Cooperation and Realization

The information brought by WhatAreYouLookingAt was like the final piece of a missing puzzle, instantly resolving many of Ren Yi's previous doubts.

The fundamental reason the Pope showed absolute trust in him and followed his every word was that their current goals happened to align perfectly.

Clearly, due to the existence of the livestream, the Pope must be aware of the Participant who had been deliberately allowed to pass and successfully cleared the Instance.

Thus, while harboring suspicions about him as the "Son of God," they would certainly do everything in their power to seize the "method of salvation" held by that Instance Clearer within the City of Stars.

And as luck would have it, the goal of this fake Son of God was also pointed toward the mutant beast nest in the City of Stars.

As a result, cooperating with Ren Yi's actions was a business deal that killed two birds with one stone for the Holy City's high-ranking officials.

They could feign cooperation with the Son of God's plan while secretly searching for the other method of salvation.

If that backup path proved superior, they could immediately discard him, the fake who might be exposed at any moment; if that path hit a dead end, it wouldn't affect their plans here in the slightest.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Ren Yi's brow furrowed slightly.

There were still suspicious points within this that could not be ignored.

The biggest mystery was: why was this Instance Clearer inside the City of Stars?

According to the rules of the Instance, once a Participant clears it, they are automatically teleported back to the original spot they were in before entering.

This meant that before entering the Instance, this person was already within the City of Stars.

Furthermore, judging by the current situation, this Instance Clearer showed no signs of returning to the Holy City.

There were all sorts of messy possibilities. Perhaps this person had entered the City of Stars with a large group to search for supplies, accidentally got pulled into an Instance, and by the time they cleared it and came out, the group had long since retreated, leaving them trapped there alone...

But that led to a new question.

Why did it seem like no other Holy City folk knew about this Instance Clearer's existence?

Logically, if an outstanding Participant appeared on the livestream, someone should have noticed.

Even if the Pope had issued strict orders to hide the news, forbidding anyone around him or within his range of perception from discussing it, shouldn't there be related rumors on the forums?

Right now, the forums were filled with all sorts of Holy City gossip flying everywhere. If such a rumor existed, it should be very easy to find out about.

Unless... this Instance Clearer's identity was something that could not see the light of day.

Therefore, their livestream content had been intercepted at the source by the Holy City's high-ranking officials.

Watching a livestream required a medium. With the Holy City's level of technology, the mediums available for viewing livestreams were surely few and far between. Controlling the broadcast content would be child's play.

Was the Holy City hiding the fact that "there's still someone in the City of Stars"?

No, or rather... was that Instance Clearer really a "human"?

In theory, as long as an individual possessed an IQ sufficient to understand the rules, they could potentially be conscripted by an Instance.

Thinking of this, Ren Yi asked within the Anomaly Web.

【What does that guy with the special soul look like? Do you know his specific location now?】

【I haven't seen him. I told you, he was in another senior's Instance. But that senior said they heavily wounded it for me. Afterward, I pulled some strings to confirm its location was here in the Holy City before I teleported over.】

【As for the location, my mom gave me an Ability Crystal that can roughly guide the way. He's currently in the southern district of this city.】

Pulling strings again. Just how many connections did this WhatAreYouLookingAt's family have? As expected of a major family that possessed the "special craft" of making Anomaly Artifacts.

He wondered how WhatAreYouLookingAt's family compared to Lu Zihan's.

Pushing these trivial thoughts to the back of his mind, Ren Yi made his decision.

【Fine, I understand. I can help you.】

The existence of that Instance Clearer was undoubtedly a massive threat to Ren Yi.

Once the Pope's side found the person first, his identity as the fake Son of God would likely be stripped away immediately.

The true profit phase of Ren Yi's plan was still far from beginning; he absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen.

At the very least, he had to wait until he had cleared all four mutant beast nests.

By then, even if the situation completely deteriorated, he could flee to the wilderness outside the city, find a hidden spot, and hole up to manufacture energy crystals.

When the Calamity descended, he could simply return to the Alliance.

So for now, he had to cooperate with WhatAreYouLookingAt.

To be precise, he needed the Ability Crystal in her hand that could guide the way.

However, before finalizing the cooperation, while WhatAreYouLookingAt still didn't know his true situation, he felt he could still swindle... no, chat a bit more.

