Given Gao Fan's stature, it would likely take him several days to dispose of the adult man's and woman's corpses.
Therefore, even though Ming Po had told Gao Fan to handle the bodies, he followed along to see if he could offer any assistance.
Of course...
Perhaps even Gao Fan himself was unaware that he and Ming Po were actually the sa age.
However, the ease and speed with which he disposed of the other Deceivers of the World left Ming Po sowhat surprised—
He watched Gao Fan insert an Hour's Red Copper chip into the fourth slot on the door.
Imdiately after, Gao Fan opened the door.
Ming Po rembered that position... it should have been [Leave].
Yet, upon opening the door after inserting the chip, what manifested outside was no longer the black-and-white external world, but a vast expanse of white fog.
Gao Fan left the door wide open.
Instead of stepping out, he led Ming Po straight back to the living room and brewed him so tea.
Afterward, he waited respectfully by the doorway.
"Are you waiting for sothing?"
Ming Po asked casually, holding his teacup and looking toward the door.
"I'm waiting for Lady Utopia."
Gao Fan's attitude was exceptionally reverent.
Hearing this distinctly extraordinary Title, Ming Po could roughly guess the answer: it must be Gao Fan's Host.
Just a few seconds later, Ming Po laid eyes on the elegant goddess.
Yes, a goddess—
She possessed delicate Western features and skin textured like a marble sculpture. Because of this, her hair and eye colors were indiscernible.
She looked exactly like a walking stone statue.
She wore only a plain white linen chiton devoid of any ornantation, its collar reaching high enough to cover her collarbones.
Black runes were inscribed on her exposed forearms:
Utopia's left arm bore the word 'Ἀλήθεια', and her right, 'Δίκη'. These two pitch-black runes, along with the olive branch wreath resting upon her head, were the only colors on her person.
Unlike Ink's casual deanor, she exuded an aura of profound solemnity.
—This was a Host of at least the Silver of Moon level!
Ming Po instantly realized this.
When Utopia saw the blood on Gao Fan, she seed to understand what had transpired.
"It has been a long ti, Lucky Escapee. You haven't contacted in quite a while."
She glanced at Gao Fan, her voice ethereal and cold. "It seems you finally made your choice."
"...Yes."
Gao Fan lowered his head and replied, "I killed them in the end."
He had claid responsibility for the person Ming Po killed as well.
"Do not worry, it was the right thing to do, child. That man was never ant to be a leader, for he lacked a heart of justice. Guarded against by his enemies and unsupported by his own people, soone like that is destined to fail in the Ga of Deception."
Utopia simply shook her head and offered soft consolation. "I have high hopes for you, child... You always underestimate yourself, but perhaps you are not as lacking as you think."
As she spoke, she walked slowly into the room.
Right at that mont, she spotted Ming Po, and her steps faltered slightly.
"This is my new captain..."
Gao Fan hurriedly introduced him.
But his words stopped abruptly.
To his disbelief, he noticed that the noble, divine being, who resembled a sculpture of the Goddess of Justice, was staring at Ming Po in astonishnt.
"...Wei Gu Qiong Chen?"
she murmured.
"Excuse ?"
Ming Po looked up, sowhat bewildered.
He stood up politely and bowed. "You must be... Lady Utopia. I've heard your na from Xiao Fan."
"...No, it's nothing. I mistook you for soone else."
Utopia shook her head. "Your temperant resembles a friend of mine... Forgive my rudeness."
She took another careful look at Ming Po, her expression returning to normal. "You are 'Frankenstein'... correct? It is a fine Title. Cherish it well. Even if it cannot evolve further, it holds sufficient potential."
"Yes, I understand."
"Furthermore," she added, "although it is only a Title of the Day's False Gold level, when you reach the level of Zhou's Azure Lead, if you have not acquired a new unique Title, you may continue to use it. Do not replace it with a new Title.
"Even a native Zhou's Azure Lead Title might not be as useful."
"Do you... recognize this Title?"
Gao Fan asked.
Toward a superior, this was undoubtedly a discourteous inquiry.
But Utopia truly lived up to being a Host of the Domain of Virtue; even so, she did not grow angry.
She rely nodded. "This is the Title held by my forr Host, 'Ling Bo Prison'. He possessed a special ability to accommodate multiple Titles within his body and share that special power with those in need.
"He clearly encountered Ling Bo Prison. Since he believed you could beco 'Frankenstein'... that proves your nature is good."
Utopia looked at Ming Po and said earnestly, "If... your Host does not treat you well, you are welco to co to . Although the rules prevent from directly assisting you, I certainly will not assign you gas that are too dangerous."
"Thank you very much, Lady Utopia."
Ming Po remained silent for a mont before declining. "But there is no need.
"I intend to survive relying on my own Strength. Without a resolute heart, one can only ever be the protected, unable to beco a Protector for others."
Though half of these words were an act, the other half ca straight from Ming Po's heart.
When he realized the difference between Utopia and Ink, a clear thought surfaced in his mind: even if players might prefer Utopia, perhaps Ink's approach was the more correct one.
The Ga of Deception itself was cruel. If one refused to face this cruelty directly... they would be better off giving up their right to participate and withdrawing from the ga early on.
"...That is correct, child."
Utopia nodded, reflecting inwardly. "Perhaps the fault lies with ."
"There is nothing wrong with you, Lady Utopia,"
Gao Fan stated without hesitation. "If not for your protection, I fear I would have died long ago."
"I cannot help you much either, child. Even I cannot easily interfere with a ga that has already begun... All I can do is select relatively safe gas for good children like you."
Utopia sighed softly. "Ultimately, it is the sin of the Ga of Deception itself..."
She said no more and approached the two corpses.
With a light tap from a distance, the bodies and the blood suddenly transford into a dim golden light.
In re seconds, they shattered completely, turning into golden threads that coiled around Utopia's tightly clenched left wrist.
Following that, she placed her hand over the table and gently opened it.
Clatter, clatter, clatter—
With clear, crisp clinking sounds, three gleaming golden chips scattered across the table.
"There is a total of one hundred and thirty-two hours. According to the rules, I must take half. I have converted the rest into Day's False Gold for you. This way, you will get more when you exchange it into smaller denominations."
Utopia's voice was gentle, her slightly closed eyes lending her an air of solemn dignity.
"...Isn't this a bit too much?"
Gao Fan hesitated slightly. "Shouldn't half be two days and eighteen hours?"
"I added the remainder myself; a minor rule violation to this extent is fine."
As Utopia spoke, she prepared to leave. "It seems you won't be participating in my gas from now on, so consider this... a little red envelope money for the two of you.
"I hope that more good people can survive in the Ga of Deception."
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