The gazes directed at Wu Qiong grew increasingly contemptuous.
How true the saying went—those who lived too long knew only the art of slippery diplomacy!
This old daoist had masterfully avoided making any enemies himself, leaving the six clans to tear each other apart.
Before the factions could settle on tournament order, Wu Qiong added fuel to the fire: "There remains a third matter beyond this humble daoist's authority—should test victories be considered valid for the main tournament?"
"Absolutely not!!!" Thorns Robert slammed her palm on the table with such force that the recoil sent her floating into the air.
Hovering mid-descent, she glared daggers. "Are you suggesting we let certain factions cheat openly?"
All eyes turned to the Lord of Ivory Land. Since entering, everyone had sensed something between him and Wu Qiong—their coordinated performance reeked of conspiracy to hand Whale Fall to Ivory Land.
Just as the tension peaked, the least educated man in the room spoke up. "Why not?" Chang Ming bellowed. "Since we're being frank—I'll announce something. I am Player One."
With a flourish, he projected his game ID for all to see:
[0000000001]
"Well hidden indeed, Director Chang!" Thorns spat through clenched teeth. "All that talk about fairness while you held the first slot!"
Chang Ming's jowls quivered with smug satisfaction. "My grandfather swore brotherhood with Old Lord Bai. This account was his personal gift. As Player One, I should test first."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Where Habsburg VI had moments ago held all the cards, suddenly the Ferry Corporation gained the upper hand.
While shocking, it made perfect sense—Old Lord Bai had been close with Ferry's founder. Yet instead of simply bequeathing the station, he'd created this twenty-five year game.
Now billions coveted Whale Fall. None would accept some drunken lout claiming it.
Unwilling to be outdone, Thorns projected her own ID: [0000000002]. "Since we're revealing hands—I'm Player Two. Also gifted by Old Lord Bai."
The assembly stirred.
Chang Ming was a incompetent fool who'd stumbled into his position. But Thorns? She was a different beast entirely.
Space stations had long whispered that Thorns and Little Rose's father was Old Lord Bai's illegitimate son. This revelation gave weight to those rumors.
As attention swung to Ivory Land, Habsburg VI remained unshaken. With a practiced smile, he declared: "Since we're being transparent—my wife is Player Three."
The hall erupted. "So the top three spots were rigged from the start!"
"Exactly!" Chang Ming roared. "Old Lord Bai told me himself—he feared Whale Fall being swallowed by other clans. Our family was too weak then, so he designed this game to give us time to grow!"
Behind him sat his two handsome sons—Chang Hao, the elder, and Chang Ni, the younger. Both glowed with pride at their father's revelation.
Thorns' lip curled as she addressed Habsburg VI with unprecedented familiarity: "Brother-in-law, what say you?"
That single word—"brother-in-law"—forged an instant alliance between the feuding families against the Changs.
Habsburg VI's eyes darkened. "Old Lord Bai set no rule about playing in ID order."
"You'd steal Whale Fall together then?!" Chang Ming's face purpled with rage.
Habsburg VI's unblinking stare answered plainly: Yes. And we're doing it now.
"Over my dead body!!!" Chang Ming stormed forward until he stood nose-to-nose with Habsburg VI, chest heaving, eyes bulging with fury.
Seconds stretched. Chang Ming remained frozen in accusation, his finger extended, face darkening from red to purple.
Habsburg VI noticed something odd—Chang's pupils were dilating unnaturally.
A tentative touch sent Chang Ming toppling like a felled tree, still locked in that accusatory pose.
"AAAAAHHHH!!!" The scream tore through the hall. "Dead! Director Chang is dead!!!"
Case File: [Player One - Public Demise, Cause Unknown, Gruesome Death Scene]
When the case file landed in Zhuang Mo's hands, the rookie detective wanted to cry.
Fresh out of Space Police Academy, just assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division for his internship - and now this? A normal case would've been challenging enough, let alone this bizarre homicide dumped on him by Captain Huang Peiyu.
The victim's strange death alone was troubling, but the crime scene being Whale Fall City? That was the real kicker.
Just yesterday afternoon, Zhuang Mo had been there himself - on a date with his girlfriend Shuang'er, until that black-robed daoist showed up.
The worst part?
He'd thought the clean-cut daoist was maybe in his twenties.
Then he'd asked around at the precinct.
Turns out the man was several centuries old.
Yesterday's panicked retreat now burned Zhuang Mo's cheeks with shame. He was a police officer, d*mn it - even if just a trainee. What kind of cop runs screaming from a priest?
He could only pray the daoist had a poor memory.
"Finished reviewing the file?" Captain Huang floated over. "Thoughts?"
Zhuang Mo snapped the case file shut. "Victim Chang Ming, 55, married with two sons. CEO of Ferry Corporation and its majority shareholder. The Changs rank fourth among the Seven Great Space Clans."
"Received Whale's Decree Player One account in youth. Yesterday at 1900 Space Meridian Time, attended tournament rules discussion at Whale Fall."
"At 1923, during confrontation with Habsburg VI, victim suddenly collapsed. Death posture rigid - no visible trauma, no bruising, no needle marks."
"Toxicology clean except trace alcohol. History of alcoholism with moderate fatty liver and cirrhosis. No other organ abnormalities."
"'No abnormalities,'" Huang repeated, chewing the words.
"In my experience, no abnormalities is the biggest abnormality." The captain's cybernetic eye whirred. "Until proven otherwise, we treat this as homicide. The killer left no traces - meaning they knew the victim intimately."
Zhuang Mo grimaced. "That's over a hundred suspects just at the scene. Plus absent acquaintances... are we investigating thousands?"
Huang raised an eyebrow. "Why so broad?"
Zhuang Mo fidgeted. "Sir, I know officers can't enter Whale's Decree. You're viewing this as an outsider."
"Every space resident over twelve can enter. I registered the day I turned twelve. The system's unfair - billions ahead of me."
"The logical solution? Eliminate those ahead. Though killing billions is impractical..."
"But the top hundred players?" Zhuang Mo's voice dropped. "A skilled killer could clear the competition quietly."
Huang's remaining organic eye narrowed. "Or just kill Player One and frame someone - scare off the rest."
A slow grin spread across Huang's face. "We're thinking alike. Let's visit Whale Fall for eyewitness statements."
"Again?!" Zhuang Mo's face turned pea-green. "Can't someone else—"
Huang grabbed his collar mid-protest, dragging him toward the docking bay.
Whale Fall City - Observation Deck
Wu Qiong stood motionless in black robes, gazing at the starscape.
Twenty-five years since Old Lord Bai's passing, and the wound still festered.
Mortal lives were so brief. Devotion, so endless.
Given the chance, he'd make the same choices again - even through countless calamities.
"Elder," Teaflower Maiden whispered at the doorway. "Police investigators have arrived."
Wu Qiong turned, his face serene as carved jade. "The reception hall."
Whale Fall - the first private space hospital, founded by Bai Qing, veteran of the Space Expeditionary Force.
Legend said Old Lord Bai overcame eighty-one trials to build this orbital marvel. Now, it was essential to space-dwellers - providing cutting-edge vaccines to maintain immunological parity with Earth.
Zhuang Mo had visited before, but only for medical checks or stargazing. The observation deck's panoramic views were unmatched, its fees surprisingly modest.
Today marked his first time in the restricted core sector.
The reception hall's spacious interior did little to ease his nerves. Every step felt like walking on eggshells. The moment Wu Qiong entered, Zhuang Mo knew - he'd been recognized.
To his relief, the daoist made no mention of yesterday's incident, gliding silently to his seat.