Die, Replay, Repeat

December website update

Fang Xiu waved his hand dismissively, signaling the experts who had just briefed him to leave his office.

Left alone, he pondered for a moment before deciding who was best suited to handle the matter at hand.

Picking up his phone, he made a call. "Tell Yang Ming to come over."

"Yes, sir."

A few minutes later, Yang Ming entered the office, his eyes immediately wandering around the room.

"Wow, Xiu, this office of yours screams wealth and power," he teased, clicking his tongue. "This desk—rosewood, right? No, wait… purple sandalwood? Classy."

Fang Xiu ignored the banter, and tossed the ancient bronze bell to Yang Ming without a word.

"This is important," Fang Xiu said. "Keep it with you at all times."

Yang Ming caught the bell midair, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What's this?"

"A treasure," Fang Xiu replied curtly. "You don't need to know more. Just make sure it's always on you."

Yang Ming shrugged, pocketing the bell without further questions.

Over the years, he had grown used to Fang Xiu's cryptic ways. If Fang Xiu deemed something important, it likely involved one of his foresight abilities.

With that, Fang Xiu dismissed Yang Ming.

To Fang Xiu, Yang Ming was the perfect person for this job. When it came to mysterious, unexplainable items, no one had better instincts. Yang Ming's unique talent—God's Plan—made him naturally drawn to hidden treasures.

What others overlooked or deemed worthless, Yang Ming had a knack for uncovering their true value.

Fang Xiu felt certain it wouldn't be long before Yang Ming uncovered something unexpected about the bell.

For now, he kept Yang Ming close, stationed at headquarters rather than sending him back to Greenvine.

As the captain of the Chief Commander's personal guard, Yang Ming was surrounded by those Fang Xiu trusted most.

When the Director had suggested assigning a fourth-tier powerhouse to the role, Fang Xiu had refused.

To him, the difference between a third-tier and a fourth-tier fighter was negligible. In real danger, Fang Xiu doubted they could protect him any better. Instead, he valued one quality above all else for his personal guards: absolute loyalty.

Following this principle, Fang Xiu had recruited Yang Ming, Bai Qi, and a handful of other dependable allies from Greenvine.

So far, no one in headquarters was as reliable—or as obedient—as this group.

*****

A knock on the door interrupted Fang Xiu's thoughts.

"Come in."

A staff member entered briskly.

"Sir, we've apprehended Gongben Teng'er. He's in the interrogation room."

"Any casualties?"

"No, sir. He didn't resist. It's almost like he knew it was pointless. But he's been shouting non-stop, demanding to see the Director. Says he has critical information to share."

Fang Xiu smirked slightly, already guessing what Gongben Teng'er's so-called "critical information" was about.

"Interesting. Take me there."

Led by the staff member, Fang Xiu made his way to the interrogation room.

Inside, Gongben Teng'er sat shackled with soulsteel cuffs, his powers neutralized by suppressant.

The Director was already there when Fang Xiu entered.

The moment Gongben Teng'er spotted Fang Xiu, his face twisted with fury.

"Sir! You must protect me! I am an envoy of Isleland! This man—Fang Xiu—is a spy for the Pokers! He's working with them!"

The Director turned to Fang Xiu with a raised eyebrow.

"Care to explain?"

"He's right," Fang Xiu replied calmly.

"You see?" Gongben Teng'er shrieked, his voice filled with desperation. "He admitted it! Arrest him now before he silences me!"

The Director blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter.

"Alright, enough games."

But his amusement faded quickly, replaced by a more serious tone.

"Fang Xiu, I've heard you killed an Isleland envoy. That was reckless. What's your plan for the fallout?"

"Simple," Fang Xiu said coldly. "Kill them all."

The Director's jaw slackened for a moment.

"...Excuse me?"

"He's trying to kill me! He wants to cover his tracks!" Gongben Teng'er shouted, growing more hysterical. "I have evidence! Recordings! Proof!"

His screams grew louder, but no one paid him any attention.

The Director pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Fang Xiu, you really should reconsider. This could spark a serious conflict between us and Isleland."

Fang Xiu's tone was icy as he replied.

"An Isleland envoy breaking into Huaxia Investigation Bureau headquarters at night to assassinate the Chief Commander? That's enough to justify anything."

"That wasn't an attack! It was an invitation! An invitation for you to visit Isleland!" Gongben Teng'er shouted frantically, his voice trembling as he sensed death looming closer.

But his words fell on deaf ears.

The Director mulled things over, then nodded thoughtfully. "Breaking into the headquarters of the Huaxia Investigation Bureau—this is indeed a severe crime. Since you've decided, let's proceed as planned."

CLANG! CLANG!

Gongben Teng'er slammed the table with his cuffed hands, the noise sharp and desperate.

"Are any of you listening to me? Fang Xiu is a spy! You can't just take his word for everything!"

Despair clawed at him. He couldn't comprehend the absurdity of his situation. A self-proclaimed spy had openly confessed, yet no one cared.

Even worse, the Director had nonchalantly agreed to Fang Xiu's chilling proposal to "deal with" him.

He wasn't just some random scapegoat; he was an envoy of Isleland. Killing him would ignite a diplomatic crisis. Gongben Teng'er still believed that they wouldn't follow through.

"Take him to my office," Fang Xiu instructed his subordinates with calm authority. "I've been working on some experiments. He'll be useful before he dies."

"Yes, sir," the staff responded without hesitation.

Two officers stepped forward, reaching for Gongben Teng'er.

Panic overtook him, and he scrambled back in his chair.

"You can't kill me. Fang Xiu is a spy for THE POKERS! I have evidence!"

Desperately, he pulled a recording pen from his pocket and raised it like a lifeline. His thumb trembled as he pressed play.

A calm voice echoed through the room:

"That's right. I'm an undercover agent for the Pokers. In fact, I'm more than just an agent—I'm their leader."

"Did you hear that? He just admitted it!" Gongben Teng'er screamed, gripping the pen like a weapon. "He's their leader! Arrest him now!"

The response was a round of laughter from the staff.

"Do you even hear yourself?" one officer scoffed. "The leader of the Pokers, Joker, was killed thanks to Mr. Fang. Now you're saying he's Joker? At least try to make your lies convincing."

Gongben Teng'er froze, his mind spinning. The way everyone looked at him—dismissive, almost pitying—made his stomach churn.

The evidence was playing right in front of them, and they just laughed it off.

"Think for a second!" he barked. "If Fang Xiu weren't guilty, why would he meet with members of the Pokers in secret at night?"

The officer crossed his arms and smirked. "To be honest, I don't think you're bright enough to understand Mr. Fang's strategies. What he does is beyond your comprehension."

Gongben Teng'er was speechless.

"Meetings with enemy operatives, that's part of his strategy? How stupid are you?" he roared, his voice cracking. "I saw him! There was a man in an Ace of Spades mask groveling before Fang Xiu. Fang Xiu ordered him to consolidate the Pokers' forces and hand over their management. He's planning to control both the Pokers and the Investigation Bureau. And then he said—he said he'd push for nationwide Specterization. That's his real plan!"

Translator's note: Sorry but it seems this chapter is all fillers…