Death Game: Starting as a Trickster, Pretending to Be a God

Entering the Lilee City late-night tavern, unsurprisingly, it was like another world hidden beneath the surface.

On the outside, it looked like just an ordinary residence, but once you stepped inside, you could tell this place was dug deep underground, with a vast subterranean space.

Although the decor was rough—most of the supporting structures were crudely polished stone and logs, and the furniture was simple and rustic—

Even the lighting came from torches on the walls.

But because the space was so expansive and the crowd inside was so lively, it actually carried a unique charm.

Adventurers coming and going sat at wooden tables, drinking and eating meat with abandon, playing various card games and gambling.

And in the very center of the ”Late-Night Tavern”...

Two superhumans were locked in a bare-knuckle brawl—the punches landing with raw force drew cheers from the audience.

This was truly a paradise for letting off steam.

Especially under the curfew policy, even a legitimate late-night snack felt thrilling, let alone the illegal gambling and underground fighting.

Although Lin Yu found it a bit noisy, Fish seemed right at home in this environment.

She expertly walked to the bar, bought two large glasses of juice and a plate of roasted meat, found a table to sit at, and then casually went over to the betting crowd near the arena to buy a ticket on one of the fighters.

Watching Fish, who looked completely in her element, Lin Yu couldn’t help but ask.

”The City Defense Knight Corps is conducting checks everywhere tonight... won’t this place be in trouble?”

After all, the ”Late-Night Tavern” was violating far more than just the curfew.

”Relax,” Fish said, taking a sip of her juice without a care. ”This place has a secret deal with the City Defense Knight Corps... Even with tonight’s situation, they won’t search here.”

”Even with tonight’s special circumstances?”

Lin Yu frowned, puzzled.

”Of course, including that,” Fish said seriously. ”Those official superhumans definitely don’t want to make their news public at this stage... so they won’t check here.”

”There’s no way any dangerous elements colluding with demons or the dark race are hiding here either. The adventurers drinking here are more trustworthy than those Church knights,” Fish said calmly. ”Because the adventurers here come from the lower classes. Most have been to the outskirts of the Abyss and seen how the dark race treats humans when they gain power.”

”They might seem unruly, but there’s zero chance they’d betray us—the conflict between the lower-class humans of Night Valley and the dark race is almost irreconcilable.”

Lin Yu caught the subtext in Fish’s words.

”You seem to think that the upper class of Night Valley doesn’t have an irreconcilable conflict with the dark race?”

”Of course. Just in the last year, about a dozen local governors, magistrates, tax officials, and Church members in the Enze and Maro Empires have been executed for trading with the dark race... and that’s just the ones who got caught.”

”Whether it’s the dark race or demons... if you can provide them with dozens or hundreds of souls, they’re happy to get along with you.”

Fish spoke in a tone that betrayed no anger or sympathy—it was like she was simply stating a fact.

Then, she added, ”Of course, there’s always a chance some dangerous bastard is hiding here... which is exactly why we’re here.”

She smiled and looked around.

”Besides, the veteran adventurers here might have more up-to-date information than those ’big shots.’”

”At least, they have sharper noses—and they might even become our helpers.”

Fish downed most of her juice, then tore a piece of meat from the rib bone on her plate, chewed it, and hopped off her chair.

”Let’s go, Schreiber.”

Lin Yu followed Fish but still asked.

”Who are we looking for?”

”That drunk uncle over there. He fits the criteria I mentioned—sharp nose and could be a helper.”

As Fish spoke, Lin Yu wore a look of sudden understanding.

”So we’re here to gather information and find helpers!”

”What else, just pure entertainment?” Fish rolled her eyes. ”Schreiber, I’m a ’Third Tier’ expert too, and I’m a pillar of the ’Marauders.’ How about showing me a little more trust and respect?”

”Sorry, sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

Lin Yu clasped his hands together and smiled.

As they talked, they arrived in front of the uncle Fish had pointed out—the guy looked like a textbook ”folk master.”

Messy hair and stubble, a heavy jacket and boots, a haggard look, plus a metal flask in front of him and a shotgun and longsword on his back. He seemed born for the words ”fallen expert.”

He looked like he was about to start reminiscing about his late wife any second.

Fish didn’t stand on ceremony. She walked up and kicked his stool.

”Bang!”

The stool wobbled, nearly sending the uncle sprawling.

He turned around in shock, glaring at Fish with hostility.

”Where’d this little brat come from? You looking for trouble?!”

”Hey, show some respect, you old drunk,” Fish said, hands on her hips with an arrogant air. ”As a ’Holy Mage,’ you’re supposed to abstain from alcohol. Breaking the rules like this—I could report you to the Relic Doctrine, you know.”

The uncle froze, then sat up straight. ”I haven’t been a Holy Mage for years... But how do you know that? Do you recognize me?”

Fish pulled out her two wooden flintlocks—one darker, one lighter—and flashed them.

”Raymond Chert, of course I know you. I’ve seen your shotgun and longsword on blueprints many times. What I’m curious about is... you don’t recognize me.”

”You’re from the Relic Doctrine? Which uncle’s disciple are you? Or the master’s successor?”

”Anyway... you’re my junior sister, right?”

Caught off guard by Fish calling his name, Raymond Chert rubbed his face hard, confused and curious as he asked.

Fish looked at Raymond and kicked his stool again.

”Looks like you haven’t been back to the order in too long, you idiot—I’m your master Casset’s junior sister, his master’s last closed-door disciple.”

”In other words, you should be calling me junior uncle!”

Raymond’s mind went blank.

”What, junior uncle... are you kidding me?”

Fish pulled out a gear-shaped badge and tossed it in his face.

Raymond caught the badge and examined it carefully, then muttered, ”It really is little junior uncle... What are you doing here?”

”I should be asking you that. What are you doing here?”

Fish said haughtily.

”Just trying to make a living,” Raymond said vaguely at first, but after glancing at the gear in his hand and then at Fish looking down at him from above, he hesitated and changed his tune. ”Fine, I got a tip from a friend... In this Lilee City, a ’Monarch-level’ dark race entity is about to awaken.”

Fish nodded upon hearing this and immediately said, ”Right, that’s why I’m here too.”

Lin Yu watched Fish with a very pleased expression and couldn’t help but sigh.

Her acting was way too bad.

But luckily, the other party was still fooled.

”She actually managed to get him to spill the beans. That’s surprising.”