Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 8 Gambling, Players, and Blood Alliance

"Eternal life is the gift of life, immortality is the pain I bestow."

"What a bunch of pathetic bugs! They think they are noble and elegant, immortal, but they will always live in the miserable fate I have woven."

"Every gambling game has players, and the winners are never who they think they are."

"Fate has prepared a feast for you, but are you the one who enjoys it, or the bloody food served?"

The neon lights of the Golden Country cast brilliant shadows in the dark night. From a distance,
It is like a gold ring in the heart of the city, luxurious and dazzling, but with a hint of decay.

Siming stood on the street opposite the casino, holding a cigarette between his fingers. Amidst the smoke, he closed his eyes slightly, thinking about the role he would play today.

The game has begun, the players are in place, and now it's his turn to take the stage.

The chips offered by Fat Huck are hard to refuse.

3 Mystical Gold Coins.

Three times more than the normal door quests issued by the Mystics Guild.

"The casino king's bets are always precise and vicious."

At that moment, Sima Ming understood that this was a gamble that could not be refused.

Fatty Huck did not give him the right to "refuse". These three gold coins, like a pair of ropes, had quietly tied him to this game.

"You can refuse, but you don't want to know what the price of refusal is."

Siming smiled and raised his hand to flick off the ash.

If that's the case, then accept it.

Let's see what the bottom line of this gamble is.

After taking on the task, Si Ming went to the hometown of the returnees and asked Leng Ji for some additional information.

In the bar, Leng Ji was sitting behind the bar, shaking the wine glass in his hand and staring at him with his deep eyes, with a nonchalant smile.

"So, you're going to that world called 'Eternal Night Blood Alliance'?" Leng Ji said softly, "Your gambling nature is truly... impressive."

Siming shrugged, his tone relaxed: "The bet made by the fat man is so beautiful, there is no reason for me not to follow."

"Oh?" Leng Ji chuckled, "So, you came to ask me for help?"

Siming shook his head: "Ask for help? No, I'm here to trade."

Leng Ji raised his eyebrows, his eyes half-smiling: "You seem to be increasingly understanding the survival rules of the Mystic."

She picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and then said lightly:
"Alright, I'll give you two pieces of information as a trade. The price is that you must report back to the Secret Master's Guild the information about the two Eternal Night Blood Alliances after completing the mission."

"First, the duration of the Star of Reason. After the Mystic summons the card, the Star of Reason will continue to shine for a full 12 hours.

This is a dangerous signal - your fate pattern will reveal whether you have used cards recently.

Second, how to conceal the Star of Reason. A smart mystic would wear light-blocking gloves to conceal the star pattern on his wrist to avoid exposing his condition.

Those who are not covering themselves are either newcomers or deliberately demonstrating.

Third, a gift for you: How to extinguish the star of reason in advance.

Certain special items or potions can help the Mystic to extinguish the Star of Sanity faster, such as the potion sold by the Mystic Guild:

Ember's Echo can extinguish a Sanity Star prematurely, but the side effect is that it is essentially a poison.

Only one bottle can be consumed per day; excessive use may cause backlash, poisoning, or even mental disorder."

Siming took these pieces of information to heart, then looked up at Leng Ji and asked thoughtfully:

"Leng Ji, when you were guiding me that day, you tried to get me to summon a secret card. Aren't you afraid that I don't have enough Stars of Reason?"

Leng Ji shrugged and said calmly, "Most newcomers have four stars of rationality. Your 'Intermediate Secret Card' is only three stars at most. There's nothing to worry about."

Siming narrowed his eyes: "But what if I am an exception?"

Leng Ji's smile deepened, and his tone was a little teasing: "Then I will probably regretfully recycle a card."

Sima Ming was silent for a moment, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

He understood that this woman would never help anyone for free.

If he couldn't survive when he summoned the Thousand Faces that day, she would probably wait to "pick up the spoils" without hesitation.

There is indeed no warmth or kindness in the world of the Mystic Master.

After leaving the hometown of the returnees, Siming went to a tailor shop and urgently customized a pair of black silk sun-blocking gloves.

Although the size of the gloves was slightly off (after all, they were urgently custom-made), he didn't care.

Covering up the star of reason is more important than comfort.

Black silk gloves: conceal the fate lines and add a sense of mystery to the identity.

Siming raised his hand and moved his fingers.

It feels good, suitable for dealing cards and also for "killing people".

He chuckled and adjusted his cuffs, a playful smile on his lips.

"Then let the game begin."

Then he walked towards the gate of the Golden Country.

The bodyguards of the Golden Country Casino were already waiting at the door.

When they saw Siming coming, they didn't say much and simply made a "please" gesture.

"The boss is waiting for you on the second floor."

Sima Ming smiled and walked into the magnificent casino.

The game has begun and the players are in place.

He didn't know if he could get out of this situation unscathed, but at least, he wanted to see first—

In this gambling game, what tricks does the dealer want to play?
"The table is set, the players are in place, and everyone has placed their chips."

"But the real winner is never the people at the table, but the 'dealer' who holds the cards."

The lighting in the casino's VIP box is ambiguous and luxurious, the leather sofas emit a subtle aroma of tobacco, and the air is filled with the strong smell of cigars and the faint metallic smell of molten gold.

Siming stood at the door, looked around at the people in the room, and sneered in his heart.

“What a wonderful group of teammates.”

Everyone's aura was not right. In a sense, they were different from the professional "order takers" of the Mysterious Guild.
This group of people is a bit more "dirty", more like desperate criminals struggling in the dark world.

Fatty Huck really had no good intentions.

The first person to speak was a man in a gray suit. His hair was combed neatly with hairspray. His face had the slickness of a businessman, but it couldn't hide the coldness in his eyes.

He stood up, looked around, and said in a cold tone:

"Everyone, Boss Hake has already explained our mission this time. I will be in charge of the command."

"I'm Loren, representing the boss. You can call me 'Team Leader'."

He paused, glanced at Siming, and smiled playfully:

"Si Ming, right? You'd better behave yourself and stop playing tricks."

Siming blinked and spread his hands innocently: "I'm just a card player, how dare I go against the dealer?"

Loren scoffed, "I hope so."

Loren looked around and began to introduce the other people in the room.

The first one - "Corpse Mountain Butcher" Roca. In the corner of the room, a man with a fat face was leaning on the sofa, peeling an apple with a military knife.

There was no emotion in his eyes, and he didn't stop what he was doing even when Loren introduced him.

Loren spread his hands and introduced, "This is Roca, nicknamed 'The Corpse Mountain Butcher'."

"His methods are more brutal than his nickname suggests... Don't mess with him."

Sima Ming glanced at Luo Ka's swordsmanship - steady, fierce and precise.

"Butcher." Siming nodded with a smile, deliberately showing a hint of "fear" on his face, "I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation."

Roca glanced at him indifferently and continued peeling the apple, as if assessing his worth.

The second one is a ghost in the shadows. In the corner of Avel's room, a man in a gray hooded robe is half hidden in the shadows.

His eyes were cold, and only when Loren introduced him did he look up slightly at Siming.

Loren whispered, "Avel, his life pattern is five stars. The boss spent a lot of money to hire this veteran."

Sima Ming was slightly stunned. The five-star destiny pattern... This meant that he had experienced the baptism of at least multiple gate worlds and survived.

This guy is a real tough guy.

Avel didn't say anything, just stared at Siming coldly for a second, then lowered his head and continued to play with a slender silver dagger.

Siming narrowed his eyes thoughtfully - this guy is very dangerous.

The third one - "Flower Grower" Hermann. In the corner, a man had his back to the crowd, concentrating on fiddling with a small potted plant.

Loren shrugged and pointed at him: "This is Herman... He looks a lot like you, kid."

Siming looked at this strange man with interest - in such a murderous room, he was actually trimming potted plants?

Herman turned his head slowly, smiling gently: "Oh? Like me? But I'm not a con man." Siming shrugged and said with a smile: "Perhaps you don't know me well enough."

Herman chuckled and said nothing more.

This man... is a mystery.

Everyone had finished their introductions, and all eyes fell on Siming.

Siming shrugged casually, took out a playing card with a smile, and flicked it lightly with his fingertips.

The card flew out, spinning, and with a "pop" sound, it sank deeply into the golden decoration on the wall, leaving only 1/3 of the card exposed.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Loren narrowed his eyes and looked at Siming thoughtfully.

Siming casually raised his hand and smiled slightly: "Siming, I can play cards, and I am pretty good at it. For example, like this."

Loren stared thoughtfully at the playing cards on the wall and nodded slightly:
“…It seems that you are not an ordinary punk.”

At this moment, the TV screen in the room lit up with a "click", and the figure of Fat Huck appeared on the screen.

He sat on a huge golden chair, with a luxurious golden chandelier behind him, holding a cigar in his hand, smiling like a kind businessman, but his eyes were cold.

"Okay, you all know each other now." Fatty Huck's voice echoed in the room. "Loren, I'll leave it to you from now on."

Loren nodded, knocked on the table, motioned for everyone to gather around, and then casually threw out a few photos.

"The mission objective is simple - find the boss's missing men."

"In life, you must see people, and in death, you must see corpses."

Siming glanced down at the photo.

There are several blurry black and white photos above, showing several unfamiliar men who look like typical casino thugs.

Suspected to be a mysterious master, with a faint glow of life patterns on his body.

Roca snorted coldly, his tone impatient. "You want us to take risks without knowing anything? Huck is using us as pawns to explore the way, right?"

Aiweier's eyes were indifferent and his tone was cold: "It doesn't matter to me. I have even been to the Gate World without the name of the Gate."

"but--"

He glanced at Siming and said coldly, "In order for you not to hold me back, I must tell you one thing—each world has different rules.

That rookie, Siming, right? Do you understand?"

Sima Ming smiled slightly and nodded in a subtle manner.

rule?

This actually made him more interested.

This gambling game is becoming more and more interesting.

Herman seemed hesitant, then slowly spoke: "Before we set off, we need to understand each other's abilities so that we can at least provide some help."

He was the first to speak: "My secret ability is 'Memory Stripping'. In the short term, it will cause anyone who sees my pocket watch to forget a certain memory."

Loren nodded slightly and said calmly: "Golden Eye, I can see any hidden information...if it is valuable."

Roca scoffed, "My flesh and blood have been reforged. As long as I am fed, I can heal any injury."

Avel said in a low voice: "Shadow Walk, I can blend into the shadows."

Siming smiled and spread his hands: "My ability is very simple, fate's favor - after it is activated, 90% of the time, I will have good luck."

Loren sneered: "It really is the old con man's favorite ability, Sima Ming."

This gamble is finally about to begin.

"Entering the realm of eternal night, your identity has changed. Who are you?"

"Welcome to the Eternal Night Blood Alliance, outsider."

This was the first time Sima Ming had set foot in the basement of the Golden City.

Damp, dark, and with a rusty, decaying smell.

The walls were covered in blood, and dried dark red stains remained on the ground.

Occasionally, unknown low whimpers could be heard echoing from the corners of the basement.

Siming was secretly shocked. How many people had Fatty Huck tortured here?

And the most incongruous thing is - an upside-down door.

It hung above the sewer pipe, the blood-red lines wriggling like blood vessels, and the edge of the door seemed alive, breathing slowly, which was intimidating.

Loren walked ahead and stood under the door, his hand on the door handle.

"If you get separated after entering the Gate World, find an opportunity to gather and reunite. If there is really no chance, with the primary goal of gathering intelligence and mission objectives, you can retreat at any time."

"But—at least bring back some useful intelligence."

Several people nodded silently to show that they understood.

Loren sneered and whispered:

"Open it, Eternal Night Blood Alliance."

The next moment——

boom! !

The door was screwed open, and a red bloody storm rushed out from the world behind the door like an all-consuming hurricane!

Siming felt his body lighten, and then he was suddenly sucked into the blood...

Dizziness, weightlessness, and a torn sense of space.

There was a sudden feeling of falling, as if I was thrown out from a height of hundreds of meters.

The air was filled with a damp smell mixed with the smell of earth and livestock.

I could hear the early morning chirping of birds, the snorting of horses, and even... someone laughing?
Siming suddenly opened his eyes.

boom!
His body fell headfirst onto the roof of a thatched hut, and then—

Just rolled down.

"oops!"

He fell headfirst in front of an old horse. The horse blinked speechlessly and stared at Sima Ming.

Next to her, a little brown-haired girl with freckles all over her face covered her mouth, trying hard to hold back her laughter. Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she would laugh out loud at any moment.

Siming turned over awkwardly, straightened his clothes, dusted himself off, and asked with a wry smile:

"Um... where am I?"

The freckled girl blinked and gave a slightly playful smile:

"Well, outsider, of course you are in the Eternal Night Blood Alliance."

"But why don't you take a look at what you are now?"

"identity?"

Siming was slightly stunned.

At this moment—a strange message appeared in my mind.

"A card magician, a wandering performer, he walks between aristocratic banquets, the flying cards in his hands his only stage."

Siming's pupils shrank slightly.

……What's this?
Without even thinking about it, he "knew" the setting of this identity, as if some external force had forcibly instilled it into his mind.

The freckled girl looked at his stunned expression and smiled even more happily: "What? Are you scared?"

She blinked, her voice brisk and mysterious:
“Identity is a gift from the world.”

“Play it well, or you’ll be rejected by the world.”

Siming's eyes darkened slightly, and he felt a little more alert.

Will this world forcibly grant invaders an "identity"?

What would happen if I didn't accept my identity? Would I be expelled directly, or... would I be "erased" from the world?

This question...is worth pondering.

Sima Ming stood firm and looked around.

They were in what looked like a stable, surrounded by a simple farmhouse.

In the distance, the edge of a towering forest can be seen, and farther on the horizon, a...huge black castle can be vaguely seen.

The sun shines through the dark clouds, but it is always shrouded in a hint of haze, and the air is filled with a faint smell of blood.

"Eternal Night Blood Alliance."

Siming silently recited the name in his heart, his eyes slowly sweeping across the shadows in the distance.

The rules of this world... have only just begun to reveal the tip of the iceberg.

(End of this chapter)