title of the Claire family, you can become a benevolent lord and protect the people of this land. This will also fulfill one of my wishes.”

Good job, village sword! The old man finally got some gold coins!

Cheng Cheng quickly accepted the gift and said solemnly, "Thank you so much, brother! This gift is too precious!"

He really wanted to give something in return, but after searching his entire body, he found nothing but these clothes.

With a quick thought, Cheng Cheng cleared his throat and said solemnly to Cicero, "Brother, I have nothing of value to offer but intelligence!"

Cicero: "Oh? Information from nobles? You're too kind, sister. Please speak."

"Galio's ultimate hit three people, dealing 726 damage, while he only lost 19 health points."

Cicero: "???"

"Huh, doesn't Big Brother like this type? Well, here's some information from Konoha Village: Jiraiya spent 12 days searching for four Akatsuki strongholds, fought nine battles, used 30 shuriken, and defeated four Kage-level enemies!"

Cicero: "..."

Cheng Cheng was shocked.

You don't like this? You can't possibly like 350254, can you?

Cicero: "Um, sister, what are you saying? I just don't understand."

Oh no, my pot, my pot!

I was so happy to receive the gift, and the game was so realistic that I almost really thought of you as a good brother. I subconsciously wanted to repay you.

I almost forgot I was playing a game.

Cheng Cheng scratched his head: "Since you don't like these things, I'll give you 30 million. I hope you're happy, blessed, and healthy."

Cicero: "..."

Chapter 7, This Strike: A Warning Against Arrogance and Impatience

A moment later, Cicero burst into deafening laughter: "Hahahaha! Good! What a wonderful thirty million! Sister, your blessing makes your brother happier than thirty million credits! Come, let's drink!"

The atmosphere warmed up again, glasses clinked, and in my mind, Sylvia's initial fierce opposition had turned into a listless, muttering murmur.

“Mr. Mambo, are we really going to associate with this bunch of scoundrels…”

"Lying is wrong, the gods will be angry..."

"This liquor is so strong... Ugh... My head is spinning..."

Cheng Cheng completely ignored her and gulped down his drink.

Thanks to Professor Li Wenya for inventing the brain-computer interface. This kind of game that allows you to enjoy the pleasure of alcohol without harming your body is wonderful.

Just as he was about to persuade Cicero to have another bowl, he caught a glimpse of the pilgrim on guard duty in the distance, and his body swayed and he fell silently to the ground.

Ok?

Before he could react, there was a rustling in the woods, and pairs of scarlet eyes lit up.

"Awooo—!"

Accompanied by a teeth-grinding roar, three dire wolves comparable in size to giant bears and two agile shadow leopards leaped out of the forest, baring their bloodstained fangs and surrounding the entire camp.

Two figures slowly emerged from in front of these magical beasts.

The leader, clad in a black cloak, stood tall and straight like a sword; it was Leo. Beside him was Finn, his face pale and his eyes filled with venom.

"Oh, eating your last meal, huh?" Finn, the man in the linen coat, spoke, his voice full of cat-and-mouse mockery. "You dared to kill my animal friend? Heh heh, get ready for hell! Cheese blood retribution!"

Cicero stepped forward, shielding Cheng Cheng behind him, his expression more grave than ever before: "Who goes there?"

"The Church of the City Builders, the Seventh Court of Justice." The head captain, Leo, spoke in a flat, emotionless voice, as if reading a death sentence, "By the 'Star Diamond Order,' we are here to carry out this sacred decree!"

"Great! It's someone from the church!"

Sylvia's thoughts cried out joyfully in Cheng Cheng's mind: "The Church's Executive Court is full of Silver-rank experts, we are saved!"

However, Leo's next words plunged her into an icy abyss.

“Sylvia de Claire, as a noblewoman, you have betrayed divine grace and colluded with the Primal Cultists. Your crimes are unforgivable!” Leo’s gaze fell on Cheng Cheng, sharp as a knife. “Immediately, you are arrested and taken back to the Sanctuary for purification and judgment!”

Huh? Am I going to die too?

Sylvia's cheers came to an abrupt halt.

Cheng Cheng's heart sank to the bottom.

