【Eye of the Prophet (Passive)】 Predicts the next three seconds of any target’s actions. No cost, no cooldown.

From the moment he left the Mary until now, Wu Wang had been in a daze. His thoughts weren’t as sharp as usual, and even his movements felt half a beat slow.

The main reason was simple. He was still adapting to his new Legendary equipment’s passive ability.

In truth, a headache had begun the moment he disembarked and saw Zhuge Yue. His vision was constantly filled with two versions of her, one acting three seconds ahead of the other.

And it wasn’t just Zhuge Yue.

On the walk back to the rented apartment, every pedestrian on the street had a dual, time-staggered existence. It only got worse when he entered Spirit Calamity Plaza, with its endless stream of people.

Imagine countless different moving images, all overlapping at once.

The sheer number of layered figures in his vision made him break out in a cold sweat. His brain’s CPU felt like it was about to fry. He simply couldn’t process which figures were in the present and which were future predictions.

After a long period of adaptation, he finally managed to accurately distinguish the future images just before playing Rock Paper Scissors with Zhuge Yue.

Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for her to win.

Wu Wang always knew what she was going to throw.

She thought she was playing against him?

No, she had to beat herself from three seconds in the future.

Speaking of skills, however, he was still annoyed.

During the last few days on the Mary, his bet with William had made it completely impossible to stack the evolution conditions for 【Cloud-Stepping Steps】. In the end, the skill had failed to evolve.

It looked like he’d have to wait for the next Instance.

“We’ve played Rock Paper Scissors a hundred times now,” Wu Wang said cheerfully. “You believe me, right? I’m unbeatable!”

Although Zhuge Yue was still unconvinced, there was nothing she could do. She was a psycho with principles.

“Fine, I believe you! How annoying! I’m going to bed! Good night!”

With that, she wrapped herself in a small blanket, plopped down on the sofa in a huff, and bundled herself up tightly.

Muffled curses drifted from under the blanket. “What kind of trashy rule-type item is this… stupid Spirit Calamity Game designed a stupid item.”

Wu Wang just shrugged and walked out the door.

He wandered around outside for a good while, carefully checking to see no future in which Zhuge Yue appeared. He confirmed she wasn’t following him.

Only then did he take various detours, changing his face and clothes along the way. He spent a full two hours making his way back home.

He quietly left a note for his second sister on the dining table. After finishing his preparations, he activated his alternate identity.

【Switch Account】!

It was time for Yan Shuangying to go get some money from Xiezhi.

“Let’s handle the cooperation for the Relic Scramble and the transaction for the Chronicle of the Desolate Village guide at the same time. Want to meet now?” Wu Wang typed.

A few seconds later, Xiezhi replied.

“Okay!”

Since the other party didn’t ask any questions, it proved he already knew about the 【Relic Scramble】.

As expected, dealing with Xiezhi as Yan Shuangying was far more reassuring. So much easier than that troublesome Pending Death.

Before long, both of them appeared in the same café from the daytime. Surprisingly, it wasn’t closed, even at three in the morning.

A 24-hour café. Honestly, it was a rare sight.

Wu Wang skillfully ordered his coffee.

Right in front of Xiezhi, he told the waiter, “Leave the tiramisu and latte at the counter for now. I’ll grab them when I leave. This gentleman here will pay.”

Xiezhi was speechless.

Dude, you’re going too far!

During the day, he at least tried to hide it. Now he was just ordering takeout on someone else’s dime right to their face. Was his sense of humor this twisted?

“Have a seat. Don’t be so formal,” Wu Wang said, looking surprised as he gestured for the unnatural-looking Xiezhi to relax. “Make yourself at home.”

The other man’s expression grew even stranger.

I’m the one footing the bill! Why are you acting like you’re the host?

But then he remembered that Bei Lang had returned completely unharmed. Xiezhi figured this might be Yan Shuangying’s way of testing his attitude.

He decided to get straight to the point.

“Let’s talk about the deal first. Here are the items and equipment I’ve prepared for you. You can choose two of them, and I’ll also include a piece of intelligence on the Calamity Cult.”

With that, Xiezhi waved his hand.

Two inconspicuous spiritual talismans appeared out of thin air and stuck to the corner of the table. Instantly, all outside sounds vanished.

Not only that, but the waiter who had been approaching with a smile suddenly scratched his head, looking bewildered. He turned back to the counter and started playing on his phone out of boredom.

It was as if the two of them didn’t exist in the café at all.

After setting up the screen, Xiezhi took out two items and two pieces of equipment from his backpack and placed them on the table. They were all Epic-grade.

It was clear that Xiezhi had spared no expense.

Wu Wang didn’t waste words either. He took out a meticulously written guide for the Chronicle of the Desolate Village and placed it on the table.

