Chapter 985: Let Me See Which Blasphemer Has Arrived

Foolish Game of the Gods

Harboring a guess that even he found unthinkable, Cheng Shi hung up the phone and raised his mask to recite the prayer once more.

Not everyone's request for an audience was accepted by their Benefactor. But the darling favored by [Fate] was clearly different. The moment he finished his blasphemy-tinged prayer, the blasphemer's figure vanished from the rooftop.

The void. The void again!

Seeing those familiar, ice-cold eyes before him, Cheng Shi's heart tightened. He launched straight into praise.

"Praise to the great... God of [Deceit]!

May Your mood forever soar as high as the corners of Your eyes. And may my devotion always 'reach Your divine ears'!

Your most devoted believer, Cheng Shi, greets You."

The ice in those eyes dissolved instantly. The entire void erupted in phantasmagoric splendor. Yet His tone remained distant, as though an infinite gulf of people separated this god and mortal...

"Oh my. Let me see which blasphemer has arrived.

Why, if it isn't the never-devout [Void] walker, the thoroughly dishonest [Time] believer, the [Chaos] thief of fabricated history, [Death]'s counterfeit employee, [Prosperity] and [Decay]'s blind choice, the eavesdropper on [Birth]'s descent into history, the party involved in [Folly]'s wager against foolishness, and [Silence]'s clown candidate for assimilation puppet.

What's this? So many of you here at once — planning to knock me off this divine throne?"

"..."

'What are you looking at me for?'

'Laugh!'

'The Fun God said this many words. If you don't laugh, are you forswearing!?'

'You're not devout!'

'Laugh now or I'll blast you with Lightning Punishment.'

Cheng Shi forced the corners of his mouth upward, on the verge of tears.

'Benefactor, I said all those things precisely because I'm devout!'

'Fine, this devotion was born of fear. But shouldn't devotion born of fear count as devotion for the Fear Faction!?'

'You keep mocking subordinates and crushing morale. Sooner or later you'll...'

"Hmm?"

"...Remember to eat properly.

Health comes first, after all. You're the backbone of all us liars. If You wear Yourself out, we'll have no future, my lord."

Seeing those eyes threaten to turn cold, Cheng Shi instantly activated his talent "Steer According to the Wind" and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

'Close call. Forgot He can read minds.'

'But I can't let this slide. I just recited that entire rap sheet of crimes. I should at least get something in return, otherwise it's a wasted guilty plea.'

So the nervously laughing Cheng Shi straightened his back slightly and muttered: "I'll accept the charges. But before sentencing, my lord, I'd like to file a defense."

Those eyes glanced at the clown, stifling a laugh: "Granted."

Cheng Shi instantly perked up: "My lord, the prayer I recited was [Fa—... a different one entirely. Why are You here?"

"The blasphemer blasphemes to the Benefactor's face, repeatedly citing blasphemous conduct, with obvious intent to challenge the Tribunal. Crime elevated by one degree."

"Whoa, wait wait wait — that shouldn't count! I was just curious..." Cheng Shi's fake smile was nearly fossilized. He thought: '[Order] was sealed away, not devoured. Why does Your mouth taste so much like [Order]?'

'And what kind of "Tribunal" are You running, exactly?'

'I brought up the defense to give myself some peanuts to chew on. And You're putting on a whole courtroom drama?'

But he didn't dare even think too loudly. He could only murmur again:

"My lord, the blasphemous actions You describe do indeed exist..."

"Excellent. The blasphemer has confessed. Off with his head."

"...WAIT!" Sweat streamed down Cheng Shi's forehead. "But they were also my most devout offerings to You!

Whether disguising my identity with false pretenses or washing my crimes with lies — all of it is me demonstrating my devotion to You.

I swear the clown is the most devout believer You've ever had. In this entire universe — no, even beyond the universe — no one follows You as steadfastly as I do."

"Tch— A lie."

"Truth demonstrates my loyalty. Lies represent my offering. Whether You judge these words true or false, my devotion remains unwavering."

Those eyes blinked. He hadn't expected the clown to wrap Him in a paradox. He scoffed again, spiraling slightly:

"What a silver tongue of sophistry. You're so fervently insisting on your devotion — is the next step begging for a reward?"

Cheng Shi rubbed his hands sheepishly, shaking his head vigorously: "I'm not that kind of person... So, is there one?"

"Hmm?"

"Merit is merit. Fault is fault. They shouldn't be conflated.

Beat me if you must, punish me as deserved — I accept. But the reward for devotion can't be withheld!"

Those eyes actually broke into hearty laughter. Clearly, He was indeed in fine spirits today.

And so, under Cheng Shi's dumbfounded gaze, [Deceit] blinked lightly and tossed a ball of fire before him.

Strangely, the first thing Cheng Shi thought of upon seeing the fire was the Torchbearers!

'What does this mean? He wants me to approach the Torchbearers? Or become their fire!?'

He wanted neither.

Cheng Shi froze. He didn't immediately reach for the fire but instead looked up at those eyes with a face full of question marks.

Those eyes saw through the clown's inner conflict and scoffed:

"If you haven't seen its truth, you must believe it false.

No need to keep showcasing your devotion. Of course, your current 'devotion' may not actually be devotion — just plain stupidity.

Those mortals who love chasing firelight need no protection from you. The Flame of Hope is more than enough to bring them genuine warmth."

'The Flame of Hope?'

'So this is how the Fun God protects the Torchbearers?'

Cheng Shi silently filed this away without comment, then turned his attention to the fire before him. When he focused and examined it closely, he discovered it wasn't just fire!

Beneath the blazing flames lurked a shadow that the firelight couldn't illuminate. And the shadow didn't seem to be pure darkness, either. Cheng Shi stared for a long time without being able to discern it. He decided to reach out and test it — after all, this was the void, with the Benefactor watching overhead. Surely nothing would go wrong here?

So he moved. His fingers touched the shadow. Instantly, a viscous sensation transmitted from his fingertips.

'This is... blood!?'

Cheng Shi's eyes sharpened. He grasped the shadow in one motion, then held the hourglass-shaped object — constructed of fire and blood — before his eyes in stunned amazement.

Now he finally knew what [Deceit]'s "reward" was.

"[War]'s... container!?"

"What? Aren't you collecting these things?

This is [War]'s payment from that trade you proposed.

I'm merely the delivery man. Now it's the clown's turn to pay his end. I hear you're supposed to show Him the world?

Perfect. I'm also curious how a clown goes about seeing the world."

"..."

'I'm scared, my lord. If You keep up this passive-aggression, I'm going to become a believer of [Sarcasm].'

...