Chapter 1 A Dark City

Night deepened, but the gaudy city remained noisy.

Countless zombies shed their daytime costumes, changed their appearances, and took to the streets again, trying to find some souls as empty as theirs, to comfort and satisfy each other.

There were also many people who chose to curl up in their nests, using a screen and a keyboard to pretend to be the kind of people they could never be, in order to gain recognition and vent their stress.

Humans can always find ways to make themselves feel at ease.

But tonight, our protagonists are some creatures other than humans...

It was a cat, or rather, a female demon from hell in the form of a male cat.

Asas was not her real name, her name was...

"Quimoris, long time no see... I almost didn't recognize you..."

When these words rang out, Asas, or rather... Quimoris (gremory, also written "Jimori", ranked 56th among the seventy-two pillars of Solomon's demons, with the rank of duke) was resting on a swing in the park.

After hearing the words, she slowly stood up and stretched. "I see..." She yawned, "In order to win, those guys in heaven have completely abandoned their morals..." She turned her head and looked at the "person" who was talking to her.

At this moment, in the deserted park, the figure standing next to the swing and talking to a cat... was actually a lion; to be precise, a lioness.

"Yes..." the lioness replied, "But then again, the side you are loyal to... never had such a thing as morals in the first place..."

"Heh... that's true." Quimoris smiled and continued, "Then... Atalanta, what is your purpose here today..." At this point, her tone suddenly turned cold, "Could it be that you are here to take my life for those guys in heaven?"

"Heh... even if they really dared to ask, I wouldn't agree." Atalanta replied, "I'm just a mercenary, and I don't want to be a scapegoat for some big shots for that little reward..."

"I understand..." Quimoris continued, "No wonder your husband didn't come with you..." As she spoke, she jumped off the swing and came to the other party's side, "Your task is just to stall me, right?"

"It's best if you understand that." Atalanta replied, "We're all old acquaintances, so let me give you a piece of advice... It's better for both of us if we just chat casually. If you insist on fighting me, it won't change the outcome, and it will only make the process ugly..."

As soon as the words fell, both sides fell silent.

If someone passed by at this time, they would see a strange scene—a lion and a cat, in a park at night, under the dim streetlights... sitting opposite each other, silently confronting each other.

About a minute later, Quimoris spoke again, with a long sigh: "Alas... there's really no way..."

"So... you agree with my suggestion?" Atalanta replied.

"No, I just think of what's about to happen..." Quimoris's eyes suddenly changed at this moment, "and I feel very helpless..."

...

At the same time, in Feng Bujue's home.

"Let me guess..." When Jue Ge came out of the toilet, he saw a lion sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room at a glance, but his tone was still calm, "The zoo was attacked by some radical protection organizations?"

"Heh... you're very humorous, Feng Bujue." It was a male lion, and the voice coming from its throat was also male, "But I think this kind of humor that doesn't fit the occasion and is inappropriate is a bit sarcastic."

"Okay, then I won't be sarcastic." Feng Bujue said as he walked to the sofa and sat down, "May I ask who the lion is, and what brings you here?"

"My name... is Hippomenes." Hippomenes gave his name and then said, "I am here to bring a message to you from 'someone'."

"Heh..." Feng Bujue smiled, "Do you know what happened to the last guy who came to bring me a message..."

"Are you talking about Zachariah?" Hippomenes replied.

"Looks like you know." Feng Bujue smiled.

"Yes... everyone knows about it." Hippomenes continued in a rather relaxed tone, "So, the 'big shots above' have changed their strategy..."

Hearing this, many pieces of information flashed through Feng Bujue's mind in an instant: "In other words... those big shots in heaven have become smarter now. They realized that direct intervention would not succeed, so they started looking for 'third-party' forces... like you... to help."

"I didn't say anything..." Hippomenes turned his head away and said in a self-deceiving tone, "Everything about 'heaven'... is just your own speculation."

"Heh..." Jue Ge sneered when he saw this, "I roughly understand your position, tell me... what is the message that 'someone' big shot wants you to convey?"

"Um..." Hippomenes turned his head again and stared into Jue Ge's eyes, "'That one' wants you to return from your lost path..."

"Ha! I take back that sentence 'they've become smarter'." Feng Bujue immediately interjected with a dry laugh after hearing only half a sentence.

"Don't worry, they are, after all, people from 'that side', and there are some things that have to be said." Hippomenes continued, "In short, as long as you can return from your lost path... no matter what conditions Woody offers you, they will accept them all."

"Oh." Feng Bujue leaned back on the sofa after hearing this, thought for a few seconds, and then continued, "Okay... please go and tell that idiot who asked you to deliver the message..."

"Hey... that's not a good way to talk." Hippomenes was sweating, and he quickly interrupted Jue Ge, "Let me reiterate, that person is a 'big shot'."

"Is that so..." Feng Bujue replied impatiently, "Okay, please go and tell that person who asked you to deliver the message, whose intelligence is obviously below average but whose status is very high, that..."

His wording made Hippomenes roll his eyes, but this time... the lion didn't say anything more, because he was afraid that Jue Ge would say something even worse after being interrupted a second time.

"...just ask him, if it were me... proposing that he 'abandon the light and turn to the dark' to be a spy for hell; and the conditions I offer are exactly the same as his treatment in heaven, would he do it?" Feng Bujue continued, "After his IQ can figure this out, come talk to me again."

"Alas..." Hippomenes sighed, "Then you're not agreeing?"

"Isn't that nonsense? Do you think everyone is as stupid as 'that one'?" Feng Bujue asked.

Hippomenes didn't respond to this question, but said: "According to that person's meaning, if you don't agree, then I have to convey another message..."