He had spent a whole ten minutes putting this thing together on his way here. He even felt a bit bad for the brain cells that had died in the process.

He magnanimously gestured for the other party to check the guide’s contents first. Although he hadn’t spent much time on it, its logical rigor was more than enough to be treated as a case file. This was the confidence Wu Wang had in himself.

Sure enough, Xiezhi only had to glance at it before a gratified smile spread across his face. He was especially impressed with the section at the end of the guide detailing the “Calamity Cult Members in the Instance world.”

It was simply beyond his expectations. The Abnormal Affairs Bureau was in dire need of this kind of information.

Of course, any part involving Wu Wang’s own information had been altered by him. Since he was the only one who knew the full story, whatever he said was the truth.

Unless they could get that crying-faced monster to explain it himself, which was obviously impossible.

“I’ve made my choice. I’ll take these two,” Wu Wang said, casually pointing to a certain round item and a strangely shaped black pistol next to it.

Seeing his choices, Xiezhi’s expression suddenly became a bit strange.

To be honest, he had thought the other party would choose the other two items. One was a bracer that provided powerful, long-lasting defense, and the other was a consumable that could summon a powerful Instance Creature.

After all, life-saving equipment was always the most valuable, and summoning items offered the chance for a desperate comeback. He never thought Wu Wang would choose neither of them.

The round item he had chosen was named the…

【Holy Hand Grenade (Epic)】 Upon use, this item causes all objects with signs of life within a hundred-mile radius to dissipate and be annihilated. This, of course, includes the user.

【Remark】 By the Light! That enemy is worth a blast!

The item description was short and powerful. It was a consumable item designed for mutual destruction. Its power was so great that almost no defensive item of the same grade could grant immunity to its annihilation effect.

Perhaps 【Legendary】 grade armor could resist it. But across the entire Spirit Calamity Game, how many people had 【Legendary】 armor?

The Abnormal Affairs Bureau once had five 【Holy Hand Grenades】. Now only two remained, both sealed away. If not for the allure of a guide to a Contaminated Nightmare-level Instance, the higher-ups probably wouldn’t have approved Xiezhi to bring this out.

The second item, the black pistol, was the…

【Elemental Gun (Epic)】 Can create and manipulate the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air without reloading. The amount of element creation is theoretically infinite, but due to the gun’s limitations, excessively extracting a certain element in a short period will also lead to devastating consequences.

【When equipped, the holder gains +5 to Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Charisma.】

【Remark】 Who stole my gun! This is the sidearm of the greatest Star-Lord in the entire universe!

This piece of equipment was good, both for its attribute bonuses and its functionality. But it had a side effect that overuse could also lead to a devastating, mutually destructive outcome. Therefore, its reputation was equally mixed.

“Are… Are you sure?”

Xiezhi felt he should warn the other party. Both of these items were a bit hot to handle.

But unexpectedly, Yan Shuangying just nodded lightly in affirmation, looking very satisfied.

Of course, Xiezhi had no idea just how happy Wu Wang was right now.

Mutually destructive items and equipment?

Sorry, but he was 【Undying】.

In anyone else’s hands, these things were double-edged swords that would kill a thousand enemies at the cost of one’s own life. But in Wu Wang’s hands, they were a pure nuclear deterrent. He actually dared to use them.

“Alright, the choice is yours. This transaction is now complete,” Xiezhi said with a helpless sigh. “As for the information on the Calamity Cult, it’s actually related to the 【Relic Scramble】.”

Saying this, he took out another item. It was a lump of iron that resembled a bronze token. He placed it on the table and pushed it toward Wu Wang.

Xiezhi explained, “By holding this 【Battlefield Token】, you can be teleported to the scramble area in ten days. The Instance characteristics are still complete, and the time flow is the same as a normal Instance. This one of yours belongs to a Rogue Player.”

He paused.

“And we’ve just received intel.”

“The Calamity Cult will be dispatching five to ten people to intervene in the Relic Scramble this time. In addition, there may also be Rogue Players who are in a cooperative relationship with the Calamity Cult.”

Wu Wang remained silent.

What a coincidence, buddy. I’m one of the people you’re talking about. You’re a great judge of character.

Wu Wang asked tentatively, “So the Abnormal Affairs Bureau’s meaning is…”

“We want to invite a righteous player like you to join forces with us and eliminate these pests from the Spirit Calamity Game!” Xiezhi said with a serious face. “Of course, we won’t shortchange you on the subsequent 【Relic】 transaction.”

After listening, Wu Wang nodded thoughtfully.

Oh. So you’re inviting me to cooperate with you to kill myself.

Hmm, sounds very reasonable.

“Fine,” he said. “I have no objections.”

“A pleasure cooperating with you. See you in ten days!”