"I might as well deceive myself, wait until my magic is complete, then come back to Senluo to avenge him."

Igula's voice carried a hint of mockery: "Can you still deceive yourself?"

"Don't worry, I won't agree with you and then turn around to rescue Tamasi alone—that would be an absurdly stupid drop-in-the-bucket tactic. I also understand that it's impossible for me to save Tamasi alone; even if all of us went together, it would still only be a slight probability. If you guys sacrifice yourselves to save me, the Mercury Wooden Horse might just laugh themselves awake from their dreams."

"I'm not a god, nor a savior; there are always times when I'm powerless, always disasters I can't overcome," Ash said. "I'd rather regret standing by in the future than allow myself to become your predicament."

"Tamasi Ya Sha Jin is certainly a friend with whom I share life and death," he said seriously, "But, Igula and Harvey, are your places in my heart really lower than Tamasi's?"

Harvey suddenly felt uncomfortable all over, wanting to crawl into a coffin and lie with Alice. 'Is this something a Blood Moonian would say?' Harvey thought to himself, but unwittingly sat up straight, and Alice seemed to feel his intention and squeezed his hand tighter.

Igula also covered his face with his hand to conceal his expression, asking, "So you're giving up on Black Crow for us?"

Ash shook his head: "It's not for you; saying that makes it seem like I'm sacrificing a lot for you... Actually, maybe it's just that I don't want to go either, using you as an excuse."

"Though now might not be the time for me to speak," Qikara suddenly said, "But Mr. Ash, that statement of yours definitely isn't true."

"It's almost 10 o'clock," Gwen suddenly reminded.

Igula sighed deeply: "Alright, you win, we—"

"That's not okay," Ash said. "Now it's your turn to persuade me. I need one sentence, a genuine sentence, especially from you, Igula. If I don't feel it's sincere enough, I won't let you go to rescue Tamasi."

"How would I know what you want to hear?"

"You surely know because you're Igula the Swindler; aside from God, only a trickster like you would dare to claim they can fulfill anyone's wishes," he said. "But this time, I want to hear your true words, not lies to fulfill my wish."

Igula stared at Ash, his eyes showing irritation. However, Ash looked back at him with unwavering determination.

Moments later, Igula reluctantly squeezed out a few words from the corner of his mouth: "Unlike you, Black Crow holds a very low position in my heart. But you all aren't much higher; I just see you as tools I can utilize for the long term—what the world calls 'friends.'"

"However, there aren't many 'friends' whom I acknowledge," the Swindler said. "So, Black Crow cannot die."

"To die in a foreign land at the hands of a Legendary Mage is a very high-class death," Harvey said slowly. "If my death can help Black Crow shatter Mercury Wooden Horse's happy life, making the bloody revenge even more intense, then all the better."

That's the words Ash wanted to hear.

They could go to rescue Black Crow, but it shouldn't be because 'Ash wants to save'; if that's the case, Ash would rather give up on this obsession. He doesn't want to become the engine for the group's destruction.

Igula and Harvey must both want to save Black Crow; they have to make this decision out of their own will for Ash to approve of this operation.

Though it seems the same on the surface, to Ash, the meaning is entirely different—the former would mean Ash dragging them into the arena with shackles, while the latter is them walking in with heads held high.

This is the difference between shame and honor, between disgrace and pride.

"I will follow Mr. Igula," Gwen said softly.

Qikara looked around, swallowing a gulp of spit, "Should we, perhaps, take a long view?"

"Weren't you the one firmly resolved to save Black Crow just now? We're very clear on your stance." Igula patted the Beastman's shoulder, leaned closer, and asked coldly, "Or, are you saying you want to back out now?"

Qikara looked at Ash with pleading eyes, but Ash shrugged—indicating he wouldn't speak fondly to Igula for him.

"Don't worry," Harvey said calmly. "Your master is Alice; just protect Alice and the Coffin, and you won't be sent to die."

Igula snorted, seemingly dissatisfied but still agreed to Harvey's arrangement, making Qikara instantly grateful. Watching this scene, Ash thought Igula and Harvey were really skilled at playing the good and bad cop.

The group walked out of the Gobi, gazing at the distant vine-covered giant city.

Ash suddenly laughed: "Talking about it, when we first arrived in Senluo, we were thrown into prison, and it was Tamasi who broke the walls to rescue us."

"That was three months ago," Igula said. "Back then, you confidently possessed a god, only to be instantly killed by Silver Lamp."

Igula realized immediately that he misspoke. Ash paused, his expression momentarily dazed: "Silver Lamp... Feels like it's been a long time since I heard news about her."

He stopped for a moment, quickly returning to the topic: "When we first arrived in Senluo, we were saved by Tamasi, and now before we leave Senluo, we have to rescue Tamasi, forming a complete loop."

"But when we see him, we'll have to give him a punch."

Ash threw a Direct Punch in the air, grumbling and swearing, "Though he was forced to, my anger is also beyond my control. Previously, he even said he was under my restraint... Hmph!"

"Let's go; before going to Hell, let's first follow Black Crow down the Silent Spiral."

...

...

In the shadow covered by the barrel, Black Crow was fully operating the mental method he learned from Blind Town, trying to erase his presence as much as possible. Although this mental method can achieve the effect of a Concealment Miracle, it requires an extremely high degree of self-control. Any intense emotional fluctuation could expose his own aura.

But for the Judgement Warrior who have killed countless times, there is already nothing in this world that could make them lose their composure. However, in just the past half-hour of listening, Black Crow was unable to suppress his inner shock several times, almost causing the mental method to fail.

"...Your Excellency Vishi, Silver Lamp has reached the bottom level."

"Although it should take quite a while, I'll go down and guard it first... By the way, without my orders, don't approach the bottom three floors, so as not to disturb Silver Lamp."

"Yes."

"Actually, you could have left just now, didn't you already brush out a normal Sky Gate passage?"

"Across is an isolated island and the sea, not knowing how far from human society, and it's uncertain if civilization even exists... Anyway, there's still so much time, no need to rush the decision."

"There was a saying in my era: 'A thousand selection a thousand picks, in the end, picked a rotten lamp.'"

"Remember the teaching of Your Excellency Vishi."

"No need to remember, you might end up brushing out a perfect Sky Gate passage? And it's also possible you might pick for a long time and end up with worse. All principles left from the successful are just experiences of those who've mastered Fate, but success always requires not experience, but luck."

Black Crow heard Vishi's footsteps getting closer, and his voice became clearer: "As long as you can win in the end, then you're right; otherwise, no matter how correct your reasons are, you're wrong."

"So..."

The next second, Vishi's mysterious and unpredictable voice traveled through Black Crow's ear canal, straight to his brain: "Your luck is good; she's no longer useful to me."

"Farewell, Your Excellency Vishi." The others, as if they hadn't heard this sentence, politely bid farewell.

Black Crow didn't dare move an inch, not knowing how long he waited, until someone began to move the barrels. One of the barrels tipped, and a drop of Blood Wine dripped onto Black Crow's mask, tracing a bloodstain.

Then it gently fell.

Dripping onto his Gray Fox Blade.

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