Apocalypse: I Have One More Keyword Than Others

Chapter 43: 043 Peacekeeping Joint Defense_1

Chapter 43: 043 Peacekeeping Joint Defense_1

“There’s a Heavenly Demon within the gang? For real?”

“Must be fake, right? With such obvious characteristics of the Heavenly Demon, how could it possibly hide for two days without being discovered?”

“I also think the old gang leader is lying to us. He was tormented so miserably by Feng Qi, if there was a Heavenly Demon infiltrating, waiting to spoil Feng Qi’s plans in the future would be great. He would never reveal it even at the point of death! Talking about it means it’s a lie…”

“Be careful what you say, careful what you say, don’t let the new gang leader hear you.”

“I didn’t say anything bad about the gang leader, what’s there to fear? I think the old gang leader felt that he was done for, so he made up a story on the spot, to negotiate terms with the new gang leader, either to save him or, like another announcement said, to see his children one last time before he dies.”

…

A group of the Peacekeeping Gang’s members were pointing and discussing under the announcement, exchanging their thoughts with each other.

Among the crowd.

A man in his twenties remained calm on the surface, but inside, a storm was raging. For real or not, he had kept such a low profile, how could he possibly be discovered?

They must be bluffing, right?

No, I have to leave!

Wait, no, I can’t leave. Escaping would mean real exposure. If Feng Qi dared to do this, he must have planted spies within the gang. Any abnormality would definitely get me killed…

Why is it so hard to just blend in and live an honest life?

“Shao Zhou, what’s wrong?” The guy next to him bumped his shoulder and asked with a smile, “You’ve been quiet for so long, you haven’t been possessed by the Heavenly Demon, have you?”

“If I were possessed by the Heavenly Demon, I would have defected to the gang leader already, living the good life, why would I still be here with you lot, a bunch of scoundrels?” Shao Zhou said. “I’m thinking about who around us is suspicious. Reporting it might get me in good with the gang leader for some merit.”

“Damn, you’re quite something, aren’t you? Come on, come on, the Heavenly Demons all have attributes. Let’s think carefully, who has been different these past few days. Then, we’ll go report it together to the gang leader. I heard that the Heavenly Demon often likes to possess the old, weak, sick, and disabled. The gang leader is generous; he definitely won’t skimp on the reward…” Hearing this, that man’s eyes lit up, and he spoke enthusiastically.

“I was just making a passing comment, and you’re seriously going to report it? If the Heavenly Demon finds out, you’ll be stabbed to death,” Shao Zhou chuckled.

“I was kidding too. We’re all brothers here, how could I do something as despicable as snitching behind someone’s back…” That man chuckled with a he-he, brushing it off, evidently not taking Shao Zhou seriously.

Shao Zhou knew better than to try to convince him further. There were many informants, and if he could slip away to check on the old gang leader’s situation, he would immediately know if he was being bluffed.

…

Having prepared a table of food and drink, Duge and Feng Zhong chatted while eating, occasionally glancing at the room where Qiu Yuanlang and his son were recuperating to see if any suspicious individuals came snooping around.

“Brother Qi, whose family are you from?” Feng Zhong asked.

“What do you mean ‘whose family’?” Duge responded.

“Indifferent to food, an expert in keyword camouflage, not from an elite academy—I wouldn’t believe it even if I saw ghosts,” Feng Zhong said. “This simulation field has three thousand people, drawing candidates from six civilian schools and two elite schools. Maybe we’re from the same school! Even if we aren’t, it won’t be hard to find out after asking around. We both made it into the top ten this time. Just give a name, and when we get out, I’ll come find you. Then we can join forces on the Alien Battlefield…”

“I’m from a civilian school, no need to look for me. Once we leave the exam venue, we won’t recognize each other anymore,” Duge said.

“Brother Qi, you’re too wary,” Feng Zhong laughed. “As long as you leave this simulation field ranked first, it’ll be hard not to become famous. That settles it, I’ll come find you then.”

“It’s only a temporary first place, I might not be able to keep it until the end…” Duge was saying this when he suddenly stopped.

“What is it?” Feng Zhong asked.

“Some of the food tastes bitter.” Duge spat out the food in his mouth and stood up. “Forget it, let’s stop eating. Come on, let’s go check out the Tribunal of Washing Grievances.”

“You’re not watching over Qiu Yuanlang anymore?” Feng Zhong asked.

“With two Incense Masters watching over him, that should be fine. Your Tongue of Right and Wrong is too unpredictable; who knows when that guy will come?” Duge said. “We can’t just stop all our work because of a few Heavenly Demons we’re not even sure exist.”

Just then, he had felt his attributes noticeably decline, dropping by at least a fifth in the blink of an eye.

