"Isn't it ironic? And this isn't even the most ironic part."
In theory, Zheng Zai should be happy describing all this, but he isn't.
His expression carries confusion. Wen Xishu is also slightly puzzled.
Old Zheng truly is quite tragic, but also could be called a hero; that's not ironic at all.
But soon, Wen Xishu understood what it was all about.
"Officer Liu Jinsen also brought me some things. He let me handle it myself, and he won't interfere."
Mr. Liu really cares about his friend... Wen Xishu had to admire him.
This is what they call widening the path.
"What things?" Wen Xishu asked.
Zheng Zai said:
"It's evidence of my dad's crime. Evidence of my father's crime, ha. It truly exists... He wasn't wronged; he truly is... a criminal."
Zheng Zai laughed bitterly and self-mockingly.
Wen Xishu suddenly understood why Old Zheng was confused.
"I was wishfully living under the illusion of my father, but my dad actually is guilty; he wasn't wronged... but now, he's innocent."
"This should be something favorable to me, but suddenly I'm afraid of this world."
"Younger Brother Wen, you've been to the Desire Tower many times... my life is lowly and I haven't seen that glittering world, is it only the bunker that's so... so careless, or is every world always like this?"
Wen Xishu looked at Old Zheng's bewilderment and could feel the shock in Zheng Zai's heart when Mr. Liu handed over evidence of his father's crimes to him.
If Zheng Zai's father hadn't committed a crime, then Zheng Zai would likely be basking in glory now.
He had always longed to prove his father's innocence, risking his life for it.
If... Zheng Zai's father were truly innocent, how great it would be.
But now, under the public's joyful clamor, Zheng Zai's father was finally "exonerated."
Yet ironically, Zheng Zai learned of his father's truth. It turns out that back then, his father deserved it.
And now, those who wronged Zheng Zai back then are apologizing, and Zheng Zai's father has become a wronged hero.
Wen Xishu could understand why Zheng Zai would feel all of this is so ironic.
"It's always like this, Old Zheng. I can't lie to you."
Yes, the world is always like this. When you have power, you can turn black to white.
Crows can be white, deer can be horses, hats can be switched.
"Can you accept it, Old Zheng?" Wen Xishu softly asked.
Zheng Zai shook his head:
"I don't know. I'm thinking, Officer Liu Jinsen... gave me everything. He said this is the rule of the world."
"I can destroy this evidence for a happy ending. Or I can... let my father bear infamy."
"I'm very conflicted."
Zheng Zai kept shaking his head, continuously:
"Compared to climbing the tower to save the world... Younger Brother Wen, I shouldn't bother you with this, but I am indeed very confused."
"What should I do?"
Wen Xishu said:
"You have a long time to consider this, Old Zheng. I can't give you advice, although I've guessed what you'll eventually do."
Zheng Zai was slightly stunned.
Wen Xishu remembered a famous star once said, after you succeed, everyone around you will be good people.
Now it indeed seems so.
Right now, Old Zheng's dilemma, if not because he was his friend... from a stranger's perspective, it's quite interesting.
The one longing for fairness and justice now holds power, standing at the crossroads of twisting fairness and justice, or upholding it.
What will Zheng Zai choose?
Wen Xishu had the answer.
After a long silence, Zheng Zai sighed softly:
"If I choose to deal with those proofs... then I'll become the person I despised most when I was trying hard to prove my father's innocence, won't I?"
Back then, Zheng Zai hated everyone who twisted right and wrong, why should good people be imprisoned?
Why could so many bad ones enjoy pleasure in the Desire Tower?
Zheng Zai shook his head again:
"I can't be that kind of person... I can't be that kind of person."
"Younger Brother Wen, I understand now, I will return the things to Officer Liu Jinsen. Is this... the answer you saw?"
Wen Xishu didn't deny it, he nodded:
"Yes, Old Zheng, whatever you do, I can understand, but I also know you, so I know there's only one way you'd handle it."
"Power is great, it can make people reverse truths for you, and you can use it to toy with others."
"When we were powerless, we despised those who abused power, and now with power... we might also become one of the evil dragons."
