Chapter 135: Lance Hits the Fast Forward Button in the Shadow Realm

As the anti-cult lecture in the sanctuary drew to a close, the voice of the speaker at the table deepened, sounding like the wind fading into the distance. "When we suspect that we, or our friends and family, might be encountering a member of a cult, we should promptly seek professional help."

The audience listened in silence, their eyes filled with focus and contemplation. Bathed in the intense afternoon sunlight, the light streaming through the stained-glass windows made Lance's silhouette shimmer. It was as if he was singing a sacred hymn that was guiding the people toward the shores of truth.

As Hyperion listened to Lance's lecture, she found herself wondering why she was attending a class taught by a fellow student inside a Shadow Realm dungeon. A sense of dread began to creep in.

She had already moved closer to Lance, ready to shield him from harm. She worried that if he kept this up, the two Traitors would be driven to desperate measures and lash out at him even without him summoning the Poet of Boundless Love.

After putting herself in the shoes of those two cult members, Hyperion felt that even she might struggle to keep her composure. These two were undoubtedly super-elites of the cult. They were likely agents cultivated at great cost by the Church of Resurrection, trained to blend perfectly into the world around them.

Precisely because of this, the threat they posed extended far beyond the Shadow Realm. They were terrifyingly dangerous in the real world as well. There was no telling when, or how, they might quietly ascend to positions of high status and respect in the real world, gnawing away at society like vermin before striking a fatal blow at the critical moment.

Amid Hyperion's vigilant watch, Lance began wrapping up. "Let us work together by staying vigilant, actively learning, and seeking timely help to resist the encroachment of cults and protect ourselves, our families, and our society! Alright, that concludes today's lecture."

He then stopped speaking after announcing the end of the session. Lance stood up from behind the long table and then asked the challengers, "How is everyone feeling now?"

"Aside from being a bit tired, I am actually quite happy. Class is finally over." The young master from the Petras Trading Company felt as though he was back in a school classroom, with someone of stature, akin to a headmaster, stepping in to teach the class personally. No one dared to slack off.

However, the lecture atmosphere hadn't been oppressive. The challengers knew that it was designed to ruthlessly mess with the Traitors' mental state, and at times, they couldn't help but chuckle as they listened. Now that it was over, the last vestiges of tension vanished, leaving everyone feeling refreshed and at ease.

"We have learned a great deal, Mr. Lawyer." The three clergy from the Northern Continent, seemingly having gained new insights and understanding, expressed their gratitude to Lance. "It is truly a loss for our church that you did not join us."

They had even begun to draw inferences from this example and discussed how to apply this new lecture-style technique of identifying cultists in reality.

Lance nodded in response, feeling a sense of responsibility. "Of course. I have a very good relationship with High Priest Lawrence, so I will do my best to help you."

He was even more convinced that his clergy friends from the Northern Continent should learn more practical ways to deal with cultists. This was closely related to the peace and order of the entire Northern Continent. Undoubtedly, he was doing good deeds and accumulating virtue.

The young master looked at Lance curiously and, wondering if he had any ideas, asked, "So what's next?"

He had seen a lot of the world, yet he was now looking forward to Lance's plans. He had never thought that a Shadow Realm challenge could be so enjoyable.

The Lawyer had firmly taken the reins of this Level 5 Shadow Realm dungeon. While it was intended to be full of panic, suspicion, and despair, it now had completely deviated from the theme of a "killing game." If Lance continued to play, then as long as the two cultists failed to kill him, no matter whether they won or lost, they would probably be left with a lifelong psychological shadow.

Following the Detective, the nature of the game changed again because of the Lawyer.

"Of course, the next step is actually the most critical." Lance nodded calmly, and his signature smile appeared on his face again. "Everyone, please listen to me carefully. I have a way to make everyone's inner emotions obvious later. I will use a spell after the countdown. If you see people showing obvious anger, you can basically determine who the Traitors are."

After hearing this, everyone looked a little surprised. Was there truly such a killer move? Apparently the Lawyer had been mentally torturing the cultists in order to clearly distinguish their emotions.

They had never dreamed that in this five-day and five-night mystery game, the answer would be revealed unexpectedly before the first night!

Lance stared at everyone present, and his voice was low and powerful, like a rolling stone breaking through the wind. "Everyone must calm down and concentrate now. Do you understand?"

Regardless of what they were thinking at the moment, everyone nodded nervously. The atmosphere in the entire sanctuary was once again extremely tense, like a string about to break.

"Three..."

Lance's voice echoed in the silent hall, like an ancient bell, striking everyone's heart. The air was filled with suspense. He continued to count down, while staring everyone down like a sharp-eyed hawk. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Two... One..."

It was almost at the end. People's hearts were in their throats, as if the next moment, the world would be turned upside down.

A naughty smile suddenly appeared on Lance's face, and he spread his hands easily and said, "Hey, I'll use it later. Let me see who panics first."

Nothing happened. Everyone was stunned, their eyes full of astonishment. Their rhythm had been disrupted by Lance's sudden smile.

"What the..."

"Mr. Lawyer, you'd better actually catch the Traitors during the day. Otherwise, I shudder to think what they might do to you once night falls."

Yet, every challenger knew that, at that very moment, there were two people whose hearts felt like they were about to explode. Lance's sudden pause was the ultimate nerve-wracker.

"This time it's for real! Three, two..." Lance's expression instantly turned grave, as if playtime were over, prompting everyone to quickly fall silent. As his countdown accelerated, they felt their own heartbeats racing in sync.

Then, he suddenly laughed. "Did anyone panic?"

Lance then revealed that he had simply made up the spell to liven up the atmosphere. In reality, no such spell existed. "That is enough for you!"

First the prayer ceremony, then the anti-cult lecture, and now, pure stand-up comedy. He had fabricated a terrifying spell out of thin air to bait the Traitors into wondering whether to strike first before their identities were exposed. It was a pure psychological game.

If he had scared the Traitors into revealing themselves, it would have been a masterstroke of bluffing. Even if he hadn't, it would only leave the Traitors seething with frustrated rage.

Unable to distinguish truth from fiction, the Traitors had to remain constantly on edge, their minds toyed with by Lance at will. Oscillating between relaxation and tension, torturing and unraveling the Traitors' minds, if Lance kept this up for a few more rounds, they really might well reach their breaking point.

It was just a pity. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the clouds had grown denser, glowing with an orange-gold light. They didn't have much time left to gather safely.

In all likelihood, they would have to wait until tomorrow, with a full day ahead, for the Lawyer to host more activities that would torment the Traitors. Yet, strangely enough, the challengers felt an inexplicable sense of relief, free from psychological pressure.

After the morning's reversal of fortune and an afternoon of games, the dangers of the coming night no longer concerned them much at all, because all the hatred had been drawn to a single person.

The two Traitors could afford to disregard the remaining two-day deadline tonight. They could even let the Werewolf and the Witch off the hook. But there was no way they would pass up the chance to hunt down the Lawyer with everything they had! With nothing but his own efforts, Lance had inflicted a "Taunt" of indescribable intensity upon the two Traitors.

Just as everyone assumed Lance's third round of the event had ended in a disappointing failure, he smiled and raised his right hand, gently releasing an Epic grade card, much like tossing a flower petal into the air.