People in Yu-Gi-Oh! The hyper-converged audience is also integrated

Chapter 348 Miss Fool

"Whoever it is, will be the next pope."

The dark and damp underground space was filled with the smell of rust and dust.

The air was deathly still for a while.

The confidants looked at each other, their eyes filled with greed, but even more so with fear.

This order was tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

They dared not imagine how many secret agents surrounded the target, based on the photos and videos sent by the Spirit Control Division.

What they couldn't understand was why the Pope was so obsessed with this intern, willing to take such a huge risk to obtain his symbiosis card.

However, even Zhong An's informant within the Soul-Binding Division didn't know what kind of symbiotic card this person had.

Is it worth going this far?

In the midst of this oppressive silence, a red figure emerged from behind the crowd.

She was very quiet, her footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. Only her wide red robe, in the dim light, resembled a flowing pool of blood, or a spider lily quietly blooming in the shadows.

The Pope's pupils contracted slightly.

“Li.” He uttered this long-forgotten name from his chapped lips.

It's not a code name, it's her real name.

To him, everyone else present was merely a subordinate, a tool, a weapon.

Only the reasoning... is different.

Over countless days and nights, they witnessed countless hardships together, creating the sacred stone tablet—[Solemn Sound].

At that time, he was not yet the Pope. Everyone respectfully called him the Holy Dragon. He once thought that [Solemn Voice] would be a deck that would change the world. [Solemn Voice] was a deck of God, a mercy of God, which would clear all obstacles for him and restore the glory of the Papal House.

But he later discovered that even if [Solemn Voice] got the first move, it didn't necessarily mean it could win, and [Solemn Voice Barrier] couldn't protect everything.

So he abandoned his naiveté and his old friend, and became "the world," becoming the Pope.

Even so, Li did not leave him, nor did she abandon [Susheng], but silently accepted a new code name.

Fool.

The code names of the confidants are not outwardly ranked, but everyone knows that the Fool is the number one person in the world.

"Fool."

"Since the Spirit Control Bureau dared to set up a trap, it must have laid an inescapable net!"

Several confidants couldn't help but try to dissuade him, but Ke Li's face showed neither panic nor confidence, only a numb calmness, a sense of relief that came after seeing so much life and death, like "it's finally my turn."

She was not only fighting for the Pope, but also for the ideals she upheld.

"I'm leaving." Li clasped his hands together, slowly closed his eyes in prayer, nodded gently to the group, and turned to leave.

Watching her resolute back, the Pope's long-frozen heart trembled slightly.

His hand instinctively reached for the supercomputing ring, where his last trump card was hidden—the domain card that would guarantee the first strike, [Light Barrier].

[Solemn] ​​Attacking first doesn't guarantee victory, but it's definitely much better than attacking second.

But... what if...

What if Rin also loses? What if she loses the domain duel even with the [Barrier of Light]? Then he... will really have nothing left.

The instinct for survival, like a cold, venomous snake, tightly coiled around his heart and his outstretched hand.

Struggling, hesitating, weighing the pros and cons.

A mix of emotions churned in his cloudy eyes, and finally, his hand fell limply to his side.

He ultimately did not take out the card.

“Something’s not right,” he said softly in a weak voice, “so come back first.”

Li's steps did not stop, nor did she turn around. She just smiled bitterly. The Pope usually reserved two high-spiritual [Light Barriers]. If it were in the past, he would definitely give the other one to her, not to the Dharma Emperor.

He chose to believe in the seven-game winning streak of [Starry Sky] rather than his old friend [Solemn Sound].

That's true, and it's only natural.

That splash of red quickly disappeared into the darkness at the end of the passage.

The underground space was deathly silent.

The confidants dared not utter a sound, even their breathing was soft, for fear of disturbing the gaunt figure on the throne.

The Pope gazed at the empty passageway, his cloudy eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

Just then, a monitor screen in the corner flickered, and a melodious and playful voice suddenly rang out.

"Look this way, look this way..."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a needle piercing the oppressive atmosphere of the place.

Upon hearing the irritating voice, the Pope frowned and, along with his confidants, looked in the direction of the sound.

On the monitor screen was Yimi X's annoying face. She was sitting on a pile of rubble, swinging her legs back and forth, waving at a hidden camera, and smiling like a cat that had just stolen some cream.

"That crazy woman!" The man in the yellow robe spoke in a deep voice, his anger almost spitting fire from his eyes. "What is she trying to do now!"

