Era of Magic and Martial Arts Chapter 79 - 67: I Am the Online

Ma Wei woke up but didn’t dare make a sound, just lay on the ground pretending to be dead. This scene seed familiar.

When he first t the boss, he lay on the ground pretending to be dead. Now the boss upgraded from [La] to [Mask], from a villain to an uber-villain, while he was still standing in place, lying on the ground pretending to be dead.

This might be called sticking to your original intention... bullshit, he had just staged a performance of "playing possum," although it ended before it even began.

Miserable Ma Wei lay on the ground, ears perked, listening to the two [Destiny] uber-villains, masters of disguise, talking.

[Mask]: "How much intel have you got on those black market traders now?"

Ma Bin: "I only know they’re from the Calamity Corpse Sect. There’s a Black Face who’s been tailing recently, and during today’s operation, [Black Hat] had soone lead him away."

[Mask]: "Just led him away?"

Ma Bin: "[Black Hat] and his team are on the wanted list. They don’t want to leave traces, which would be bad for both him and us. Leading him away is the best they can do without exposing themselves, so I originally planned to..."

Feng Mu sneered: "Planned for to kill La first, and then deal with the black market traders. You sure know how to use [Online]."

Ma Bin: "I have no choice. My role in the organization is that of a brainy mber. For physical shortcomings, I can only rely on [Online] to make up for it, or, in ti, I can find a couple of good hands for the Cyan Wolf Gang."

Feng Mu: "[Black Hat] can’t afford to kill and expose himself, but there’s no drawback to killing and getting exposed?"

Ma Bin: "Of course, all of us awakened are deep infiltrators. As long as we don’t expose our connection to the organization, no matter what illegal acts we commit, it’ll just be personal behavior and won’t draw much attention."

Feng Mu pondered: "Quite the plan, but unfortunately, like you, I’m also a brainy mber."

Ma Bin was stunned: "Aren’t you the one who famously took down three at once?"

Feng Mu was silent for a long ti, then said softly: "I might have exaggerated a bit."

Ma Bin gritted his teeth, constantly reminding himself that [Mask] is his [Online], to restrain himself: "..."

Feng Mu added: "But this ti, one really might have been ruined, got caught in an ambush by the Patrol Office. Even if not dead, probably lost half a life. Uh, you ntioned only one Black Face is tailing you?"

Ma Bin nodded: "Given by [Black Hat], the intel shouldn’t be wrong."

Feng Mu thought for a mont and then smiled: "The Patrol Office probably ruined more than one. Likely, one was blocked by the Patrol Office and Investigation Corps from the start, and perhaps was already killed and sent to the incinerator."

Ma Bin didn’t ask further. Although he disliked [Mask]’s bad character, he unconditionally trusted the other’s judgnt because of it.

He then said: "So, now there’s really just one left. You can handle one at least, right?"

Before coming, Ma Bin had considered teaming up with the black market traders to deal with La, but now that La beca [Online], his stance had to change with it.

He didn’t ask why [Mask] was set on dealing with this group of black market traders, nor inquire about the search for Black Core.

Since [Mask] wanted to deal with these Cultists of Calamity Corpse, naturally they had to die. Since Mask wanted the Black Core, they should obediently hand it over.

Anything eyed by [Destiny] will eventually fall to [Destiny]; this is the creed all formal mbers of [Destiny] adhere to.

Feng Mu nodded: "If it’s just one, we can try."

Today’s bold venture into Old Shattered, bravely facing the Patrol Office head-on, "slaying the father to prove the way," made him even more confident in his combat power.

Ma Bin: "I’ll find the person."

Feng Mu was very pleased with Ma Bin’s attitude, thinking to himself: "My choices during the creation of [Destiny] in the ga truly branded its soul, now perfectly extending into reality."

This faction-building ga allowed the choice of two initial tags from several when starting.

One initial tag was [Unity].

[Unity]: Formal mbers of this faction have a loyalty of 80 , inter-mber trust 85 . They can entrust life and death to each other, with a 300% reduced chance of betrayal if caught and interrogated.

The other initial tag was [Madness].

[Madness]: Formal mbers are all freaks of paranoia, stopping at nothing to achieve their goals, sacrificing life and ignoring death, never giving up.

Empathy reduced by 50%, resolve in facing death increased by 300%.

Ps: When [Unity] conflicts with [Madness], [Madness] always takes precedence.