He immediately realized the danger of the exposed keyword.

He was being targeted.

A Backstab was not likely to be the problem, so it had to be that defenses were being targeted.

He needed to figure out what was happening.

Backstabbing has too many limitations, it’s not easy to grow, and the fundamental base that’s been maintained can’t be lost. We need to find a way to cover up the maintenance and fill in the previous loopholes, making everyone believe that the maintenance is just my own disguise…

…

Before Duge had reached the Tribunal of Washing Grievances, he saw Liu Cheng riding back at full speed.

The two men stopped.

Liu Cheng leapt from his horse and approached Duge in a flying bound, hurriedly saying, “Gang Leader, has there been trouble?”

“What happened?” Duge asked.

“The silver we distributed to the victims yesterday was robbed,” Liu Cheng said. “The robbers were dressed in the Peacekeeping Gang’s clothes. They didn’t just steal the silver but also beat the people up, threatening them not to talk about the incident. Now beneath the surface, Luyang City is buzzing with talks that our maintenance of justice is fake, saying that… saying the Gang Leader is playing the whore while flaunting her virtue…”

Recalling Duge’s inexplicable actions just now, Feng Zhong gave him a thoughtful look.

Good grief.

His keyword couldn’t really be ‘maintenance’, could it?

Sensing that Duge’s attention was on Liu Cheng, he quietly opened the information panel to check his own ranking. He was still ninth, with no advancement.

He sighed silently. It indeed wasn’t ‘maintenance’; luckily he was smart enough to check the ranking first. If it truly was ‘maintenance’, with his reputation tarnished so greatly, his attributes would have plummeted to rock bottom long ago; there was no chance he’d still be holding onto the first place spot.

But even if it wasn’t ‘maintenance’, it must be related to it; his attributes must have been affected.

You have to admit, Feng Qi disguised the real key very well.

Duge had a Rear Eye and saw Feng Zhong’s slight movement clearly but didn’t make a fuss over it.

After all.

Everyone has a desire to pry. To probe into others’ secrets is human nature.

With this incident serving as a smokescreen, Feng Zhong won’t be suspicious of it anymore.

“Gang Leader, it must be the work of Han Zuo and his group,” Liu Cheng continued. “We need to find a way to eliminate them, we can’t let them continue tarnishing the Peacekeeping Gang’s reputation. I have an idea; let’s tie up the old Gang Leader outside Luyang City to force them out!”

“What nonsense are you spouting? We are the Peacekeeping Gang, not some criminal syndicate. Our principles are to uphold righteousness, fairness, and justice. It’s a disgrace that you, who were brought up by the old Gang Leader, suggest using an old man close to death as a threat. Even if it works, how would the world view us? Would they still believe in our Peacekeeping Gang?” Duge glared at Liu Cheng and rebuked, “We should resolve the problem openly and honestly, find the culprit, and rebuild public confidence in us—that’s the proper path.”

Yes, yes, everything you say is right!

The old Gang Leader wasn’t beaten to a pulp by you, nor were you the one who used his finger to threaten others…

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You are so high and mighty!

I’m the bad guy, alright!

If I ever give you advice again, I might as well be your son…

Liu Cheng’s eye twitched as he ranted inwardly, “Gang Leader, what should we do?”

“The enemy is hidden while we are exposed; we’re short-staffed. Relying on our existing forces to investigate the culprit is clearly not realistic, we need to find some helpers.” Duge turned to look at Feng Zhong, “Feng Zhong, write a few invitation letters. Invite the leaders of the three sects and five schools stationed here in Luyang City for a meeting. Tell them we want to establish a Peacekeeping Connected Defense Alliance and invite them to join us in upholding the justice of the Martial Worlds and ensuring peace.”

Liu Cheng was stunned, looking at Duge with a bewildered expression. This had nothing to do with pursuing the murderer, right?

Peacekeeping Joint Defense?

You’re already having trouble yourself, and you want others to join in upholding justice?

Moreover, those are people from the three sects and five schools. Not even the old Gang Leader dared to make such a move. With the Peacekeeping Gang having less than five hundred members, why would they listen to you?

How big do you think your face is?

At this moment, Liu Cheng suddenly regretted joining this damned Peacekeeping Gang. If he had known Duge would be such an erratic fellow, he wouldn’t have come back with the news. He would have just turned around and left, wandering the ends of the earth…

Feng Qi’s actions were often unexpected, and Feng Zhong didn’t know what he was planning to do. Confused, he asked, “Brother Qi, isn’t it too early to involve the three sects and five schools at this time?”

“It’s not too early,” Duge said with a smile. “Maintaining the righteousness of the Martial Worlds is the responsibility and duty of every person in the jianghu. Together, we can maintain a better living environment so that everyone can lead a better life!”