Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

This way, everyone can compete fairly!

Looking at the message from the other side, Xiao Ce asked with some confusion: "So, you don't belong to the faction of the person who claims to be me, Xiao Ce, nor to the Blood Nether Pavilion? So, are you on the same side as my uncle, Xiao Dingshan?"

The person on the other end seemed to be considering it, remaining silent for a moment before saying to Xiao Ce, "[That's right, Xiao Dingshan is indeed on our side...]"

Upon seeing this message, Xiao Ce confirmed his idea.

What do you do? What is your purpose?

The other party quickly gave Xiao Ce a reply: "This question can only be answered after you pass the assessment!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce asked curiously, "An assessment? Aren't we partners?"

The other party replied: "That's right, currently you are just our partner. We are not yet your partner."

Xiao Ce was stunned when he saw the other party's reply.

What kind of answer is this?

Is that a rude and indecent answer?

[So, all this talk was just me entertaining myself?]

The other party replied directly: "Good, asking if you're willing is the first step!"

Only when you are willing can we proceed to the next step. As for the next step...

Only when you take the next step can we know if you have value and if you are the right person for us. Only when you achieve this can our cooperation be truly considered complete.

After seeing the other party's reply.

Xiao Ce didn't mince words and replied directly: "So what's the next step?"

Seeing Xiao Ce's straightforwardness, the other party replied very quickly: [Close Lost Island.]

"Do I need you to tell me what to do?" Xiao Ce asked.

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, a map was immediately transmitted to the old computer.

This map should be the Lost Island map.

The other party is still sending messages.

[There's a marker on this map; that marker marks the true core control room of Lost Island.]

[Our people, by chance, entered the first level. The first level allows us to control this Lost Island and manipulate its mechanisms. For example, the apocalyptic scene we just witnessed was orchestrated through that first level.]

The second level, the core level, is the one we've explored countless possibilities, but none have led to entry. That door opens by scanning the entire body... We know you accessed the computer on Alcatraz. We just wanted to see if you could get in.

The other party was very direct, so Xiao Ce didn't beat around the bush and asked directly: "What if I can't get in?"

The other party asked Xiao Ce, "So it's a failure! Although the cooperation hasn't been successful, we won't harm you. However, you must leave this place and keep all this information to yourself."

Xiao Ce glanced at the map again: [Is there danger?]

The other party said, "As far as I know, there isn't one. We can open the first level. Once you arrive, you can enter directly through the identification system. However, the second level has higher access levels, so it depends on you."

[We've had many people try this before; the scan failed, it just can't be opened, there's no danger.]

After reading the message, Xiao Ce replied without hesitation: "Okay, I agree. Then wait for my good news."

The other party didn't waste any words: "Good luck. By the way, to ensure the safety of everyone else, you are only allowed to bring two of your most trusted people."

Xiao Ce naturally agreed.

The other party replied very readily as always: "Okay, then I'll wait for your good news."

With that, Xiao Ce replied with an "OK".

After I replied to that message, the other party never replied again.

After Xiao Ce left, Yin Pan'er and the director came over.

The two men asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, how is it?"

"Mr. Xiao Ce, can we go with you now? Did they give you this Lost Island? Can we be given to you as an accessory?" the director asked excitedly.

Xiao Ce said, "Whether you can follow me or not, we still need to take one more step."

"They still have a test to face."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, they immediately asked him curiously, "A test?"

Without wasting any words, Xiao Ce asked the director for paper and pen.

After Xiao Ce got paper and pen from them, he started drawing the map on the computer.

The director, who was standing nearby, had originally wanted to go over and take a look out of curiosity.

Xiao Ce then said to the director, "My advice to you is, don't look at these things for now..."

When the director heard Xiao Ce say that, he looked at Xiao Ce with an awkward expression.

Xiao Ce smiled at the director and then said, "The more you know, the faster you die..."

The director stopped looking at it then.

Just as Da Lei had said, this director was extremely afraid of death, and after Xiao Ce said that, he obediently shut up...

When Yin Pan'er stepped forward to look, Xiao Ce naturally didn't say anything.

What kind of place is this?

Although the director was present, Xiao Ce didn't hide anything from him...

Because Xiao Ce was quite clear about the conversation he had just had with the other party.

That was the director, a nobody who was practically ignored.

However, Xiao Ce forgot to ask what these things were, whether they were robots or something else...

Although that's what I thought in my heart.

However, he also felt that given the situation just now, even if he asked the other side, they wouldn't tell him.

"The test they gave me was to enter this place and unlock the second level. If I could get in, they would acknowledge me as an ally and tell me more about what I wanted to know..."

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er asked with concern, "Your Highness, is that place safe?"

Xiao Ce smiled and then said, "There shouldn't be any danger..."

Although the director didn't look at the computer, he saw Xiao Ce draw the blueprint on it...

“I know this place.”

Upon hearing the director's words, Xiao Ce looked at him curiously and asked, "You know this place? Didn't you stay here?"

The director said to Xiao Ce, "Mr. Xiao Ce, although I've never been outside, I say I know this place... because almost every so often, people from the base send someone up here on these radars..."

"Of course I haven't been outside, but I know this place."

