Ark Chess Player.

Faust murmured to himself, questioning Mephistopheles and himself.

"How many people have died in front of me?"

A taut string in Faust's mind was about to snap.

"How many people died because of what I did, and how many died because I did nothing?"

Faust thought about this constantly; he was exhausted. He knew very well that he was the aggressor. Just like those who bullied him when he was a child, he had ultimately become the very person he hated most.

Both Faust and Mephistopheles were Chernobogers.

They set their hometown ablaze with their own hands, burned their childhood memories to ashes, and executed those who had bullied them.

Mephistopheles watched him silently, tentacles creeping out from his battered skull, subtly seeping in.

Faust gazed at the sky, at Lungmen, and whispered, "Before I came to pick you up, I told the surviving Phantom Crossbowmen about the hidden passage in the slums. It's a crucial passage that allowed our people to ambush Lungmen in advance. I don't know how many people died because of you... because of us. I detected the Yeti Squad's movements, and I sent the Phantom Crossbowmen to tell Frostnova how to escape with the survivors. I trust Frostnova; she's here, and she will definitely protect them. My Originium Arts can actually make people invisible while moving, isn't that amazing?"

As Faust spoke, he smiled, a smile that was pure and innocent.

If he hadn't used Originium Arts on the Phantom Crossbowmen, he might not have suffered the rupture of his infected organs due to overuse of magic.

Is this considered atonement?

Faust muttered to himself that he no longer expected Mephistopheles to respond; he simply wanted to get the words out.

“If I hadn’t told you back then that no matter who bullied you, no matter who abused you, no matter what it was… you should destroy them. No matter what it was, it should be destroyed. Then you wouldn’t have killed your ‘family’ back then, and you might have had a better life. I’ve always doubted whether my advice was wrong, and it turns out I was wrong.”

Faust wept.

"I know, you are dead."

"I understood when you became that monster."

“We made a promise that if one day you stopped being yourself, I would kill you with my own hands to free you.”

Upon hearing this, Mephistopheles' eyes instantly turned ferocious, and his head split open from the middle, spewing out countless tentacles.

He is Mephistopheles, and He is also Amida.

"If you make a mistake, you should correct it."

Faust nocked an arrow and cocked the crossbow.

He aimed, for the last time.

"Farewell, Ino."

Faust opened his snake eyes.

The deep purple arrow carried Faust's entire heart, tearing the air into a long, blurry shadow. The crossbow in his hand broke due to Originium Arts overload, completing its final mission.

Mephisto's tentacles were destroyed by the light arrows, his host body exploded, and he was completely destroyed by the ballistae.

The Holy Grail, resembling a skull, emerged from the mass of flesh and blood, only to be shattered by the residual force of Faust's high-explosive crossbow bolt.

Amida's will was completely extinguished; the mighty Great Old One died at the hands of a little boy—perhaps this was His destiny.

Faust put down the broken black crossbow, looked at the shattered Holy Grail, and slowly smiled.

"All this time... cough, cough cough... it's always been you singing for me."

Faust coughed up his broken organs and tilted his head back, trying to make his speech clearer.

"Now that you can't speak, let me sing for you..."

Just like before.

Ino sang in the abandoned house, and Sasha listened intently.

Sasha didn't dare to sing a duet with Ino at the time because he didn't sing well and he was afraid Ino would dislike him.

Ino was unusually angry at the time. He could accept any reason, but he would never dislike Sasha because of it.

Ino patiently taught Sasha how to sing. The first song Sasha learned was a nursery rhyme from Ursus, a lullaby.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep."

"My dearest baby."

Faust spoke slowly, his gaze gentle, lost in thought.

"Close your little eyes."

"Forget your tears..."

Chapter 418 Undercurrents

"Is this your choice?"

Lin Lu stepped on the shards of the barren and righteous Holy Grail and picked up the broken black crossbow.

The boy with scales leaned against the ruins of the crumbling walls, his eyes devoid of light, his pupils dilated.

A relieved smile played on his lips, like a traveler who had carried a heavy burden all the way and had finally reached the end.

"Faust... get some sleep."

Lin Lu reached out and gently closed Faust's eyes.

Lin Lu had always admired this boy and regarded him as a loyal subject. Unfortunately, the monarch he served was unwise, an incompetent and foolish ruler who worshipped demons and monsters, bringing disaster to the country and its people, bringing it to the brink of collapse.

