Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 10: Lava [Complete]

1215: Paupermia Switches With the Prince?

Lin Sanjiu felt Gardenia crouching down quietly beside her.

"Whether you believe it or not," Gardenia said with a hushed voice, "at least I understand that I'm guilty. I know saying this won't change much, but I just wanted to let you know. At least I know right from wrong... dealing with me is safer than dealing with anyone else in this pocket dimension."

Lin Sanjiu remained silent.

"Anyone who survives here isn't simple," Gardenia continued, her face devoid of any smile. "He puts on a persona of being quick to act, blunt, and self-serving. But he's not the only posthuman here wearing a mask."

Just like Gardenia had initially assigned herself a persona? Lin Sanjiu felt like the last sentence had an implied meaning, but she didn't bother to ask further. She had more important matters at hand.

"You should go now," she said, striving to keep her voice even. "Whether one more or one less, the plan doesn't change."

Gardenia swallowed her surprise. She stood up and picked up the NPC, carrying him on her shoulder. Before walking away from the corner, she turned to Lin Sanjiu and asked, "You'll come out at the right time, won't you?"

Lin Sanjiu was carefully inspecting her item cards one by one. With each movement of her fingers, the metal gauntlet shone with an emotionless gleam, like cold determination.

"I said I would. Do you believe me?"

After a pause, Gardenia mumbled, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't trust them. But for some reason... I believe you."

Without waiting for Lin Sanjiu to respond, Gardenia turned and walked out of the corner. The guards immediately noticed her, and the sound of her clothes rubbing against her body could be heard as she turned around. She quickly raised a hand as if surrendering and said, "Wait, I'm not an intruder!"

Lin Sanjiu didn't peek around the corner. Red Face might check this direction first. Instead, she pressed herself against the wall, capturing all the sounds and movements behind the corner in her mind, then reconstructed the scene.

"I came in with the NPC's permission," Gardenia said hurriedly, sounding sincere, "But I happened to find this injured NPC, so I thought of handing him over to you guys."

For a moment, the guards didn't say anything, but from the sounds, at least two of them were approaching Gardenia.

"He told me the intruder severed his legs..." Gardenia began, then stopped, surprised. "Huh? What is he doing here too?"

"What's wrong with him?" someone finally asked. From the sound of it, it seemed to be the guard who had reacted the fastest before. He walked to Gardenia's side, now just a few steps away from Lin Sanjiu.

"He's with the intruder!" Gardenia exclaimed, giving the guards little time to react. "Both the NPC and I were captured by the intruder, and we barely escaped while the other guards were in pursuit. It's clear he's been aiding the intruder."

The fat man chimed in, "Yes, he's on their side."

Even if it were the truth, it would be too unbelievable if Red Face turned the tables and accused the NPC duo of assisting the intruders. After all, the NPC's identity was already a guarantee. As Lin Sanjiu held her breath, waiting, she heard Red Face laugh bitterly after a moment of silence. "You've misunderstood. I was actually undercover. Look, I've just captured an intruder, haven't I?"

The giant insect-catching net shook a few times, and the ropes creaked. This wouldn't work. She silently sighed. Red Face was standing behind the guards, separating him from Lin Sanjiu. If she rushed out recklessly, he would likely get away. Gardenia needed to figure out a way to lure him over so she could launch her attack.