Chapter 188: Despicable Me (Thirteen)
Chapter 188: Despicable Me (Thirteen)
"Can't be done." Bi Li rejected the request bluntly. It wasn't just defiance—he genuinely couldn't comply. He didn't believe pretending to agree would solve anything.
Feng Bu Jue had anticipated the refusal. He'd expected it all along. Proposing an extreme demand was merely a negotiation tactic. In an imbalanced partnership, the stronger party could set an exorbitant initial price, then gradually lower it to test the other side's limits.
"Why not?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"This gun is an extension of my power. If it leaves my dominion range, it'll disappear", Bi Li explained. "Since I've remained in this cycle of rebirth for an extended period, my power has become highly attuned to this space. That's why you can carry the gun anywhere within the Prison. But in an unfamiliar environment, taking the gun beyond a hundred meters from me would cause the item to vanish." He paused briefly, adding, "Also, the one-shot instant kill and guaranteed hit effects? Those are adjustments made through my spatial ability. I can manipulate substances within space so precisely that bullets' destructive power and accuracy fall entirely under my control."
"That doesn't add up... Fast is stationed outside the Prison gate, right? Even if it's just one door away, that's still 'outside'", Feng Bu Jue countered. "If I followed your original plan—luring him into the first corridor and confronting him—wouldn't I be holding a useless gun?"
Bi Li interrupted, "Among us three, only my power ceiling surpasses Fast's. So even if you step outside the Prison, as long as I remain nearby, I can still endow the gun with sufficient destructive force. Besides, that 'outside' isn't truly external. The area where Fast resides can be seen as part of the 'door' itself—the time lord's curse acts as the sturdiest lock."
"Ah, I see. But..." Feng Bu Jue frowned. "The gun is an extension of your ability. I'm just pulling the trigger. Can that really count as my kill?"
"The method, tools, or source of power aren't what matter", Bi Li replied. "What counts is who launches the fatal attack. A black magic user channels ancient demons' power through incantations. An elemental mage relies on natural forces. If someone dies from those attacks, should their descendants seek revenge against the caster... or the demon itself? Or the entire heavens and earth?"
"Hmm... Got it", Feng Bu Jue nodded. "In short, as long as I pull the trigger, that's sufficient, right?" He lifted his gaze. "But if you three kill Fast yourselves, you'll trigger another cycle of rebirth, and Fast will Revival outside the door as usual?"
Ao Er Deng confirmed, "Correct. The time lord's curse is extremely malicious. If a 'prisoner' kills a 'guardian', everything resets to its original state. Fast will reappear at the door, and our powers will regress to extremely low levels. It'll take ages to recover to our current strength."
"Before that happens", La Bit interjected, "this space will be entirely beyond our control. We won't be able to locate the exit door, alter the environment, or perform any spatial jumps. Worse still, each cycle of rebirth introduces new monsters to massacre us. Before we can grow strong again, we usually die repeatedly. The tragedy in the Prison is—we can't even escape death. Killing us just sends us back to our weakest state for another Revival."
Feng Bu Jue turned to La Bit.
Knowing his question, La Bit said directly, "Don't look at me. Bi Li already explained—just now he adjusted the bullets' power at the last moment. So you didn't truly 'kill' me. Although..." He grimaced, "The way I fled appeared pretty pathetic."
"So even if I'd really killed you, it'd be meaningless?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"How could it be meaningless?! Didn't Ao Er Deng just say we revert to our weakest state after being killed? It takes ages to rebuild our power to current levels", La Bit snapped.
"By the way", Feng Bu Jue continued, "have you tried using 173-type monsters to kill Fast?"
"Of course", Bi Li replied. "Though those monsters are extremely hard to control and pose significant threats even at our peak, we've successfully lured one or two near the Prison entrance. But the moment they cross the threshold, they disappear, immediately replaced by new monsters."
"I see..." Feng Bu Jue nodded. "Back to my conditions. The gun can't leave with me, so what about the Contra Medal?"
"Same principle", Bi Li said. "I've achieved absolute dominion over this Prison. Unless you're expelled due to a poison flare-up, I can make you Revival as many times as needed. But beyond this place..."
"Then what's there to discuss?" Feng Bu Jue interrupted. "Without sufficient benefits, why should I antagonize a time lord-class entity for your sake? You're not my family—why help you escape?"
"Don't you want to pass the level..." Bi Li began.
Feng Bu Jue cut him off again, "I came here specifically for that goal. But learning about this Prison changed my mind..." He gestured with both hands, mimicking quotation marks. "Cooperating with you three seems highly unprofitable now." He feigned nonchalance. "I'd rather let the poison trigger failure to complete than oppose a time lord for a few scheming bastards. Especially without any compensation."
"Fine..." Bi Li hesitated for seconds. "Wait a moment..."
Silence fell for about a minute. Bi Li, Ao Er Deng, and La Bit seemed to communicate mentally. Since deciphering their grotesque expressions proved futile, Feng Bu Jue gave up observing them. He adopted a defiant, carefree posture, as if failure to complete truly meant nothing, waiting for their response.
"...Though difficult, we can attempt creating a Contra Medal functional outside this Prison", Bi Li finally spoke.
"How exactly?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"It's not complicated", Ao Er Deng joined. "Combined, the three of us can forge a medal effective beyond this space-time."
Feng Bu Jue pondered briefly, "Is this the maximum benefit you can offer?"
"Understand", Bi Li replied. "Within limited time, crafting such an item is extremely difficult—potentially destabilizing our power foundations. If you reject this..."
"Fine, I accept", Feng Bu Jue interjected decisively before Bi Li could voice further objections. "Hand it over first, then I'll accompany you to kill Fast."
"That won't work", La Bit objected. "What if you take it and vanish?"
"Why would I abandon both medal and mission?" Feng Bu Jue countered. "Killing Fast is a simple task. I just need to walk in, aim, and fire with your manufactured gun." He fixed Bi Li with a stare. "But I should be the one wary. What if eliminating Fast frees you from the cycle of rebirth, yet you refuse compensation, destroy the Potion, or kill me outright?" He raised three fingers.
"First, I gain nothing from your side. Second, I end up on the time lord's blacklist for no reason. Third, I still fail to complete. Even if you grant the medal first, you might kill me afterward out of spite—still leaving me empty-handed. In short... I bear far greater risks. Until I hold the item, I won't budge!"
(End of Chapter)
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