When the plot-skips players into the game world

After a brief silence, Aiwass was the first to speak, his youthful voice laced with an ornate tone as he introduced himself, "I suppose I'll start. I am 'Fox,' Path of Devotion... I hope to collaborate well with everyone."

Hearing his voice, Isabel instinctively looked down.

Otherwise, she might have burst out laughing.

"I am Pure White, Path of Authority."

The girl clad in all white spoke softly.

Following her, the tall elf youth then said, "I am Topaz, Path of Love..."

After everyone had introduced themselves to Sherlock and Isabel... Isabel suddenly felt something was amiss.

Given that there had already been one seat empty, and considering that Merlin had mentioned that this was a ceremony with a missing participant, she had subconsciously assumed that the missing seat was meant for the Transcendent of the Path of Adaptation, whom everyone disliked.

But now, after everyone reintroduced themselves, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Originally they were a team of three, plus Pure White, Jacaranda, Topaz, and Living Silver, that made four people.

—Wasn't that only seven people?

Why did Lord Merlin say that everyone was present? And...

Isabel quickly scanned the room and couldn't help but ask, "Why are there only eight seats here, Lord Merlin?"

Upon hearing this, Sherlock also felt a slight movement in his heart and looked up at Merlin.

He had actually realized something was off the moment he landed. Spotting such an immediate discrepancy in observational ability was as simple for him as eating or drinking.

However, he was cautious and did not question it out loud—because nobody else had asked.

He believed that Fox must have also noticed but had not asked.

Those four seemed to be together... and they likely guessed that he and Isabel were allies as well. If Fox didn't show up in the same place as them, perhaps he could stay hidden...

Except for Topaz, who seemed a bit rash, the others also appeared experienced. Yet, they too remained silent—under such a strange circumstance, Sherlock dared not inquire either.

He always felt that asking at this time would leave him vulnerable, or he might reveal some information.

If the others actually understood what was happening, then asking now would be the same as exposing his own ignorance; but if they were also unaware of the current situation, then even after clarifying it, it would only result in information sharing. Not only would he be showing his hand, but it would also allow the others to profit for nothing.

So if they did not ask, neither would Sherlock. Experience more tales on empire

—Fortunately, Isabel wasn't very good at reading the atmosphere.

She completely ignored what seemed to be a somewhat gloomy and tense ambiance and directly asked the question everyone was curious about, "Even if the 'Adapter' is excluded, shouldn't there still be a Transcender? This eighth empty seat, it should belong to him, right?"

"... Shall we wait for him a bit longer?"

"No need,"

A somewhat frivolous voice chimed in.

The air trembled like ripples in water, and on the empty seat to Isabel's right and Fox's left, a person suddenly appeared.

It was a young man with disheveled black hair, wearing a monocle.

He was dressed in a deep blue mage's robe, sitting cross-legged in the chair with a smile. In his right hand, he held a staff that floated in mid-air, supported by a blue array at the end.

He rested his left arm on the chair's armrest, with his left hand propping up his face.

"Haven't I been here the whole time?"

The young man said with a cheerful smile, "In fact, I was the first to arrive—Miss Lulu, the seat you're in is actually the eighth."

Startled by the sudden appearance of the young man, Isabel jumped.

Sherlock furrowed his brows slightly, Jacaranda pressed her lips together, and Topaz, as if facing a great enemy. Fortunately, the waiting hall blurred all faces and expressions, so not much was revealed.

While Pure White and Living Silver showed no reaction, Aiwass sighed internally.

—I knew it.

As soon as Isabel entered, Merlin was busying himself with starting the ceremony. He was most likely planning to hide something... And now, it seems that it was to hide this very thing.

The promotion ceremony originally had nine seats. The environment here was dim, and coupled with the self-introductions, it was very easy to miss someone.

Therefore, most people would count in reverse, that is, determine the number of people by counting how many seats were left empty. This made it easy to overlook this detail—even if one Adapter were undercounted, the people were still not all present. If Isabel hadn't asked, he would have just blended in like that.

"Among all those present, only Pure White and Living Silver have experienced a ceremony with missing seats."

The young man said with a smile, "So others may not understand one thing... Once there is a ceremony with missing seats, a punishment mechanism needs to be introduced.

"If someone is absent, it means that basically everyone else has teamed up. This runs counter to the essence of the promotion ceremony—the essence of it is a drama for the enjoyment of the Nine Pillar Gods, with each of you acting as representatives of your respective Paths. If one seeks to win by excluding a representative of a Pillar God, it violates the original intention of the ceremony.

"I might as well say it straight out—at this very moment, there is [at least one] Pillar God watching all of you."

Upon hearing this, even Aiwass couldn't help but take a sharp breath.

—The Nine Pillar Gods are watching?

No wonder Merlin cut off the conversation abruptly just now and pulled people in. Turns out he was feeling his way through the situation and suddenly bumped into something big.

He hit the boss key directly, bringing up the work page. Pretending to be busy with work.

But this is just a ceremony for advancing from the secondary to tertiary rank, what's there to see?

Could it be...?

His thoughts stirred, and he looked to the right. He saw that Pure White was still sitting quietly in her place, her head lowered without any reaction.

If one had to say, the issue might not be with him... but with her.

When those four appeared, their first reaction was also one of surprise that Pure White was not the first. Although it was only for a moment, Aiwass captured their astonishment.

That was why they were so enthusiastic towards "Fox", engaging him in conversation. But when the Detective and Lulu arrived, they were all quite cool.

Because they were unclear about Fox's background—although it wasn't absolute, the order of entry into the ceremony did have something to do with personal strength and overall level.

...So, if those four were from the Holy Nation, who was Pure White?

Could it be the Holy Maiden of the Eternal Theocracy?

But in Aiwass's memory, the Holy Maiden did not seem to be a little girl... Had he remembered wrongly? Or did the Holy Maiden have some ability to disguise herself?

...Well then.

You fry fish, I fry fish, turning silver into a king-mode game, is that it?

"Precisely because of this... When there is a ceremony with missing seats, a punishment mechanism must be introduced."

The young man introduced himself with a smile, "The ceremony's host will join your ceremony—yes, I am Merlin."

Merlin spoke, lifted his staff, and gave a distant mage's salute to everyone.

Then, he immediately reassured them, "Of course, there's no need to be too afraid. This time, we are only missing one person. I won't take it too seriously... It's enough to simply neutralize the advantage brought by your team-up, as well as the decreased pressure of promotion due to one less person.

"Moreover, this ceremony is held on a stage specially constructed by the Great Sage—"

Merlin spoke and raised his staff high.

A flash of light passed by, and the pitch-black surroundings were suddenly filled with color.

However, it was filled but not completely—the environment remained fairly dim.

Time stood still outside in the night. Looking closely, one could see the static droplets of rain outside the window and the frozen image of rainwater shattering against the glass.

And they were seated around an unlit table in the inn's dining room.

It seemed this was to be the stage for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Merlin continued his effusive praise, "The Great Sage creatively used the least amount of space and the fewest simulated souls to create a layered structure. The hourglass's fair and unbiased scoring system was also the cherry on top.

"This is undoubtedly good news for you all—the ceremony is presided over by the Great Sage, who has always disliked violence. That old man prefers intelligent people... Therefore, in this ceremony, there is a large component of intelligence. The hourglass's additional scoring is also fair and just—

"This is the confidence for you seven to compete against me."