Hell Game: Starting from Metropolis

It has a pitted, almond-shaped head with a mouthpart in the middle surrounded by a ring of sharp teeth.

Behind the head is a bloated, spider-like body, with many spider-like limbs growing from its underside.

The rest is not visible because only half of its body is visible, while the other half is hidden in shadow.

The spider-like creature raised its head blankly and met Liu Zheng's gaze.

The pits and craters on its face were actually filled with pure black eyeballs.

Countless eyes were fixed on Liu Zheng. He seemed to see the sky crack open, and blood like a waterfall poured down from the crack, landing on the moon.

The once pale moon was stained blood red, and beneath the blood moon lay mountains of human corpses.

"Rational decline exemption successful."

As the system notification sounded, a slender, withered hand with sharp claws emerged from the blood moon and reached out to grab Liu Zheng.

"Damn, there are Russian nesting dolls here."

As he prepared to use his aviator sunglasses, the Twisted Saint and the spider creatures both made their movements.

The Twisted Saint covered Liu Zheng's eyes with his vine-like hands, while the spider-like creature closed its own eyes.

Everything was plunged into darkness until Liu Zheng felt the invisible force dissipate, at which point he opened his eyes.

Before him was still the brightly lit church, and the old woman was looking at him expectantly.

"What did you see, sir?"

she asked respectfully.

"I saw the Twisted Saint, and a very ugly spider."

Liu Zheng replied.

Could you describe the environment surrounding the saint?

The old woman ignored the spider and went straight to the question.

"I didn't see it very clearly, but there were a lot of bookshelves, so it was probably a library or a book depository or something like that."

He recalled for a moment and said.

"It really was the work of Carcassonne Academy! Those despicable thieves!"

The old woman said through gritted teeth.

"Carl Karens Academy?"

"This is the only university in Atlantis, dedicated to the study of human evolution and cosmic knowledge. The Blood Healing Church was founded by people from the Karl Karens Academy."

The old woman explained.

"I see. So you mean the people from Calcarens Academy stole the true form of the Twisted Saint?"

"That's right, that must be it. Those lunatics will do anything to gain knowledge."

The old woman said bitterly.

In fact, the Church of Suffering has always had doubts, because ordinary people have no reason to steal the Twisted Saint.

The Twisted Saint himself does not grant miracles; since his "death," he has served more as a symbol and spiritual guide for the Church of Suffering.

The Church of Pain did not hide the Twisted Saint; anyone who entered the church could worship him.

Only those research fanatics at Calcarens Academy would steal the Twisted Saint in order to acquire knowledge and then keep him as their own.

However, the Church of Pain lacked sufficient evidence to file charges and did not have the power to forcibly search the premises. Therefore, they could only continue to hold grand baptisms, hoping to establish contact with the Twisted Saint and confirm his location through this method.

That's why the old woman agreed so readily when Liu Zheng proposed to distort the Holy Grail.

Compared to the true form of the Twisted Saint, what is a Holy Grail?

"That's awful. I personally despise this kind of behavior. Um, can I have the Twisted Grail now?"

Liu Zheng replied dismissively.

“You are certainly entitled to keep it, sir.”

The old woman bent over, raised her hands high, and handed him the Twisted Holy Grail with utmost respect.

"Thank you."

Liu Zheng accepted the Holy Grail without any emotional fluctuation.

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious, and besides, he already knew what the old woman wanted him to do.

It's not that I can't help, it just depends on what price she can ask for.

His gaze shifted from the old woman to the Twisted Holy Grail.

Chapter 262 It's not that the Pope can't be the Pope, it's just that delivering takeout is more cost-effective.

Name: Miracle Ointment for Pain (Disposable)

Type: Item

Quality: Perfect

"Effect: After application, it reduces the damage taken by the player (including a decrease in sanity) and increases the recovery speed, with the increase being positively correlated with the player's level of suffering, lasting for three minutes."

