Thinking about this, Daziel's heart skipped a beat.
He pulled out his phone and opened their old group chat.
Even though Scott had been involved in the Aurum Alley incident, Daziel, considering the confidential nature of his question, didn't hesitate to kick Scott from the group.
Lone wolf it is, he thought.
Daziel typed a message to Yukong in the group chat, asking:
[Daziel: Master Yukong, I wanted to ask, did the Aurum Alley Merchant Guild's infiltration of public officials also begin around two weeks ago?]
More than ten minutes passed before Yukong replied.
[Yukong: No, our investigation shows the Aurum Alley Merchant Guild's corruption was a long-term, premeditated plan. Mingxi had been plotting this for quite some time.]
[Yukong: We are fortunate to have you, Mr. Daziel, who nipped this crime in the bud before it spiraled out of control. Imagine the damage to the Xianzhou's reputation if word had gotten out.]
Reading Yukong's message, Daziel sank back into thought.
Premeditated, long ago...
Could it really be unrelated to my system?
If it wasn't connected to his system, then something else, some other unknown force, might be at play…
That would imply an even earlier scheme, and the motive behind it could be far more terrifying than he could imagine.
Lost in these thoughts, Daziel messaged Yukong again:
[Daziel: Master Yukong, I also wanted to ask, is it really true what Mingxi said about the Matrix of Prescience being unable to calculate things?]
[Yukong: Why do you ask about this? {Alert}]
[Daziel: I'm feeling lost lately and was hoping to ask the Grand Preceptor for a divination.]
[Yukong: That might be difficult. Indeed, about two weeks ago, some unprecedented energy entity obscured things across the universe. Accurate calculations have become impossible, or rather, many things are simply uncalculatable. Even charting the Xianzhou's course is now problematic.]
[Yukong: Mingxi's fearlessness came from her knowledge of this situation.]
[Sushang: Oh! I get it now! That's why Master Yukong was hesitant to involve the Divination Commission! And after the first operation failed, you already suspected moles in the Earthly Branch and Sky-Faring Commission, which is why you avoided any large-scale movements!]
[Yukong: {Thumbs up}]
...
Two weeks ago again?
Why does it keep coming back to that same critical point in time?!
Daziel's head began to throb.
He couldn't unravel this alone.
But if the Divination Commission was also struggling, who else could he turn to?
Contacting Elio himself was out of the question…
This is a real headache.
Just as Daziel wrestled with these thoughts, he saw Sushang mention him in the chat.
[Sushang: Um... Mr. Daziel, I still owe you that dog-barking lesson...]
Daziel's mouth twitched. Why bring this up now, of all times, when I'm grappling with serious questions?
With a slightly shaky hand, he replied:
[Daziel: That kind of thing... you really don't need to worry about it. I didn't take that bet seriously anyway...]
[Sushang: No, no! I told my mom about it, and she gave me a lecture: "A naive accomplice is often more dangerous than a villain." It seems I need to think more before rushing into chivalry.]
[Daziel: Well, isn't that good? You've learned your lesson. The punishment is unnecessary, right?]
[Sushang: No, no! I have to keep my promise! But maybe not dog barking in Aurum Alley... how about we find a less crowded place?]
[Sushang: Look, Scalegorge Waterscape? There are plenty of small corals to hide behind, and not many people around.]
[Daziel: ?]
[Daziel: No, Miss, Master Yukong is still in the group, please consider the implications...]
[Yukong: I don't mind. Or is Mr. Daziel hoping to include me in the fun tonight? {Smile}]
[Daziel: ???]
[Daziel: That's not what I meant, Master Yukong! Please don't come! One Li Sushang is already more than enough headache for me.]
[Sushang: It's settled then! Tonight it is! Mr. Daziel, don't be late!]
...
The chat ended. Daziel switched off his phone screen, a headache definitely brewing.
There's just no reasoning with that blockhead.
...
As evening arrived, Daziel reached the entrance of Scalegorge Waterscape right on time.
True, not many people usually come here...
