32: Chapter 32 The Last Use

The hustle and bustle of the revelry receded like a tide, and the Fortress returned to its usual solemnity and silence in the middle of the night. Only the regular, heavy footsteps of the patrolling Underworld Soldiers echoed in the night, reminding everyone that this was still a post-apocalyptic world fraught with danger.

Deep within the Fortress, in a specially reinforced underground cell inscribed with suppression runes, Qin Weiwei curled up in a cold corner.

There were no windows here, only a single energy lamp overhead emitting a pale, ghostly green light. It stretched her shadow long and distorted against the cold, rough walls. The air was thick with the smell of damp mold and a faint scent of blood (from her own wrists, which she had chafed while struggling earlier).

The faint sounds of cheering and music from outside were like the sharpest needles, piercing her already battered nerves over and over. Victory? Revelry? That was built upon her failure, upon the painful price of her cult's near-total annihilation!

Despair, remorse, fear, and the humiliation of being completely toyed with like a clown wrapped around her heart like poisonous vines, making her almost suffocate. She was finished; the cult would not forgive her, the sinner who caused such heavy losses, and Lin Chen certainly wouldn't let her go. Nothing but a fate more miserable than death awaited her.

The heavy iron door of the cell made a dull opening sound.

Qin Weiwei jolted like a startled rabbit, curling up even tighter as she looked toward the door in terror.

The person who entered wasn't the ferocious Zhang Hao she expected, nor was it an Underworld Soldier coming for her execution.

It was Lin Chen.

He walked in alone with a composed stride, even carrying a hint of the cold fragrance of Nether Fruit Wine from the victory banquet, which was completely out of place in this dark cell. He closed the iron door behind him, isolating the room from the outside, and then leaned against the door at his leisure, his calm gaze falling upon the trembling Qin Weiwei.

That gaze held no anger, no killing intent, not even disdain; there was only a gaze so pure it was chilling—the scrutiny of someone assessing whether an object still had any residual value.

This kind of gaze terrified Qin Weiwei more than any hatred or threat.

"Brother... Lin Chen..." Her voice was dry and raspy, carrying a sob. She still wanted to make one last struggle, even if it was just to beg for a quick end.

Lin Chen ignored her clumsy performance and got straight to the point, his tone as flat as if he were discussing today's weather:

"I have a message for you to bring to your master."

Qin Weiwei looked up sharply, a flash of unbelievable confusion in her eyes. A message? Why wasn't he killing her?

Lin Chen seemed to see through her thoughts, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc. "What benefit is there for me to kill you? Aside from wasting a spot to bury a corpse."

He paused for a moment and continued in that flat but unquestionable tone:

"Tell that elusive leader of the Thousand Faces Cult that I've already helped clean up the small fry he sent. The service was top-notch, but the quality wasn't great. Next time, remember to send some people who can actually fight. Don't just keep sending me experience points."

The contempt and insult in his words made Qin Weiwei's face turn various shades of blue and white.

"Furthermore," Lin Chen's tone shifted, as if he were genuinely proposing a business collaboration, "I see that your Thousand Faces Cult has been working quite hard, hiding all over the place and pulling underhanded little stunts. How about this..."

He leaned forward slightly. Although there was some distance between them, the invisible pressure made Qin Weiwei's breath hitch.

"I, Lin Chen, in my capacity as the sovereign of the Underworld Fortress, formally issue an 'acquisition offer' to your cult."

"Acquisition?" Qin Weiwei was completely stunned, her brain almost unable to process the meaning of the word.

"Exactly." Lin Chen stood up straight, his tone carrying a natural arrogance. "I've taken a liking to the assets and manpower of your Thousand Faces Cult. Although they aren't worth much, cleaning them up is quite a hassle. Tell him to name a price—how many nether talismans he wants, or what kind of death he prefers—everything is negotiable. As long as he is willing to bring the entire Thousand Faces Cult to kneel before my Fortress gates and swear loyalty, I can consider giving him, and you remnants of a defeated army, a chance to become 'one of us'."

He looked into Qin Weiwei's eyes, which were wide with extreme shock, and added one last sentence:

"Of course, this is the final opportunity. It won't be available after the deadline."

Having finished, Lin Chen didn't linger. As if he had only come to complete a trivial task, he turned, pushed open the iron door, and walked out. The heavy iron door closed once again, locking Qin Weiwei inside with the endless darkness and humiliation.

Inside the cell, there was a deathly silence.

Qin Weiwei slumped on the cold floor, her body trembling violently from extreme anger and humiliation! Her teeth chattered, and her fingernails dug deep into her palms, drawing blood!

What a supreme humiliation! What a supreme humiliation!!

Lin Chen... he hadn't just destroyed the cult's main force; he actually wanted to... acquire the entire Thousand Faces Cult?! Like acquiring a commodity or a company?! He was even too lazy to personally go and exterminate them, instead using a method that was almost like charity and insult combined, demanding the Cult Leader himself bring everyone to kneel and surrender?!

This was more cruel and heart-wrenching than directly killing her and all the cultists!

"Aaaaahhhh—!!!" Qin Weiwei could finally no longer restrain herself, letting out a shrill scream like a wounded beast that echoed wildly in the small cell!

She had to pass this message on! She had to let the Cult Leader know of Lin Chen's arrogance and the insult he had dealt! Even if she had to squeeze out every last bit of her value, she would make the Cult Leader wash away this shame for her and their fallen comrades!

...

A few days later, in an extremely hidden underground altar of the Thousand Faces Cult.

In the center of the altar, beneath an idol of an evil god that was twisted, grotesque, and covered in countless eyes, a figure stood. He wore magnificent Cult Leader robes, and his face was covered by a mask of constantly squirming and changing faces in pain. He suddenly tore a piece of letter paper—which had been sent back via a special method and was covered in tear stains and bloody fingerprints—into shreds!

"Lin! Chen!"

A roar filled with sky-high fury and extreme malice exploded in the altar like a clap of thunder! Violent energy erupted uncontrollably from his body, sending several nearby cultists flying, coughing up blood!

"Arrogant! Ignorant! You deserve to die!!"

Beneath the mask, those eyes, full of madness and cruelty, glared fixedly in the direction of the Underworld Fortress.

"Acquisition? Just with you?! This seat will let you know what a painful price you will pay for desecrating the Divine Cult and insulting me!!"

"Pass down the order! Activate the 'Altar of the End'! Awaken the sleeping 'Lord of Corrosion'! This seat will personally... wipe him and his damned Fortress completely off the face of this world!!"

The entire underground altar shook violently under the roar of the enraged Cult Leader.

A storm even more frenzied and dangerous was quietly brewing.