Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2228: Chapter 2223: King of Execution (13)

This is quite convincing.

Expected, reasonable.

Fu Qian was quite pleased with the continued appearance of task prompts.

When the rag doll first appeared, it felt a bit odd, not quite in line with the Needle Witch’s style as Fu Qian remembered.

Even if used as a storefront, it seemed too ostentatious for her.

Fortunately, carrying this doubt until now, the scene before him seemed to provide an answer—this was not the Needle Witch at all but a handiwork of the Native Council.

His attempt to make connections during the interview seemed to have directly attracted those in power.

Though the response from those in power was also quite subtle.

He impersonated the Native Council, and now the Council was impersonating the Night Watchmen. What is wrong with society? Is there any sincerity left?

Sometimes, admittedly, it’s due to circumstances.

In a world ruled by schemers, one must be more cunning than the schemers.

Despite lamenting the loss of sincerity in human hearts, Fu Qian understood the actions of the Native Council.

Indeed, at first glance, it seemed abstract, even irrational.

But with this old adversary, Fu Qian found he could better employ his empathy.

Reacting before the Night Watchmen proved that whatever the Native Council was planning, it was likely well-prepared, with detailed control over various aspects, which is why they were the first to discover the candidate named Ariel.

In fact, this was the core purpose of his attempts back then.

As for appearing as a rag doll, impersonating law enforcement may seem needless trouble if exposed.

But considering their habitual preference for working behind the scenes from Shangjing to Ye Island, borrowing the Needle Witch’s prestigious aura is quite unsurprising.

Of course, there’s a sensitive matter here: given the ambiguous relationship between the Needle Witch and them, why wouldn’t it be avoided?

The nature of this is indeed serious, imagining Lady Corin would refuse to let anyone know.

Simple—make a falsehood true, and a truth false, avoiding visibility becomes the ultimate obscuration.

They’ve openly used it for impersonation; such actions, in the Night Watchmen’s eyes, could count as revealing their true colors to some extent.

...

Why could they detect his arrival immediately but not the Night Watchmen?

The interview procedure, appearing as a mechanism that can’t be bypassed, serves well for intelligence gathering given the long-standing operation of the Native Council here.

Not to mention the imprint merged into the palm post-interview.

All in all, based on current information, the current tri-party standoff might be like this:

The Night Watchmen came to investigate the relationship between the Lonely King and the Fire of Madness, unaware of the Native Council’s schemes.

Meanwhile, he, informed by task prompts, has knowledge about the Native Council but did not know the Night Watchmen were present until entering.

Lastly, the Native Council, as yet unclear in their purpose, through prior arrangements, held maximum control over information.

Aware of the Night Watchmen, they boldly mimicked Corin’s methods.

Also aware of his suspicious entry, they promptly initiated probing.

Even the choice of probing methods achieved multiple goals—

Firstly, masquerading as the Night Watchmen, who are most intimidating to ruffians, exerting maximum pressure to make him reveal flaws and expose intentions.

Secondly, giving the appearance of exonerating suspected partners.

Lastly, through his reactions, probing whether Corin’s relationship with them had been exposed.

It’s no wonder they’re capable of sparring with my Rebirth Club. Besides power, their relentless pursuit of advantage is truly the reason for their success.

Of course, the above pertains to speculations on why they initially impersonated Corin to probe. The subsequent, and most crucial, query is why they emerged now?

Initially, he and the Night Watchmen were overt, while they covertly controlled the overall situation.

Now they’re openly exposed under the Night Watchmen’s scrutiny; it seemingly sacrifices their advantage—because there’s no choice but to sacrifice.

They couldn’t bear the burden of the Fire of Madness, forcibly attributed to them.

They likely knew some information about the golden flame, realizing that no matter how dubious their actions seemed, the Night Watchmen couldn’t ignore it.

...

Defamation has always been a profound art, having pondered the rightful owner of the gift of the Fire of Madness origin early in the paced atmosphere, Fu Qian saw the Native Council as undoubtedly fitting.

Behind the Fire of Madness lies involvement with an Ancient Supreme who acted not long ago, which isn’t just significant.

Small factions are insufficient to endorse such achievements.

Therefore, to continue muddying the waters, the Native Council must inevitably be implicated.

Not to mention, they’re backed by Rom, who engages in tomb raiding and corpse snatching.

Thus, upon the task target’s appearance, Fu Qian saw it as opportune.

One purpose of borrowing Ariel’s name decisively was to toss this thing akin to nuclear waste into the mix at the right moment.

In the current scenario, it’s straightforward.

Due to his malicious act under the Night Watchmen’s watchful eye, the Native Council decided, if not risking exposure, to refuse to take responsibility.

The core purpose of the second doll’s emergence was to prove, through this raging light storm, who the true Ariel was.

While this might mean significant losses with the original plan indeed disrupted.

But upon reflection, if this fake Ariel pursues hiding retreat, they would face doubled pressure—both schemes here and the connection with the Fire of Madness.

No choice, the mud is too filthy.

Considering sooner or later the Night Watchmen would trap and expose them, it’s better to come forward, using such a representative capability to inform who Ariel truly is, while indicating he’s also up to no good.

Besides distancing from the Fire of Madness, it redirects the Night Watchmen’s focus.

Frankly, it’s a decisive approach—but can Professor Fu’s dirty water be easily cleared?

Do you even understand the purpose of honing my empathy?

The true Ariel dispute has just begun.

In the swirling Sea of Light, at that moment, Fu Qian snorted coldly in his heart.

Facing a rival desperately self-proving, apart from rising from his vaporized chair to stand, he did nothing else.