Chapter 123: Escaping, Inciting Trouble, and Leisurely Moments

Blind Duck was in a sorry state as he dashed through the forest.

He had no idea where his helmet had gone—the one he hadn't even intended to remove while sleeping. He had spent a small fortune in the Main Brain space to have it custom-made from Lunar Titanium alloy, prized for its durability and resistance to wear. To his shock, it had been effortlessly snatched away by invisible chewing gum, leaving his dyed golden hair to flutter wildly in the wind.

Before entering this instance, he had specifically undergone plastic surgery, meticulously adjusting everything from his overall appearance to his lower-body dimensions; Blind Duck was convinced he was indistinguishable from the original.

"I just wanted revenge for the NTR! Why are you stopping me!"

"Because I'm bored."

To Blind Duck’s furious and helpless questioning, Hisoka offered only a breezy reply. Having spent the last few days observing countless apples, both green and ripe, Hisoka felt that if he didn't consume something soon, he might lose control and devour one of them.

It was simply Blind Duck’s bad luck.

"That stop-and-go movement technique of yours is quite interesting. However, if you can't go any faster, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you." Hisoka was still savoring the cat-and-mouse game, intending to play until he was satisfied before finally striking.

"Damn it!!!" Blind Duck roared, his face twisted in resentment. But seeing the playing cards Hisoka was constantly aiming at him, he resolutely activated the ability he had traded a fortune for from his organization. His body suddenly surged with speed.

Skill: [Candidate for God Law: Red Has Three], Level 1. Originating from the *Law of Ueki* instance. An ability granted by a Candidate for God, capable of turning one second into three; the effect applies only to the user. Activation condition: Must be wearing red clothing. This ability lasts for a maximum of ten seconds and a minimum of one, with a cooldown ranging from ten seconds to one second. This skill cannot be leveled up by consuming LP; it can only be improved through training with the corresponding Candidate for God.

The "Candidate for God Law" is a unique ability system in the *Law of Ueki* instance. In that world, aside from the true God, there are 100 Candidates for God. To become the next true God, they each select a student, grant them special abilities, and pit them against one another. The final victor earns their Candidate the throne of the true God, and the student is awarded the "Blank Talent."

These laws are diverse, but every activation comes at a price—be it holding one's breath, picking up trash, gargling, or staring unblinkingly. It was quite amusing.

However, some abilities carry implicit activation conditions that are not displayed in the skill description. For instance, the hidden cost of Blind Duck’s [Red Has Three] is the sacrifice of one's own lifespan. If he activates the ten-second version, it feels like thirty seconds to him, and he must pay an additional thirty seconds of his life.

Some might think, "It’s only thirty seconds, what does it matter?" But one must not forget that small amounts accumulate: ten times is five minutes, a hundred times is fifty minutes, a thousand times is eight hours and twenty minutes, and ten thousand times is three days, eleven hours, and twenty minutes.

Time is the most lethal poison in the world; no existence can escape its erosion. This was the reason for the grim, death-like expression on Blind Duck’s face as he activated his power. Of course, it could also be attributed to the fact that Hisoka’s cards were aiming at his rear end for the better part of the chase, which was enough to make anyone’s nerves tighten.

Watching the coordinates that appeared before his eyes every thirty minutes, Blind Duck knew he was getting closer to Hao Ren.

*I’ll drag that bastard down with me by leading this pervert to him! If I’m going to have bad luck, I’m taking someone else down with me!*

That was Blind Duck’s current motivation. And what was our Hao Ren doing now?

"Master! I want to eat that light-as-air popcorn!" Nemesis tugged at Hao Ren’s arm, refusing to let go.

"Ice cream! Ice cream!" Yea was a total dessert addict, the type who could replace main meals with snacks.

"Sigh~ I really want to eat strawberry-flavored Haagen-Dazs... It’s a pity there’s no such crop as strawberries here," Ryougi Shiki sighed involuntarily while looking at the seven-colored bean-flavored cone in Yea’s hand.

"Big Brother Ren! Look, look! That scantily clad girl with the big breasts just bent over!" Hiiragi, perched on Hao Ren’s shoulders, pointed to the side and shouted.