"But fortunately, my friend, Old Zheng, you're a noble guy, which doesn't help you in the bunker environment... but I think one day, if we work hard together, good people will also succeed."
Zheng Zai found that Younger Brother Wen truly had a talent for oration, instilling a fiery passion to strive together with him.
Being told by Wen Xishu, Zheng Zai wasn't as troubled or pained anymore.
"By the way, currently... I'm fourth on the Celestial Ladder List. Haha, I'm going to catch up with the third, I feel I can surpass him."
"Lately I've been climbing towers too! My Weird Sequence 123: Edible Alchemy, I've even gotten a rune. This prevents me from having relapses for a short period."
Wen Xishu was very curious about this sequence, remembering how Zheng Zai even used this sequence to eat a ghost before.
A terrified mission involving his grandfather crawling out of the coffin ended up changed since Zheng Zai ate his grandfather.
Honestly, Wen Xishu thought Zheng Zai's sequence was quite strong.
During the past battles too, the joystick controlled Zheng Zai, and it could also heal him.
"Tell me about your sequence?"
The sequence of the fourth place in the Deceit Tower, Edible Alchemy, is very useful.
Simply put, whatever you eat supplements you and isolates any deadly harm from the food.
Zheng Zai now also got a rune, an exclusive one called Accumulate and Unleash.
For a period, it suppresses the sequence's power, but once the suppression is lifted, the sequence becomes incredibly powerful for a short time.
This rune was obtained by Zheng Zai during his last tower climb.
Wen Xishu had to admit, this rune was very suited to Zheng Zai.
"A very powerful and practical sequence, truly amazing, Old Zheng, congratulations."
Zheng Zai said:
"I also got something... called a Weird Conference Ticket Double Pass."
Wen Xishu didn't expect Old Zheng to talk about something new from the Deceit Tower that even he hadn't heard of.
He was very curious:
"What's that?"
Zheng Zai said:
"I didn't get it at first either, it was only after I asked the guide that they told me."
Wen Xishu couldn't help but ask:
"Didn't it give you a triple hit?"
Zheng Zai didn't understand what the triple hit meant, he shook his head and said:
"I don't quite get it, but the guide said, if you clear the Deceit Tower in a strange way, and some bizarre behavior is often repeated, you may get a Weird Conference Ticket."
Indeed, Wen Xishu thought it over, likely Old Zheng's way of clearing was just eating.
Eating from start to finish, if he's not weird, who is? No wonder he got the Weird Conference Ticket.
"A double pass means... you can add the name of a friend, allowing you to forcibly summon your friend to climb the tower together."
Zheng Zai suddenly felt a bit embarrassed:
"But after thinking it over, whether it's Ah Miao or anyone else... probably wouldn't feel that being invited into the Deceit Tower is something that greatly showcases friendship; rather, it seems more like something that might break friendships."
"Probably only you, Younger Brother Wen... would think being invited to climb the tower is an act of friendship."
How does it feel both complimenting and criticizing at once? Wen Xishu couldn't help but want to laugh.
Zheng Zai said:
"The guide said the ticket will take us to certain levels, not too high... but we might encounter many similarly strange beings."
"However, the rewards obtained will break level restrictions."
"Thinking about it, since I'm not confident, Younger Brother Wen, would you be willing to... experience this unique Deceit Tower task with me?"
Wen Xishu felt it truly sounded wonderful.
Old Zheng's level shouldn't be too difficult... going in himself, no matter how hard the task, it should be manageable.
Moreover, the Weird Conference prizes breaking level restrictions intrigued Wen Xishu greatly.
"Okay, I agree."
"Really? That's great! Younger Brother Wen!" Zheng Zai almost leapt up.
Even though they didn't know what challenge lay ahead, with Younger Brother Wen there, it felt extraordinarily stable.
Zheng Zai asked:
"Then, Younger Brother... when do we set off?"
Wen Xishu said:
"Wait for my notice, I'll tell you next time we climb the tower. But right now, I can't leave the bunker."
Wen Xishu was eager to meet Mr. Jin, as his desire to climb the tower had surged.
But this matter couldn't be rushed.