"If you're here to attend a funeral, there's no need to hide."

Lin Lu withdrew his right hand, tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, and coldly rebuked him.

A mysterious figure dressed in a red robe and wearing a black iron mask emerged from the bunker.

"Is he your friend?" the mysterious man asked.

"Maybe," Lin Lu shook his head. "Maybe not."

"...Making friends with Infected members of the Reunion Movement is a dangerous thing," the mysterious man in red said calmly, his tone completely flat, but it was clear that he had been observing from the beginning.

Lin Lu said calmly, "I don't care whether my friends are infected or not, and I don't care where my friends come from."

"Is that so..." The mysterious man nodded. "Please accept my condolences."

"This is the first time I've ever heard condolences, and I never want to hear it again in my life."

Lin Lu glanced at the other person, then turned to look at Faust, whose temperature was gradually disappearing, and smiled self-deprecatingly.

"So, what business does the dignified Dali Temple Censorate have with me? Why ask me so many questions?"

"...because I'm afraid you'll become friends with someone infected."

"Heh, that's not what you're afraid of, is it?"

Lin Lu slung Faust's broken crossbow over his shoulder and walked toward Lungmen without looking back.

"You're just afraid of being my enemy."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Three hours after Lungmen recaptured the Royal Guard Building.

In the new administrative hall of Longmen, in the brand-new reception room, Wei Yanwu sat in the main seat, overlooking Longmen, while the crowd stood in the meeting room.

Someone stepped forward and announced loudly, "Report! Operation Lungmen Suppression! Step One: Control the Reunion Movement's operational area in Lungmen, led by the Lungmen Guard Bureau! Step Two: Eliminate the remaining Reunion Movement teams in Lungmen, led by the Lungmen Guard Bureau! Step Three: Ensure the elimination of the Reunion Movement's operation commander or completely stripping him of his influence, led by…" The reporter glanced cautiously at Wei Yanwu, and only after receiving a nod from Wei Yanwu did he breathe a sigh of relief, continuing, "The Lungmen Guard Bureau will cooperate with Rhodes Island to complete this!"

"The Lungmen siege operation has entered its final stage! Before the Reunion Movement retreats into the slums, the remaining soldiers must be completely eliminated! This operation is a joint effort between the Lungmen Guard Bureau and Rhodes Island..."

"Ha, the mighty Great Yan Dragon Sect can't even do without a small pharmaceutical company?"

A cold snort interrupted the reporter's report, drawing everyone's attention.

That was the Winter Official of the Imperial Observatory, wearing a white robe and a white jade mask.

"The Winter Official is in charge; one must not be disrespectful."

The Censor, wearing a red robe and a black iron mask, suppressed his displeasure.

He really disliked the people in the Imperial Observatory.

They disregard the law and bully others by relying on their power.

With the frequent natural disasters in recent years, the power of the Imperial Observatory, which is responsible for observing celestial phenomena and calculating the calendar, has risen, and people's hearts have become restless.

Even within the Great Yan Dynasty, individuals with high aptitude for Originium Arts are rare, and those capable of wielding Daoist magic are even fewer. Consequently, the status of sorcerers trained by the Imperial Observatory—far superior to messengers of natural disasters—has risen. This has led to Great Yan officials, when traveling to other countries, typically inviting sorcerers from the Imperial Observatory to join their entourages for safety and to better execute their missions.

To put it bluntly...

The people at the Imperial Observatory were really arrogant, but they had their reasons for it, since they were powerful and capable fighters.

The legendary supervisor is said to be able to single-handedly ward off natural disasters, making him someone you can't afford to offend, but you also can't avoid.

Once the Imperial Observatory is offended, will they still be able to leave the Great Yan? Of course they can, but how far can they go? There are already few natural disaster messengers, and excellent natural disaster messengers are even rarer. Where in the Great Yan can there be more suitable candidates for officials besides the Imperial Observatory? Yes, so many people dare to go out without natural disaster messengers, but if their lives are guaranteed, who would be willing to put their life at risk from natural disasters?

"What, am I wrong?"

The face of the Winter Official was hidden beneath an extravagant white jade mask, making it impossible to discern his expression, but his tone was incredibly arrogant.

