Chapter 382: Both Sides Are Setting Traps, Let’s See Who’s Faster

Chapter 382: Both Sides Are Playing Their Hands—Let’s See Who Plays Their Hand Faster

Shen Que blinked. "You mean all your good luck and props were just your mom helping behind the scenes for you?"

Wu Yue nodded. "Exactly. Lin Qike’s appearance was the mastermind’s way to correct the deviation in the plot.

His original intention might have been to make me draw a summoning talisman in the instance, but my mom, afraid I’d get into trouble, directly released the fox spirit, bringing Lin Qike to the Secretariat’s attention."

Wu Yue looked at Shen Que. "What do you think?"

Shen Que felt Wu Yue was being a bit overconfident, but—"...I think you’re right. Go on."

Wu Yue continued, "And the fox spirit instance pairing too—didn’t you notice that every time I was about to give up, things like dead trees or water springs suddenly appeared?"

Shen Que blinked. Now that you mention it—was his mother-in-law helping him?

Shen Que nodded immediately. "Yeah, that makes sense."

Wu Yue frowned. "But then, Dylan suddenly showing up—was he deliberately testing you?

Shen Que, why did you suddenly fall into such overwhelming hostility in that desert palace? What exactly did you see?"

Shen Que never expected the topic to turn back to him.

He hesitated, "...I just saw myself getting bullied as a kid."

Wu Yue nodded. "Anything else?"

Shen Que turned his face away. "And you."

Wu Yue was stunned. "Huh?"

Shen Que said quietly, "I saw you. You told me to come over."

As he spoke, he looked at Wu Yue, his gaze intense and shadowed.

Wu Yue quickly changed the subject. "Later, when I needed crystals, my mom unlocked a whole coastal mining town for me."

Though Shen Que was glad Wu Yue was gaining confidence, wasn’t this conclusion a bit—too confident? Just how much faith did she have in herself to declare such a bold claim with such certainty?!

Sure, Shen Que wanted Wu Yue to overcome her emotional hang-ups sooner, but wasn’t this swinging to the opposite extreme at lightning speed?!

Wu Yue eyed Shen Que. "You don’t seem convinced."

Shen Que replied, "...No." He didn’t dare disagree.

Wu Yue thought aloud. "Should I try it out?"

Shen Que was puzzled. "Test what?"

Wu Yue explained, "Since all my gear’s busted and I need crystals anyway, I might as well see if I’m right."

Shen Que asked, "How are you going to test it?"

Wu Yue suddenly looked up and whined sweetly,

"Mommy~"

"Mom~" she whined.

"I want crystals, tons of crystals."

"Mom! Someone's bullying me!"

"They wrecked my equipment."

"Mom! Poor Yue Yue! Yue Yue is about to cry! Can you give me two more SSS+-rank weapons with 20 upgrade slots, please?"

...

"Alliance Announcement: The SSS-level large-scale exploration resource dungeon [Seaside Mine Town] has been fully restored and will reopen in two hours. All adventurers are welcome to explore the treasures left by the Sea God in the depths of the ocean at the scenic Seaside Mine Town."

...

For a full minute, Shen Que was completely dumbfounded.

Wu Yue blinked at Shen Que, "See? Told you I was right."

Wu Yue immediately stood up, and Shen Que grabbed her, "Where are you going?"

Wu Yue looked puzzled, "Didn't you see my mom just sent me resources? She boosted the dungeon to SSS-level, and she’s probably going to send me weapons and gear too. I need to go there myself."

Seaside Mine Town—this was the very Seaside Mine Town Shen Que had been longing to redeem himself at!

Shen Que quickly said, "I'll go with you."

Wu Yue shook her head, "No, you’ve got critical business to handle.

To simultaneously tamper with memories, join Blaze, complete the rescue, and recover the part of my memory about the meteor-fire seed map—every detail is crucial. You need to covertly neutralize everyone involved."

Shen Que’s brain went into overdrive. "Going into the dungeon alone at this time is too dangerous. If you can think of this, the people behind the scheme might have thought of it too.

Opening an SSS-level resource dungeon right before a major battle—the opposing military might deploy an entire legion to overwhelm it in seconds. It’s too risky for you to go alone. I have to come with you."

Shen Que’s words gave Wu Yue even more inspiration. She quickly analyzed,

"You’re right. If my mom could dominate the Order Realm single-handedly, she would’ve returned long ago.

When we went to the Order Realm before, there was clearly a faction rivalling Dylan and Luo Shen, meaning my mom is also constrained.

Why did Richard get that item that turns you into a vampire in the dungeon? It’s likely that while exploring DX001, someone here made contact with another faction in the Order Realm.

Now both sides are setting up their schemes—it’s a race to see who plays their cards faster."

From the moment she was reborn, this series of maneuvers—

involving DX001’s technological support, memory-altering psychic abilities, Blaze’s infiltrator, the collusion between inside and outside forces with the Order Realm, the precognition of the meteor-fire seed’s appearance, even the clue about the "Friendly Orphanage" that Wu Xiuli gave to the Jiang family—no matter how hard they traced it, they couldn’t find its origin.

Now this is fun. Isn’t this much more engaging than plotting over lovey-dovey nonsense?

Wu Yue became even more determined, "I must go to Seaside Mine Town immediately. Last time when my mental health spiraled, my mom risked sending Luo Shen to comfort me.

This time at Seaside Mine Town, I might be able to meet Dylan. As long as I see Dylan, I’ll definitely uncover the truth about my mom and the Order Realm!"

Shen Que glanced at the time—nearly five o’clock—and casually dropped,

"Your father said you should go home for dinner tonight."

Wu Yue waved her hand casually, "I'll tell him I'm not going."

"Wu Yue: Dad, I'm going to Seamine Town."

"Jiang Cheng: Right now, you can't go anywhere alone."

Wu Yue puffed up her cheeks. Shen Que glanced over and sighed regretfully, "Maybe I should just take you home?"

Wu Yue's fingers flew across the screen as she typed rapidly.

"Wu Yue: Shen Que is coming with me."

"Jiang Cheng: Fine, but Shen Que gets to make the decisions."

"Wu Yue: No way."

"Jiang Cheng: You're still on probation. Legally, this is called probation."

Wu Yue, "..." Fine, fine, how the tables have turned!

"Wu Yue: I agree!"

Not long after,

Shen Que received a message from Jiang Cheng:

"Jiang Cheng: Keep an eye on Wu Yue. Don't indulge her in everything."

"Shen Que: No problem, Dad. Don't worry."

"Jiang Cheng: ...Don't call me Dad!"

Jiang Cheng annoyedly put away his communicator—none of them was easy to deal with!

.....

About half an hour later, Jiang Cheng suddenly received another message from Wu Yue. He opened it and read,

and his expression slowly turned inscrutable.