Chapter 593: Holy Trial

Despite Alex’s aggression and hostility, the three white-robed members of ‘God’s Children’ remain passive, not attacking Alex.

“You... are said to be a cruel butcher, but we have our ways to judge true sinners. You are clearly someone on the wrong track, but not someone who has gone past the line of no return,” the other woman, the logia-user, says.

“Oi, what kind of fake religion are you guys? How dare you speak to me, woman? I expect you to kneel before me, you subservient being. Old man, keep your women under control; I thought the men were talking here,” Alex says in a mocking tone.

No offense against you, Jewel. I’m just spouting random bullshit to trigger them. 

None taken ❤️

The woman jolts back, clenching her fists, while the other one, who Alex already mocked, looks like she’s about to jump at him.

“Your mockery is as disgusting and uninformed as it is blatantly offensive and misplaced. You may mock our guild and even our beliefs, but we’re forgiving. It would be wise to listen... or your life could end,” the man says calmly. “You are about to encounter a large calamity. Believe it or not, we are here to save you. Despite only receiving insults and hostility, we still want to save you and your soul.”

“Save me, haha. What are you trying to accomplish here?” Alex wonders. “We are players. Either kill me or avoid me... you can’t seriously think I’ll just convert to your cult?”

“It is not a cult... and you haven’t even given us a chance,” the old man states. “We are trying to survive the Realm and achieve something bigger than just survival, something that’s even more important. We have ethics and values, and we still pass these trials without much issue. Surely that alone should tell you something?”

“Even highly intelligent people can be cult members,” Alex argues in jest. “So what do you do if I refuse your offer? Gonna kill me?”

“Of course not,” the man says. “As long as you do not attack us or commit blatant crimes anymore... we shall simply ignore you. However, should you continue to aid the Troupe, we will view you as an enemy. Still, that should be the last thing on your mind... your journey might end unexpectedly before you get the chance to.”

“That’s... surprisingly lenient,” Alex admits. “So you’re here to save me? Are you saints or something? And why speak in riddles?”

“Lives are at stake; yours being one of them. Refusing to murder innocent people should be the goal of anyone with a pure heart. This should be obvious,” the man continues. “Please give it serious thought. Why won’t you consider helping us? You could save a lot of lives. As much as we want to save your life and, more importantly, your soul, you could help us and do the same for others.”

Jewel... what do we do? By now, the Troupe should have caught them. We can flee....

The Logia user might be a problem... the other two Peasants don’t appear much weaker, either. It’s quite the coincidence that Soulmate encountered these three Peasants... Princess Jewel is not sure it’s a smart idea to engage them.

“Your life... It’s in danger right now,” the man continues. “As a sign of good faith, we are making you an offer. We’ll guarantee your security for the rest of the mission. In return, join us. This might be your only chance; please think wisely.”

He steps forward, holding a contract before throwing it at Alex. “Read through it.”

Alex catches the contract, immediately noticing the difference between it and his own.

Not only is the paper different, but the contract itself also looks more complicated and far more one-sided.

This is a special contract; no way I’ll sign it... but I might as well take a look to see what they’re all about.

Instead of a contract with rules, Alex finds something more akin to commandments. It addresses the consumption of alcohol, various lifestyle decisions, apparent sins, crimes, and beliefs, all of it reminding him of various verses from the Bible, the Koran, and the Torah. Alex scans through about thirty of them and then stops. At the end, it addresses loyalty to God’s Children, along with a clause that forces Alex to hand over all of his possessions to the guild. At the same time, it also guarantees him resources, supplies, and items, based on his purity of heart and role.

“You’ve got to be fucking with me,” Alex mutters.

Jewel... let’s show them our reply. I hate nothing more than fake religions that want to enslave me... let’s get rid of them...! Use everything we got... all grenades. I’ll use my half as well. Let’s give them a ticket... not to heaven, but hell!

“I’m afraid our time is over... your hesitation and greed are not a promising sign. I also sense a hint of hostility. Should you survive your trial, you’ll get one more chance to rethink your decision... I’ll be praying for you,” the man confidently announces.

“You arrogant fuck, do you think you can just leave?!” Alex mutters, but the female player with the Moku Moku no Mi has already created a huge amount of smoke. Yelling “White Launcher!”, she catapults herself and her two allies away, shooting into the air, before something like a paraglider suddenly appears and allows them to glide back toward the city.

“What the...” Alex mutters, looking at the sky.