Inside the Anomaly Web at this moment:

【Slime brother, you're a real pal! Classmates should help each other out.】 WhatAreYouLookingAt replied at lightning speed.

Ren Yi directly ignored this attempt at moral kidnapping.

【Wait a second, Classmate WhatAreYouLookingAt. Cooperation is cooperation, but we need to talk about the price first.】

【Huh? Didn't we agree that classmates should help each other?】

【You've got it all wrong,】 Ren Yi replied unhurriedly. 【You keep saying that special soul is the core material for making an Anomaly Artifact. If I'm not mistaken, this material can probably only be used to make one Anomaly Artifact, right?】

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the Anomaly Web. Ren Yi took it as her silent admission.

【Then the question arises, Classmate WhatAreYouLookingAt. With only one Anomaly Artifact, how are the two of us supposed to split it?】

WhatAreYouLookingAt finally spoke.

【How about this? I'll pay you energy crystals equivalent to half the value of the Anomaly Artifact? Oh, by the way, you do know that energy crystals can be used as the Alliance's universal currency, right?】

【To be honest, I'm really not short on energy crystals right now. How about the other way around? I'll pay you crystals worth seventy percent of the Anomaly Artifact's value, and you let me have the artifact?】

In the outside world, Tarol's eyes, large as copper bells, suddenly glared at Ren Yi. That ferocious appearance even gave Gawain, who was observing from a distance, a fright.

【You're saying that even though my family provides the info, the blueprints, and the technology, I should still sell you the Anomaly Artifact my family makes at a thirty percent discount?】

She didn't even call him "classmate" this time. It seemed she was truly so angry she was laughing.

【Uh... you shoot for the stars and haggle down to earth, right? Then what do you suggest?】

The Anomaly Web stayed quiet for a good while before a new reply arrived.

【How about this? After I go back, I'll ask my Parent to help make an Anomaly Artifact for you too. But let me be clear: you'll have to provide the materials and the energy crystals consumed during production yourself.】

Ren Yi's heart stirred.

This condition, truth be told, had already exceeded his expectations.

After all, he had to deal with that Instance Clearer anyway. Helping WhatAreYouLookingAt get the special soul was just a simple favor.

【Fine, but after we get the materials, you'll hand them to me for safekeeping, and I'll return them to you after we get back to the Alliance.】

【Ha?】 The other party sent back an interjection full of confusion.

Ren Yi explained somewhat helplessly.

【Big sister, what you're giving right now is an empty promise. How do I know if you'll actually be able to convince your mother to help me make an Anomaly Artifact once you're back?】

Outside, Tarol was clenching her fists so hard that the veins on her hands were bulging. Seeing this, Gawain had already quietly moved to a spot not far behind the two, ready to jump in and protect the Son of God at any moment.

As for Ren Yi, he was still staring leisurely at the distant sky.

Just then, WhatAreYouLookingAt suddenly sent a sentence in the Anomaly Web that seemed to come out of nowhere.

【WhatAreYouLookingAt: Classmate, I don't think I ever said the one who makes Anomaly Artifacts is my mom, did I?】

Ren Yi was stunned for a moment.

Why was she suddenly saying this now?

【WhatAreYouLookingAt: The one I said can make Anomaly Artifacts is actually my Parent's Parent—my grandmother.】

Parent's Parent?

Ren Yi thought for a second and understood a bit.

Considering the rarity of Cubs within the Alliance, the term "Parent's Parent" carried a lot of weight.

Was she... showing off her backing?

【WhatAreYouLookingAt: I think if things really get to the point where my Parent has to come and reason with you personally, it probably won't end well for you.】

Ren Yi quickly sorted through the current situation. As things stood, he was the one in the right.

So what was this... some kind of "don't look down on the young and poor" script?

How could such a thing happen even in the Anomaly Alliance?

At that moment, WhatAreYouLookingAt saw Ren Yi, who had been avoiding her gaze, suddenly turn his head.

He looked at her, and his face even carried a smile that could be described as "gentle."

The next second, a short reply popped up in the Anomaly Web.

【Slime Flight Edition: It's alright, classmate.】

【Slime Flight Edition: I happen to have a lot of confidence in my own "Parent" as well.】

...

There were certain things, certain signs, that Ren Yi had actually seen for a long time.

He just hadn't asked.

But that didn't mean he was... entirely unaware.