Upon hearing the director's words, Xiao Ce subconsciously retorted, "Since you knew that, why didn't you tell me before?"

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, the director looked embarrassed and said, "Mr. Xiao Ce, you didn't ask. Besides, you only said you were going to check out the central area... that place is clearly on the edge of the island..."

Hearing what the director said, Xiao Ce suddenly realized that what he said made sense...

"Alright, then you'll come with me to this place later."

The director waved his hand awkwardly, indicating that although he knew the location of the map, he might not be very good at finding it by looking at the map.

Seeing the director's question, Yin Pan'er asked suspiciously, "Are you afraid of dying? Is there something strange about this place?"

The director quickly waved his hand, "I don't know... I don't know what's so strange about this place... I just don't know how to find the place using this map. If you think there's a problem, I can go with you... I really don't know..."

Seeing the director's earnest explanation, Xiao Ce smiled and then said to him, "Alright, even if you wanted to come along, I can't take you..."

"They said we can only bring two people..."

Yin Pan'er was flustered when she heard Xiao Ce say that, and looked at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Yin Pan'er, "Just bring you and Da Lei... Da Lei is better at finding his way. Besides, they've repeatedly told me to bring the person I trust most..."

"If we bring along some random adventurers, they might end up harming us if they can't control their mouths..."

When Yin Pan'er heard Xiao Ce say this, she naturally nodded in approval and agreement.

Without saying a word, Xiao Ce went out again.

After they went outside, Da Lei and Odin surrounded them again, having recovered from their earlier emotional state.

After Xiao Ce went outside, he said to the director, "Director, you guys can wait here. Or you can continue waiting downstairs; they won't close that door for now... If they send any messages, you can have Odin come find us. Of course, under normal circumstances, that's unlikely..."

"Of course, if you don't want to go down, I won't force you."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, the director nodded: "I'm willing. If they're not, I'll go and wait alone..."

Seeing the director's slightly obsequious demeanor, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Alright!"

Xiao Ce then said to Odin, who was standing to the side, "Odin, you and the sailors and adventurers can wait here."

Odin said to Xiao Ce, "Mr. Ce, we are all experienced adventurers. Aren't you going to take us with you?"

Xiao Ce said, "We can only bring two people. Although Da Lei isn't an adventurer, on land, he's definitely more skilled than any of your adventurers..."

Odin nodded upon hearing Xiao Ce's words. He knew that Xiao Ce wouldn't easily change his mind once he made a decision...

At that moment, Odin said nothing.

Xiao Ce showed the map to Da Lei, and then asked Da Lei, "Finding this place shouldn't be a problem, right?"

When Da Lei heard Xiao Ce say that, he laughed and patted his chest.

"Don't worry, Your Highness! Don't you trust my abilities?"

As he spoke, Da Lei glanced at the map, then at the sun.

The three people hurried in the opposite direction of the dividing line between the black and white sand and gravel.

Da Lei took the lead, slicing through the wildly growing dark purple vines with his machete, muttering, "Even the plants in this godforsaken place exude an eeriness; these vines feel like cold-blooded animals to the touch..."

As Da Lei said this, Xiao Ce noticed that some purple, blood-like liquid seemed to be flowing out from the vines that Da Lei had cut.

Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, "Da Lei, stop cutting things down... these might be useful wiring or pipes..."

Ever since Xiao Ce learned that the entire Lost Island was a giant machine...

Moreover, there is a high probability that it will be of use to him in the future, so he still cherishes it somewhat.

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei nodded.

Then, out of curiosity, he asked Xiao Ce what they had talked about down there.

Actually, Yin Pan'er was also curious.

Xiao Ce only said a few things, without going into much detail.

They're currently on their way, and these two are people Xiao Ce can entrust his life to, meaning he's not hiding anything...

Just tell me what happened just now.

After hearing this, both of them were stunned for a long time.

"Your Highness, so, the old Prince Xiao Dingshan is really alive?"

Xiao Ce nodded, then said to Da Lei, "What's wrong? So many things have happened, and we've actually obtained a lot of information, but you still don't want to believe it?"

Da Lei still found it hard to believe; after all, a person is dead, and that's it...

How can the dead be brought back to life?

"While I'm willing to believe it, it seems unbelievable...it doesn't make sense..."

Upon hearing Da Lei's words, Xiao Ce laughed and then said, "Look at this place, ever since we got close to this Lost Island, nothing here makes sense..."

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei smiled and then said, "That's true... Just like those cowardly directors in that secret room... What exactly are they?"

Xiao Ce heard Da Lei say, "They must be some kind of robot, or maybe an android or something? I'm not quite sure. If I can pass that test, I can ask them, and that should be able to solve this mystery."

Da Lei nodded in agreement as he listened...

As she spoke, Yin Pan'er asked from the side, "Your Highness, according to what you said, even if the old Prince Xiao Dingshan is in that organization, he shouldn't be a core member, right?"

Xiao Ce shook his head: "I'm not too sure either, but Xiao Dingshan is no ordinary person, he's capable... I think he must have some power inside... Looking back now, he probably helped me a lot in secret..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er nodded: "Then, Your Highness, do you think we have a chance of winning? Can we pass this test?"