Death Game: Starting as a Trickster, Pretending to Be a God

Chapter 801: Inside Lilee

On the road outside Lilee.

Phoenix and Lin Yu rode side by side on tall, double-horned black horses, moving at a leisurely pace.

Watching the four members of the Tribunal of Heresy ahead, squeezed awkwardly onto two horses—with three horses total for five people—Phoenix couldn't quite shake the feeling of unreality.

Were these really the same difficult bastards from the Tribunal of Heresy?

And she knew…

This was entirely thanks to the "Schreiber" riding beside her!

The object he had just pulled out… was a Gold Cross Medal issued by the Supreme Heresy Tribunal headquarters.

This didn't represent his identity or rank within the Tribunal; it only represented "merit."

The highest grade and level of "merit."

Those who earned the Gold Cross Medal had either single-handedly wiped out an entire cult, charged into the Abyss seven times and emerged victorious, leaving dark creatures terrified and trembling, or killed high-ranking demons and bloodline folk nobles on a string…

In short, anyone who got this medal was a true badass, and those who survived to keep it were the baddest of the badasses.

To date, fewer than twenty Gold Cross Medals had ever been awarded.

Currently, the known living holders were essentially "Honorary Chief Inquisitors" registered at the Supreme Heresy Tribunal headquarters.

Calling one "Commander" was definitely acceptable.

Whether the person flashing this medal had earned it themselves or inherited it from their family, it was still someone that these local Tribunal members couldn't afford to offend.

If they put anti-magic shackles on this guy, the Pope of the Holy Flame Church might just fly over the next second and slap them across the face.

Besides, thanks to the blessings jointly bestowed by the three orthodox faiths, no Gold Cross Medal could be picked up, stolen, or forged.

It was bound to the holder's soul and carried an aura of sanctity that couldn't be faked.

Therefore…

Phoenix became even more curious.

Although these Tribunal members didn't dare to ask, she certainly did.

"How did you get a Gold Cross Medal? You're only 'Second Tier'… how is that possible?"

"Traded with another player," Lin Yu replied in a low voice. "Basically a half-giveaway deal…"

Phoenix was clearly still skeptical: "Who sold it to you? A player who could actually get a Gold Cross Medal—and chose to sell it?"

As for where this thing came from, it was naturally included in the small box Shen Bingmiao had given him—and the "Gold Cross Medal" wasn't even a standalone item.

Shen Bingmiao's [Item] was called the [Night Valley Survival Set: Luxury Edition].

As for where Shen the club president had scavenged it from… Lin Yu hadn't asked in detail.

But he had long prepared a cover story for where this thing came from.

'Schreiber' was an identity he intended to use to join the 'Psychological Society,' so while he would try to appear as "low-key" as possible…

"Low-key" was just the baseline personality Lin Yu had set for the 'Schreiber' identity.

But if someone dug deeper, they would find that this identity was anything but "simple."

Because, in truth, he was supposed to be a successor of 'Freud.'

So… although Old Zheng didn't actually hold a "Gold Cross Medal," Lin Yu naturally cultivated an atmosphere that suggested it had been passed down from him.

Facing Phoenix's further questioning, Lin Yu chose to give an evasive answer.

"I don't really know the details either… but you could say he's kind of a half-mentor to me."

"He doesn't want me to disclose anything about him, so please forgive me."

Hearing this, Phoenix nodded knowingly.

"Got it… so you don't have an organization, but you're not entirely without backing either."

She said this half-jokingly, then continued.

"But regardless… if you have a 'Gold Cross Medal,' it'll make our work a lot easier going forward."

As she spoke, Phoenix still treated him as someone who needed her care, but having sensed that he might have some background, her tone became a bit more serious.

The two followed the Tribunal members as they rode into the city. The black, double-horned horses exuded an aura of deadly intent, causing ordinary citizens—and even many guards in leather armor holding flintlocks—to hastily step aside.

Although located deep within the empire's heartland, with almost no threat from dark creatures, Lilee didn't exactly present a scene of peace and prosperity.

The city wasn't so much prosperous as it was cramped—like an anthill, with low, squat buildings crammed together on both sides of the streets, housing a jumble of butcher shops, vegetable markets, and bakeries.

The residents, though not as emaciated and skin-and-bones as those cultists they'd seen before—looking like they were on the verge of starving to death—were nevertheless filthy in appearance. Their clothes, like their skin, were all dull and grimy.

"This is the largest city in the south?"

Lin Yu frowned and asked.

Reading his thoughts, Phoenix asked in return, "First time visiting a city in Night Valley?"

"Yeah. The last time I came, I didn't see any humans in the cities."

Lin Yu didn't hide it and answered directly.

"No wonder," Phoenix said, realization dawning. "A lot of players can't accept it on their first visit… especially members of 'Order' and the 'Player Mutual Aid Association.'"

"The 'standard of living' in Night Valley is relatively low," Phoenix explained. "Because… the entire Night Valley is essentially still in a 'state of war.'"

"Although humans have already taken control of most regions—even the two empires, Maro and Enz, have started infighting out of boredom—in essence… the human world is still in an all-out war with the Abyss."

"The Dark Age may have ended, but it's only been a hundred years since it ended."

"This world's technological power and a significant portion of its production capacity are all focused on dealing with those dark races."

"For ordinary people, staying alive is the key concern… living conditions and the like are secondary."

"Systems for clean water, textile technology—those exist, but… there's no time to use them to improve people's livelihoods."

Lin Yu understood.

Both the residential buildings and the residents themselves exuded a feeling of dilapidation and squalor.

"I see…"

"Still, the privileged class lives a bit better—that's undeniable, especially the churches that wield supernatural power."

Phoenix added.

As they talked, they had already passed through the outskirts of Lilee and entered the more central part of the city.

And here, Lin Yu saw a magnificent cathedral.

The towering church appeared to be cast from a single piece, with twin spires like two swords piercing into the clouds. The high rooftops were adorned with thorn-like metal spikes.

At the very center of those spikes sat a torch stand, burning with blazing crimson flames.

"That's the Holy Flame Church's Lilee Cathedral. The Tribunal of Heresy is behind it."

Phoenix introduced, then added, "Don't let the extravagant look of the church fool you—it looks expensive, but in reality… it's different from our world."

"Building a church at great expense in this world is an actual necessity."

"Because churches serve the function of intimidating dark races and even preventing Abyssal erosion."