Sir! Don't close the net!

After Li Yili knocked hard, the back door of the Instas Museum responded quickly, but to Li Yili and Alma's surprise, it was Ips himself who opened the back door.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Li Yili, the museum has many guests today, and many people want to learn about the history of Instas,” Ips wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You know, I’m the one who knows the most about history in Instas.”

“You don’t need to apologize, that’s a good thing,” Li Yili said, patting Ips’ shoulder and gently whispering in Ips’ ear, “By the way, who are you?”

"Mr. Li Yili, what are you saying?" Ips raised his hand to cover Li Yili's face, his expression strange.

Li Yili raised an eyebrow, took a few steps back, and circled Ips around three or four times with her chin up, before grinning, "You're quite the actor."

“Mr. Li Yili, although I don’t know what tricks you’re up to this time, I’ll be going back if there’s nothing else important. There are still many residents of Instas waiting for me to introduce the history of Instas,” Ips waved his hand.

Elma, who had begun to doubt Ips because of Li Yili's words, looked at Li Yili speechlessly and said, "Minister Li Yili, I think Elma and the others learned their imaginations from you."

Li Yili paused, turned to face Ips, and after a moment's thought, raised her right index finger. "Mr. Ips, although it may sound a bit presumptuous, but..."

"but?"

Can I slap you?

"Huh? You mean—"

Before Ips could finish speaking, Li Yili's right hand, with her index finger raised, lashed out like lightning, slapping Ips hard across the face. The powerful blow caused Ips's face to tremble in waves. Li Yili's innocent smile remained unchanged throughout, making Alma momentarily believe that the slap was just her imagination.

If Ips hadn't been slapped by Li Yili and slammed against the doorframe.

"This feel... it's like seeing a real face," Li Yili said, rubbing her fingers in surprise.

"Minister Li Yili, what have you done?!" Alma screamed in shock, "That was Ips himself!"

“Mr. Levi-Estée Richard, can you explain this?” Ips covered his face, veins bulging on his forehead.

"See—you've made her so angry!"

"Ha..." Li Yili looked at her right hand, then at Ips who was barely containing his anger. After thinking for a moment, she spread her hands to her sides. "Hey—so what if I hit you? Don't forget who's the ruler of Instass now—"

Alma looked at Li Yili with disbelief.

Chapter 125 They are fabricating gods

Alma looked tense, her gaze shifting back and forth between the arrogantly laughing Li Yili and the ashen-faced Ips.

She thought Li Yili was there to negotiate with Ips, but Li Yili immediately slapped Ips across the face.

Even if they felt that Ips had become disloyal and was acting slyly, and wanted to give Ips a hard time, this was no way to do it. Even if he didn't have any disloyal intentions, they would still try to make him appear disloyal.

At least... if it were her, she would definitely be full of rebellion right now.

Ips, his neck flushed, took several deep breaths before speaking stiffly, "Mr. Li Yili, I don't think I've offended you. I've agreed to your request."

“You haven’t offended me, but I haven’t made any demands on you,” Li Yili raised her hand and waved to Alma. “Let’s go, Secretary Alma, going through the back door is quite enjoyable.”

Alma's lips twitched, and she bowed awkwardly to Ips, quickly following Li Yili.

Ips stood there taking deep breaths for a while before turning around with a cold face and closing the back door.

In the back corridor of the museum, Li Yili walked in front, followed by Alma. Li Yili showed no sign of...

She gave the person who helped them get the back door a slap in the face, and with her arms crossed, she whistled like a little kid. Alma lowered her head and muttered resentfully.

She had absolutely no idea what Li Yili was up to, but the slap had already been delivered... how could she possibly take it back?

Soon, Li Yili and Alma walked through the corridor and arrived at the main hall of the museum. If there were too many people, it would be inevitable to bump into each other. It wouldn't matter if people were bumped, but it would be embarrassing if the collections were knocked over. So, in stark contrast to the bustling long queues outside, the museum was still deserted. The few people marveling at the collections could not inject any vitality into the quiet museum.

After casually wandering around a few rooms, Li Yili headed straight for the main hall. It was no different from when she had come before, except that some of the collections had been moved and some seemed to be missing. If the previous layout was filled with the ugly face of a nouveau riche eager to show off their wealth to others, then now it was a thoroughly luxurious family, exuding nobility in every gesture.

