Quadruple split.

Chapter 2736 Belonging
Onic City, Central Administrative District, The Sinful King's Mansion, Three-Story Study

Good night, my dear boss.

Upon receiving a message that someone had come online, Jiawen, who rushed over immediately, smiled and gave a graceful bow to the man, whose body was mostly in shadow: "I'm so glad we can meet when we're both fully awake. To be honest, I thought you were tired of this boring game and were going to become a real outlaw outside of the game."

Under the sparse moonlight, Gavin, seemingly unconcerned about her appearance, revealed a chilling and awe-inspiring smile. Admittedly, her attire, demeanor, and clothing were all impeccably chosen, but given her current race as a female cannibal, this elegant and ethereal quality failed to make her as alluring and captivating as usual; in fact—

It's quite frightening in some ways, like a rather bizarre and atypical uncanny valley effect.

"Look at you..."

The dark elf, who was leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes slightly and criticized without any politeness: "It's really disgusting. Couldn't you have changed to a slightly less awful image?"

Jiawen, who was almost as tall as the two people stacked on top of each other, blinked and revealed a predatory smile. Her bright but somewhat small eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Wang Wan'er, who was sitting in front of her, and said, "What do you think, boss?"

"It doesn't matter."

Wang merely glanced at him indifferently, then said noncommittally, "I've even met Arthur."

Jiawen: "Pfft—"

"To be fair, I think Arthur's Lion King form is much better than Gavin's current state."

The dark elf under the moonlight gave a soft hum, tossing his beautiful silver hair as he said indifferently, "At least Arthur still looks like a human being."

"Disgusting."

Wang gave a succinct and superfluous assessment, then glanced at Jiawen: "She's just plain ugly."

"..."

After a brief silence, Jiawen sighed, then lifted her skirt again and twirled gracefully and powerfully, transforming herself into a woman dressed in a formal gown, with dark skin, short hair, and exuding femininity and sensuality. She said helplessly, "Okay, okay, it seems that even I can't accept the boss's comment about 'simple ugliness'."

Ji Xiaodao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a cool tone, "So, you can actually accept other people's opinions?"

"Well, although I am a broad-minded person in many ways, I still get very hurt when someone I admire speaks ill of me."

Jiawen gave Ji Xiaodao a truly 'elegant and beautiful' smile and said mischievously, "Of course, I'm referring to 'the object of her approval' rather than 'the person she cares about,' so you don't need to feel too threatened, little sister Jidao."

"boring."

Ji Xiaodao's words were concise and to the point.

"But then again, at least personally, I think the boss is very charismatic."

Jiawen winked at the figure lurking in the shadows and said with a smile, "So please don't worry about the possibility that I'm not interested in you."

"..."

The next moment, accompanied by a palpable sense of killing intent and oppression, Jiawen felt as if her head had been struck by a sledgehammer. Although she did not suffer a concussion or brain death on the spot, she still staggered and covered her forehead with her eyes glazed over.

“I didn’t call you here to hear these pointless jokes, Gavin.”

Wang stared at the strategist who was almost unsteady on his feet with his abyss-like eyes, and said in a calm and even tone, "Also, don't think I don't know about the 'little tricks' you play in private. Although I have no interest in bothering you with those insignificant things, if you neglect your duties because of them, that's a different matter."

Despite the fact that the man in front of her was no threat at all, and that the life of the character 'Jiawen' was worthless, and that a large part of her work during this period had been unpaid, Jiawen still felt a strong tremor in her heart. She obediently lowered her head and whispered, "I understand, boss. Do you need me to have Yintian withdraw?"

"Being not."

The King of Sin shook his head and said calmly, "Also, you can have her find an opportunity to tamper with that fortress hidden in the other dimension."

【! ! ! 】

Gavin, who hadn't uttered a single word about [Ascension Fortress Valhalla], was suddenly startled. She looked up in disbelief at the expressionless man behind the mask, and after nearly two seconds of silence, she bowed and said, "Yes."

Now, Gavin can only conclude that the other party has another informant within the [Job Security Alliance], which is why they know about the Ascension Fortress... even though Gavin herself doesn't quite believe this reason.

Although there was no evidence, Jiawen had a very strong feeling that she and her group were the only 'intersection' between the boss and the world, and that there should be no one else around him, nor any place for anyone else.

Even people like himself are merely 'essential components' for him to achieve his goals.

Even this level of 'being needed' is enough for Jiawen to stay here.

It wasn't because there was any profit to be made; it was simply because I felt I should be there.

Unlike a girl who was constantly forcing herself without realizing it, and unlike this sinful place and these sinful people, Jiawen knew very well that she belonged here.

The so-called 'need' is actually always a two-way street.

This is a sense of belonging that is different from kinship, friendship, and love, and even has nothing to do with ideals, goals, or aspirations. It is something that is indescribable and inexplicable, yet it truly exists deep within one's soul.

It is what allows someone like themselves to willingly work for free, using lame excuses like 'self-satisfaction' and 'sense of accomplishment' to justify their sense of belonging.

Just as an old man will never lack sponsors if he so chooses, the reasons why Bai Fujin and Jia Wen, or Mu Changchun and Mei Lin, are willing to stay here are too simple to be convincing to themselves on a rational level.

Thus, the two intelligent people unanimously abandoned dialectics and allowed themselves to comfortably enjoy this sense of belonging that was difficult for ordinary people to understand.

Jiawen could never forget that banquet, where Li Funa, though well-hidden, still made her feel completely terrified and trembling.

She felt that she would probably never be able to understand someone like Li Fo. In other words, the sense of belonging that made her feel comfortable was probably the part of her that he couldn't understand...

That was something Jiawen didn't intend to delve into.

After all, the answer to that captivating mystery has already been revealed in the riddle itself.