That trick is nice... if I can somehow launch myself into the air, I could also glide using Sealion’s Icewing Embrace. Maybe I’ll steal that trick.

“I kinda missed my chance there...” Alex quietly states. “What was he babbling about... saving me?”

Perhaps it was the smart decision, Soulmate. They didn’t really want to fight Soulmate. Let’s focus on the mission. 

“You might be right... I wanted to kill these fuckers kinda badly... maybe I’m really turning evil? These cultists are making it quite easy to hate them, though... I wonder why these seemingly intelligent people believe in this crap?” Alex wonders, reluctantly stopping himself from destroying the contract before putting it in his inventory.

Did Soulmate like these two robed women?

No... not really. I just thought they were kinda... normal. I can’t understand them at all. Should I start a cult as well? Hehe.

Soulmate is shameless, but he would be unable to lie to people continuously. Only the most shameless beings can become cult leaders. Maybe Princess Jewel should create something similar. Not a cult, because it would be an organisation with noble and worthy goals, with a true Princess as its head. Princess Jewel could call it the Cult of the Spider.

You just argued it wasn’t a cult!

Maybe... Spider’s Sect.

A sect is not much better!

Soulmate is a tough critic. Princess Jewel will think of something, but for now, Soulmate needs to head back.

Fuck, you are right.

As Alex and Jewel are jogging back, Alex can’t help but comment: “Well, this turned out to be boring... my body and mind already switched into battle mode, is it so hard to find a proper deathmatch these days? How terrible,” Alex jokes.

“I couldn’t agree more...♠️” a voice echoes from the side.

What?!

“How about we change that? ❤️” The voice continues, causing Alex to look around immediately, his skin shivering from the creepy voice.

“Oh... that’s really disgusting,” Alex mutters as he looks at the man leaning against a dead tree just left to them. “I guess I’ve found a good outlet for my frustration. How stupid of you to appear before me... no, us...”

What a perfect Zetsu... didn’t sense him at all.

Alex draws his [Draining Meteor Sword R2] and [Skullflame Shield R2] and points his sword at the person who just arrived.

“No need for long exchanges... I don’t need to joke around with dead people. Prepare to die... Hisoka!” Alex yells, his face filled with excitement.

“Why... are you so eager? ♦️” Hisoka asks. “We’ve met again after these two years, yet you act so coldly towards me... you even destroyed my carefully crafted plan out of nowhere. ♠️”

“So you know?” Alex asks him. “Chrollo wants you dead. If you had returned, you’d have been killed, your thoughts read, and your body controlled to expose and lure out your collaborator.”

“Oh really... you know, without you... this all wouldn’t have happened. ♣️” Hisoka counters. “My lovely fight with Chrollo will be quite a bit more difficult to achieve now. ♣️ How will you compensate me, I wonder? ♦️”

“He... hehe,” Alex laughs. “You got it backwards. Chrollo turned it into a game... the one who can bring you back alive will receive a grand reward! Anything they wish for will be granted. So you see, I won’t compensate you at all... you will compensate me. The thing is, though... I don’t plan to do that. Bringing you in alive... such a hassle. Though slightly less desirable, Chrollo also accepts your head... so I’ll be returning with just that. I really have to say, I’m quite impressed by your kindness... delivering your head straight to me. Maybe it would have been wise to fill it with something more than madness, you lunatic. No wonder you are insane.”

“Your confidence. ❤️” Hisoka says with a wide, sinister grin. “I love it so much. ❤️”

“I wonder, though... ♣️ how will that confident face of yours look when your confidence turns into pure despair, and you realize you’re about to die? ♠️” Hisoka continues gleefully.

“Won’t you... show that to me? ♦️” he asks, his smiling face growing more fearsome by the second as his Aura spikes into one of pure madness and bloodlust.

Hisoka, a deck of cards in his hand, his eyes bloodshot and wide open, his lips full of blood, begins to slowly walk toward Alex. “You ruined all my plans...♦️ but now that I see you...♣️that expression... yes... yes... you’ve ripened splendidly... you are almost as good as Chrollo ♠️. You yourself are your compensation to me. You are worthy... to be killed by me!❤️”

“Keep talking... this is the end... for you!” Alex declares, activating Ren, Jewel synchronizing with him, and doing the same.

“Gyahahahahaha! ♠️❤️” Hisoka yells in a crazed voice, giggling maniacally, his face unrecognizable, like a warped demon, his Aura full of killing intent.