The crowd instantly fell into chaos as the town guards rushed out, forcefully parting the people.

Benson, dressed in black, stood tall atop a luxurious carriage as it slowly entered through the alleyways. The screams hadn’t yet died down, but as gunfire continued in rapid bursts, more and more people fell into silence.

Shen Lin gritted his teeth. The taste of baked pancakes still lingered on his lips, and he clearly remembered the tenderness beneath Mrs. Fornier’s stern exterior.

She had brought them warm blankets and soft pancakes, worried that they would go hungry and freeze, outraged at the injustices they had suffered. She was a gentle and independent woman, a great volunteer and revolutionary, someone to be respected.

Shen Lin looked hatefully at Benson, that handsome, cold man stood high and mighty, holding a stone tablet in his arms, his expression calm and composed. Even as the gunfire raged and countless lives were lost, nothing could awaken his conscience. He looked like a messenger burdened with a divine mission, walking step by step down a road paved with white bones, as though the path of blood only made him more godlike.

Benson swept his gaze across the silent crowd, his expression filled with both pity and divine aloofness. He spoke calmly, “Today should have been the day for material distribution, but I must inform you: the gods have given us their greatest trial. A traitor has emerged among the outsiders. They have stolen the offering, stolen what is sacred, and hidden among us! We must find them! Sacrifice them to the gods! Only then can we be freed from this suffering!”

The priests following Benson closed their eyes and responded in low, solemn voices: “Sacrifice!”

The surrounding guards struck the ground with their rifle butts: “Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice!”

Several soldiers dragged a man from the carriage and nailed him to a cross. His eyes were blindfolded, and his body was stiff like a coffin lid.

Shen Lin’s expression changed. A name nearly escaped his lips, “Shawn.” His heart began to pound rapidly. He had a bad feeling something terrible was about to happen.

Benson walked to his side and said, “This man is one of the traitorous outsiders. Ashamed of his sins, he has agreed to confess the identities of all the other infiltrating outsiders to redeem himself. Based on his description, we have sketched out the appearances of the remaining five outsiders.”

Shen Lin grabbed Luther and said, “Luther, I want a bit more of that baked lamb and potatoes.”

Luther didn’t move, dazed as he stared out the window. When a group of soldiers raised the sketches side by side, he even pushed Shen Lin aside, walked to the door, and tried to open it to get a closer look.

Benson raised his arms high and shouted to the crowd, “Bloodline hierarchy is a manifestation of sin. You were born with sin, and only repentance before the gods can absolve you! Find the outsiders, and cleanse your sins! Only then will the gods grant you rebirth! Only then can you be saved!”

KP : “Father Benson’s words are extremely persuasive, roll a Willpower check.”

Shen Lin rolls: 80/32. Hard success.
Benson rolls: 90/65. Normal success.
Yan Xiuyi rolls: 65/70. Failure.
Benson (again): 90/33. Hard success.

KP: “Benson’s shouting has no effect on Orion, he just finds it noisy. But Felton is completely enthralled. It’s as if he hears the gods chanting prayers by his ear, voices from the abyss, deep and vast. He’s been seduced by Benson’s words.”

Benson: “Sinful outsiders, your evil is so deep it warrants your destruction! Come to me of your own accord. The merciful gods will help you cleanse your sins.”

Shen Lin: “!!!”

Yan Xiuyi turned to Shen Lin, his eyes dull: “We are sinful. We should be redeemed… we must atone.”

Luther walked out the door, and soon everyone followed, wandering like restless ghosts into the streets, surrounding Benson in a dense crowd. No one knew who shouted “Sacrifice” first, but soon the chant erupted through the streets and alleys.

“Sacrifice!”
“Sacrifice!”
“Sacrifice!”

Moonfall Hamlet had descended into madness. Everyone’s mind was under Benson’s control.

Shen Lin narrowed his eyes. Yan Xiuyi gripped his wrist tightly.

Shen Lin: “I want to use Charm on Felton.”

KP: “…………”

KP: “He’s already in temporary madness and deeply infatuated with you, there’s no need for further charm.”

Shen Lin: “But clearly, he’s more obsessed with Benson right now. He doesn’t love me. He loves Benson more.”

KP: “……”

Shen Lin: “You’re a terrible KP. I’m going to file a complaint.”

KP: “Okay, okay! No complaints, just do it, let’s see how he reacts.”

Shen Lin: “Don’t look.”

KP said solemnly: “I have no face. I can’t see anything.”

Shen Lin: “You have no shame.”

