Chapter 609: An Existence Joker Is Even More Absurd

Foolish Game of the Gods

'A bunch of liars?'

Li Jingming studied the man before him with obvious interest and a wry laugh: "But I'm Existence."

"Using Existence to narrate Void. Even more absurd—and even more entertaining. Don't you think?" Cheng Shi's smile was sly.

'That does make a sort of sense...'

When it came to being abstract, the Void was still a notch above the rest.

"But everything I narrate is an Existence story."

"No, no, no—the moment you started impersonating others, you were already telling a Void story."

Cheng Shi explained this with a perfectly straight face. The explanation made the Dragon King's eyes light up.

"Interesting. I don't object to joining organizations—otherwise I wouldn't have sought the History School's approval in the first place.

But every organization exists for a purpose. Some pursue profit, some seek survival. So what about yours, Cheng Shi? What are these so-called 'Jokers' for?"

"I already told you—to tell the stories of Void well."

Li Jingming shook his head:

"Stop being cryptic. I know you Fate followers love playing mysterious, but I'm a pragmatist, Cheng Shi. That routine won't work on me.

Be straight with me. What do I gain from the Jokers, and what does it cost me?"

'Good—this is exactly the bite I was waiting for!'

'If you never took the bait, I wouldn't know how to keep the pitch going.'

Cheng Shi laughed—full and loud. He lowered his mask with great ceremony and began his introduction:

"We aren't just narrators of Void's stories—we're also the audience.

You've probably misunderstood me. When I say 'telling the stories of Void,' I don't mean spreading the will of those two gods. I mean collecting the real stories—the ones that actually happened in the Void era.

Of course, the protagonists aren't mortals or players. They're the gods who exist now or once existed.

Dragon King, this era is fundamentally different from all others. As for why—you don't have sufficient... clearance yet.

Just remember: players have never been the era's trendsetter. Only the gods are.

So our ultimate goal is, through endless storytelling, to make ourselves part of the story—to go from jokers... to protagonists."

Li Jingming's gaze sharpened. His brow furrowed in surprise: "An alternative God Worship Society? Your end goal is to become gods?"

"Godhood isn't the point. What we want is to survive—to survive in this era of Void.

At minimum, in terms of pragmatism, our organization is very much like you."

'And the organization's Mi Laozhang is even more pragmatic than you,' Cheng Shi thought privately. 'So I'm technically not lying.'

"Moreover, our path doesn't conflict with your path of Memory. Even if you don't buy into our philosophy, you could simply treat us as an intelligence exchange hub—that works too.

Dragon King, I'm making an exception to invite you because I see potential in you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have this chance."

'Potential?'

'Survive?'

Li Jingming mulled the phrases, pondered for a moment, and finally allowed a smile to crack through his gravity.

"So I should be thanking you?"

Cheng Shi nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We're all brothers once you're in. No need for excessive courtesy—just settle the membership fee."

"..." 'Knew it. I just had to wonder where the catch was—and here it is.'

But Li Jingming didn't refuse. He was genuinely intrigued—though his interest lay not in the Jokers organization itself, but in Cheng Shi the person.

At the very least, in this group, he could hear fascinating stories about the gods from Cheng Shi's own mouth.

'Being a quiet audience member among storytelling jokers—without making a fool of myself—doesn't sound half bad.'

"I accept. What's the membership fee?" The Dragon King remained characteristically generous.

"Oh come on, I said we're all brothers. No need to be so formal. You still have some of that Chronicle of Time? Just toss me a couple of pages.

Why's your face going dark? This is all for the organization—I'm not pocketing it.

Think about it. We need to tell stories, right? And stories need material, right? And where does material come from? At the end of the day, we have to dig through history and accumulate it.

Hmm, now that I think about it—Dragon King, you and the Jokers are a match made in heaven. You're exactly the kind of Memory powerhouse we need."

"..."

'Fists clenching again.'

Li Jingming turned away, unable to look at this infuriating clown any longer. He took two deep breaths—then, unable to resist his curiosity, asked:

"Who else is in the Jokers, Cheng Shi? Don't tell me this is an organization you literally just founded five minutes ago to scam me for a membership fee.

Since you need Memory, I take it there aren't any Memory followers. So you're all Deceit followers?

Are the Jokers just a gathering of entertainment-seekers?"

"Of course not. The organization is full of talented people. You'll find out soon enough."

Cheng Shi said this with real conviction—because the organization had technically been established the last time, in front of Mi Laozhang. By now, the Jokers had survived for… an entire day on the Land of Hope. By that math, it was practically an ancient institution.

"Fine. I believe you.

Give me the organization's crest, the identity cipher, the recognition passcode, the meeting location, and the bylaws. If I encounter any other Jokers, I'll pay the full fee."

"?"

Cheng Shi froze.

'Bro—why are you so by-the-book?'

'Have you never joined a grassroots organization before?'

'This world isn't perfectly orderly everywhere, you know! Remember that chaos earlier? Chaos is the mainstream, brother!'

'Besides, where am I supposed to get all that stuff?'

'I didn't write the lore that deep...'

But things had come this far. There was no way Cheng Shi was going to push away a walking "intelligence database." So he raised the mask again with utmost solemnity:

"Void has no meaning—so naturally, there's none of that fancy stuff. Just remember: the Jokers' motto is 'Everything for the Void.'

As for meetings... they're irregular. No fixed headcount. When the need arises, the Void will respond."

He was about to don the mask and sell one last bit of mystique—but before the mask even reached his face, his entire body was sucked away with a sharp whoosh.

"..."

Watching the suddenly vanished Cheng Shi, Li Jingming's expression froze solid.

'So this is... the Void responding?'

'This is how it responds?'

'Who summoned Cheng Shi?'

'Deceit? Was it done with its business?'

'What about me—is my turn coming?'

Just as the Dragon King was thinking this, barely seconds later—whoosh—the Chosen of Memory, still eagerly anticipating an audience with his second Benefactor, was seized by a massive force and hurled out of the Void, right back into reality.

"..."