novelThere Is but One Truth!
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Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Ning thought that since Zheng Dao could still access QQ, it meant that he was somewhere with Internet access, which meant he wasn't very far off.
What could be confirmed was that he must be in a locked area of the System Map, which would explain why he was surrounded by nothing but black. If that was the case, "Qi City" and "Ji City" were out of the question.
While Fang Ning was deep in his thoughts, a message from Zheng Dao appeared on QQ again.
"Thank you for the concern, White Venerable Dragon. After I've bid my farewells to both Venerable Ones, I'll be returning to my hometown to get married. I won't be able to meet the Venerable Ones anymore, therefore I will not be able to carry out my duty. I am terribly ashamed, but this humble servant wishes for both Venerable Ones to succeed in their future endeavors and for harmony for all."
Fang Ning was shocked. What?! Vigilante A's Five-Person Team of Efficient Monster Farming and Level Gaining was finally coming into shape, but their Zheng Butler in charge of central dispatch was going to return to his hometown to get married?
Fang Ning was incredibly worried, but gears turned in his head, 'If he really wants to return to his hometown to get married, I can't exactly stop him. He's already well past his 40s and yet he's single; if he doesn't get married and have children, I don't know what'll happen. '
It wasn't the ancient times now, so it wasn't like the both of them were bound to each other. Logically speaking, Butler Zheng was but hired help who held the post of their butler while serving as the General Manager of "Harmony Powers Ltd." part-time. He didn't sign any contract of slavery, so he had the complete liberty to quit and leave as he pleased.
Just as Fang Ning was about to type out his congratulations, the System suddenly spoke up, "Host, you cannot allow Butler Zheng to return to his hometown. Without him and because you dislike interacting with people, I will not be able to conveniently farm monsters.
"He can get married if he wants too, I'll just gift him with a house in Qi City beforehand. It can be counted as an advance payment of the upcoming Mission Reward. He can continue working for us, so why should he return to his hometown to get married? He insists on returning to his hometown to get married and have children; could it be that he has to inherit some throne in his hometown?"
Fang Ning halted in typing after being interrupted by the System, and he came to the realization himself too before he immediately voiced his thoughts, "That's right, why does he have to return to his hometown to get married? Why does he have to completely cut off ties with us? Something's fishy about this. Sir System, you really do get more perceptive when it comes to matters concerning farming monsters and leveling up, I'm impressed."
"What are you talking about? I only show such extraordinary deduction occasionally, " after being praised by Fang Ning, the System was over the moon as it continued, "What a waste. If only your followers also had the 'No getting distracted by marriage until the System is Level 100' ban like you, then it would save us so much trouble. Despite how I'm avoiding leveling up right now, if they had that ban we wouldn't be troubled with something like this again in the future..."
"Sir System, thinking like that is immoral. And you dared to say before that you were some righteous and kind and generous System, " Fang Ning shook his head in disdain at the System's shameless way of thinking, but he then came to a realization himself, "Sh*t, so that's how it is!"
The System was elated at Fang Ning's change, "You've figured out why Butler Zheng wants to leave?"
Fang Ning vomited blood, "No, I haven't. But I've suddenly realized why you keep refusing to level up past Level 10-ish! All that 'levelling up isn't the point, practicing is important for battle power too' were probably true, but you must have wanted to restrain yourself to this level grade even more so because I'll end up alone for a lifetime, which would make it so easy for you to seize my body for farming monsters every day, right?"
The System retorted, "What? When have I ever said that? Restraining myself to my level; are you hallucinating after playing games for seven days and nights straight? I didn't level up before because I had run out of experience points; I have millions of experience points now and I've just finished seven days of cultivation in isolation, so I'll level up tomorrow..."
"You're pulling my leg. I've long known that you're exceptionally cunning when it comes to matters regarding battling..."
"You're blaming an innocent person again... I'm a System that is honest in all aspects, " the System tried to forced a change of topic, "If Butler Zheng does leave, I still can't stop thinking that we'll be suffering a great loss: despite his efforts contributed in the beginning, it wasn't worth the legendary Qinggong we gifted him with. Thankfully, he hasn't mastered the 'Atmospheric Morality Technique' yet..."
After being convinced by the System, Fang Ning had completely calmed down and was no longer affected by his emotions. He could finally think clearly.
After mulling things over for a moment, he suddenly came to a realization and laughed, "Haha, this stinginess of yours is useful sometimes, it reminded me of something. No worries, I can guarantee Butler Zheng will not leave."
The System was stunned, "Wow, you humans really like speaking in riddles; none of you are as straightforward as I..."
Fang Ning spat blood, "Yes, you call restraining your level 'straightforward'? Then I'll tell you the reason Zheng Dao wants to return to his hometown to get married and cut all ties with us straightforwardly. There is but one truth, the 'Zheng Dao' that had spoken with us is a fake!"
The System was shocked, "How can that be? Why didn't I think of this myself? Your intelligence doesn't surpass me by that much!"
Fang Ning calmly bragged, "Haha, you know nothing of human emotions, right? Butler Zheng is a person that values gratitude, so why would he not repay his gratitude to his savior and leave with a simple goodbye sent through an online message?
"Despite being a shut-in, even I know that gratitude owed to someone should be repaid in full before you can sever all ties with that person. The fact that he can be recognized as Blue-Named by the System means that he's a person just like me: a kind person that knows to return gratitude owed.
