Igola was baffled.
After asking a question so moronic it couldn't get any more moronic, Yaxiu Heath had suddenly plunged into deep contemplation.
Yet Yaxiu was obviously no moron—Igola would never admit he had been defeated by an idiot.
"Have you figured out why Valkas challenged you?"
Yaxiu returned to his senses and asked tentatively, "Because of that child?"
Igola nodded.
"That's what I think as well."
"Valkas has kept his head down in prison for five years, almost never challenging anyone. Just harvesting contribution points from people who couldn't stand him was enough for him to live comfortably."
"His sudden emergence this time could have no reason other than that child. Back then, he risked total disgrace and imprisonment just to raise that child, which is more than enough proof of how much he cared."
"That child has long been receiving an education at the rearing institute. Many people have access to the child, but there is only one 'key figure' who would link that child, Valkas, and you together."
"And that is Shilin Dole."
Meeting Igola's confident gaze, Yaxiu faintly sensed that this was a name he ought to know.
Except he really didn't.
"Who is Shilin?"
Igola stared into Yaxiu's eyes, then suddenly said, "Don't move."
He reached out a finger and poked Yaxiu's cheek. "Ask that again."
"Who is Shilin?"
Igola froze for a moment, sighed, and drew back his hand.
"Shilin Dole is a history professor at Kaimeng Comprehensive University, as well as the president of the Elven Race Rights Defense Association. He holds many other titles, though none of them concern you. What concerns you most is that he is the faculty advisor for Kaimeng Comprehensive University's Antiquities Research Society."
The Antiquities Research Society?
Yaxiu blinked, realizing a possibility. "Was I a member of the Antiquities Research Society?"
"To be precise, you are still the president of the Antiquities Research Society. Although I have no proof, there should be a relationship of mutual interest between you and Shilin that goes beyond ordinary teacher and student."
The Four Pillar Gods cult!
Could Heath have single-handedly bewitched so many heretics, relying purely on personal charisma and leadership to build the Four Pillar Gods cult into a criminal syndicate akin to organized crime?
It was certainly possible, but it was far more likely that Heath had received someone else's gifts and backing!
Shilin Dole was very likely one of the benefactors backing Heath!
"I've shown my sincerity, so are you willing to answer my question? Even though I've already guessed the answer."
Igola cut through Yaxiu's thoughts.
"If you've already guessed it, why bother asking... Go ahead."
"How on earth did you manage to deceive me with your inner voice? Last night in the ring, I foresaw your angles of attack by listening to your inner voice. That trick has almost never failed me, because nobody can lie to themselves."
Yaxiu was slightly taken aback. "What? You can hear my inner voice?"
"Only in the ring, through your surging emotions, can I catch the whispers of your heart."
Igola explained. Normally he wouldn't say anything that exposed a limitation; he even preferred others to suspect and fear him for it.
Yet for some reason, he felt bluffs were likely useless against Yaxiu, so he couldn't be bothered to put on an act.
"I didn't trick you with my inner voice," Yaxiu said, scratching his head. "I only just learned you can cheat like that. No wonder I couldn't land a single punch on you earlier."
"Then how did you manage to think 'You're actually pretty good-looking' while throwing a punch straight at my face?"
"Thinking you're good-looking and wanting to punch you aren't mutually exclusive!"
Igola had to elaborate. "Generally speaking, I hear the truest desires at the bottom of a person's heart. Superficial thoughts floating on the surface cannot deceive me. If you wanted to hit me, I should have heard 'I want to punch your face,' not a compliment like 'You're actually pretty good-looking.'"
"Oh, I think I get what you mean." Yaxiu tilted his head. "I was probably spacing out at the time."
"Spacing out?"
"Yeah. When I space out, my mind wanders. I wanted to look at some spicy pictures to treat my eyes, so I genuinely thought you were good-looking."
"Then why did you suddenly hit me?"
"Because after spacing out, I perked up and snapped straight back into work mode." Yaxiu shrugged. "Spicy pictures only slow down how fast I work."
It sounded plausible—spacing out had caused Igola to misread his inner voice—but who would believe that!
The leader of the Four Pillar Gods cult, a combat genius who rapidly improved mid-fight—would someone like that space out in the middle of battle?
Coupled with how Yaxiu had pretended not to know Shilin Dole earlier, Igola was much more inclined to believe that Yaxiu had mastered the art of flawless disguise!
"Impossible! Even if you spaced out, I would definitely have heard your true inner voice!"
"Don't be so certain. Maybe your abilities just have limits..."
"Since you put it that way, let me test it!"
Igola reached out and touched Yaxiu's cheek. "I can tell whether you're lying by changes in your facial temperature. Say any statement, true or false! If my ability is limited, we'll see if I can tell whether your words are true or false!"
Yaxiu blinked.
"This statement I'm making is a lie."
Igola froze.
Wait, was this statement true or false? If it was true, but he claimed he was lying, then it was a lie; if it was a lie, then the opposite applied, meaning the statement was true...
