As expected.

The issue Jiang Ye had initially worried about had finally occurred.

He had first used his Jiang Ye identity to kill Administrator 1010, then revived him and restored his administrator status…

This unusual situation had already caught the attention of other administrators back then.

Not long after that, Administrator 1010 went on to kill Administrator 4444!

This was yet another abnormal occurrence!

A series of anomalies had all happened around Administrator 1010.

Therefore, Administrator 1010—now Administrator 4444—was naturally suspicious from the start!

Moreover, these genuine administrators instinctively held great respect for Administrator 0000.

But not long ago, when Administrator 4444 mentioned wanting to trade with the Nomadic Merchant, Administrator 0000 specifically @’d 4444.

At that time, 4444’s attitude toward 0000 showed no trace of respect whatsoever.

All these consecutive anomalies were highly suspicious.

Now with the recent wave of fake administrator killings…

Naturally, this demanded serious attention!

Jiang Ye immediately checked the administrator privileges to confirm there were no clauses requiring obedience to Administrator 0000, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Cooperate with corpse puppets to give statements?

Hah! What a joke!

We’re all administrators here—who says we have to comply just because you ordered it?

However, it was predictable—

Any administrators who were killed and revived but refused to cooperate with 0000’s corpse puppets would undoubtedly become suspects.

But cooperating wasn’t realistic either.

With over a dozen administrators involved, and lacking their memories…

Even though they were clones that could coordinate their stories perfectly…

If the corpse puppets’ questioning touched on personal information about these administrators, the truth would easily come out!

Therefore, cooperation was impossible.

Compared to giving statements, dealing with suspicion was much simpler.

At worst, they could create the illusion that these administrators had been bribed by Qu Xing.

And that Qu Xing’s true target in provoking administrators everywhere was actually Administrator 0000.

His instant killings of various administrators were actually to gain their support when he eventually replaced 0000!

These administrators had already pledged allegiance to Qu Xing, wanting to replace the current 0000.

Naturally, they wouldn’t cooperate with the incumbent 0000’s corpse puppet interrogations.

This explanation was perfectly reasonable.

And it matched the actual situation.

After all, Jiang Ye did plan to kill all administrators—including 0000!

As he contemplated how to lead other administrators to this conclusion…

A clever administrator in the group chat began defending him:

2333: [After your analysis, I suddenly think—Qu Xing’s fake kill ability probably isn’t innate, but comes from a supreme-grade item!]

2333: [That supreme-grade item was originally obtained by Jiang Ye, who eventually decided to trade it to an administrator!]

2333: [To demonstrate the item’s effect, Jiang Ye staged that killing of Administrator 1010!]

2333: [After proving the item’s effect, Jiang Ye gave it to Administrator 1010 in exchange for benefits.]

2333: [Then Administrator 1010 realized—although the item’s instant kill effect was fake, it could fool the apartment’s judgment system!]

2333: [I admit I severely underestimated this item’s power earlier! Its value isn’t just for showing off—the crucial point is it can deceive the apartment’s judgment system!!]

2333: [Just thinking about what this means is terrifying!]

2333: [Administrator 1010’s earlier provocations in the group were probably to bait others into initiating apartment mergers!]

2333: [During the merger between 1010 and 4444, both administrators entered the PK arena. 1010 used that supreme fake-kill item to deceive the PK arena’s judgment rules!]

2333: [That’s how he managed the impossible—killing 4444!]

Though it was just text, 2333’s final line carried intense emotion and conviction!

Other administrators reading his analysis all thought—

Damn! That makes perfect sense!!

Someone even added: [So when Jiang Ye dominated the battle room earlier, was he also using that judgment-deceiving supreme item?]

[Wow! Thinking about it, an item that can fool the apartment’s judgment system is ridiculously overpowered!]

[But following this logic, doesn’t that mean the previous Administrator 4444 isn’t actually dead??]

[Maybe he didn’t die on the PK platform. But since he was judged dead, his administrator privileges were transferred, and without them, the new 4444 really could finish him off later!]

[Damn! The more we discuss, the more broken this item seems! Though the kills are fake, identity privileges can actually be stolen!]

[So now, has Administrator 4444 given that overpowered item to Qu Xing??]

[Meaning Qu Xing’s fake administrator killings are actually orchestrated by 4444?!]

This wave of analysis was truly impressive.

Even Jiang Ye almost believed it.

