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

Chapter 965: The Marauders' Most Proficient Method

"Calling someone 'Fatty' to their face on your very first meeting, Yayu, you absolute menace..."

Inside the distinguished guest room, after having "driven away" Ancient Fang Sovereign, April couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But after the laughter subsided, April couldn't resist second-guessing her teammate once more.

Even though her trust in Yayu had been steadily growing, whenever he pulled something her rational mind couldn't explain, April still instinctively defaulted to doubt.

"That said, weren't you supposed to leverage influence and build good relations with the Sea Demons? So why go and directly insult a big-shot Sea Demon who came knocking to make connections?"

"From his self-introduction... he should be a fairly powerful dignitary in the Sea Demon Kingdom, right?"

April asked. Lin Yu nodded. "Yes, he's very high-ranking and influential. But... he's not someone we can afford to befriend."

"Why is that?"

April's confusion deepened.

Lin Yu looked at April and spoke: "Because he didn't come here to befriend us at all... That bastard came to probe us. And he carries nothing but abundant, murderous ill intent."

As he spoke, April blinked. "How on earth did you figure that out?"

Because of the Mind-Peeping Eyepiece, obviously, plus years of mastering human observation through performance, which had honed his ultra-keen micro-expression analysis. The guy's acting was lousy. He hadn't even bothered to particularly hide his thoughts...

Lin Yu complained internally.

However, these words weren't something "Yayu" would say.

So he calmly provided the answer that belonged to "Yayu."

"I'm extremely sensitive to malice and killing intent. Out in the wild, you'll run into plenty of cunning predators... A bear, for example. It'll pretend it hasn't seen you, creep up quietly, walk with its head down, and might even act 'friendly'... But if you seriously try to catch its scent, you can smell the killing intent."

"That guy earlier? He slipped up too."

As Lin Yu spoke, April blinked. "Is that all? Feels pretty unreliable. Just your intuition, no evidence. What if he really did just come to make connections..."

Though her words still carried doubt, April's tone had clearly already bought in more than halfway.

"My instincts don't lie. Of course, even if they did, it wouldn't matter. He's just a Regent. Not enough to disrupt our plans," Lin Yu said confidently. "I'm willing to take full responsibility for my judgments and decisions. Even if that leads to a bad outcome, I'll see it through to the end."

April looked at Lin Yu, not expecting such a resolute answer. She pondered for a long while, as if recalling something, before finally murmuring: "How rare. Your type of person."

"What type?"

Lin Yu shot back.

April shook her head. "Nothing... But I am curious, though. Assuming that guy really does harbor ill intent toward us, what's the reason?"

"Sea Demons don't need a reason to hate humans. Don't forget, we're still human at the end of the day. Even among our own kind, malice sometimes arises for no reason. How much more so for a different species?"

Lin Yu said offhandedly, then added more.

"Even though we've been treated with respect by Sea Demons everywhere we go, thanks to our status from the Central Sea, most of those weren't Sea Demon dignitaries... The higher-ranking the Sea Demon, the more confidence they have, and the more likely they are to maintain their disgust toward us. Isn't that right?" Lin Yu shrugged. "There are far more extremists among the Sea Demon upper echelons than there are merfolk. Didn't we run into a Sea Demon massacre of humans right at the start? That ship, the 'Lucky Golden Dragon'... Honestly, maybe Ancient Fang Sovereign was the mastermind behind it all, and he wants us silenced after we escaped. Who knows."

Lin Yu mused casually.

April nodded. "That's actually quite possible..."

"But still, it's not certain... That's why I chose to provoke that Fatty." Lin Yu looked at April. "A hidden actor harboring malice will surely be plotting schemes. So I needed to shatter his patience and force him to change his plans. Make them more aggressive, more rash. That way, I can handle it with ease."

Hearing this analysis, April still felt something was a bit odd, but she was now completely won over by Lin Yu: "I see... You do make a valid point."

"I just hope it doesn't affect our upcoming meeting with the Sea Eye Sovereign. If he happens to be close to Ancient Fang Sovereign somehow, that'd be trouble."

"Between people at the top, interests trump all. Even if they're truly friends, it doesn't matter as long as we can offer the Sea Eye Sovereign enough benefit," Lin Yu said. "Besides... If that guy really is well-acquainted with the Sea Eye Sovereign, then by the habits of 'noble elites,' he would have told me outright. He'd have hinted or made clear from the very start that he shared some connection with the Sea Eye Sovereign I'm about to meet."

"But when he brought up the Sea Eye Sovereign earlier, he glossed right past the topic. So my guess is, his relationship with the Sea Eye Sovereign is nothing special... Of course, like I said, if I misjudged, I'll find a way to fix it."

April watched Yayu sitting on the sofa, laying all this out in such an orderly fashion. She exhaled. "Alright. So not only are you good at direct combat, you're sharp on strategy and thinking too... I'll just do as you say and support you, then."

Watching April's slightly joking tone and feigned humility, Lin Yu showed no courtesy whatsoever.

"About time."

April had already conceded, but hearing that, she puckered her lips again. "So blunt! You really are the type to climb all the way up the pole the moment someone gives you an inch!"

"Of course. I told you already, I'm the type to climb by any means necessary!"

Lin Yu puffed out his chest and proudly declared.

April was exasperated. "That's clearly not what I meant!"

As the two conversed, there was another knock at the door.

The announcement rang out once more.

"Honored guests, the distinguished visitor you reserved, Sea Eye Sovereign, has arrived within the auction house. He invites you both to meet him in his private exclusive collection room. What is your reply?"

April had completely given up on negotiation and decision-making. She looked at Lin Yu.

"Yayu, do we head over now? Or leave him waiting a bit?"

"Of course we head over now. Little tricks like leaving him waiting won't gain us anything," Lin Yu stood up from the sofa. "Come on, let's see how much goods he's got and what quality they are!"

"Also, hopefully that guy is perceptive enough not to disappoint me too much."

Lin Yu said. April stood up as well.

"If we can hash out the trade details directly with him, it'll make things much easier going forward... But what if he isn't perceptive?"

Hearing April's question, Lin Yu smiled.

"Wonderful. As expected of a Marauder. Finally, you said something worthwhile."

"If that guy isn't perceptive... Then obviously we use the Marauders' most proficient method!"