The nesting-doll logic threw Igola's thoughts into utter chaos. He sat blankly in the stands like a broken doll, muttering about truth and lies.
Yaxiu spread his hands. He had encountered far too many brain teasers like this during job interviews. It seemed the children of this world had never seen such logic puzzles.
Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance of the Death Match Club.
"Oh, if it isn't our noble elf sir?"
"Lord Ur, this humble orc offers you his most precious blessing. Do you need me to lick your boots?"
"Out of the way, out of the way! Don't dirty the young elf master's clothes! You inferior races aren't worthy of coming within five paces of an elf!"
Although the chips forbade inmates from directing verbal abuse at others, that was strictly limited to 'verbal abuse.' The chips were not intelligent enough to recognize snide mockery.
Yaxiu was quite surprised that this crowd was actually so united in ostracizing someone.
Not that he held any high expectations for the intellect or morality of death-row inmates, but here, physical conflict and verbal bullying were banned. You couldn't harm a single hair on the other party, and passive-aggressive jeering was the absolute limit.
Yet in the adult world, this level of bullying was roughly equivalent to a girlfriend playfully pounding your chest with tiny fists—pitiful and pointless. Ordinary people would surely get tired of it quickly.
Since they hadn't gotten tired of it, it could only mean...
"Thank you all for your concern." Valkas bowed slightly with impeccably polite manners. "Your words are so sweet—you must have wiped your mouths thoroughly before leaving the washroom, haven't you?"
"Valkas, are you saying we eat shit?"
"Not at all. I merely wished to commend those who wipe their mouths properly after eating shit. Why would you jump forward of your own accord? Could it be that you eat shit too?"
"Val! Kas!"
"Yes, present! Your breath is a bit pungent, smelling of urine. Seems you have a rather broad diet."
"VAL—KAS—!"
"My, why get so worked up? It's not like I'm insulting you. Speaking of which, that reminds me of a joke. Once, I tossed trash out the window and accidentally hit a dog, and the dog naturally started barking. Wouldn't you agree? So you see, when you throw trash and hear a dog bark, you definitely hit a dog."
"Valkas—!"
"I had no idea so many people wiped their mouths after using the toilet. I used to hear rumors that prisoners in Shattered Lake Prison eat shit and defecate food. In the future, I will definitely clarify things on your behalf: it's not a rumor."
Igola couldn't help but chuckle.
"A slanging match this marvelous can only be seen in Shattered Lake Prison."
Yaxiu nodded. He understood completely why Valkas could overpower a dozen people with just his mouth—because profanity was forbidden. The moment you tried to curse, the chip automatically seized your throat, leaving all your foul words to ferment in your belly, effectively silencing you instantly.
That was why those people could only shout Valkas's name before being rendered speechless.
Then Valkas would turn at the sound of his name and lay into them, making it look as though they were practically begging for a verbal thrashing.
To skirt the chip's restrictions, insulting someone without profanity and provoking someone until they lost their temper and got muted by the chip were the two essential arts of prison trash talk.
Evidently, Valkas's mouth was slicked with laxative; the other death-row inmates were simply no match for him, insulted until they lost their minds and were instantly silenced.
Some even tried to throw hands, but the chips immediately took over their motor control, stiffening their bodies until they crashed to the floor with a loud thud.
"No need to bow. Dismissed."
Valkas raised his chin and swept past them with elegance. The losers of the verbal duel glared at Valkas with eyes ablaze, but they couldn't curse and couldn't strike, delivering a live demonstration of what it meant to be utterly helpless in impotent rage.
No wonder these inmates hadn't grown tired of snide mockery. With a master of venomous rhetoric like Valkas around, the banter was overwhelmingly intense—tonight, they'd probably lie awake in bed stewing over how to clap back.
"Yaxiu Heath?"
"Valkas Ur?"
From a distance, Valkas looked toward Yaxiu, his gaunt face returning to cold indifference.
He pointed toward the ring. "If there's no issue, let's begin right away."
All eyes in the Death Match Club converged on them—some expectant, some mocking, some curious, some crazed.
Igola glanced at Yaxiu.
Now Yaxiu knew Valkas was connected to Professor Shilin; there was bound to be something fishy about this death match. If he were Yaxiu, he would definitely refuse—he never took part in battles he wasn't certain of winning.
"Sword Princess?"
Igola started slightly. He heard Yaxiu softly breathe a name. Yet no one here was called Sword Princess, nor was Yaxiu looking at anyone.
"A little lonely..."
Yaxiu murmured under his breath, turning his gaze toward Valkas.
For reasons unknown, Igola couldn't help saying, "Valkas is far stronger than me. He isn't an opponent you can defeat with petty cleverness. And a sword is far more destructive; the match could be decided in a single strike."
"Thanks." Yaxiu smiled. "I don't plan on using petty cleverness this time."
"Then what will you use?"
"My life. I'm gambling my life that his first strike won't kill me."
Watching Valkas walk toward the ring, Yaxiu stood up as well.
"As long as that first strike doesn't kill me, the second will be my chance."
Chapter 32