"call……"

After letting out a soft sigh, the strategist, whose eyes remained clear and bright, raised his head and smiled slightly at the sinful king before him: "Then, let me briefly explain the current situation?"

"explain."

The king's answer was concise and to the point.

“First, on our side, Arthur has advanced to the theoretical limit as planned and is currently stationed outside Freire City with the [Knights of the Tsar's Sword].” Gavin nodded and reported with a smile, “Given that the garrison in Freire City is the vanguard of the Third Legion of the Griffin Dynasty, and the Third Legion is an absolute royalist, a trusted battle group under Emperor Chiwetel of the Blood Lion, there is a tacit understanding between us. Although there are several seemingly lively small-scale skirmishes every day, both sides... especially the other side, have shown considerable restraint.”

The King of Sin nodded slightly: "Continue."

"Apart from Arthur, following your orders, Marshal Galahad has arrived at temporary marker A, which is near His Highness the White King's position."

Jiawen glanced at the strategic map that Ji Xiaodao had spread out on the Sin King's table, and then said, "With him are the entire [Black Edge Battle Group] and five hundred [Chaos Warriors] that have been enhanced by Master Merlin."

The King of Sin still gave Gavin no feedback, only repeating like a machine: "Continue."

After thinking for a moment, Gavin said, "Then, Master Merlin has completed the first [Tower of Sin]. He should have already sent you the specific functions and parameters. It is currently being transported to the front line in the form of parts. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be able to meet up with Marshal Galahad before dawn. His Excellency the White Bishop will also be there as a technical advisor."

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, the King of Sin slightly raised his right hand: "Tell me about the situation on Ramorok's side."

"Without any intention of stopping, after crushing Finn's defenses, Ramorok and his troops did not regroup much and continued to break through the two lines of defense guarded by the Griffin Noble Legion. They are now approaching the core territory of the Star Blue family."

"How did the Noble Alliance react?"

"The Star Blue family has already amassed its forces at the Diamond Fortress to prepare for the fight against Ramorok. The commander is Moriel Star Blue, the head of the strongest branch of the Star Blue family. According to reliable intelligence, more than half of the main combat legion's forces have been assembled at the Diamond Fortress, and they are all elite soldiers heavily supported by the Star Blue family."

Where is Ramorok stopped?

"The city of Diru is about half a day's march from the Diamond Fortress."

"【Dilu City】?"

"Uh, right, I remember it was called [Dilu City], what's wrong?"

"Ramorok will not be attacking [Diamond Fortress]."

"Eh? Why?"

"..."

The King of Sin showed no interest in answering Gavin's question. He simply lowered his eyes, looked at the tactical map in front of him, and after a moment of blankness, murmured—

……

"【Blue Crystal City】."

In front of the city hall of Diru City, Ramorok sat on the steps, sipping soda from a wine glass, a slight smile playing on his lips. He said leisurely, "If the other party is the Black Vane Priest, then as long as he uses his most proficient methods to put himself in 'my' perspective, he will probably soon realize... that my target has never been the [Diamond Fortress], but the [Blue Crystal City] hidden behind it, which carries countless histories and riches."

"This is the twelfth time you've mentioned that guy today, Ramorok."

Standing with his hands behind his back beside Ramorok, the handsome, pale-faced blond youth casually glanced at the densely packed corpses, executioners, and prepared corpses in front of the city hall, and said indifferently, "Many times I've wondered if you've developed some kind of inappropriate feelings for him."

Ramorok whistled loudly, revealing his signature refined smile, and said in a light tone, "Who knows? Although in my current self-awareness, my feelings for Pastor Black Van are limited to admiration and expectation, it's really possible, as you said, that I harbor some feelings for him that transcend common sense."

"..."

Perhaps because Ramorok's answer was too unexpected, Tom was stunned for more than ten seconds before slowly taking half a step to the side. His already pale face became even paler, and he said with a very gloomy expression, "You disgust me, Ramorok."

"If my feedback disgusts you, it only proves that you just asked a disgusting question."

Lamorok shrugged innocently and said leisurely, "I see. It seems that after becoming a real man, our little Tom has truly realized his orientation and is slowly starting to harbor malice towards views that contradict it... Heh, what a good habit that is."

Tom gripped the wand that had somehow appeared in his hand and said coldly, "Don't test my patience..."

"In fact~"

Ramorok chuckled, interrupting the young man beside him. He shrugged and said, "I've tested your patience countless times, my dear young man. Haven't you realized that you've subconsciously accepted the utterly cheesy name 'Tom'?"

"..."

Tom didn't speak, but gently stroked his wand and decided that if Ramorok continued to challenge his limits, he would kill him outright.

Unfortunately, Ramorok, who knew Tom better than Tom himself, did not continue to provoke him. Instead, he said in a boastful tone, "I have always been good at correcting other people's shortcomings, and you are clearly more like a responsible and dependable man than before."

Then, he was struck by a tormenting curse that replaced the death curse, and his hand holding the wine glass began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Come on, Tom."

Ramorok sighed and said helplessly, "My body is as honest as I am. If this pain continues any longer, I'm afraid I'll have to disconnect because I can't take it anymore."

"I thought your body was as resilient as your mouth."

"As it turns out, there is still a significant gap between the two."

"Humph……"

"Thank you, Tom. It's a pity that my mental state is still not in sync with my physical state."

"I'm really looking forward to the day they're separated."

"Hahahaha~ That's not good."

"why?"

"Because deliberately destroying a broken toy is something even someone like me would find a bit too perverse."

"I always thought you were that kind of person."

No, I'm serious.

"why?"

"Because for a normal person, even the threshold for death is much, much lower than the threshold for becoming damaged."

Chapter 2727: The End