Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Bottled Prisoner (Part 5)_1

So that’s how it is? That’s much more reasonable.

After listening to Ailina’s explanation, Fu Qian nodded expressionlessly.

It was a bit strange just now.

Anyone with a bit of brains would know how important the Goddess Statue is to this death game.

Especially someone strategic like Ailina would definitely benefit from finding the statue earlier.

And if they were all veteran players, they should know the location of the statue like the back of their hand.

...
Yet this duo, they not only didn’t rush to leave amidst the commotion earlier.

Even now, as the game has officially begun under the Goddess’s favor, they are still here forming a team and recruiting people.

It’s truly abnormal.

Now it seems, not knowing the exact location of the target, having others scout ahead might not be a bad idea.

Those who go first seize the initiative, but they also have to blaze the trail.

These two have really taken the art of survival to its extreme.

“Thank you, that does clear up my confusion,”

Fu Qian said to Ailina.

The latter, looking as if she had expected as much, had a sparkling gleam in her eyes.

“As allies, it’s only right to share information.”

At this moment, she too was a bit curious about Fu Qian.

Before today, she had learned a fair bit about every formidable opponent.

And judging by the performance in the hall, this one’s strength could be classified among the strongest.

Yet she had completely failed to notice such a presence before.

And after some conversation, this person didn’t seem to be faking, clearly unfamiliar with this game of redemption.

Highly capable, arrogant in character, newly arrived here.

Ailina quickly made several deductions.

“Since we have the same goal, it’s simple. We have summed up some experiences regarding the possible locations of the statue. We can take the lead for now. What do you think, Mr. Fu?”

As her thoughts flew, Ailina proposed to Fu Qian.

“No problem.”

Fu Qian glanced around and readily accepted her suggestion.

Wandering aimlessly in such a vast underground ruin, who knows when he’d find anything.

It could also possibly lead to ambushes, not dangerous but troublesome.

After all, killing would taint one with Sinflame, and too much of it would make one a target for Sin Seekers.

Following these two, who would undoubtedly avoid conflict until they found the statue, couldn’t be more appropriate.

“Then let’s not delay and set out. I will share some important information with you on the way,”

Ailina signaled with her eyes to Cross, who was beside her. He gave Fu Qian a cold look, then moved ahead to scout.

Their relationship is quite interesting.

Watching the scene, Fu Qian thought quietly to himself.

Although in the end only one person can attain redemption, temporary alliances like the one just formed in the hall are not unusual for the sake of survival.

But these two clearly went beyond just cooperation.

Fu Qian glanced at Ailina, whose white dress was spotless, her steps composed.

And this Cross, almost with a protective stance by her side, seemed like he wouldn’t hesitate even if he were asked to die.

Fu Qian wasn’t particularly interested in gossip about others, but he was curious how long the two of them would maintain this state in the midst of the slaughter.

“Let’s start with the conflict just now; that redhead in the hall is named Patrick. He’s someone we need to pay close attention to, and he’s also one of the strongest contenders in this rivalry,”

The three of them moved quickly through the darkness, and Ailina’s voice lowered a bit.

The redhead maniac called Patrick?

Fu Qian gave a little nod.

“Indeed, his strength is quite formidable.”

“He is also extremely brutal, known as the Butcher outside. The one who died at your hand was a well-known villain too, but compared to Patrick, he was entirely not in the same league.”

“Over the years, Patrick has committed countless crimes in the Broken Lands, often not for the sake of profit but purely for venting his emotions, killing for the sake of killing.”

The nickname really is the Butcher, huh?

Fu Qian gestured for Ailina to continue.

“Moreover, there’s another crucial point: among all of us, he is the only one who has participated in this kind of death game before—in fact, this is his third time.”

“The third time?”

Fu Qian recalled the fanaticism in Patrick’s eyes; this guy had already entered the palace for the third time.

“Yes, I think that should say a lot about his capabilities. And compared with us, who only receive information through images, he undoubtedly has much more experience and insight.”

So the events happening here can be seen on the outside as well, Fu Qian confirmed his own judgment.

“I have a question.”

He thought for a moment and then said,

“Since he was caught three times, how come he has never been killed out there? After all, it’s pretty obvious that the Goddess of Sin and Punishment hasn’t purified him.”

“Mr. Fu is obviously not familiar with the situation here.”

Ailina nodded slightly upon hearing this, showing no unusual expression.

“To understand this, we need to go back to the origin of this death game.”

“As the largest known Forbidden Area, the Night Watchman does not prohibit Transcendents from entering. Besides pursuing fugitives who escape into it, they also do not restrict behavior inside, leaving it to self-govern.”

“This led to a long period where the place was lawless, chaotic, and rife with killing.”

“Then one day, Sir William appeared.”

“It is said that he too was a man with blood-stained hands, who discovered this place during an exploration and received the Goddess of Sin and Punishment’s redemption.

“From then on, he had a profound awakening and became the Executor of Justice, hunting down villains everywhere.”

“But he never kills. Instead, he captures these people and at a fixed time each year, sends them here together, for them to seek the path of ‘redemption.ʼ”

“The reason Patrick could come in three times is straightforward—only William can catch him.”

So that’s how it is!

After Ailina finished speaking, Fu Qian nodded repeatedly, basically understanding the whole story.

But at the same time, he felt a heartfelt annoyance.

An Executor of Justice who never kills… I wonder if Sir William only operates at night, driving his batmobile.

“And as you saw just now, Patrick’s strategy is very different from ours—completely disregarding the threat of the Sin Seekers, rapidly accumulating Sinflame.”

“His actions are also bloody and insane, living up to the name Butcher—of course, as a member of this game, I’m not in a position to criticize others for their brutality.”

Ailina sighed, her gaze deep as she looked at Fu Qian, seemingly expecting him to say something.

“Following your logic, as a participant in this game, I’m equally unqualified to judge your self-assessment.”

Fu Qian remained unmoved.

…

His words left Ailina slightly stunned, and after a moment of silence, she spoke again.

“Are you not curious about what crime I committed to end up here?”

Not really.

“Actually, it’s no problem to tell you.”

Yet Ailina had already entered a state of self-questioning and self-answering, her mouth curved in a smile and her eyes shining.

“I killed my father.”