End of Days Game: I'm the Only One Who Can See the Hidden Cues

Moonlight City, Special Incident Handling Bureau Headquarters.

Liam and Jeremy were in the headquarters' conference room, deep in discussion about the root cause of the crisis plaguing Moonlight City. In the room, it was just the two of them, with the added security of an active soundproofing system, ensuring no one outside could overhear their conversation.

With a sigh, Liam spoke up, "Can you tell me the real source now? Here, our conversation is completely secure, no one else can know what we discuss."

Jeremy nodded, "I can certainly tell you, but it's a lot to unpack. If you want to truly understand, I'll need to start from the beginning and connect every piece of information."

Jeremy's implication was clear: it would take a considerable amount of time to fully explain everything.

Liam nodded, accepting that this was not a matter that could be summarized in a few sentences. He was prepared for a lengthy discussion.

"When the apocalypse game descended, Moonlight City, like many other places, was overrun with countless monsters and bizarre instances. Entering these instances, I noticed something distinctive: each monster's power is tied to one of the apocalypse game planners. If a monster's power reflects more than one planner's influence, it means that both the monster and the instance itself were jointly created by multiple planners." Continue your saga on empire

"Though the apocalypse game planners are terrifying enemies to humanity, there is still rivalry among them. While you haven't experienced everything that I have, you must have noticed the schemes and conflicts between these planners."

Jeremy paused, directing his gaze at Liam, who nodded in understanding. Even though he hadn't been through as many experiences as Jeremy, he could grasp the implications of what Jeremy was saying.

But from the information he had gathered, Liam could also deduce that there were definite conflicts among the planners of the apocalypse game.

Having gained Liam's acknowledgment, Jeremy wasted no time in posing a direct question. "How well do you understand the instances around Moonlight City?"

"My understanding is likely on par with yours. I'm thoroughly familiar with every instance that has appeared around Moonlight City. I know the power of each monster in each instance and which apocalypse game planner that power originates from. The only difference is that I don't know as much about the planners themselves as you do. I don't even know the names of each apocalypse game planner."

Hearing this, Jeremy gave a faint smile. "Your understanding of the instances is, frankly, quite limited. You've missed a critical detail about the instances surrounding Moonlight City. Haven't you noticed that the powers held by the monsters in our nearby instances often originate from different apocalypse game planners?"

"Unlike here, this phenomenon doesn't happen in other cities—the instances around them don't show the influence of multiple planners. This means multiple apocalypse game planners are actively monitoring our actions."

Hearing this, Liam's expression grew more serious. The realization finally dawned on him.

After agreeing with Jeremy's perspective, Liam's face underwent a dramatic change. "This is something I should have noticed easily. Why had neither I nor my subordinates ever considered this before? Could this be a blind spot in our thinking?"

Jeremy gave a knowing smile. "In reality, you've been under the influence of the most powerful apocalypse game planner of all. This particular planner is the supreme deity known as the 'Fool.'"

"Using its power, it prevents you from perceiving this crucial information. Simultaneously, it keeps you ensnared in various instances, making it nearly impossible for you to connect the anomalies you encounter. Any strange phenomena you observe in these instances feel like mere coincidences to you."

"But let me tell you one thing: in the apocalypse game, there are no coincidences."

As Jeremy spoke these words, his tone was grave. Liam's expression was one of utter shock.

"It seems I need to go back and compile all the information we have in the Special Incident Handling Bureau. Only by piecing everything together can we find the root of the problem," Liam said with determination.

However, before he could even finish, Jeremy immediately objected.

"There's no need to do that—it would only be a waste of time. Even if your team were to access this information, they would quickly forget it. The power of the 'Fool' far exceeds what you can imagine. Although it seems the Fool cannot directly descend into our reality, the influence it exerts on our world is immense."

"Don't you wonder why the federal leaders and the military headquarters adopted such absurd strategies when the crisis hit the capital? Do you really believe everyone in the federal and military headquarters is simply incompetent?"

Jeremy's words left Liam visibly shaken.

"You're saying that the 'Fool' not only deceived us but also manipulated other humans with its power?"

"That's exactly what I mean!" Jeremy confirmed.

"But why would it do this? The monsters we encounter in instances are usually controlled by other apocalypse game planners. We've never come across a monster directly associated with the 'Fool' in these instances. Could it be that the Fool is taking all these actions merely to help the other apocalypse game planners?"

Liam was sharp and quickly picked up on a potential flaw in Jeremy's explanation.

With a sigh, Jeremy shook his head. "I don't know the answer to that! So, when you came to me to discuss how to secure Moonlight City, this is all I could tell you. My guess is that, aside from the Fool's direct manipulation, there is likely some artifact within the instances surrounding Moonlight City—a device that amplifies the strength of nearby instances and monsters. If we could locate this artifact and either destroy or seal it, we might be able to prevent Moonlight City from facing so much peril."

Jeremy proposed another solution—one that he believed held the highest chance of success. After all, the Fool's power was far beyond their own. Even if they understood that the Fool was the true mastermind behind the apocalypse game, there was still no way for them to make the Fool pay any price for its actions.

After hearing what Jeremy said, a faint smile finally appeared on Liam's face.

"I think this is the best news you've brought me today! Since you've already mentioned this lead, I assume you have some kind of theory."

Jeremy nodded. "Yes, I do have a theory. I've found several items within the instances surrounding Moonlight City that contain extraordinary, almost divine powers. Among these items are the Dark Core and a Shadow God Tree in one of the instances. These objects, infused with divine power, require a constant supply of similar power to maintain their strength. So, I suspect that the artifact enhancing the strength of instances and monsters around Moonlight City is located at the convergence point of these items with divine energy."

As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, Liam pulled out a map. "You can mark the locations where you found these items with divine power on this map."

Jeremy quickly marked each spot, indicating where these powerful items were located. Once the locations were connected by lines, they all converged on a single point on the map: the Moonlight City Library, situated right in the city center.

Seeing this, Liam's expression became profoundly conflicted. He struggled to process the revelation. The Moonlight City Library wasn't far from them and served as a vital repository of information, where anyone seeking knowledge would typically go to access records and resources. If such a significant artifact was indeed hidden within the library, they should have discovered it long ago. Their failure to do so suggested that this powerful object was exceptionally well-concealed.

"Now you can understand why I've been reluctant to approach the library," Jeremy continued. "I've sensed something unusual there for a while, but I couldn't pinpoint the exact location of the artifact. I didn't want to stir up suspicion prematurely, so I waited until now to share this information with you. I also urge you not to act rashly. This artifact is likely sentient. Any premature move could trigger it to activate every monster in the nearby instances, which would spell a true disaster for Moonlight City."

While Jeremy spoke, Liam maintained a neutral expression. Despite his calm exterior, he was deeply shocked by what he'd learned.