Chapter 719: The Beginning of Collapse

But what did I know back then?

After meeting Brother Gu Yu and Sister Siwei, I told them about the idea the “Executioner” sister had given me.

If we could kill all the “participants” for two full cycles, then we might still have one last sliver of hope for liberation.

This might have been my final chance to free myself before becoming the “Happy Prince.”

But they told me it was unrealistic.

There were thousands of family members now, and only three of us.

Among those thousands, many were “Fragrant Ones” skilled in combat and self-defense. Even if the three of us had machine guns, we wouldn’t be able to kill everyone.

Not to mention doing it for two consecutive cycles—and we didn’t even have machine guns.

They said a method of wiping out everyone at once like this was something even an Earthly “Zodiac” might not be able to accomplish.

According to Brother Gu Yu’s classification, the three of us were all support-type “Fragrant Ones.” Forget killing—if a fight broke out, we might not even be able to escape. Those people were alive, and though they seemed passive now, they wouldn’t just stand by when their lives were at stake.

So, the final path the “Executioner” sister had suggested was also impossible.

I truly became the “Happy Prince.”

Sister Siwei told me she was willing to be the swallow, and Brother Gu Yu became the sword I held in my hand.

Though Brother Gu Yu couldn’t fight for me like a real sword, his presence alone was a deterrent.

Years passed, and we worked tirelessly for the family, doing our best to help every person I could see. Though none of us knew how to escape, I only wished for our family to be happy.

The family members still habitually participated in “Human-Level” games, but we no longer collected everyone’s “Jade.”

Everyone kept the “Jade” they earned, storing it in lockers throughout the office building. Since there were many rooms and many “participants,” Brother Gu Yu arranged for ten people to share one locker. These ten would supervise each other, and because embezzling “Jade” was punishable by family rules, no one dared to take the risk.

I always remembered the “Happy Prince” Sister told me about, and I never forgot what Xu Jiahua said about being the “Big Brother.” These two figures became my guiding stars.

From time to time, I also recalled that overwhelming scent from years ago—it had been nearly four years now. Life began to feel dull, and one day, I suddenly noticed that the newspaper and dagger Sister had folded for me were starting to yellow.

Unconsciously, I had been here for eight years, and I felt my sanity slipping.

Only after I had figured out many things did I truly realize just how absurd this place was.

What kind of “prison” was this?

Gathering a group of people and leaving them to fend for themselves—was that really a “prison”?

Even if it really was a “prison,” I should have been released long ago. So why had no one come to free me?

How much longer would I have to stay in this “prison”?

Why did everyone else have to rack their brains to attain “Fragrance,” while I could smell scents the moment I arrived?

I never had to struggle like others to gain this rare ability. In all of “Jade City,” I had never met another person whose power could identify “Fragrance.”

Perhaps I would remain like this forever. I had stepped into a fairy tale, where I was the beloved “hero,” leading my people through hardship. Ten days later, I could return to the real world and see parents and teachers who had never needed me.

Was this kind of life really normal? Were there others like me in the world?

I felt like I was truly going insane. Was the path I had chosen really the right one?

Once, to embody the “Happy Prince” in my mind, I tried going without food for ten days, giving all my meals to my people. I starved to death by the sixth day.

But I still didn’t regret it, nor could I reclaim the sanity I was on the verge of losing.

After all, my memories would never fade. Even if I died in the interview room, the result would be the same.

About nine years later, a small incident occurred in our “family.” At first, I didn’t pay it any mind, but looking back, it was likely the spark that ignited the final disaster.

But even without that spark, would our “family” have survived?

One evening, a team passionate about games excitedly arrived at the office building’s basement and opened their locker—

The locker that was supposed to hold their 57,600 pieces of “Jade” was empty. Just like what had happened to Uncle Wan many years ago.

When word reached me, I didn’t have time to inform Brother Gu Yu or Sister Siwei. I rushed to investigate, thinking I could calm everyone down like last time. But the moment I entered the basement, someone grabbed me by the collar.

“Dammit…!” the man roared. “Where’s our ‘Jade’?! Why is it gone again?!”

I was shocked by his aggression. I never imagined a day would come when someone would grab me by the collar and lift me off the ground.

My crown fell to the floor, rolling pathetically.

A crowd had gathered, yet none of them stepped in to stop him.

“I—how would I know?” My voice trembled. “Calm down first. I’m here to solve the problem—”

“There’s no problem to solve!” he shouted. “Isn’t it obvious?! You’re just like Wan Cai—you’re after our ‘Jade’!”

“That’s impossible!” I yelled, struggling against his grip. But my body was still a child’s, with no strength to break free. “I’ve always done everything I could to help you collect ‘Jade’! Why would I steal now? Not just me—no one in this family would—”

Before I could finish, I froze.

Had I overlooked something?

Was there really no one here who would hide that “Jade”?

“Why stop talking?” the man snarled. “We trusted you, and you really thought you were a ‘hero’?! You’re just a useless little—”

Before he could finish, his eyes widened. I watched as a transparent hole burst through his chest.

His grip on me loosened as he turned in disbelief. I tilted my head and saw Brother Gu Yu standing behind him, holding something transparent that had pierced the man’s chest.

He had arrived from somewhere just in time to save me.

The man collapsed without another word. His teammates stood frozen in shock.

“Do you have a death wish?” Brother Gu Yu asked coldly. “Who gave you permission to grab our hero and interrogate him?”

It seemed Sister Siwei was right—he was my sword.