But there are plenty of wandering monsters. Daziel couldn't help but worry. Is this really going to be okay?
Soon, Sushang appeared. Today, she wasn't wearing her usual yellow and white top with the black skirt, but instead a long trench coat, hands shoved deep in her trouser pockets, sunglasses perched on her face and a mask covering her mouth.
This outfit is… strange, isn't it?!
Daziel had thought Sushang would just bark a couple of times and be done with it. But seeing her getup, a sense of foreboding washed over him.
"You... why are you dressed like that? It's not even cold today..." Daziel gestured at her trench coat, questioning her attire.
"Well... didn't Scott say the bet was for me to, like, strip naked… and lie down like a puppy? I just wanted to get a head start…"
Sushang's cheeks flushed crimson as she spoke, unbuttoning her coat.
Daziel's jaw dropped at what he saw beneath the trench coat.
"No… you… you didn't have to go this far, you silly girl…"
"No, absolutely not! I will keep my promise, no matter what!" Sushang tugged at her collar, eyes firmly shut, her resolve unwavering.
Daziel rubbed his temples, a genuine headache now pounding.
But it wasn't just his headache that was growing… his little head was starting to take notice too.
"Then… then hurry up and get it over with!"
"Okay…"
Sushang shrugged off her trench coat, handed Daziel a collar, and then squatted down.
Hands curled into paw shapes, tongue lolling out…
"Woof woof woof… eh? Wait, that doesn't sound right? Bow wow!"
Sushang scratched her head, bewildered.
"Okay, isn't that enough?"
Daziel averted his gaze. Any longer and his thoughts might stray into inappropriate territory.
"No, no, it feels too... perfunctory. How about… Mr. Daziel, you lead me around for a walk? Just to get into character?"
Daziel: "Wait, what did you just say? Did I hear that correctly?!"
"Ding!"
[Target person Sushang's Depravity Value increased by 6%]
[Current Depravity Value: 6%]
[Keyword triggered: Outdoor Exposure]
[Please keep up the good work, Host. Could your unintentional actions be revealing some deeper truth? ...]
...
"Um… Mr. Daziel, no, Master… I think… my bladder is feeling a bit… uncomfortable…"
"Hold on, there are still a few Mara-Struck monsters nearby. Bear with it. Let's move locations… See that cluster of coral? Let's head over there…"
"Okay…"
...
It wasn't until Sushang's transparent arc of liquid projectile finally emerged that the system chimed in again.
"Ding!"
[Target person Sushang's Depravity Value increased by 8%]
[Current Depravity Value: 30%]
[Keyword triggered: Peeing]
[Please keep up the good work, Host. It is recommended to find a lamppost for the puppy, and learn to lift a leg.]
[Task completed: "Truth of the Aurum Alley Incident" reward has been credited. Please check.]
[New task added: Increase Sushang's Depravity Value to 50%]
[Task Reward: Guidance from the Morning Star.]
[Guidance from the Morning Star: Perhaps the truth will only lead to even greater memes, but so what? I believe Master will complete the subsequent tasks to find direction.]
Though he couldn't fathom why Sushang's depravity value had surged by 30% simply from a walk, Daziel had no time to ponder it.
Massive fragments of information flooded Daziel's mind, a raging storm invading his consciousness.
Daziel froze, beginning to process the torrent of information…
After a moment, his pupils contracted sharply. Shock and disbelief surged through him like icy water, the corners of his mouth trembling. Finally, he managed to utter:
"Damn it! So… that's what the hell is going on!"
_____
THE >>>DIRECTOR<<<< IS GOING CRAZYYYY! 🤪
CRAZY DEAL ALERT! 🚨 This week only: For every 5! >FIVE!< new reviews... ONE EXTRA CHAPTER will be released! Yes! EXTRAAA! 🎉
(See? I'm honestly such a great director, aren't I? 😉)
Don't miss out! Don't miss out!
💖✨ patreon.com/Walnutchan ✨💖 <- 40 advanced chapters!