As the group discussion increasingly pointed to 4444 and Qu Xing conspiring with some powerful item…

He felt considerably more at ease.

Whatever 4444 and Qu Xing were scheming—what did that have to do with Jiang Ye?

Exactly, Qu Xing and 4444—what concern were they of Jiang Ye’s?

So why was Zhou Yuling asking him?

When Zhou Yuling asked if he knew Qu Xing, Jiang Ye smoothly displayed surprise.

With genuine confusion: “Qu Xing? Why bring him up suddenly?”

Zhou Yuling raised an eyebrow: “You don’t know him?”

Jiang Ye shook his head: “Don’t know him personally, but I’ve seen the name. I suspect this Qu Xing probably knows Huang Bo.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yuling didn’t doubt him, continuing her analysis:

“This Qu Xing does know Huang Bo. And like Huang Bo, he’s rather extreme.”

“Previously Huang Bo just went on killing sprees across a few apartments, but now Qu Xing is systematically killing administrators apartment by apartment…”

“And amazingly, every administrator he’s killed has later revived and been reinstated.”

“So the administrator community speculates—Qu Xing possesses some fake-kill item that can deceive the apartment’s judgment system, and that this item originally came from you.”

“…”

Jiang Ye wasn’t surprised by Zhou Yuling’s information.

What surprised him was: “You know about administrator affairs? Does our Defenders’ Alliance have spies in every faction?”

His “our Defenders’ Alliance” rolled off the tongue effortlessly.

Zhou Yuling found it slightly odd but didn’t dwell on it, raising an eyebrow: “Spies? There are ten thousand administrators—with so many people, gossip naturally spreads. We just made acquaintances with a few.”

Fair point, Jiang Ye nodded.

He recalled during apartment mergers, some administrators mentioned knowing VIP bigshots.

So administrators had their own connections.

Other factions also cultivated administrators as contacts—mutually beneficial relationships.

Thinking quickly, Jiang Ye fabricated:

“I did possess an item called [Time-Limited Instant Kill (Damaged)].”

“Its effect was instantly killing any opponent regardless of strength.”

“But the kill was time-limited—the opponent would revive unharmed after seconds…”

“So the item was really just for fun.”

“But back then, I had the White-Robed Woman’s mission to kill an administrator…”

“So I wondered—could I use that item to kill one?”

“Unexpectedly, it worked!”

“The apartment announced an administrator’s death, and the White-Robed Woman seemed to receive my mission completion notice…”

“That’s when I realized [Time-Limited Instant Kill (Damaged)] was far more powerful than imagined!”

“Its kill effect could actually fool the apartment’s judgment system!”

“Unfortunately, that ‘Damaged’ item only had three uses.”

“So I traded it to Administrator 1010—later 4444…”

“You’re saying Qu Xing is now fake-killing administrators everywhere?”

“Then he might indeed be using [Time-Limited Instant Kill], but the version I gave 4444 was ‘Damaged’ with only three uses.”

“If Qu Xing is killing administrators indiscriminately now, he probably has the complete [Time-Limited Instant Kill]!”

Jiang Ye spoke with such conviction…

As if [Time-Limited Instant Kill] truly existed…

Even Zhou Yuling nodded: “Then 4444—or Qu Xing—must have obtained the complete version…”

“Even the ‘Damaged’ versions were overpowered. The complete version’s effects must be astonishing! No wonder he’s so brazen…”

Jiang Ye solemnly nodded agreement.

But suddenly, he feigned shock:

“With such an overpowered item, Qu Xing could cheat the bounty rewards?!”

Zhou Yuling gave him a look: “Exactly why I asked if you knew him.”

“If Qu Xing truly has [Time-Limited Instant Kill], he’ll be your greatest competitor for Huang Bo’s bounty.”

“He just needs Huang Bo to believe in the item’s effect.”

“But you’d have to actually fight and kill Huang Bo.”

“One fake kill, one real kill—which is easier, need I say more?”

Jiang Ye nodded, already guessing Zhou Yuling’s intentions.

Sure enough, after setting the stage, she proposed:

“Really killing Huang Bo is hard, but faking it is simple.”

“So if you could steal Qu Xing’s [Time-Limited Instant Kill], wouldn’t that secure the bounty?”

“Plus, eliminating your competition early benefits you too, no?”

Jiang Ye: “…”

Hah.

So when Administrator 0000 said he’d send someone to probe Qu Xing…

That someone was me…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep