The next second, a wisp of black smoke drifted toward the crystal ball, just as Charlie had imagined.
Ethan had never seen what his predictions looked like before, so when he saw the black smoke drifting over, he would definitely be puzzled, but he wouldn't speak right away.
After all, this was a prediction of the future. If it was interrupted, it might fail.
That delay was exactly what Charlie wanted.
Once the prediction was over, he would immediately urge Harriet to carry out the "prediction," and everything would naturally fall into place.
"Sister Harriet, the crystal ball... the crystal ball is showing it very clearly this time," Charlie pretended his face had turned even paler, "We have to reach the one hundredth step within thirty seconds. There's an illusion monster there. As long as we kill it, we can leave this place."
"Is it really that simple?", Harriet asked. Then she quickly calculated, "Running down one hundred steps means covering about ten steps every three seconds while avoiding the traps. I should be able to do it."
Harriet took the bait at once.
But who would have expected Kaleb to interrupt at this moment?
"Harriet, let me go instead!", Kaleb suddenly said, "I have a shield. If I run into a trap down there, I can block it in time."
Kaleb's suggestion almost made Charlie break out in a cold sweat.
Because if Kaleb got into danger... then Harriet would definitely be the one to save him.
One change would affect everything else.
When that happened, the one who died might not be Kaleb anymore.
Charlie took a deep breath. His heart was pounding.
Fortunately, Harriet immediately rejected Kaleb.
"You're not fast enough, and your reactions aren't good enough."
"Sister Harriet, be careful," Seeing this, Charlie quickly encouraged her, "The crystal ball was gray just now. That means there could be some danger."
Of course, more importantly, Charlie had to keep talking.
That way, Ethan wouldn't get a chance to interrupt.
As long as Harriet started moving, anything Ethan said afterward would already be too late.
"Don't worry. My super memory isn't just for show," Harriet smiled, "I won't forget the path I've already walked. Even if new traps appear, I trust my reactions."
"Uh...", Ethan had just begun to speak, "I wanted to ask about your crystal ball—"
"I'm going now! We can talk after I get back!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Harriet leaped down the stairs like a cheetah.
Finally, everything had begun exactly as Charlie had planned.
After Harriet went down, Ethan finally asked, "Charlie, when you're making a prediction, do black strands go into the crystal ball?"
Charlie sneered inwardly, but to pretend he knew nothing, he deliberately said, "Talk to me later. I'm really nervous right now... What?"
He even looked down the stairs, then instantly put on an award-worthy performance, changing his expression and hurriedly taking out the crystal ball to keep acting.
Ethan was fooled.
He immediately used a skill.
"Level 3 Space Gate!"
Right after that, the sound of fighting echoed up from below.
Only after the battle ended did Ethan shout down, "What's down there?"
"There's a black hole. My sword snapped as soon as I stabbed into it!"
Harriet's puzzled voice came from below.
Seeing the time was right, Charlie immediately rushed down the stairs and hugged Harriet while crying.
Harriet pushed him away with a look of disgust.
A trace of anger flashed through Charlie's eyes.
But since he had already started the act, he had to finish it.
He could only keep pretending to be a weak prophet who had been frightened.
Then... Everything returned to the expected course.
Harriet thanked Ethan.
Kaleb stepped in and caused trouble.
"Harriet, why are you thanking him?", Kaleb mocked from the side,."If he'd spoken up the moment he noticed something had entered the crystal ball, none of this would've happened."
"If you're so capable, you should've taken the lead instead of letting a woman do it for you."
"And you're supposed to be a man."
Ethan naturally wasn't willing to back down, and the two of them started arguing.
Charlie had already predicted that the item needed to clear the stage would appear soon, so he quickly took out the crystal ball and pretended to make another prediction.
Sure enough, a moment later, a wisp of black smoke flew out of the hollow where the stone snake statue had been.
This was the item needed to clear the stage.
Whoever struck it would have it placed into their backpack.
To keep anyone else from getting it, Charlie used his Smoke and Mirrors skill again.
This time, he blocked the sight of Harriet and Kaleb.
As long as those two couldn't see it, Ethan would naturally complete the task.
When Charlie saw Ethan disperse the black smoke, and Ethan's expression changed, he immediately knew his plan had worked.
Then, Charlie took the chance to pretend he had seen the answer.
"Sister Harriet, Brother Kaleb! I saw how to clear it! It's... kill the person who has the Shadow of Nothingness."
Ethan pretended he hadn't obtained the Shadow of Nothingness.
Kaleb didn't believe him.
Then... Ethan handed the backpack containing the Shadow of Nothingness to Kaleb for "inspection."
Kaleb unknowingly became the owner of the Shadow of Nothingness.
Then Ethan killed him in one move.
Kaleb... Dead.
Soon after, they finally came out of the maze.
Seeing that he had safely made it through the second temple, Charlie finally let out a long sigh of relief.
But next, Ethan and Harriet started arguing again over how to split the loot.
Charlie was so alarmed that he quickly performed another small divination.
Fortunately, the result showed that they would safely enter the third temple.
But, as soon as the third temple's trial was completed, Ethan would immediately kill them.
Without any hesitation.
When Charlie saw that outcome, his face turned pale again.
What could he possibly do... to make Ethan spare him?
At this point, Charlie wanted nothing else.
He only wanted to stay alive.
How could he leave Harriet's team, make Ethan believe he wasn't a threat, and convince him that he could actually help?
The enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Charlie's eyes lit up.
'If... If I can persuade Harriet to make a move against Ethan, to poison him when the chance comes, and have her take all the blame in the end...'
Then, when they left the third temple, if he declared his position before Ethan did and killed Harriet himself... wouldn't that give him one chance to survive?
With that thought in mind... Charlie made one final prediction.
The result... was exactly what he had expected.
Inside the crystal ball, after he killed Harriet, he actually... lived.