"Isn't it just intimidation? What new tricks can that idiot have?" Feng Bujue guessed correctly.

"Since you've guessed it, I won't beat around the bush..." Hippomenes continued, "His original words are—'The game will eventually end, but your life is far from over, I have countless ways to make your future life miserable'."

"Oh?" At this moment, Feng Bujue's eyes, aura... instantly became different.

Even Hippomenes couldn't help but feel a chill, and his expression became a little more serious.

"Then you can take my words back to him, word for word..." Feng Bujue leaned forward and said to Hippomenes in a cold tone, "You tell him—'Whether it's a game or life... as long as I'm willing, I can afford to play and I can win. And you will pay the price for what you said to me today.'"

"Uh..." Hippomenes swallowed, "Okay... I will definitely bring your words." After he finished this sentence, he already wanted to leave, "Then... I'll take my leave first today..."

"Wait." Unexpectedly, Jue Ge called him to a halt.

"Is... is there anything else?" For some reason, Hippomenes was a little timid in front of Jue Ge, this mortal.

"It's nothing big, I just want to confirm..." Feng Bujue said, "A few days ago, was it also you who delivered the message to 'Shi Long'?"

"Oh~" Hippomenes understood what the other party meant, and he didn't have anything to hide, "That's right, it was me. However, when I delivered the message to him, I didn't use my current appearance."

"Understandable." Feng Bujue continued, "In general, if people see a lion outside a cage, their reaction is probably to scream and run away."

"That's one of the reasons..." Hippomenes continued, "Because I didn't want to explain too much to him, so I changed into an appearance that was very close to what humans imagine as an 'angel'... you know... that kind of person wearing armor, with wings on their back, blond hair, blue eyes, and a constipated face."

"After transforming, you brought him a message of intimidation?" Feng Bujue took over the other party's words and asked.

"Heh... that's very normal, isn't it?" Hippomenes said, "He's far from the level where someone would 'negotiate' with him, so for him... the simplest and most effective way is to threaten the safety of his family and friends, and that can achieve the goal. Anyway, he can't call the police, and even if he does... no one will believe his story."

"Then..." Feng Bujue continued, "Then please, transform back into the way you looked then, and take the time to tell him that 'Feng Bujue has already taken care of the previous intimidation for you'."

"What?" Hippomenes was stunned, "How do you want to take care of it? Before that... do you know what you want to 'take care of'?"

"Isn't it just an idiot? Don't worry, I can take care of it." Feng Bujue replied in a very arrogant tone, "You just pass on the message."

"Hey hey... who do you think I am?" Hippomenes said, "Even if it's just passing on a message, I still have to charge a considerable reward."

"If you don't pass it on, I'll report you to the judge." Feng Bujue blurted out.

Hippomenes's face changed when he heard this: "Hmph... don't scare me... I'm originally a third party, and I'm only responsible for passing on the message, and I haven't implemented anything... the judge can't control this kind of thing!"

"Um... that makes sense." Feng Bujue nodded when he heard this, but in the next second, he changed the subject, "But... do you think that Judge is a reasonable person?"

Hippomenes narrowed his eyes and muttered, "What do you mean?"

"I don't mean anything, I'm just thinking..." Feng Bujue said with a half-smile, "Those guys who 'directly interfere with the competition' were all blown up by him with a snap of his fingers, so what about you, who 'interfered with the competition by passing on messages for some people'? What will he do? Will he snap his fingers lightly and blow up your balls?"

"Okay, okay... you're ruthless..." Hippomenes paced back and forth in the living room, and his tone was already full of regret, "I shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess in the first place..."

"Then I'll take it as you've agreed." Feng Bujue said weakly, and stood up from the sofa, "Okay, if there's nothing else... please leave." As he said that, he tilted his head and signaled with his eyes towards Ruo Yu's door, "You can feel it too... the one behind the door has been considering whether to come out and beat you up."

...

Later that night, in the park.

"Hehehe..." Woody appeared as always, abruptly, and let out a lewd laugh before speaking, "You've regressed..."

"Yeah... I haven't fought in a long time, and I'm a bit rusty." At this time, Quimoris had already turned back into a cat and was lying on the ground, licking her wounds.

About ten minutes ago, Hippomenes, who had returned from Jue Ge's place, came here, ended the battle, and took the injured Atalanta away.

And after Quimoris confirmed that Feng Bujue was fine, she wasn't in a hurry to return either.

"Hehe... that's not what I meant." Woody said with a smile, "I mean... if it were you in the past, you wouldn't have fought this fight at all."

"Hmph..." Quimoris snorted and replied, "You talk as if you know me very well."

"Hehehe..." Woody didn't say anything more about this question, just smiled silently.

"Speak, what bad news have you brought this time?" After a few seconds, Quimoris asked again.

"This time it's not bad news." Woody replied, "I'm just here to inform you that the mission is over."

Hearing the word "over," Quimoris was obviously stunned.

"Is this really okay?" After a moment, she replied, "Feng Bujue's ability could awaken at any time..."

"This has nothing to do with you anymore." Woody interrupted her and said in a deep voice, "Now the game has entered the final stage, and the council is going to personally come forward and strictly control it... Even the judge's authority has been restricted to a certain extent, let alone others..." When he said this, he also revealed a bit of helplessness, "Okay, it's 'inconvenient to talk' here, let's go back with me first..."

"I..." Quimoris thought for a while, but still didn't say Jue Ge and Ruo Yu's names, "Don't you need to say hello to 'them'?"

"No need." Woody replied, and the sinister smile returned to his face, "Hehe... tomorrow, I will personally come to visit those two."