Evidently, the Judges of the Grand Tribunal had noticed the Players' Existence.
Regardless of their reasons for not pursuing, the self-aware group decisively abandoned their subsequent actions and returned to their rooms with solemn expressions.
Tonight's performance concluded with the price of a second life, amidst the fear of the survivors.
Fang Jue and Du Xiguang walked towards the same room, their chaotic auras slightly but noticeably bypassing Cheng Shi.
The current situation was too chaotic; it was hard not to link everything to the followers of Chaos.
Although Cheng Shi did nothing, doing nothing was even more suspicious.
From the start of the Trial until now, the group felt like they were being led by the nose.
Wherever they investigated, someone died.
This was very similar to previous Trials involving Chaos followers, the only difference being that the Deaths this time were more coincidental and more reasonable.
Cheng Shi could see their thoughts, so He didn't try to force a friendly interaction.
Like an Ascetic Monk, He silently went downstairs alone.
But He didn't return to His own room; instead, He went to Yun Ni's room.
Yun Ni's room was very simple, excessively so.
Not only were there none of her personal belongings, but even some of the tables, chairs, and benches provided by the hotel had disappeared.
Cheng Shi knew that these items must have been used as an Edict by this Assassin Miss.
The Edict of annihilation is annihilation.
Finding no useful clues, Cheng Shi sighed helplessly.
Perhaps this was the characteristic of annihilation followers; when they dedicated themselves to annihilation, all traces of their Existence also disappeared.
As if they had never been there.
He lay on Yun Ni's bed, turning to look at the knife slit she had made in the wooden wall, feeling a bit lost.
Only a dozen or so hours had passed since this slit was created, yet today felt so long, like several days had gone by.
He suddenly recalled the scene of Yun Ni shaking His hand, the red nail polish on her jade-like fingers still clear in His memory.
Images of memory kept surging, and with each memory, Cheng Shi's brow furrowed a little more.
Naturally, He wasn't reminiscing about these fragmented details.
He was thinking.
Thinking about how this knife slit came into Existence.
If He remembered correctly, the Assassin Miss could accurately sense Cheng Shi's position just through the wall.
This meant she had a detection or perception type Talent, and it wasn't low level.
If so, why didn't she detect anything unusual in the room before entering?
Even if the Judges from the Grand Tribunal had various means to conceal themselves, as an Assassin, a profession known for caution, it was impossible for her to have no warning of danger at all.
She clearly warned Fang Jue and the others the moment she opened the door.
But!
This act of warning was even more baffling.
Cheng Shi couldn't help but wonder, if it were Him, upon discovering danger in the room, He would either go all out to escape first or gather His strength for a direct fight; He certainly wouldn't be distracted to warn His teammates immediately.
He had seen Yun Ni's attitude towards her teammates clearly.
She might care about her so-called fairness, but she definitely wouldn't care about the life or Death of others.
Even uniting with Fang Jue and the others to resist immediately would be more reliable than simply giving a warning.
So, why was that?
Cheng Shi thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation, only managing to piece together an answer:
She was controlled!
It was likely not long-term control, but only for that instant, affecting her mind.
And the decision made in that instant cost her her life.
There was someone hidden in the dark who could control people's thoughts!
Was it the murderer, or a Player?
Most likely the murderer.
Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that it was Fang Jue and Du Xiguang.
Cheng Shi's expression grew increasingly solemn.
It seemed that in this Trial, not only was there a perfectly hidden murderer, but someone was also muddying the waters!
Danger surged in the night, and killing intent was hidden within the hotel.
Fortunately, dawn was not far off.
Soon, the sky brightened.
Passengers woke up one after another, and the hotel regained its liveliness and Vitality.
But the good times didn't last; just as Fang Jue and Cheng Shi simultaneously pushed open their doors and appeared in the corridor, the hotel's front door was roughly closed by a group of Executive Law Bureau officers in uniform.
"Executive Law Bureau Action Order Declared:
At the request of Grand Tribunal Judge Mercsius, all entrances and exits of Eternal Bloom Town are sealed, and the Hotel of Surging life Light is sealed.
Passengers please do not panic; the Judges have the situation under control, and your life safety is guaranteed here.
Please leave your rooms in an orderly manner and gather on the first floor.
Repeating, please everyone gather on the first floor!"
The Grand Tribunal had taken action!
Their speed was much faster than expected!
The entire hotel was sealed.
Fang Jue and the others exchanged glances with Cheng Shi and went downstairs without a word.
