Chapter 137: Compromise (1)
Chapter 137: Compromise (1)
"That's not necessarily the case. However, the wish I can grant you will have to be somewhat discounted. First tell me, what do you wish for? As long as it's not something like annihilating the director or something similar, I can do it."
"Can you relocate the base of our Dragon Country's strategy team to the Dark Moon Circus?" Qu Kangping said urgently, "Not just the various buildings in the base, but also the people and equipment need to be moved over."
"Oh, is that so... You want to stay here permanently?"
"No, no, no, three days will be enough."
"Ha? Three days will be enough?"
"Yes."
"Then aren't you at a loss?"
"Don't worry about that, just move them here first, I'm afraid they'll be in danger."
"Don't worry, they won't be in danger with me around." Dark Moon turned to the clowns and said, "Take down the fortune-teller's tent, he won't be needing it anymore."
"Beep—"
The clowns blew their whistles, saluted in an exaggerated fashion, and then, joining hands, they blew together and sent the fortune-teller's tent flying up into the sky.
"Welcome to the Dark Moon Circus~ Thrilling adventures await you~"
Dark Moon spread his arms wide and shouted towards the sky.
A huge void portal descended from the heavens, flickering with blue and white lightning; the strategy team's base appeared out of thin air and landed where the tent had been.
"Amazing..."
Qu Kangping blinked and quickly rushed into the base.
At that moment, the base was in disarray. Some were dead, others injured, and the bodies of monsters and agents were scattered everywhere. Qu Kangping ran straight to the Scranton Stability Anchor; thankfully, Gu Yi's family was unharmed.
"Team leader, where is this?"
"The Dark Moon Circus."
"What?"
The agents gathered around Qu Kangping, looking puzzled.
Dark Moon arrived at the base with a troop of clowns, cheerfully performing for the agents.
Qu Kangping had no mood for the show, as he faintly sensed a weird power pursuing them.
"Leader Dark Moon."
"Oh, what can I do for you?"
"I want to ask if we hide here, will we still be attacked by that weird power?"
"Tsk... Theoretically, no." Dark Moon pointed to his nose and said, "In fact, according to the standards of the weird world, I am also a weird power. However, the most fundamental principle of the weird world is to follow the rules. In my domain, they have to follow my rules. As long as you are in my territory, no one can harm you. The Circus needs to welcome every guest."
Dark Moon bowed.
Suddenly, Qu Kangping felt a tremendous energy burst forth from Dark Moon.
The fallen agents miraculously came back to life, rising from the ground.
Qu Kangping looked at Dark Moon with astonishment.
In Dark Moon's hand was a tarot card, on which was drawn a rising sun, with the English word "The Sun" written below.
"The gift you gave me was too precious; I couldn't possibly take such a big advantage, so I sent you a little blessing in return, reviving your subordinates."
"Thank you so much!"
"No need for thanks." Dark Moon waved his hand and pointed towards the main entrance, "We can also watch live broadcasts here, you know. I personally am quite a fan of Gu Yi."
...
The Weird World.
Gu Yi sat in the rest area with his eyes closed.
(The deduction begins!)
(After the coach has finished training everyone, he leaves the room, leaving only the five of you team members.)
(You look at everyone.)
(You: Do we really have to play a rigged game?)
(Mid Laner: He's got all our dirt in his hands, and he never lets us use our phones or computers during meetings. How can we collect evidence?)
(Support: He's too cunning. We can't beat him.)
(Jungler: Just resign yourself to it, it's not bad getting money anyway. Isn't that what we play professionally for?)
(Mid Laner: The coach has kidnapped my family, I dare not disobey him. Gu Yi, you know, all of us are in his grip. He has gang backing, and if we dare to resist, we're dead.)
(You close your eyes and take a deep breath.)
(This is a team game, even if you try hard on your own, you can't turn the tide. All the teammates are pessimists, you might change them momentarily with psychological suggestions, but you can't change them for a lifetime.)
(You must give up something.)
(Either choose to abandon honor and morality, or play the rigged game.)
(Or choose to sacrifice the lives of your family and report the whole team.)
(You don't know how to have the best of both worlds.)
(Mid Laner: Gu Yi, what are you hesitating for?)
(AD: We absolutely cannot play a rigged game. It's not just about honor, it's about our careers. If we get caught, we'll never have a chance to compete again.)
(You look at the AD player, he's your captain, and the only one who still insists on resisting.)
(Support: Captain, don't get me into trouble.)
(AD: We should resist)
(Mid Laner: You orphan, you don't have family, of course, it's easy for you to say! All of our families have been kidnapped, how can you say that?)
(Jungler: Resist? How do we resist? When betting on the side, he used all my ID cards. If they blow this up, it's not as simple as a ban, we'll end up in jail for gambling involvement.)
(AD: That's because you're a gambling addict, to begin with, you were involved in match fixings even before the coach threatened us!)
(Jungler: I call you captain to give you some face, and now you're stepping all over me?)
(You: Everyone calm down!)
(You stand up and use a psychological suggestion on the AD. You pull the AD out of the rest area and hide in the toilet.)
(You: I support you.)
(AD: Your support alone isn't enough.)
(You: The problem now is that we can't communicate with the people outside, we can't prove our innocence. I have a plan.)
(AD: What are you going to do?)
(You: I’ll find a way to get the message out...)
(Suddenly, the toilet door is pushed open.)
(You and the AD shut up at the same time.)
(The coach looks at you coldly.)
(Coach: What are you two talking about?)
(AD: Nothing, just came in to sneak a smoke.)
(Coach: Gu Yi, I'm telling you. If you dare to play any tricks, I’ll send someone to the hospital to drag your mom out of her bed. If you don't believe me, you can try and see.)
(You: Sorry, we really just came in to smoke.)
(Coach: Hmph, come out quickly, the match is about to start.)
(You: Yes.)
(You nod and follow the coach out of the bathroom.)
(The time you and the AD had to communicate was too short; you didn't have time to explain your plan. You only managed to tell the AD that you were on the same side.)