"The way my detective eyes see it, the truth has revealed itself: somebody with an ulterior motive is impersonating Zheng Dao and purposely said that they wanted to return to their hometown to get married. This is because they want us to give up on finding him. They must be quite guilty; our reputation is world-renowned! If they don't put it that way, they would never be able to rest assured once news of us finding Zheng Dao gets out. They're acting just like the Bai family's Elder Ancestor."
The System was very impressed, "You're still as reliable as always, Host..."
Fang Ning enjoyed the System's flattery quite a lot; when was the last time this stupid System had worshipped him like this?
The System continued, "Then quickly help me find Butler Zheng, I still need him around..."
Fang Ning was speechless, "You don't say..."
He immediately typed a reply to "Zheng Dao", "Haha, so which genius are you? You dare use Zheng Dao's identity? Since you know the Venerable Dragon God and I, you must be clear on how powerful we both are!
"The people that dared to challenge one of us also called themselves geniuses. But they've either been killed by us or are being hunted down by us..."
Fang Ning's words were filled with murderous intent, he was infuriated; they had upset him with their words. After all, a familiar person suddenly saying that they would be leaving would be quite devastating to him, who was a person that only spoke to people he was close with. One less person to speak with meant more loneliness to deal with...
"Zheng Dao" replied, "Venerable White Dragon, how can you say such words? I am Zheng Dao himself, how can there by anyone else? We can video-call each other if you don't believe me."
Fang Ning replied, "Okay, let's video-call each other."
Fang Ning then said to the System, "Hey, can that 'Spirit Gaze' of yours see-through a video-call?"
The System replied, "Do you think I'm some god? I can only see-through an enemy if they're nearby. I don't know how far away they are through the Internet, and they're only sending an image, so how can I see-through them?"
Fang Ning wasn't disappointed since he had already expected this, he continued, "That's okay, we'll make do. You must remember all of Zheng Dao's habits and behavior; you're a System, your memory is a hard drive."
"That's for sure. I fully understand your plan, Host. You want to expose him during the video-call by telling him to prove himself, right?"
"You're learning quite a lot from surfing the Internet. Although your intelligence hasn't improved much and is still quite lacking, but the experience in your current IQ level has improved a lot, I'm impressed."
"Don't think I couldn't tell that you just indirectly called me an idiot with only a lot of experience..."
"What? When have I ever said anything like that? You called yourself an idiot, " Fang Ning retorted. 'D*mn, this stupid System really is gradually becoming an experienced idiot, I must change the topic quickly. ' He continued, "Forget it, we should do some proper work now and identify that fake White-Boned Demon..."
At this moment, the unidentified "Zheng Dao" had already sent a QQ video-call request.
Fang Ning did not immediately accept the request and instead checked his own appearance first. After making sure that he was in White Dragon form, he disconnected the microphone of his desktop computer so that his conversation with the System wouldn't be heard.
After he was done, only then did Fang Ning accept the video-call request.
As if they were afraid of Fang Ning not believing them, their camera was showing a complete picture of themselves.
Fang Ning scanned the "Zheng Dao" in the video; he was in an immaculate suit and his gold-rimmed glasses, and Fang Ning could see that he was an elegant and charismatic middle-aged man. His face looked just like Zheng Dao, too.
The other person was seated in a normal room with nothing out of the ordinary: a few traditional furnitures and a window could be seen. A mountain and a forest could be seen through the window too, as if he had really returned to his rural hometown.
It was no wonder a lady fell for him. However, there were no danger notifications or sudden expenditure of Morality; Thousand-mile Assistance hadn't activated either. Could it be the other truth?
Fang Ning was slowly coming to terms with the situation as he typed a reply, "Are you doing well these past two days?"
"Zheng Dao" replied, "Thank you for the concern, Venerable One. Zheng Dao is quite happy due to the upcoming wedding, and I've never been better."
That sealed the deal. After this fellow had spoken, Fang Ning didn't need the System to do image identification anymore.
'This "Zheng Dao" was definitely, no, I can't say the word "definitely". I should say this Zheng Dao is "90%" a fake!'
Why would the real Zheng Dao speak like that?
Zheng Dao was a sensitive person that valued friendships; he would definitely leave room for someone to save face.
It didn't matter that he had returned home to get married after working with the Venerable White Dragon and Venerable Dragon God as well as Xue Ba and Brett, who were all bachelors. However, would it be possible for him to brag about his utmost joy at getting married directly to the face of his boss?
It might be possible if it were anyone else, but Zheng Dao would ninety-nine percent never ever do it!
However, there was still that one percent of uncertainty, so Fang Ning replied, "If you're not sick, then take a couple of steps for me. If you reject, then you must be a fake, because the real Zheng Dao would never reject my request."
The unidentified "Zheng Dao" did not panic at the sudden request.
It was as if he had expected Fang Ning to ask this of him. He calmly stood up and did as he was told, even going so far as to show all his movements clearly on camera.
The way Fang Ning saw it, this unidentified "Zheng Dao" was exactly the same as Butler Zheng, be it his walking stance, his hand movements or his steps. Worry bubbled in Fang Ning; did he really hit that one percent chance?
He immediately asked the System.
The System answered, "This b*stard is fake. There's a lot of problems with minute things: the size of his steps, the angle of the swing of his arm, the movement of his shoulders, the rise and fall of his chest. All these things are very obviously different from Butler Zheng."
'This Sir System really is an inhuman existence; how could a human's eyesight and memory even begin to compare? I didn't notice any of those "obvious differences" myself. '
Fang Ning was thoroughly relaxed.
| ← Ch. 0112 | Ch. 0114 → |