Cheng Shi honestly followed.
The Grand Tribunal's target wouldn't be the Players.
Since They let them go last night, They wouldn't make such a big fuss to trouble them again today.
Their target was the murderer.
As the Players went downstairs, their thoughts inevitably churned:
If the murderer really fell into the hands of the Grand Tribunal, would the clues be cut off here?
Regardless of whether the final sacrifice was Him or not, no one could interrogate a criminal in the hands of the Grand Tribunal.
Especially a Judge who instantly killed Yun Ni.
The passengers were very surprised by the Executive Law Bureau's announcement, and a wave of chaos spread through the hotel.
Everyone was filled with doubt and discussed animatedly.
"What's going on? Why seal the hotel? Where's the manager? He should protest to the autonomous council!"
"Are you out of your mind? This is an Order from the Grand Tribunal! Do you know what the Grand Tribunal is? How could the high and mighty Judges seal the hotel without evidence?"
"Oh God, the murderer is in the hotel? Praise prosperity, I'm actually still alive!"
"What? The Judge leading the team this time is Mercsius? Oh my God, how I wish I could meet Him, even just a glance would be enough."
"Who? That Child of Thunder?"
"It's Him! He is a First Class Judge of the Grand Tribunal, a student of Grand Executioner Artaylor, the most talented Element Judge in history, and the Child of Order most likely to inherit the name of Grand Judge!
Even!
Even if I just get a glimpse of Him, tonight will be a dream I'll never forget."
"You look terrifying when you're in heat; perhaps for Mercsius, seeing you would give Him nightmares!"
"Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"prosperity above, the Judges have already locked onto the murderer. Now, I'm not afraid of you."
"..."
The scene was in chaos, and the Players stood separately among the restless crowd, solemnly observing everything suspicious around them.
On the eve of being judged by the Grand Tribunal, They still wanted to find some clues a step ahead.
But there were too many people, the noise was too loud, and in such a chaotic situation, it was difficult to find a "not suspicious" person; many passengers' behavior became distorted and reactive due to panic.
Cheng Shi sighed slightly and began to change His thinking.
At the same time, four Judges from the Grand Tribunal quietly appeared in the four corners of the hall, enclosing and defining the entire hotel with just four people.
Before long, amidst the frightened and uneasy discussions, a purple-eyed Judge wearing a Judge's robe appeared at the entrance of the hotel.
Mercsius!
The Element Judge of the Grand Tribunal, the most popular First Class Judge in history!
"You know Him?"
Du Xiguang stood in the crowd and asked in a low voice.
Fang Jue nodded and said:
"The Child of Order who died young; I saw His name in the history books of the Grand Tribunal.
After His Death, the Grand Tribunal was gradually drawn into the quagmire of War and slowly declined."
"Died young... War?"
Du Xiguang was a bit confused, but then He reacted.
"Is it the late civilization era now?"
"No, earlier.
It should be the end of the middle period; at this time, the civil war had just begun, and war had only just started to watch this land and had not yet descended, as for Chaos, its God name hadn't even spread."
!
A flash of inspiration struck Du Xiguang's mind, and He suddenly understood why, despite a follower of Chaos being right outside the door last night, the Judges of the Grand Tribunal did not come to arrest them.
It turned out that this was the early period of the civilization era. At this time, the descent of Order and Truth had passed for several thousand years, and Their followers had almost unified the surface, but war had only just noticed the Hope Continent.
"How did He die?"
"The Grand Tribunal's records are very vague; I did not join them, so my understanding is limited."
"What is the Child of Order?" Du Xiguang asked again.
This time, Fang Jue didn't answer Him but asked a question in return:
"What did you exchange for your memory?"
Du Xiguang's face tightened, and He pursed His Mouth, remaining silent.
Fang Jue seemed to guess something and didn't say anything more.
This Judge, whose eyes sparkled with purple Thunder, walked step by step in front of everyone, tapped the floor with His staff, signaling everyone to be quiet.
Perhaps out of coercion from Order, or perhaps out of respect for the Grand Tribunal, the hall quickly fell silent.
He hadn't spoken yet, just performed a 禮 according to the way of Order followers, and an idea of "abiding by the law" instantly infected Cheng Shi, making Him feel an urge to "surrender."
"..."
This was much more impressive than Fang Jue's "Confession" last night.
Just as everyone lowered their heads, preparing to "accept judgment," Mercsius spoke.
...