Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: An Unexpected Disappointment

The four members were all nervous and astonished, Jenkins most of all.

’This Venerable... Just what is the extent of his control over us?’

’And I didn’t notice a thing?’

As the owner—or rather, the *former* owner—of the Chessboard, he was well aware of the Ancient Relic’s functions. He knew it could quickly deliver items to someone through a mysterious channel in the real world.

This function was often used for trade or sending letters. Perhaps it could also be used to eliminate moles and traitors...

But that was the extent of it. You couldn’t even learn the other party’s real-world appearance. This was the conclusion Jenkins had reached after repeated research and testing.

On the Chessboard, everyone’s avatar was also fixed. You could only choose one chess piece to represent you, and you only had one chance. Once chosen, it could never be changed.

Otherwise, Jenkins would have definitely crafted a more dignified image for himself, or chosen the ’King’ piece instead of the diminutive ’Soldier’.

’Sigh... All mistakes made when I was young and foolish...’

So in Jenkins’s eyes, the Supreme One’s control over the entire association far exceeded the scope of the Chessboard.

In other words, even if he brought himself to destroy the Chessboard, the other party could still hold him in the palm of his hand.

Although the other party had repeatedly stated he meant no harm, even these casual, minor displays of power were terrifying enough.

’Compared to a Supreme One, humans are just too insignificant...’

Overcome with dread, Jenkins quietly raised his head and glanced at the ’spectator’ beside them.

He was still in the same seated posture, chin propped on his hand. The armor on his body remained decayed and broken.

But beneath the layers of rust, a hint of magma-red light could be seen, pulsating faintly as if it were breathing.

’Is he gradually reawakening? Reclaiming the power he lost during his slumber?’

A theory formed in Jenkins’s mind.

’That must be it. He’s more powerful and mysterious than the last time we met. That’s why he can project our real-world clothing onto the Chessboard.’

’So when his power is fully restored, what kind of being will he become?’

As he was lost in thought, a line of text suddenly floated before his eyes:

"You all seem quite surprised?"

’This...’

Jenkins froze.

’How am I supposed to answer that?’

’Admit that I’m surprised? But what am I surprised about?’

’Is it because of our clothes? Or because of his reawakening?’

While Jenkins was still hesitating, Elolo, who was usually afraid of her own shadow, surprisingly spoke up:

"Sob... Venerable Master, in the future, could you please not... not while I’m in the middle of changing..."

As she spoke, she suddenly realized how incredibly bold that sounded and hastily corrected herself:

"Ah! I... I didn’t mean it like that! Sob... Please don’t be angry, please don’t kill me... I’m willing to offer you my favorite little cake."

She must have been terrified, as she was babbling incoherently. Her White Bishop avatar was also wobbling as if trembling.

Then, a fissure split the air in front of her. A delicate little cake fell out, coated with fruit-flavored mousse, but it was missing the cherry that should have been on top.

The little cake fell directly onto the black-and-white Chessboard and sank into it.

The other three watched, dumbfounded. They never expected Elolo to be so bold. So impudent.

’Even if you want to offer a sacrifice, at least pick something presentable, right?’

’What’s a little cake without its cherry? Is it like an ant offering its beloved breadcrumb to a human?’

But just as the three were nervously trying to figure out how to explain this to the Supreme One and quell His anger, a line of text floated before their eyes:

"Heh, good."

’Uh... He just let it slide like that?’

Jenkins let out a long sigh of relief.

’Fortunately, this mysterious Supreme One seems to prefer amusing things. Elolo’s absurd gesture had, by sheer luck, met His standard of ’amusing’.’

’He even laughed like a kindly elder...’

’It seems following the prophecy’s guidance to find this young woman from the City of Joy was the right choice after all. And I was right not to give up on her.’

Jenkins rejoiced inwardly. Seizing the opportunity while the Supreme One was in a good mood, he decided to strike while the iron was hot:

"Well then... shall we all share some interesting things we’ve seen and heard recently?"

He skipped his usual opening preamble and quickly added:

"I’ll start. Regarding that mysterious ’Dream Theater,’ I’ve been inside..."

Outside the screen, Lloyd listened quietly to their accounts, not sending any text to interrupt.

To his surprise, all four of them had actually managed to get their hands on a Golden Invitation Letter, each through their own methods.

One from an ex-wife, one from a friend, one bought by a father...

The most ridiculous one was Goldrinn, who had actually swiped it from his place of work...

"After the meeting ended that day, I thought back carefully and remembered that our investigation team once helped the Saint’s Grace Court of the Order Sect handle a few bizarre cases. One of them mentioned ’a golden card’..."

"So I used my official position to forge a new one, snuck into the evidence management room, and swapped them."

Lloyd hadn’t expected that. ’This guy looks so mature and reserved, but he’s got some serious nerve, huh?’

Jenkins probably hadn’t expected it either, as he quickly pressed,

"Won’t that... cause some problems?"

"Are you worried about the evidence room, sir? It’s fine. It’s a cold case from several years ago, and not an important one. Otherwise, the related evidence and files wouldn’t have been left in our team’s custody."

Goldrinn explained nonchalantly, then continued:

"Frankly, I was more worried about being discovered as an impostor. But the Attendant who greeted me didn’t seem to care at all and just treated me like a new player. From the looks of it, the Golden Invitation Letter isn’t bound to a specific person?"

Elolo quickly chimed in from the side:

"Mhm, I noticed that too! My dad bought my card from someone who’d played before and lost everything. But when I went in, I was also treated as a new player."

And so, the four of them began chatting about their experiences in the Dream Theater.

Jenkins, being Tier Five, was personally invited to the third floor by an Attendant, while the other three could only go to the second.

This matched what Lloyd’s Attendant had told him.

Disappointingly, however, not one of the four had actually joined a game. They all chose to ’just watch for now’.

Only Balderes had exchanged 100 Universal Coins for a chip on the first floor. He played one round of dice, lost, and didn’t touch the games again.

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