Chapter 13: Blood Mode
1276 Words
“The Prime Minister’s Office has already approved your entry into the Enforcement Team, Seven of Hearts!”
“After investigation, the killings of Six of Spades, Nine of Diamonds, and Two of Clubs were all the work of [Qiaomoya Chris], unrelated to you. Welcome back to the [Lawful Faction].”
As soon as the communicator connected, a crisp female voice came through.
The voice was like a songbird’s chirp, brimming with vitality.
Chen Qi immediately recalled the records about Ten of Clubs in the Eland Diary.
The two must have clashed once, and Eland had survived only by groveling.
To his surprise, Eland had even used that opportunity to join the Enforcement Team. What a talented survivor.
Though Chen Qi didn’t yet know exactly what the Enforcement Team was, the fact that it required approval from the Prime Minister’s Office meant it had to be a formidable organization.
“Rest assured, from now on, I will absolutely guard order!”
Chen Qi imitated Eland’s tone, responding carefully.
On the other end, Ten of Clubs didn’t seem to notice that Seven of Hearts had once again changed hands, and was quite satisfied with Chen Qi’s pledge.
“It’s good you have this awareness!”
“Since that incident, you’ve curbed your reckless use of powers and stopped disrupting the social order. We’ve all noticed your improvement!”
“But your lecherous habits must change. To think you caused chaos in the entire Taryn City underworld just for jealousy and rivalry!”
“As your guarantor, I was utterly embarrassed!”
Ten of Clubs nagged incessantly, listing off Eland’s many “shameless stunts.”
Chen Qi was startled—so this identity had always been under surveillance.
But thinking that the Enforcement Team was directly tied to the Prime Minister’s Office, it all made sense.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already settled matters with the Fire Fox g**g!”
“And I’ve also broken up with all those girlfriends of mine!”
At that moment, Chen Qi wanted to applaud himself. Luckily, he hadn’t gotten carried away, or else he might have already been punished harshly.
“Hmph, that’s the way it should be!”
“The King’s Game doesn’t just grant us power—it also gives us responsibility!”
“The mission of us Lawful Faction players is to maintain the stability of the Blue Yam Nation.”
“Those [Betrayers] are not our kind. They’re clowns seeking their own destruction. You must always remain vigilant, never falling into arrogance and corruption like your predecessor!”
Ten of Clubs didn’t seem like an old fox, but rather a straightforward girl.
If this King’s Game really was orchestrated by a demon, how could it possibly be as noble as she described?
Still, Chen Qi wasn’t a nitpicker. The more she talked, the more information he gained about the game.
“Since you’ve joined the Lawful Faction, you now have the right to attend the January 1st assembly.”
“There will be a welcoming ceremony, and you’ll be introduced to everyone.”
“This meeting is crucial—it concerns the safety of all. You must attend.”
When it came to serious matters, Ten of Clubs’ tone immediately grew solemn.
Chen Qi didn’t resist joining the Lawful Faction, so naturally he wouldn’t miss the meeting.
But out of curiosity, he still asked:
“Is something about to happen?”
······
“Oh, I almost forgot—you’re still a newbie!”
“The King’s Game runs in five-year cycles. On the final day of each cycle, all players must pay homage to His Majesty the King.”
“His Majesty judges everyone’s actions.”
“Unlike us Lawful Faction players who uphold order, some are lost once they gain power.”
“They indulge in reckless acts, or s*******r fellow players for power and cards!”
“Such people cannot escape His Majesty’s judgment!”
Ten of Clubs seemed to truly treat Chen Qi as a new subordinate, carefully explaining the game’s secrets.
At last, Chen Qi understood what [Lawful Faction] and [Betrayers] were.
The line between them was simple: whether or not one killed other players to steal cards.
Betrayers would never survive the King’s judgment.
Even Lawful players who abused their powers and disrupted the kingdom’s order would still be judged.
That explained why Eland had suddenly turned so obedient!
But the Betrayers wouldn’t go quietly into judgment.
In the last two years of each cycle, they fought madly, launching frenzied attacks on other players.
That was why the Lawful Faction gathered on January 1st—to discuss countermeasures.
“Rest assured, I’ll definitely be there on time!”
After reaffirming his stance, Chen Qi ended the call with Ten of Clubs.
But he wouldn’t fully trust everything she said.
This game undoubtedly had deeper secrets.
Otherwise, Qiaomoya wouldn’t have written in his diary: “I’ve drawn a card of inevitable death!”
······
“So, the [King] card really is in Gustav’s hands!”
Though Ten of Clubs never named the King outright, anyone with a grasp of Blue Yam’s history could piece together the truth.
The game had already run eight full cycles, plus three years of the ninth.
That meant it had lasted 43 years in total.
And Gustav had transformed the presidency into a monarchy precisely 43 years ago.
Chen Qi couldn’t help but wonder—did the game begin at the moment Gustav was crowned king?
Thinking this, he searched for Gustav’s detailed biography online.
“Before 40, just an ordinary businessman. Then, he suddenly rose to become the nation’s richest man.”
“At 50, he entered politics—took only three years to go from member of parliament to president.”
“He then served three consecutive presidential terms, wielding immense power!”
“At 68, he abolished the presidency and crowned himself King of Blue Yam.”
“And today, he is already 111 years old.”
“What a legendary figure indeed!”
Reading Gustav’s life, Chen Qi finally saw what it meant to be a winner in life.
He had to admit, he felt a twinge of envy—but only a little.
If Chen Qi wanted, one lucky roll of seven pips could make him president instantly.
“Though this resume is legendary, it still belongs to a mortal.”
“If not for the existence of the King’s Game, and the fact that he holds the [King] card, it would be hard to link Gustav with a demon.”
“Does the demon truly exist? What exactly is its relationship with Gustav?”
The information he had was far from enough for judgment.
After some thought, Chen Qi let it go.
His planned meeting with Tarenno was also canceled.
He had originally intended to support the Fire Fox g**g, helping them recover from their defeat, then swallow them up to consolidate the underworld.
But after joining the Enforcement Team—and especially after learning the game was entering Blood Mode—Chen Qi no longer intended to play petty games in Taryn City.
With the Prime Minister’s Office backing the Enforcement Team, it was clearly worth his focus.
And so, Tarenno was hit with the thunderous news: the “Boss” had magnanimously spared the Fire Fox g**g.
He could no longer rely on his g**g’s borrowed power!
But at least there was one bright spot—his boss gave him a huge sum of money to fully support the establishment of an intelligence network.
His chance to shine had finally come.
- Writer