It was a bunny girl.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh!" Hao Ren howled like a wolf.

"Master, I'll wear it for you alone when we get back," Saeko whispered into Hao Ren’s ear, adding a gentle puff of air for good measure.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh!" Hao Ren howled like a wolf.

"I hate lecherous people! You’re not allowed to look!" Takagi Saya stomped on Hao Ren’s foot. She was wearing high heels...

"Ooh, ooh, ooh!" Hao Ren howled like a wolf.

"Angel! Well done!" Shiina jumped for joy as she watched the 777 on the slot machine, then quickly scooped up a pile of Mira coins and ran over to the claw machine. She was determined to win that puppy plushie today; she wouldn't give up until she got it.

"Mm." Kanade’s reaction was flat, as she retracted the Handsonic blade she had just inserted into the machine. It seemed she had cheated...

"Damn it! Why are you always just one or two points higher than me!" The middle-aged man, driven to desperation, threw his cards down in a rage, looking as if he were about to charge over. It seemed to be Blackjack.

A sharp blade pressed against the man’s neck—formed from golden hair.

"A bet is a bet." Although Yami said this, the book in her hand never closed. *The Diary of My Ego*... You’re cheating too...

"10, J, Q, K, A, all Spades. What kind of hand is this?" Teiya tilted her head 45 degrees, looking at Hao Ren.

"A Royal Flush..." Hao Ren looked at Teiya’s opponent, who appeared to be on the verge of tears. This one was definitely not cheating...

"Lady Hiiragi! Do not sit on the Master’s head, it is too impolite!" Orihime looked at the Libra Fox, who lacked any shred of ladylike decorum, and sighed at her own failure in education. But what was with the classic black-and-white British maid outfit Orihime was wearing?

"It’s fine, it’s fine, what’s the big deal? Orihime, you should go play a few rounds too, don't worry so much." In truth, Hao Ren had spoiled her.

"No, serving Lady Hiiragi and the Master is my mission. I will never leave Lady Hiiragi’s side for even half a step." Orihime adjusted her glasses (borrowed from Hao Ren), assuming the air of a stern head maid. Which anime had she been watching now?

"Ah~~ so serious, it’s just too cute! Hug!" Orihime’s field of vision went dark as School Doctor Busujima, whose mountain-like chest was the most imposing, hugged her tightly.

Sherry remained silent, following the group clad in her ice armor. In settings with so many strangers, Sherry became unusually shy, a far cry from her usual bold and unrestrained self.

Hao Ren was accompanying his girls through the casino. The casino in Crossbell City never closed, providing food, drink, and lodging. In a place where the entertainment industry wasn't highly developed, the casino was one of the few places for everyone to unwind.

Before entering the instance, Hao Ren had dug a hole in the gray rock and buried his badge and the three stolen cards. Moreover, each card was wrapped in a Mobius strip, allowing him to retrieve them within a limited range if necessary. Of course, Hao Ren still had to leave the dimensional space first.

With Saya nearly advancing with her Zerg forces (pseudo), why was this guy still in the mood to play?

Hao Ren had his reasons for being so relaxed. It had been a long time since he had spent time with the girls; even if the sky were falling, nothing could stop his resolve to keep them company. Besides, while the Black Heretic was still dismembered, the Unicorn had long since been assembled. Unfortunately, the Unicorn lacked sufficient energy and could not be started for the time being.

The *Trails* world was great in every way, but its energy application differed from the real world. Teiya had yet to fully grasp the conversion between Sepith-based energy and electricity. After much effort, they had managed to build a Sepith generator, but the energy conversion efficiency was appallingly low. Without a choice, until the Unicorn was fully charged, any thought of sniping the mutant Saya was out of the question.

Just then, the communicator rang. It was Sharp.

"Master!"

"What is it, Sharp?"

"Two figures are rapidly approaching the direction of the gray rock."

"Run an image comparison and see who it is."

"Image comparison in progress... One is Char from the original *Mobile Suit Gundam*, fleeing rapidly using an unknown ability. The other is Hisoka, who appears to be hunting that Char."

"Nani?"