“It’s like a real museum,” Li Yili exclaimed. “Did they finally realize that their true colors were too obvious, so they hired an expert to fix them? Well, it makes sense, since they have to be seen by people now.”

Standing behind Li Yili, Alma couldn't help but rub her forehead. She could clearly feel the resentful gaze coming from Ips behind her.

You're talking badly about someone... keep your voice down.

However, thinking of Li Yili's blunt slap, Alma felt that such behavior of making sarcastic remarks to someone's face... became normal.

Li Yili looked around and was about to observe the room further when she felt a gaze upon her. She subconsciously looked over and saw that behind the half-fish, half-frog statue, whiskers like octopus tentacles were swaying. Behind the deity was another deity.

Even though Li Yili designed the statue herself, she still felt a chill run down her spine, and couldn't help but sigh once again that a professional "master" must have worked on this room.

Seeing that Li Yili was staring at the half-fish, half-frog statue, Alma followed Li Yili's gaze with curiosity and naturally noticed the statue behind it. After feeling a chill run down her spine, she felt helpless. Other residents of Instas might not know, but Ips definitely knew who made these statues. Placing their statues in this hall was already a very straightforward signal.

I'm on your side.

But after Li Yili's slap... these statues might be thrown away as trash tonight.

"Minister Li Yili, I think you should..."

Just as Alma was about to persuade Li Yili and Ips to apologize and have a proper discussion, Li Yili ignored the glaring "Do Not Touch" sign and grabbed the statue from the display stand.

Unlike the other sculptures of half-fish and half-frog that appear in groups, this statue is a stone pillar. A giant creature climbs up the pillar, its ugly and fat arms gripping the surface of the pillar. Its dorsal fin is like barbs, and its head, which looks like a deep-sea fish, is open like a wild beast, as if it is roaring.

The whispers of the Instas residents brought Alma back to her senses, who was immersed in the ugly yet shocking appearance of the statue. She looked around nervously. There were quite a few Instas residents in the hall, and they were currently keeping a distance and pointing and talking to Li Yili, who was standing next to the "Do Not Touch" sign holding the statue.

Alma steeled herself and stood behind Li Yili, whispering a reminder, "Minister Li Yili, what are you doing?"

Li Yili raised her eyes, turned her head away from the statue and looked at Ips not far away with a humble smile, "Director Ips, is this statue something you found recently? I didn't see it last time."

For a moment, all the Instas residents still inside the hall looked at Ips.

After taking a deep breath, Ips adjusted his glasses and leisurely walked to the workbench he usually used for cleaning artifacts. He crossed his fingers in front of his face, and his storytelling-like demeanor caused the Instas residents to gather around him as if they had heard a call from their very genes, maintaining a respectful distance.

“Mr. Li Yili, you are right. This is a newly discovered relic from the Holy Land,” Ips said with a slight upturn of his lips. “On the very night the wishing bottle was thrown back, someone found this statue in the Sea of ​​the Dead. According to our identification, this statue is a deity called Dagon, a follower of the deity who lives in the Holy Land of the Sea of ​​the Dead.”

Li Yili raised her eyes, Alma looked serious, and the residents of Instas exclaimed in surprise.

"And it was Dagon who threw our wishing bottle back."

"Speaking of which... I saw it last night, a pair of huge eyes appeared in the sea of ​​dead people."

"Oh, right! Last night when I got up to get a drink of water, there was a huge thing moving in the Sea of ​​Dead Men!"

The whispers and exclamations of sudden realization caused wave after wave of surprise. It was like a courtroom, and everyone seemed to be a witness, filling in the image of the god named Dagon with their own words.

Li Yili's eyes twitched; he now somewhat understood what Ips and Austin were trying to do.

They wanted to create a fictional god, and the most suitable actor was already in place. The atmosphere was heating up, and the play was about to begin.

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**-【Motivational Novel Transfer Station 1: 937929266】

**-【Motivational Novel Transfer Station 1: 937929266】

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Chapter 126 They Lack a Sense of Security

To describe the scene in one sentence, it was like a large-scale cult pyramid scheme. Ips was spouting nonsense, and the surrounding Instas were stretching their necks out to catch the rings that Ips threw down.

