I'm not just human!

The storyteller, dressed as an old miner, paid no attention to Glenn's nodding gesture and continued his tale:

"At that time, as a coachman, I naturally also got the opportunity to go on vacation to that town."

"After all, no matter how powerful and wealthy the nobles are, they still need someone to drive them to the towns and villages."

"In that town called Caoban Town... I know the name is strange, and there are many strange names for towns... The nobles naturally began to hold social balls."

"In fact, for many nobles, the purpose of their vacation in the town is to attend the social dances that are held every night, expand their network, and build relationships."

"What impressed me most was a social ball hosted by a duke, which was extremely grand and had the most guests."

Upon hearing this, everyone became more focused than ever before, knowing that the key to the story was about to unfold.

The fatal question and the crucial answer... are hidden in the following narrative!

If you answer correctly, you can escape!

If you answer incorrectly, you will be subject to the most severe punishment—erasure!

Suddenly, the storyteller stirred the campfire, like a true old miner would, and then continued his tale amidst the rising embers:

"It was a summer night, or rather, a summer night with a cool breeze. As a groom, I wasn't qualified to attend the ball, so I could only watch from afar."

"His Excellency is incredibly wealthy, and to ensure the success of this social ball, he has prepared countless expensive delicacies and fine wines that have been treasured for many years."

"The guests enjoyed the meal immensely and danced ballroom dances in the square."

"At that moment, a group of country singers also arrived at the social dance."

"Everyone noticed the group of singers. As soon as they came in, they started singing around the crowd."

"The singing wasn't actually very good, but the singers still sang with abandon, even moving among the crowd and singing loudly."

"I'm a bit confused. I don't understand why these singers dare to do this. They're all nobles!"

"But suddenly, as the singers were singing, the nobles began to applaud."

"Even though the singers sang terribly, the nobles were still clapping, and the applause was getting louder and louder."

"But at that moment, the singers died one by one."

This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.

It was at this moment that the storyteller, who looked like an old miner, looked up at everyone again and posed the most crucial but also the most tricky question that could determine everyone's life or death.

"Why is that?"

Why is that?

When this question was raised, everyone was immediately at a loss.

what is this?

Not only Chestnut, Glenn, Ethan, Fensny... even Shafa noticed that the semi-transparent entities behind the story answerers also showed rather surprised and confused expressions.

Even gourmets and puppeteers were immediately lost in thought.

There's no way around it, this question is just too tricky and bizarre.

For a moment, everyone genuinely felt that even the wisest and most experienced person in the world might not be able to guess it.

Yes, why is that?

Chapter 58 The answer is hidden in the story

Fine beads of sweat began to appear on everyone's foreheads, but not from the heat.

Rather, it's because everyone was completely clueless about the question posed by the storyteller!

But as we all know, story answerers, being real entities, won't just wait patiently for us to rack our brains until we come up with a reasonably plausible answer.

Once the storyteller pulls out his pocket watch, winds it up, and starts the countdown...

So, if you don't give the correct answer before the countdown, you will also be considered to have answered incorrectly and will face the same extreme punishment of being erased!

In the air, the three demigods, through their respective secret treasures, also realized just how perilous the current situation was.

However, not only were they unable to offer help, but even they, with their rich experience, couldn't immediately come up with the right answer.

tick...

tick...

tick...

On a silent, scorching wasteland, suddenly, the countdown began.

That was the clear mechanical sound made when wound-up gears rub against each other.

But to Xia Fabanli and the others, it sounded like the deafening tolling of a bell before the end of the world.

Everyone looked up and saw that the storyteller had somehow pulled out an old-fashioned brass pocket watch from his pocket.

On that rusty and stained surface, the countdown timer left for them was... sixty seconds!

No, there are only 59 seconds left!

No, it's fifty-eight seconds!

Fifty-seven seconds... fifty-six seconds... fifty-five seconds...

The ticking countdown was so clear to everyone's ears at that moment, it was like a death knell.

No one cared about anything else anymore. Besides, the entity who asked the question had already said that they could discuss it, but the problem was that it was being addressed to all five of them at the same time.

