Chapter 105

Chapter 105

The live stream of Chen Liang and his wife stirred the entire nation, from the truth, devils, and cards they spoke of to the gunshot that echoed at the end and the crimson blood that spilled as they fell. The stream abruptly cut off, but everyone knew that the couple had certainly met their demise.

The screen suddenly went dark, returning to the original game page. However, the young people in the internet cafe who were forced to watch the live stream were left speechless and stunned, no longer complaining about the hacker who interrupted their game. Their minds were filled with the images and sounds they had just witnessed.

"This... Was that really a live stream, not a movie clip?" After a long pause, someone cautiously asked.

"It wasn't. I remember them; they're the Mugan couple who sued Kela..."

"Damn, so what they said about devils and cards is true?"

"Is that even possible? Could such things really exist?"

"Well, if gods exist, it wouldn't be strange for devils to exist too."

In a university dormitory, Liang Shousheng's mouth hung open, his throat parched. Chen Yue, whom he thought had entered high society through Kela, had actually died on that day. The imperial government was a bunch of liars. He clenched his fists slowly, feeling a surge of anger. How could a powerful government deceive an honest family like this?

"Hey, Shousheng, you were at the court that day, right? What Chen Yue's parents said—was it true?"

"Can we talk about it now?"

His roommates, and even students from other dorms, rushed over, eager to hear his response.

"Whether it's true or not, you'll find out soon enough," Liang Shousheng said. With the situation escalating, the government couldn't keep it hidden any longer.

Yin Rou's eyes were red. The couple's angry shouts had unexpectedly moved her to tears, stirring something deep within her heart. But she still didn't understand what it was; she was still lost in a fog without direction.

"Honey, I remember you were at the court. Was what they said true?" Her husband hurriedly came out of the study, asking anxiously.

Yin Rou wiped away her tears and nodded expressionlessly.

"It's actually true, it's actually true..."

Yin Rou watched him coldly, sensing both excitement and fear in him. He was a recent Gaya, a nouveau riche who had spent money and used connections to climb up. As a low-ranking member of the Gaya class, he must be both coveting and fearing those cards.

This night was destined to be sleepless, for both the public and the imperial government.

Everyone was busy, with citizens passionately discussing online, and the government's lockdown of S City's hotel quickly became a topic. Initially, bystanders and hotel guests were unaware of what was happening, but after the live stream and some anonymous tips, many realized that devils had appeared again and another Mugan had obtained a card.

The government arrested several traitors responsible for the night's live stream, infuriating Yizekai and others.

Yizekai: "Use every means necessary to find out who's behind this. Who is helping Chen Liang and Liu Hui?"

The national palace remained brightly lit throughout the night, bustling with officials coming and going.

They needed to catch the traitors and monitor Liu Yi, who was like a rat scurrying underground, occasionally stopping to rest. They dared not act rashly because Liu Yi was cunning, often hiding beneath the homes of prominent individuals, preventing the government from launching attacks and wary of his Thunder Hammer. Thus, they could only track him for now.

"Don't worry. The Ground Escape Card has a time limit. He won't run far." Yizekai possessed a Ground Escape Card, the one abandoned by Chen Liang and his wife, so he knew it was a timed card. Once the time ran out and entered a 72-hour cooldown period, how long could Liu Yi survive with just his Thunder Hammer?

"It's just a futile attempt," Yizekai sneered. "Since things have reached this point, we must show our stance. Liu Yi will come in handy."

Whenever Liu Yi hid beneath an Apeituo's home, the residents would receive advance warnings and escape, allowing Liu Yi to surface and rest. Even so, the Ground Escape Card's time limit would soon be exhausted.

The escape had barely begun, yet he already felt trapped and desperate, surrounded on all sides. But he refused to give up easily. Until his last breath, he would never surrender.

Thinking back, he was once a mere Mudborn, insignificant and unnoticed. Now, they were using all their resources to hunt him down. It was quite impressive.

Liu Yi smiled, clenching his fists in anger, continuously charging his Thunder Hammer.

As dawn broke, the noisy night finally retreated, giving way to the blazing sun.

The imperial government held a press conference, with President Yizekai appearing on camera, looking sharp and commanding.

"The Chen Liang and Liu Hui family accepted the devil's temptation, depriving another Kela of their face and status, betraying the great god who created us. This cannot be allowed, lest one day the gods punish us ungrateful humans. As Apeituo, we are the leaders created by the divine mind and wisdom, tasked with guiding everyone towards a bright future. We cannot allow anyone to disrupt this progress."

"All those tempted by devils and betraying the Lord will be considered traitors to the nation and the race, facing severe punishment."

Yizekai's emotionless gaze into the camera instilled fear, chilling the excited masses who had been stirred by the devil's cards.

"The Chen Liang family has been executed for treason against the gods and the nation. Now, Liu Yi and his family are the second case of such treason. We have issued a nationwide manhunt. Evil cannot triumph over righteousness; devils will not overcome the true gods. Soon, Liu Yi and his accomplices will face their due punishment."

On the large screen behind Yizekai, several dots appeared, with red representing Liu Yi and green representing government forces. The green dots were closing in on the red dot, forming a suffocating encirclement. No matter where the red dot went, it could not escape the trap, creating a sense of suffocation.

Could possessing a card truly change one's fate? The Apeituo, with their advanced technology, global surveillance, vast wealth, and armies, were a formidable beast suppressing countless lower races. With divine protection, challenging such a beast seemed impossible.

"Devils will continue to appear, tempting humans to betray our gods. I hope everyone understands that dealing with devils leads to no good end. All actions taken in the game can be forgiven if one voluntarily surrenders their card afterwards. Such individuals will be seen as heroes resisting the devil's temptation and will be rewarded."

The press conference ended, but the live stream continued. Yizekai wanted people to feel Liu Yi's despair, making them see reality and avoid being blinded by illusions.

Since the existence of cards could not be stopped, they had to suppress and control the population strictly, showing them that resistance was futile. Offering a bit of temptation, even if devils reappeared, would ensure that cards would be surrendered after the game.

But this was not enough. They needed to see Liu Yi's ultimate defeat to quell any rebellious thoughts.

Now, Liu Yi's Ground Escape Card should have only a few minutes left before entering its cooldown period.

During this time, netizens who expressed desires for cards or meeting devils were found and detained by the police.

The initial chaos subsided, replaced by fear. People shifted from excitement to terror.

Jiang Xingzhuo watched the scenes through the All-Seeing Eye, smiling. Yizekai's decision was correct: suppress with violence and then offer a reward. In a large group, the timid outnumber the brave, ensuring many would surrender their cards, increasing their chances of acquiring more.

But he might not have noticed that this sweetener for the Mugan was planting a hidden danger for themselves.