Chapter 208: Chapter 182: You Are Not the Final Observer Chapter 208: Chapter 182: You Are Not the Final Observer Igula looked at the dagger planted in front of Ash, his parched lips quivered slightly, and the long-lost sensation of fear gnawed at his heart like a wolf.
“Am I also afraid of death? Am I just a mere man after all? Am I just an unqualified Swindler?” he thought to himself.
Fear is the cold-hearted Meiwa, and composure is the Swindler’s lifeline. When composure is drained by fear, it signifies the end of the Swindler’s life.
Igula had forgotten when he last felt fear. When he successfully swindled his first lollipop from the foster home kids, or when he maliciously accused other children to the orphanage director, it was as if he lost the sensation of fear completely.
After delving into the Spirit Faction, Igula believed he was a natural-born antisocial personality. Not becoming a Swindler would have been a waste of his journey to this world. Toying with human nature wasn’t just for profit, it was for survival—he was the kind of person who could only live in the shadows, incapable of living without engaging in deceit.
The unique social environment and regional advantages of the Kingdom of Blood Moon facilitated a smooth path in his career. Even being captured by the Crime Hunting Hall, a minor setback like that didn’t instill fear in Igula. Instead, he saw it as a form of professional training—although the prisoners of Shattered Lake Prison were a bit harder to deceive, it only fueled Igula’s passion for the challenge.
Igula had never feared the vicissitudes of fate. He had faced more dangerous predicaments in the past. Being surrounded by the hitmen of organizations, having a Hand Cannon pressed against his head, and even being threatened to cut off his “charm”. None of it had scared him at all.
Because the first person a Swindler deceives is themselves.
If a Swindler doesn’t believe they are immortal, how dare they deceive others? If a Swindler doesn’t believe their next sentence could turn the situation around, how could they possibly deceive others?
So Igula couldn’t understand why he should be afraid.
He wasn’t in any real danger.
He still had one of Ash’s wishes in his hand.
With just one command, Ash wouldn’t be able to harm him in the slightest.
Ash would probably go after Harvey first, Igula thought.
As for the possibility of Ash rejecting this invitation, Igula hadn’t considered it for a second—Ash had no reason not to attack them, just as Meiwa couldn’t refuse a Beastman that presented itself.
For them, a band of escapees from Shattered Lake Prison, mutual slaughter was merely a form of greeting. They would fabricate opportunities to betray even when none existed; if an opportunity arose, they would undoubtedly dig each other’s graves even deeper.
Their relationships were purely about using each other, devoid of any leniency.
Strangely enough, although there should have been no conflicts of interest among them after a successful escape, Igula remained deeply wary of the others, trusting strangers more than his former prison comrades.
They were the same kind of people who couldn’t coexist peacefully; if forced to work together, death would become inevitable.
Igula had also pondered why he harbored killing intent towards his fellow escapees.
To erase the past? The Crime Hunting Hall still had a massive file on him.
To protect secrets? Having left Blood Moon, the secrets of either Harvey or Igula held no significance.
Yes, that was it. It was indeed to protect himself. Because Igula realized, no matter how much he didn’t want to believe or stay vigilant, when the time came, he would still choose to cooperate with Harvey and Ash. And both Harvey and Ash were familiar with his way of fighting. It was as if they had become… mutually dependent companions.
Dependency is the most dangerous of knives, handed over to the companion behind your back. — “Ansu Fable·Companion·Concluding Summary”
Being open about oneself is foolishness, relying on others is a disgrace, having companions equates to a countdown to betrayal. Under different circumstances, in another place, Igula might have risked getting to know this group of companions, but they had met as death row inmates in prison—companions picked from the trash, would you dare to have them?
Igula didn’t dare, and he knew that Harvey and Ash didn’t dare either.
Since none could become companions, yet were forced into an unspoken agreement of companionship, they could only become enemies.
This is how Blood Moonians deal with others—others will always be others, never one of their own.
As long as you betray others first, you will not be betrayed; such is the law of selfishness.
So, when Igula saw Ash draw that small knife without a moment’s hesitation, there was not a trace of surprise in his heart. What caught Igula off guard, however, was that Ash did not head towards Harvey, but looked at him instead.
A thought flashed through Igula’s mind, and he immediately understood Ash’s intention—he wanted to force himself to use a wish, then deal with Harvey, so that the Swindler would no longer be able to deter the ex-cult leader.
Truly, it was you… the abominable enemy who could suppress me from start to finish…
You really are the cult leader who brings misfortune to others, and I’m merely one of your victims.
It was all within expectations, and Igula felt no anger.
But for some reason, he felt a tinge of disappointment.
Ash squatted in front of him, lifted his chin, and pressed the dagger to his dust-covered face. Looking at Ash, Igula suddenly had a new idea—since he was going to die anyway, instead of using his wish to protect his last bit of dignity before death, why not drag Ash down with him, be buried together in the Void Realm, and become phantoms of the past?
If I can’t survive, then I needn’t worry about your life or death.
Or perhaps… use a wish directly and have you kill me, sparing my agony and granting you your rebirth?
While Igula’s emotions surged, Ash stopped and looked towards Eternal Damnation, asking, “Can you guarantee that you’ll let me go after I do this?”
“If you can truly prove your loyalty to The Gods of Four Pillars,” said Eternal Damnation, “then naturally, you will receive the treatment you deserve.”
“You’re avoiding the question with empty talk,” Ash said. “Since that’s the case, let’s have it in writing. I brought Miracle Contract paper. With the assurance from the Void Realm, I’ll believe you.”
Eternal Damnation looked at him, a strange smile playing on her lips, as winds seemed to rise around the Silver Throne, gently fluttering her skirt.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and the chains of the suspended plate above Ash’s head broke. Although Ash instantly threw his dagger at Eternal Damnation, he was also struck hard on the back by the falling suspended plate, writhing on the ground in pain like a curled-up shrimp.
The dagger was deflected by an invisible current, narrowly missing Eternal Damnation’s plump and adorable cheek by just a hair’s breadth.
The mechanical arm tucked the dagger back into her skirt, and she motioned to a robed figure to use a Miracle to tie Ash up, leisurely stating, “As expected, my judgment was correct; you are not a Believer of The Gods of Four Pillars, nor are you the Final Observer.”
“You are just Ash Heath.”