"Rather than continue to make a fool of myself, it's better for me to lead Black Cloak to wipe out the remnants of the Reunion Movement than to entrust my life to others. I'll be frank: if Rhodes Island weren't here, would Lungmen have been destroyed today?"

"Enough!" the Inspector General of the Censorate shouted. "Winter Official, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have some ability!"

"The Censorate's mission this time is to determine whether Governor-General Wei of Longmen has neglected his duties, so what's wrong with me lending a hand!"

Just as the two were about to start arguing, Wei Yanwu, who was sitting in the main seat, raised his hand and tapped the armrest.

Dong Guanzheng and Duan Cheng suddenly felt an extremely terrifying sense of pressure descending from the sky. They instantly stopped arguing and looked at Wei Yanwu with trepidation.

"Since the Imperial Observatory is so confident, then go ahead and do it. I will have Hei Suo follow your orders."

Duan Cheng's expression changed, while Dong Guanzheng said with delight, "Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Wei! I will do my best to live up to your expectations."

"Go ahead." Wei Yanwu raised his hand, signaling for him to get lost.

"I'll take my leave now!"

The high-ranking official from the Imperial Observatory, dressed in white robes and adorned with jade, cupped his hands in greeting and looked at the shadow guards behind Wei Yanwu with burning eyes.

Although the Black Cloaked Men were very unhappy, they had no choice since their leader had spoken. Twelve Shadow Guards were dispatched to follow the Winter Official's orders and set out to wipe out the remnants of the Unity Movement.

The Inspector General of the Censorate said no more. He looked at Wei Yanwu, who was sitting in a high position, and wondered what the man was thinking.

After a long pause, Wei Yanwu slowly spoke, “No need to worry. Just continue your investigation as the Dali Temple does. If you want to stand up for me, there’s no need. I’m no longer the powerful and arrogant Old Master Wei who once held military power. I’m just a businessman. For a businessman, harmony brings wealth. I’m just a naive young man who doesn’t know the ways of the world. So be it if I’ve offended you.”

"Wei Gong..."

The Inspector General was still somewhat unwilling, but when he saw Wei Gong's incredibly bright smile, he suddenly felt his soul tremble and his whole body shook. He understood; the more sunny and bright a person's smile, the more sinister and cunning their thoughts.

Wei Yanwu thought for a moment and then smiled, "Besides, someone will take care of him for me."

The Inspector General understood what Duke Wei meant.

"Rhode Island?"

Chapter 419 The Unfathomable Wei Yanwu

"...What are you doing here?"

Lin Lu stopped and looked at Kal'tsit, who had appeared in front of him.

"Just happened to be passing by."

Kal'tsit said something insincerely, looking at Lin Lu's heavy expression and the black crossbow on his body, her active brain connecting the dots.

"Your emotional state is somewhat volatile. You've had a deeper conversation with the leader of this Reunion squad. From what I've observed, the sniper with the scales on his face didn't harm any Lungmen civilians. The Yeti squad you chatted happily with in Chernobog and the ruined city didn't participate in this battle either; instead, they were evacuating fleeing Reunion soldiers."

Lin Lu adjusted the crossbow strap on his shoulder. The broken black crossbow still retained the afterglow of the spell cast after using Originium Arts. It was as if one could feel that when Faust finally unleashed his spell, that seemingly weak boy also possessed an iron will.

Lin Lu laughed. He said, "I've seen the most despicable Lungmen people, and I've also seen the noblest Infected. Mephisto, the commander of this Reunion operation, is dead, and even his adjutant Faust is dead. Lungmen... what else does Lungmen plan to do?"

“What Lungmen does is not of much concern to us. Our cooperation has been completed, and now it’s Lungmen’s business. Lungmen’s vision has been following the Reunion Movement, but Rhodes Island’s vision is far broader than that of a mobile city-state.” Kal’tsit looked into Lin Lu’s eyes. “The battle for Lungmen is not over yet. Whether you want to see it to the end is up to you and Amiya.”

"how about you?"

"I have things I need to do."

Kal'tsit slowly raised her head. Even she hadn't expected that Lin Lu could deal with Amida so easily.

Even Lin Lu from three years ago couldn't have done that, right?

Or perhaps... he was unable to unleash his full power at that time, bound by countless constraints and restrained by the war in Kazdel.