"Could it be that those rural singers are already suffering from illnesses and can't handle the stimulation?" Ethan first offered his guess.

“It’s also possible that, Your Grace… or rather, that the nobles are all superhumans, and that a superhuman used their secret abilities to kill those singers who didn’t sing well?” Fensne said hesitantly.

“No, that’s not right. The answer can’t be that simple. This is a question posed by the storyteller!” Glenn rejected both guesses. Even in his haste, he didn’t forget to address the person in front of him with a respectful title.

"Could it be... that the singers were cursed, and that the curse just took effect and everything was just a coincidence?" Chestnut also offered a guess.

“That’s impossible too. You know, the answers to all the questions asked by the storyteller are hidden in the story itself, that’s always been the case! Since he didn’t say the singers were cursed, then there is no curse!” Glenn became noticeably more anxious.

"The answers are all hidden in the story... The Duke of Augu Kingdom a thousand years ago... could only be from the Oberon family, right?" Chestnut asked doubtfully.

"What hobbies does that Duke Oberon have? And what are the special features of this town of Caoban?" With the countdown about to end, Fensne couldn't wait any longer.

“It may not necessarily be related to Duke Oberon and the town of Grassland, but it could also be related to the social ball,” Ethan said solemnly.

Of all the people, only Xia Fa remained silent.

After the storyteller posed the question, he was caught up in a rapid brainstorming session.

All sorts of memories and fragments of memories, messages, and intelligence... all converged into a torrent, swirling and colliding in his mind, trying to spark inspiration.

It was at this moment that his teammates' words reached his ears.

A sudden thought struck Xia Fa, like a dazzling bolt of lightning striking across a dark and gloomy sea, illuminating some of his confusion.

"The Duke of Oberon from a thousand years ago... the unique features of the town of Grassland..."

Xia Fa vaguely felt that he had grasped something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Time's almost up, kids."

The storyteller smiled kindly and offered a reminder, but his old eyes were so cold, looking at them as if they were lowly insects, their lives and deaths at his mercy.

Everyone couldn't help but glance at the countdown on the pocket watch, and then their faces turned pale instantly.

Only five seconds left...

Xia Fa withdrew his gaze from his pocket watch, then suddenly spit out his tongue, forcing himself to wake up.

Four seconds left...

What fleeting clue had he managed to glean? He felt like his head was about to explode.

Three seconds!

What clues are we looking for? Why did these country singers die?

Two seconds!

In his anxiety, he involuntarily looked up and glanced at the countdown on the brass pocket watch.

It was at this moment that he caught a glimpse of those translucent figures, those hidden entities, in the sidelight.

In that fleeting glimpse, he saw the Holy Poison Bee Queen, the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Poisons, who was five meters tall and whose face and figure were perfect.

and many more!

Holy Poison Bee!

Tick-tock—!

That is exactly when the countdown ended.

Almost at the same instant the countdown ended, Xia Fa suddenly stepped forward, stepping out from the crowd, and immediately spoke.

"Those country singers are like bees! They're killed by the applause of the audience!"

His slightly loud voice echoed among the crowd and carried far across the empty wilderness.

Chestnut, Glenn, Ethan, Fensne, and the three demigods watching from the air through the secret treasure... everyone looked at Shafa in astonishment.

Since no one could provide an answer, they had no choice but to trust Xia Fa, who had stepped forward at the last moment.

Silence, dead silence.

Quiet, a chilling quiet.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe a second, maybe a few seconds, but finally... a smile appeared in the cold old eyes of the storyteller.

"Very good, child..."

"you……"

"You got it right."

The moment those words appeared, an unparalleled surprise suddenly burst forth in Chestnut's fresh and innocent eyes, and the other teammates were also overjoyed!

If this entity hadn't been there, they would have cheered, jumped up, hugged each other, and then worked together to lift Shafa up in celebration!

Because Xia Fa's answer to this extremely tricky and bizarre question not only meant that they wouldn't be erased or killed in that extreme form of torture, but it also meant...