This game is really full of pitfalls... Fighting the Secret Church summons demons, joining the Secret Church leads to being judged by the church, so it's like there's no way out from the very beginning?

Holding the Sword of Benevolence, Cheng Cheng frowned, pondering whether to commit suicide to start over or continue searching for an opportunity. Just then, he saw Cicero draw the Sword of Righteousness, his drunkenness vanished, replaced by a frenzied fighting spirit.

"Want to mess with my sister? You'll have to step over my dead body first!"

He shielded Cheng Cheng behind him, held the black sword "Yi" across his chest, and grinned maliciously at Leo: "Come on! Let me see how good these lackeys of the Church really are!"

"Out of control."

Leo snorted coldly, seemingly not even interested in glancing at him, and simply gave a curt instruction.

"Finn, you're in charge of the grunts."

"Alright, Captain!"

Before he finished speaking, Leo vanished from the spot.

Cicero's pupils contracted sharply. Relying entirely on his fighting instincts, without thinking, he swung his sword backhand and fiercely slashed at the empty space behind him!

clang--!

A deafening explosion rang out, and sparks flew everywhere!

Leo's figure appeared behind Cicero, his longsword being steadily parried.

Immediately afterwards, Cicero and Leo's figures collided and separated repeatedly in the arena, moving so fast that only two blurry shadows could be seen. Black sword energy and pure white light blades intertwined, and each collision stirred up a gust of wind, cutting deep trenches into the ground.

On the other side, Finn blew a sharp whistle, and the monsters transformed into lightning and pounced into the crowd.

A cultist was instantly tackled to the ground, his throat ripped open, and blood splattered everywhere!

Screams, the sound of weapons piercing flesh, and the roars of wild beasts mingled together, while the white-haired girl, like a noble lady truly terrified, huddled motionless at the edge of the battle.

The development of the war situation was faster than anyone could have imagined.

Leo's sword was fast and ruthless, each strike aimed straight for vital points. Although Cicero appeared like a madman, fearless of death, the wounds on his body were increasing rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, he had seven or eight more cuts, dripping with blood.

"clang!!"

With a loud bang, Cicero's black sword was sent flying far away, and he himself was struck as if by a heavy blow. A large chunk of his chest caved in, and he flew backward, spitting out blood, and crashed heavily at Cheng Cheng's feet.

"Cough...cough cough..." Cicero struggled to get up, but his body was covered in injuries, and it was extremely difficult for him to even move a finger.

"For someone who has just entered the Silver rank to be able to withstand so many of my sword strikes, you can die without regrets."

Leo, longsword in hand, slowly approached, the tip of the sword radiating a holy light, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

"Sister, little sister... quick... run..."

With his last ounce of strength, Cicero pushed Cheng Cheng's leg, his eyes filled with determination.

"No! Brother! I want to live and die with you!"

Cicero was deeply moved, feeling that all his efforts and adventures in his life had yielded the most satisfying results!

But he still pushed Cheng Cheng away, saying, "No, you can't..."

"Pfft!"

Just then, a sharp blade pierced Cicero's heart, penetrating from behind and protruding a large section from his chest.

Cicero's pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints as he looked down in disbelief at the ornate sword tip, carved with ears of wheat and doves of peace, protruding from his chest.

"The Sword of Benevolence".

"Sister? You! Why..."

This isn't what sworn siblings are supposed to be like... You should develop the sect with me, increase my affection for you, and eventually we'll both become high-ranking members and change the world... This isn't what sworn siblings are supposed to be like at all, and I don't accept it!

Cicero gripped the sword tip with one hand, but even though his palm was cut by the blade and blood flowed freely, it couldn't compare to the unbearable pain in his heart.

But then Cheng Cheng leaned close to his ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Brother, it wasn't me who killed you, it was this chaotic world that killed you—"

"This sword strike is to help you overcome arrogance and impetuosity!"

"what……"

After a long silence, Cicero looked up and sighed, then suddenly burst into wild laughter:

"Haha...hahahaha!"

"Sylvia, what a Sylvia! Hahaha, I underestimated you, I fell for your tricks. You won beautifully, and your scheme was extremely clever..."

“There are countless heroes in this world, like carp crossing a river… Sylvia… you really are a born demon…”