Another confidant gritted his teeth and growled, "It's all because of her! If it weren't for her, how could the Hierophant have fallen! And His Holiness the Pope's [Barrier of Light] wouldn't have been..."

The Pope remained silent, staring intently at the monitor screen, his aged face revealing neither joy nor anger.

On the screen, Yimi X seemed to know they were watching her. She stopped shouting, grinned, and moved closer to the camera, her entire face filling the screen.

"Let's make a deal, Your Holiness."

She blinked, her tone both innocent and malicious.

"I'll bring that kid named Li Guanqi over for you. In return, can I borrow your domain card, [Light Barrier], for a bit?"

“At times like these, I’m the only one who’s genuinely trying to help you.”

ImiX spread her hands, looking completely innocent.

"Those people outside are all after your life, but I only want your domain card. Isn't that fair?"

"Dream on!" The confidants could no longer contain themselves and shouted angrily.

"You blasphemer, you scourge!"

The Pope remained silent as his confidant hurled curses, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Immy X is a crazy, unreliable person who is a complete gambler and a jinx.

But she was right.

Latia is now surrounded by wolves, with enemies everywhere who want to devour him alive. He can only trust a few close confidants, so why should he venture into that dangerous place?

[Serious tone]...

The Pope's eyes darkened.

It's difficult to bring people back by reason alone.

While the magician Immy X is unorthodox, he certainly possesses limitless potential.

The Pope's gaze slowly shifted from Immi X's beaming face to the dark passage where Li had disappeared.

One is the past he abandoned.

One is the unpredictable future.

He tapped his fingers on the throne a few times, slowly closed his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "It's fine."

"Your Holiness!" a group of confidants exclaimed in surprise.

"You can't trust this person!"

They truly couldn't understand what was wrong with His Holiness the Pope today.

What kind of magic does this Li Guanqi possess that makes him so willing to go to such great lengths to capture him?

On the monitor, Immy X seemed to hear the Pope's voice, playfully waving: "Nice to work with you~"

"but."

The Pope suddenly spoke, and Immi X's smile instantly froze.

The word 'but' is not a good thing in trading; it usually means trouble.

"We must bring the reasoning back with us."

An aged voice echoed in the deathly silent underground palace, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

The smile on Immi X's face vanished completely. She pouted and her voice turned cold: "Your Holiness, you're putting me in a difficult position."

"Do you think the Soul-Binding Bureau is a vegetable market, where you can arrest whomever you want? You arrest one person and then expect a buy-one-get-one-free deal?"

"Don't you know how many people were surrounding that kid? I risked my life to pull him out of the crowd, and you expect me to also rescue those who rushed in to their deaths?"

YimiX shrugged, giving an expression that said, "Your request is unreasonable."

In the underground space, the group of confidants listened to the madwoman's words, their faces turning pale with anger, but they dared not utter a sound.

Because she was telling the truth.

They couldn't see the enemy's lines, but even a fool could tell that they had deployed various troops.

The Pope remained silent, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his throne, as if he were calculating something.

Immy X kept a straight face, but suddenly her eyes lit up and she smiled again, only this time there was a hint of amusement and malice in her smile.

"Alright then, Your Holiness."

"I love helping people make choices."

She leaned forward, close to the camera, and whispered in a low voice, like a demon whispering in someone's ear.

"If, I mean if."

"The situation is extremely urgent, and I can only take one person with me."

"Do you want him, or reason?"

A fatal question.

The temperature in the entire underground space suddenly dropped several degrees.

All the confidants held their breath, looking at the figure on the throne.

This is a vicious question.

The Pope stopped tapping his fingers.

Many things flashed through his cloudy eyes. Finally, all the images faded away, and he slowly raised his eyelids again.

"he."

A single word, seemingly light as a feather, yet weighing as heavily as a thousand pounds.

The popes’ hearts sank. Some even staggered, staring at him in disbelief.

They couldn't believe that His Holiness the Pope... was going to abandon the fools.

Abandon the one who followed him throughout his life and never uttered a single complaint.

On the monitor screen, Yimi X's smile grew even brighter, tinged with a morbid excitement.

She knew it.

She knew this would be the answer.

That's how living people are; you can't trust them.

"Okay~" Immi X's voice returned to its previous playful tone. She waved to the camera like an innocent child.

"I have received your choice."

Communication was thus cut off.

The screen went completely black again.

The underground palace was deathly silent.

The Pope leaned back on his throne and slowly closed his eyes. His aged face showed neither exhaustion nor relief.

