Lu Ce’s current blank expression was the blank expression on the mask.

The smile from before vanished in an instant—a sharp emotional cliff-dive—and the mask’s glow completely faded as he stared at the disgusting body of the Slime.

The Slime shut up immediately, looking like a total coward, mumbling at “Sin” in a low voice:

【Can’t even get a little cheer? Seriously......】

But it really didn’t say anything else, as if genuinely scared of making Lu Ce angry. It waddled to the side with a duang duang and stood quietly to watch.

Seeing the scene before them, the few who had been observing Lu Ce finally understood why the condition Lu Ce had given from the very beginning was undying love.

That condition had too high of a priority, and it granted an extremely high degree of freedom—and that freedom likely resulted in a positive form of autonomy.

Take Xie Antong for example. In the first round of the game, she also guessed the Fake Human’s identity correctly. But what she asked for was all the Stars on the other party.

At the time, the thing she couldn’t understand about “Sin” was: why use love, instead of something like “you must obey me in this game”?

A command like “you must obey me” actually has very little force—because there are countless ways to obey a command. Pretend to listen, go against it in secret—it’s easy to undermine.

But “Sin’s” command essentially gave him eight fiercely loyal helpers.

It was a perfect use of autonomy!

At this moment, Jiu Tian also understood what “Sin” was doing, and nodded in admiration, muttering to himself:

“So that’s where the real benefit lies......”

He had known it—on the surface, the strongest player looked carefree and playful, but every move he made had a purpose.

“What benefit? What are you talking about?” said Yan Hong, still reeling from Lu Ce’s mid-air double jump, turning back in confusion.

Jiu Tian: ......

“None of your business. Go eat some sunflower seeds or something.” Jiu Tian waved him off.

“Eh? I didn’t bring any.” Yan Hong said.

......

Even though these people finally understood the situation in front of them, and realized “Sin’s” previous calculations, there was still an odd discomfort in their hearts.

Even though it was just a skeleton—terrifying, sinister, creepy...

But doing it all in the name of love just felt... off.

Only, what Lu Ce felt was even more than what everyone else did.

All this time adapting to the mask, going along with its side effects—it was to familiarize himself with the process and attempt to harness the mask’s ability.

At this point, he had become a true master of emotional manipulation.

Though in the game scenes he never said much or asked a lot, and his communication with the Fake Human was minimal...

He still had a few guesses based on things said.

Things like: “Life is a curse. Love is also a curse. I hope one curse can cancel out another.”

That line clearly hinted at a death wish. But at the time, Lu Ce didn’t realize the other party’s actions weren’t just because of his command.

But when the two met in mid-air and completed the life-exchange, he instantly sensed a powerful emotion from the other party.

It was a profound sense of relief, and it carried a deep, burning hatred.

And that hatred... didn’t seem to be aimed at him.

That’s why just now, he had been staring down at the black sea below, grinning like a lunatic.

He was thinking. Just like back in the Demon Asylum, he was thinking about the same thing again.

For now, though, he focused on the present. “Sin” had already passed two rows of steps without anyone even noticing.

Now, seven more Fake Humans were silently walking toward him, and Li Wei and the others were panicking.

At this pace, “Sin” really might be the first to walk through and clear the game with just one life!

Whether he cleared it or not wasn’t the issue. The nineteen people present had all bet everything they owned—some even still owed Torture Devices!

Right away, with Li Wei’s subtle instigation, the crowd turned into a mob again. They even started blocking the Fake Humans from stepping onto the steps.

Saying stuff like, “You don’t need to listen to him. There’s no enforcement here.”

Some even started preaching about the ethics of love, which nearly made Lu Ce laugh out loud.

Lu Ce didn’t do much—just stood there watching, like he was enjoying a show. But really, he was gathering the Fake Humans’ emotional states.

In trying to stop them, these red-eyed gamblers were way out of their depth.

The Fake Humans had come with a sense of release to begin with, even a hint of eagerness. Lu Ce had simply given them a convenient excuse.

Now someone was trying to stop them?

One by one, these skeletal figures were clearly not amateurs. A casual shove sent someone flying, landing near the edge of the crack.

He nearly fell!

Seeing how close he was to the brink, the guy nearly pissed himself and shouted:

“Didn’t you say players can’t be harmed in the game?! Host!!”

The Slime responded impatiently:

【If a player trips and falls on their own, it doesn’t count, okay?】

That was me tripping?!

But at times like this, logic wouldn’t save you. In a Hell Mode Game, just staying alive was already a blessing.

So everyone quickly quieted down.

The Fake Humans stepped onto the Life-or-Death Steps one after another, approaching Lu Ce. Under his elegant smile, they bowed their heads slightly.

Like spirits about to cross into the underworld, paying respects to the King of Hell.

Then, one by one, they did aerial relays—every time, the people behind hoped Lu Ce would slip up, but he never did.

The strongest in the world—how could he possibly fail at a moment like this?

Life-or-Death Steps. Lives lifting lives. “Sin” advanced with an ease that was hard to believe.

Different people felt different emotions as they watched. In that moment, the entire Hall and Casino went silent.

Only the sound of the waves and time quietly ticking away remained.

Once again, the Slime excitedly shouted:

【Look, look! Why is no one excited?!】

【Love can pave the way to Heaven. Life is the cost of the game. The strongest player really is the strongest—what a thrilling playstyle, na na na.】

Almost at the same time, Lu Ce stopped walking. The smile on his mask grew wider—until he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Heh heh... hahaha! That blob really doesn’t need to be so serious.”

Lu Ce turned his head. The two “men” locked eyes.

“Everything here is a game. And I... am the only player.”