Perhaps there are actors among these Instas residents, or perhaps they are all actors, but that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that these Instas residents enjoy this.

Li Yili stood with her arms crossed, leaning against one side, watching the absurd scene before her. Why are cults so difficult to eradicate? Why do so many people believe in the cult's rhetoric?

Because there are countless people in this world who lack a sense of security.

Life is built on a sense of security. Without a sense of security, everything in life is as illusory as a bubble. What they need is not even something tangible, but a word, a guarantee.

Instead of asking why some people would believe in cults, we should examine why the vast majority of people in the world believe in the promises of capitalists. There's no difference between the two.

However, capitalists have already completely established themselves in society, and people have no choice but to accept the promises they make.

Li Yili's lack of intention to stop what was happening was less about not wanting to stop it and more about not knowing how to stop it. He couldn't very well raise his arms and say to these insecure people, "Oh my god, how can you believe such a thing? Hurry up and come to work 996!"

Li Yili let out a long yawn.

Ips's "popular science" presentation was nearing its end. Judging from his practiced manner, he seemed more like a missionary scholar than an archaeological expert. At least, the reactions of the Instas residents, who were listening, were very much like those of believers who were willing to dedicate everything to the Lord.

Ips took off his glasses and wiped them. Visitors to the Instas Museum had already left in an orderly fashion, and a new batch would soon flood in. Taking advantage of this brief break, Ips looked at Li Yili and asked, "Mr. Li Yili, is there anything else? Or do you have any comments?"

Li Yili's gaze shifted slightly upwards, and after a moment's thought, it returned to Ips's face. She tilted her head and said, "How about we team up to take care of Austin?"

“That’s impossible,” Ips said, crossing his fingers.

“Why? Because the Dagon you fabricated needs guys hired by Austin,” Li Yili ignored Alma’s gaze and walked sideways along the platform, her fingers lightly tracing the surface. “You can also become traders.”

Li Yili paused, and before Ips could give an answer, she raised her hand and waved.

"Sorry, I asked an unnecessary question. Forget about it. I want to ask a different question: If Austin offered to team up with you to get rid of me, what would your answer be?"

Ips remained silent, his face tense.

Because less than twenty minutes ago, Li Yili had slapped his smiling face.

After hesitating for a moment, Alma nudged Li Yili's arm. "Don't you think you asked this at the wrong time?"

"Is there?"

“Yes—” Alma subconsciously raised her voice, but immediately lowered it after realizing they were in a museum. “You slapped someone twenty minutes ago, okay!”

“That makes sense… What if he has a bad memory and forgets what he said? Should I go over and make him say it again?” Li Yili pointed to Alma and asked for advice.

"Please... don't do this," Alma said, noticing Ips's face darkening visibly. She immediately raised her hand and pressed it against Li Yili's raised finger.

“Secretary Alma, you have to be bolder and not underestimate people’s magnanimity,” Li Yili said, pulling her fingers out of Alma’s palm and shrugging. “But well, I’m very satisfied today. If this gentleman is willing to answer one of my questions, I will immediately turn around and leave, completely satisfied.”

Ips' eye twitched. "If it's a question I can answer."

Alma swallowed hard, afraid that Li Yili would say something like, "Are you happy to have eaten my slap?"

Will Dagon allow the operation to proceed to the Sea of ​​the Dead three days from now?

Ips narrowed his eyes and then grinned, revealing a bright smile. "I think Dagon would not mind if faithful believers went to the Holy Land to worship the gods."

"is it?"

Li Yili smiled, put her hands behind her back, turned and left. Seeing that Li Yili had finally stopped, Alma was very moved. She immediately bowed to Ips to express her apology, and then quickly followed Li Yili.

Silence returned to the hall once more. Ips's dark face gradually turned stern, until the footsteps of the new visitors approached, at which point Ips's expression slowly returned to normal.

At the back door of the Instas Museum, Alma grabbed Li Yili's arm as she walked towards the carriage. "Minister Li Yili, can you explain your behavior just now?"

Li Yili rolled her eyes and then bent her fingers toward Alma's skirt.

Alma's lips twitched. She had almost forgotten about this little game she and Li Yili had played. In the past, she would have been aloof and reserved.