Just then, the one-eyed confidant codenamed "Demon" turned pale, his pupils suddenly contracting as he thought of something terrifying.

"How...how could she hear His Holiness the Pope's voice!"

His voice trembled, "Is there someone listening in here?!"

One sentence woke everyone up!

Several trusted confidants' expressions changed drastically as they frantically looked around, searching for any possible eavesdropping devices.

Then, one person froze, extending a trembling finger and pointing to a heavy stone pillar not far away.

"Then...what is that?"

Everyone looked up and saw a tall figure appear in the shadows beside the stone pillar.

The man was made entirely of gray rock, blending into his surroundings. He had no breath, no heartbeat, and no trace of life could be felt. It was as if he had been there all along, just a silent stone.

"who?!"

"Protect His Holiness the Pope!"

The crowd reacted swiftly, instantly drawing their weapons and activating the summoning machines to shield the Pope behind them, assuming an attack stance.

"Keep quiet if you don't want to die," came the Pope's voice, tinged with weariness.

The confidants paused, their faces filled with astonishment, but they still obeyed and put away their weapons, only keeping a wary eye on the uninvited guest.

The Pope's cloudy gaze fell on the rock-faced man, his voice hoarse: "And what brings you here, Doctor?"

On the expressionless, rocky face of the reanimated body, no emotion could be seen; his voice was like two stones rubbing together, dry and cold.

"Could you please stop calling me by that code name?"

"From a professional perspective, you should call me a geologist."

For some reason, the Bureau of Spirit Control gave him the code name 'doctor'.

He can save lives, and with the help of ImiX, he can even achieve a kind of 'resurrection' effect, but in essence, he seals necrotic organs with rocks, which is only a temporary solution.

Imi has been hunted for hundreds of years, suffering countless injuries, big and small. His internal organs are almost completely rotten, and he is only kept alive by his rocks. But rocks wear down and will eventually run out.

"That woman won't live for many more years," Edo Tensei suddenly said.

"She will do her best to complete your deal."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of several of his confidants.

A glint of light flashed in the Pope's cloudy eyes.

The man's relationship with the puppeteer was better than one might imagine.

“How enviable,” the Pope said in a hoarse voice.

Without a doubt, being a doctor is a desirable profession. Who wouldn't want someone by their side who can pull them back from the brink of death, even if only temporarily?

His eagerness to obtain Li Guanqi's symbiotic card ultimately stemmed from his desire to gather the power of time and space, reverse time, and return to his youthful appearance.

I just want to survive.

At the current charging efficiency, it will only take about five years for 003 to reach the 'divine limit' of ten million. If he lives for another five years, he will be able to witness a miracle.

But he searched for doctors all over the world, and no one could extend his life by five years.

The person in front of us named Edo is alright, but we don't have a good relationship.

As for threatening a leader, that's probably a death wish.

The impure earth glanced at the pope's heart, and seeing that he no longer spoke, it turned and disappeared into the earth, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded bishops.

The wind and sand swept across the wasteland, stirring up dust and obscuring the distant horizon.

As Li stepped out of the underground passage, his wide red robe fluttered in the wind.

She looked up towards the direction of the Eastern Seventh District, where the inescapable net laid by the Spirit Control Division lays its final destination.

The heavy stone door behind her slowly closed, completely isolating her from that dark and oppressive world.

Just as she took a step, a flippant voice came from the side.

"Miss Fool, wait for me!"

Immi X appeared out of nowhere amidst a pile of ruins, waving and smiling at her with such ease that anyone unaware of the situation would suspect they were going to see a movie.

Li's steps did not stop, nor did he even look back.

“You can call me by my name, Li.”

“Yes, Miss Li.” Immy X caught up with her in a few steps and walked alongside her, his tone carrying a hint of wicked amusement. “Did you hear that just now? The Pope chose him over you. How heartless.”

The wind howled, drowning out everything.

Li's steps remained steady, his face expressionless, as if he hadn't heard the words or disdained to answer.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice as calm as still water: "So, do you have a way to bring them here?"

“Of course.” Immy X took something out of her pocket and handed it to Li. “Here, put this on.”

It was an antique-style necklace with a pendant of a clear blue crystal, which shimmered faintly in the dim light.

"The miraculous stone that saved us from the demon will bless us."

Upon hearing the word "blessing," a ripple finally appeared in Li Gujing's usually calm eyes.

She stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on the blue crystal, momentarily lost in thought.

There was no other reason than that she really liked the word "blessing" and also liked this clear blue color.

