Hearing Rookie speak these words with such confidence, as if everything was already under control, everyone's inner conflict and uneasiness finally eased quite a bit.
After Rookie brought up the idea of letting HIM dissipate in the Surface World and letting Xu Yuan be reborn in the Inner World, even though only the Ender Queen was the first to voice her opinion, in reality she had spoken for everyone.
As the saying goes, those who stay near vermilion turn red, those who stay near ink turn black. Everyone had been following Xu Yuan all this time, so their beliefs and values naturally aligned with his.
Just like Entity 303 had said, if a plan that required trading one life for another were put in front of Xu Yuan, he probably wouldn't even need time to think before rejecting it outright.
So in truth, everyone present shared the same thoughts as the Ender Queen. None of them could accept this kind of life-for-life exchange.
The reason they hadn't spoken up rashly was because they had considered the Ender Queen.
After all, her feelings for Xu Yuan were no longer a secret, so everyone had subconsciously assumed she might waver.
Unexpectedly, she was actually the first one to step forward in opposition.
Since the only concern had already voiced her objection, everyone naturally felt free to express what they truly thought as well.
———
At this moment, as the heavy atmosphere eased slightly, the expression on Entity 303's face also relaxed. After shooting Rookie an annoyed look, he finally felt like arguing again.
"If you've got something to say, just say it. Why do you always have to drag me into it?"
"And what do you mean 'those near vermilion turn red, those near ink turn black'? You make it sound like we're that close."
Seeing Entity 303's face full of disgust, like he had just seen something filthy, an innocent, harmless smile instantly appeared on Rookie's intelligent-looking face.
He blinked his eyes and asked with an innocent expression, "Huh? Aren't we close?"
"But I clearly remember that I know your bank card password! And… didn't you personally promise before to let me inherit your inheritance?"
After saying that, Rookie continued with a thoughtful look on his face, "If I remember right… I think… probably… maybe… only direct... relatives... can inherit someone's estate, right?"
It had to be said, this guy Rookie really had no sense of avoiding suspicion at all. He even deliberately emphasized the words "direct relatives," as if he was afraid people wouldn't think his relationship with Entity 303 was anything ordinary.
Honestly, Rookie really did counter Entity 303 in every possible way.
After all, someone as stubbornly tsundere as Entity 303 was exactly the kind of person who couldn't handle someone like Rookie, who spoke so straightforwardly.
Sure enough, after hearing Rookie's completely undisguised words, Entity 303 looked like he had just been struck by lightning and froze on the spot.
His eyes widened as he stared at Rookie, who had absolutely no filter, like he had just seen a ghost.
He never would have imagined that Rookie would say something so… suggestive… right in front of so many people…
Not only that, but at this very moment, Entity 303 suddenly felt that the Rookie standing in front of him seemed a little different from the one he used to know.
Thinking back to their previous meetings, maybe because the situation had always been extremely tense, they usually got straight to the point and only discussed the most critical matters.
Back then, Rookie had seemed fairly serious, not this confusing like he was now.
But the Rookie standing before him now… left Entity 303 at a loss, not knowing how to respond.
After hearing Rookie's "deep confession," everyone could clearly feel the temperature around them rise a little. The looks they gave Rookie and Entity 303 also became somewhat playful.
The Ender Queen, who had just been timid a moment ago, instantly looked like she had found leverage.
She was just about to tease Entity 303 when she was interrupted by two awkward coughs from him.
"Ahem…"
"Let's talk about the important stuff!"
"Since you don't mean letting the real HIM dissipate, then what do you mean by letting the HIM of the Surface World dissipate?"
"Stop keeping us guessing and just explain your plan."
Although Entity 303's attempt to change the subject was indeed a bit stiff, he did successfully shift the conversation to what everyone cared about most.
Only then did everyone put away their gossip-hungry expressions and turn their attention back to Rookie.
Seeing this, Rookie's face, which had just relaxed a little, immediately became serious again. He took a deep breath, his gaze slowly sweeping across everyone present, and began explaining.
"When I just mentioned letting HIM dissipate in the Surface World…"
"The HIM I was talking about isn't the real HIM, but Xu Yuan's specific identity in the Surface World."
As Rookie spoke in an orderly way, he carefully watched the changes in everyone's expressions.
Seeing confusion and puzzlement appear on their faces, as if they didn't quite understand what he meant, he cleared his throat and continued.
"I believe you're all familiar with Xu Yuan's origin."
"Like the other two HIMs who appeared in the Surface World, he was summoned by the real HIM."
"Although Xu Yuan himself had long since broken free from the constraints of that identity, completed his transformation, walked his own path, and gained the faith of countless living beings and even players."
"Although people's faith in him was directed only at him personally, not anything else."
"Although he is the one and only My King in everyone's heart."
"There is still one undeniable fact that cannot be changed…"
At this point, Rookie suddenly paused, as if weighing his next words.
Just as he was about to continue, Entity 303, with a serious expression, picked up where he left off.
"The body he had in the Surface World, including the name the players happened to give him, and all those external factors, ultimately still belong to the real HIM…"
Seeing that Entity 303 had already realized this issue, Rookie nodded in agreement.
"That's right."
"From the moment Xu Yuan was summoned here, everything he experienced followed the guidance of the real HIM."
"Although he did it very well, you could even say he exceeded expectations, but it can't be denied that every step he took before had already been planned."
"Up until the very moment before he dissipated, that was when he truly began writing his own story."
"Yet at that moment, the decision he made was to trade his own life for the safety of all living beings…"
"And… even at that moment, he still kept the appearance of the real HIM… By then he had already obtained the real HIM's power. He actually could have shown himself with Xu Yuan's appearance…"
"He did not fail the real HIM. Using the real HIM's body, he accepted that promise…"
"And he also did not fail the faith everyone had in him personally. Using Xu Yuan's identity, he fulfilled that promise."