"Note: The more hardship a person can endure, the more endless hardship they will face."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

Wow, a prop of perfect quality.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; the things the city hall specifically requested couldn't possibly be ordinary items.

Unfortunately, despite the quality of the items, he still needed the city hall to resolve the peacock issue.

Moreover, he already has an Ocean Heart, which provides damage reduction and increased recovery speed. Although its use is subject to restrictions, it's still usable.

Moreover, such perfect, one-time-use props are actually inconvenient to use.

You're reluctant to use it in small situations, and you don't have time to use it in big situations. You might hoard it until you die, so it's better to have superior-grade equipment.

"Yes, that's it."

While hypnotizing himself, Liu Zheng put the Twisted Holy Grail into his system space.

"Um, should we return this to you?"

He pointed to the barbed armor on his body and asked.

"The Great Baptism is complete; you may remove your armor, sir."

The old woman said.

"Oh, okay."

Liu Zheng took off his armor, revealing his flesh riddled with wounds.

Anke showed a look of pity, while the old woman looked shocked.

She knew very well that the other person's situation must be much more miserable than this.

"A miracle! This is a miracle of suffering!"

She knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to Liu Zheng, not stopping even when her head was bleeding.

The helmeted man also knelt on the ground, and although he did not kowtow, he kept his head close to the ground.

"It's true that it's a miracle, but unfortunately it's not a miracle of suffering."

Liu Zheng muttered to himself.

Of course, he tactfully refrained from saying it aloud.

"Get up, or no one will open the door for me if I knock myself unconscious."

Liu Zheng said.

"Sir, where are you going?"

The old woman looked up upon hearing this.

“I was sent by the restaurant to purchase supplies in Atlanta, and he was the guide I hired. Now that I have fulfilled my promise and sent his family to the Church of Pain, it is only natural that I should continue working.”

He pointed at Anko and said.

"Restaurant? Purchasing?"

The old woman looked bewildered.

She found it hard to imagine how someone who could easily pass the Great Baptism could end up working as a purchasing agent in a restaurant.

Are talents so worthless in the outside world?

“Sir, since that’s the case, why don’t you stay in the Church? Once the true form of the distorted saint is brought back, you can succeed to the papacy. With a living saint like you who has undergone the Great Baptism, the Church will surely prosper again.”

The old woman quickly said.

"Forget it, how could you possibly prosper?"

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes.

“Not everyone has a miracle like me. With your doctrine, the more devout the believer, the faster they die. In the end, either they are all hypocrites, or everyone dies.”

he said unceremoniously.

"Once you become Pope, you will naturally be able to offer new interpretations of the doctrine."

The old woman seized the opportunity to speak.

"I don't have the time. It's not that I can't be the Pope, it's just that delivering takeout is more cost-effective."

Liu Zheng shook his head as he spoke.

Seven days later, he will either return to the metropolis or settle the account directly; in any case, he cannot stay in Atlantis any longer.

Even if you include Anko's family and Fura, there are only seven people in total.

A pope with seven followers is a disgrace to God.

"Then at least please help me find the true form of the Twisted Saint."

The old woman's true intentions were revealed.

"No time."

Liu Zheng continued to refuse.

"There are still some treasures in the church's treasury. If you find the true form of the Twisted Saint, I can give them all to you."

The old woman gritted her teeth and said.

"That's interesting, go on."

He nodded.

"Then what other items do you need to purchase, sir? We can help you with that."

The old woman thought for a moment and then said.

"The tavern owner can handle the ordinary stuff. But I do have a list that I need your help with."

Liu Zheng took out his diary and opened it.

Can you see what's on it?

he asked.

"I can only see a blank space, sir."

The old woman shook her head.

This seems to be the effect of "blocking out cognition".

Liu Zheng nodded, took out Bai Langzi's poem manuscript, and copied a portion of the city hall's list onto it.

"now what?"

He handed the notebook to the old woman.

"That's enough, sir."