Without thinking twice, she took the necklace and put it around her neck.

A cool sensation came from my neck, and the next second, something unexpected happened.

Li's vision suddenly blurred, and countless points of light representing the breath of life instantly flooded into her mind, forming a vast and clear map in her consciousness.

She "saw" everything. In the entire North District 1 where she was located, everyone who touched the rock was within her sight, including the underground bishopric.

"This is..." For the first time, surprise appeared on Li's face.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Immy X proudly dangled a matching blue crystal ring from her finger. "I can see it too."

Li picked up the blue crystal from her chest, turned to look at Immy X, her eyes filled with inquiry: "This is... the prologue? What age is it?"

This ability to share perception is very similar to a wedge.

"Whatever, it's just a rock golem." Immy X walked forward nonchalantly, hands behind his back, and said leisurely, "They were just some junk that we couldn't give away, but now we're getting a good deal."

This blue, strange stone is indeed the wedge of the impure land.

He has no minute hand; these gems were dug out of the depths of the mine by his own hands a long, long time ago, when he was still called Salo.

At that time, he also had a lively and lovely red-haired country girl by his side.

He originally planned to make these gems into a necklace and a ring as a gift for her.

Unfortunately, he only completed the first half of the process.

It was built, but it couldn't be sent out.

The girl died in an excavation accident, and the necklace and ring she never got to give away were buried with her in the dust.

Later, Immy X, who had a great fondness for scavenging the dead, dug them up himself.

Later, Salo became the defiled earth, and then the hands of a clock (time).

This necklace and ring, which carried a large amount of his pheromones, naturally became a wedge.

“It’s not junk.” Li held the still-warm blue crystal, her fingertips gently stroking its smooth surface, and murmured softly, “It’s love and blessing.”

She didn't say the second half of the sentence aloud—

Unfortunately, blessings and regrets are two sides of the same coin.

"Who cares?" Immy X shrugged, finding it quite boring, and stepped forward. "It's just a rock, as long as it can be used as an eye. Let me see. Let's avoid the East Sixth District. There are more people there than flies, it's annoying to look at."

"We'll do it this way first, then this way."

Listening to the nagging, Li put the necklace inside her red robe, the cool touch against her skin clearing her chaotic thoughts.

She started walking and caught up with Immy X.

The "map" in his mind was terrifyingly clear, even more effective than the most sophisticated life detector in the Church Council.

With this, we might actually be able to bring that person back alive.

Will the magical stone that saved me from the demon bless me?

Four hours later
Latia, East 7th District, a shady spot in the ruins.

Li Guanqi's team was leaning against the shadow of a broken wall, munching on dry energy bars.

"This stuff tastes like compressed sand." Tsukishima Chizuru chewed a couple of times, with a hint of disgust. "Can't our Spirit Control Division's logistics team come up with something new? Like self-heating hot pot or something."

"In real combat, it's like a self-heating hot pot." Li Guanqi leaned against the wall, swallowed the last bite of the energy bar, and gulped down some water.

The graduation process was much easier than he had imagined.

I thought that after taking down the Church Council's stronghold, the other side would launch a fierce counterattack or send reinforcements to fight a second battle, but nothing happened.

It was over in one punch.

Perhaps because I was trained too hard in Hell's Kitchen, I feel a little out of sorts when I suddenly return to this low-intensity task.

Just as the group lowered their guard—

"boom!!!"

A deep, muffled thud came from afar, and the ground shook.

The group's expressions changed instantly, and they all looked in the direction from which the explosion had come.

Judging from the sound, it was about one kilometer away, right at the border between East Sixth District and East Seventh District.

“This phantom.” Xia Sheng stared at the phantom that remained high in the sky, his pupils constricting.

Bai Shu looked down at the supercomputing ring on his wrist. An emergency notification popped up on the screen. He quickly glanced at it, then looked up and said in a deep voice, "The elite minute hand is approaching."

"How many people came?" Li Guanqi asked instinctively.

Bai Shu shifted his gaze from the supercomputing ring, his eyes looking somewhat strange.

"On a."

"On a?"

Chizuru Tsukishima frowned deeply and said softly, "Something's not right. Sending only one person over here, isn't that incredibly stupid?"

"Stupid? Which one?" Li Guanqi pressed.

He didn't believe that there were any stupid people among the elite minute hands.

Bai Shu took a deep breath and showed the supercomputing ring the notification photo: "This."

"The Fool."

His voice wasn't loud, but it made the surrounding air freeze.

(End of this chapter)