KP: “……” Bullied noises QAQ

Shen Lin hesitated for a moment, then turned his hand to hold Yan Xiuyi’s wrist. He leaned in and tiptoed to kiss Yan Xiuyi’s lips. It was soft, light, and so quick it was barely perceptible.

Something subtle seemed to unlock in Yan Xiuyi, his madness completely dissipated. He stared fixedly at Shen Lin, a storm brewing in his pale gray eyes.

Shen Lin: “Are you awake now? Forget your god. You are not guilty. None of us are guilty.”

Yan Xiuyi: “No. I am guilty,” he gripped Shen Lin’s wrist tightly, voice hoarse. “You are my god. I lust for you, desire you. That is my sin.”

Shen Lin: “………………”

What kind of weird roleplay is this?!

The madness Benson had implanted in Yan Xiuyi was entirely gone, replaced by a deeper, more fervent obsession with Shen Lin.

Temporary madness was truly terrifying.

KP: “Roll a Listen check.”

Shen Lin rolled and succeeded.

From the window came a soft voice: “Luther! Luther!”

Shen Lin turned around and saw Layla tapping on the glass. Her faint voice made it through the window. He walked over and opened it.

Layla: “Why are you here?!”

Shen Lin: “Luther invited me over, but he’s under a spell now.”

Layla: “No wonder everyone’s acting strange.” Her expression turned serious. “I heard Mrs. Fornier was shot, so I came to check. Benson is a disgusting bastard! He’s using this stunt to suppress everyone’s anger over the lack of supplies. He’s a scumbag!”

Shen Lin looked at the townsfolk outside worshiping Benson, then said to Layla, “I’m sorry, Layla. I lied to you. We’re actually outsiders. We don’t know how we got to this island or this town. We just want to go home.”

There was no hiding it anymore, it was spreading far and wide.

Layla’s eyes widened. She stared at him in shock, stepping back cautiously as she assessed Shen Lin.

Shen Lin to KP: “Psychology check.”

KP rolls secretly.

Shen Lin realized Layla was shocked, but her eyes remained calm. She was carefully evaluating him.

Shen Lin: “I won’t hurt you. I just want to go home.”

Layla: “You’re really not the second Messenger?”

Shen Lin shook his head: “I swear on my honor, I’m not here to spy on anyone. I just stumbled into this place. My only goal is to go home.”

Layla hesitated, then finally chose to believe him. “Alright, I’ll trust you, for now. No, I trust my intuition. I believe you’re a kind person.”

Shen Lin smiled.

Layla smiled too. She stepped aside and said, “Benson’s probably planning to capture you all. Come with me. I’ll take you to my house, it’s just me and Mrs. Anne. They won’t find you there.”

Shen Lin: “Thank you for your kindness.”

He jumped out the window, with Yan Xiuyi following closely.

KP: “Roll Stealth.”

Shen Lin: Success.
Yan Xiuyi: Success.

KP: “Now roll Luck.”

Shen Lin: Success.

They arrived safely at Layla’s house. The landlady was napping. A bald parrot shrieked upon sensing them, waking Mrs. Anne.

Mrs. Anne’s eyes bulged. Her nearly toothless mouth sagged inward as she yelled, “What’s going on?! Layla! You scared little Pete!”

Layla: “Sorry, Mrs. Anne! I brought two friends home.”

Mrs. Anne: “Friends?” She squinted at Shen Lin, examined him head to toe, then sneered, “Such a pretty child. Look at you, Layla, you’re about the right age. I’ve been so worried no one would marry you.”

Layla: “Mrs. Anne, please don’t say things like that! They’re just friends!”

Shen Lin saying politely: “Hello, Mrs. Anne.”

Mrs. Anne: “Hello, cutie. Want some hot cocoa?”

Shen Lin: “Thank you for your hospitality.”

Mrs. Anne: “Go on, Layla, make them some cocoa. The powder’s in the drawer.”

Layla: “You forgot again, there hasn’t been cocoa powder for a month. You’ve been drinking hot goat milk for breakfast.”

Mrs. Anne: “Really?” She blinked. “Why is everything gone…”

Layla led them into her room, closed the windows, drew the curtains, and said, “Stay here and don’t get spotted. I’ll help you find your friends.”

She closed the door and went downstairs.

Shen Lin: “I wonder how Freud and the others are.”

Yan Xiuyi: “They’re at Moonfall Bay.”

Shen Lin: “There aren’t many townsfolk there. It should be safe. Honestly, I’m more worried about Shawn. He seemed completely insane, maybe it’s another temporary madness?”

KP: “No,” the KP corrected. “He’s permanently insane, his character’s dead. In simple terms, he’s been eliminated from the game.”