Ma Bin acted decisively and imdiately pulled out his phone from under [Mask]’s watchful eyes, swapped in a new SIM card, and dialed [Black Hat]’s number.

This number would likely be reachable just today and tomorrow. After [Black Hat] completed the task and left, he would certainly discard it and get a new number.

Normally, that would be enough to finish the task and render the number unnecessary, but Ma Bin was not a typical person; he pursued perfection in action.

In other words, he liked to make extra preparations. Even if he couldn’t use them, it wouldn’t matter; but what if they were needed?

The phone rang three tis and was picked up.

Both sides remained silent at first. Ma Bin tapped his fingers on the phone screen, and the other side responded with rhythmic taps, twice in succession.

Only then did Ma Bin speak:

"Hey, it’s . Where did your guys lead that Calamity Corpse Black Face to?"

"Oh, just him, right? Could you have your guys lead him to... I’ll confirm the location later and send an address."

Ma Bin hung up the phone, turning to Mask: "I know a place that’s just right for an ambush, how about it?"

Seeing [Mask] nod, Ma Bin sent the location and added: "We’re setting off now. Perfect timing. So, how do you plan to handle him?"

Feng Mu turned to look at the pretending-dead Ma Wei and asked with interest: "How did you originally plan to handle it?"

Ma Bin shrugged: "I originally planned to take out La and use him to dig a pit, burying them together. Now, he can only have a solo funeral."

Feng Mu sighed: "That’s fine. Only the dead can keep secrets. Let’s do it your way then."

"??? "Ma Wei sprang up from the ground in shock, shaking as if he had a fever, tearing up and sobbing, "Brother Bin, you promised to help rise up."

Ma Bin dug his little finger in his ear: "Sorry, I’m an uber-villain; don’t take what I say to heart."

Ma Wei looked in despair at the faceless [Mask], tongue trembling: "Boss, had I known you were with [Destiny], even with 10,000 courage, I wouldn’t have dared to betray you. Really, my lifelong dream has been to join [Destiny]. Give another chance; this ti, I’ll stick with it to the end."

Feng Mu had never intended to kill Ma Wei; that situation wasn’t entirely his fault for lacking resolve. Most importantly, Ma Wei was clever and handy, retaining him as an eye beside Ma Bin was not bad.

It’s not that he didn’t trust Ma Bin.

Trust is one thing, but planting an eye as a basic practice isn’t incompatible with trust. It’s an instinct for those in power.

Feng Mu stooped, speaking sympathetically: "You’re not qualified to join [Destiny] yet, but I appreciate your awareness. Coincidentally, I am sowhat soft-hearted and nostalgic, and particularly adept at ensuring secrets are kept."

Ma Wei looked on in horror as [Mask]’s forefinger split open, revealing a sinister bone that pressed against his forehead.

Feng Mu spoke: "Tongue Root Death Curse!"

[Tongue Root Death Curse: An extrely malicious Blood Curse Seal that prevents its bearer from revealing any information related to you, or they will die a bloody death.]

Ma Wei’s forehead was pricked, absorbing a drop of black blood. Sohow, he felt as if sothing was planted in his soul, various confidentiality taboos surfacing in his mind, portraying ghastly consequences if violated.

Simultaneously, his tongue root subtly ward as if an invisible mark was etched underneath his tongue’s surface.

Tears welled up in Ma Wei’s eyes. He was genuinely grateful for [Mask]’s rcy. Now, he truly wouldn’t betray the boss even in death.

Feng Mu withdrew his finger, then glanced at Ma Bin, silent, but his eyes implying much.

Ma Bin’s face darkened: "You’re not thinking of doing the sa to , are you? Isn’t that necessary? Everyone in the organization is loyal, and besides, all formal mbers have [Secret Agreent] implanted in their minds."

[Unity] and [Secret Agreent] were both Feng Mu’s ga settings, which he knew thoroughly, but his inherent skepticism persisted.

Feng Mu raised his hand towards Ma Bin’s forehead, insincerely comnting: "It’s not distrust, but having an extra layer of assurance is always good, don’t you think?"

Ma Bin wore a constipated expression; he usually did the sa to others. Now it’s his turn; truly karmic justice.

Ma Bin was slightly resistant, but Feng Mu gave him no room for rejection, with one sentence blocking all Ma Bin’s words at his throat.

He said: "Ma Bin, follow orders, I am the [Online]."

Ma Bin: "..."