"Well said. I plan on adding that to my list of quotes for speeches." The Plague Doctor’s tone held a rare hint of amusement.

·

They didn’t talk for long before the Plague Doctor hurried off to the command room. Zhou Chen, meanwhile, found a large, secluded tree in the barracks, sat down, and posed a question in his mind:

"God of Wishes? Are you still there?"

"I’ve been here the whole time," the strange, demonic voice replied.

"You’re the Wishing Box, aren’t you?" Zhou Chen said, getting straight to the point.

"A clever one. I am indeed what you humans call the B-Level Forbidden Object, the Wishing Box," the strange voice replied, chuckling.

"The Black-robed Man took you to the front lines, yet you can still speak to me mentally from such a great distance. Did you leave a mark on me?"

"You really are clever. I like you even more now."

"Then let’s speak frankly. What is it you want?"

"I want you to be my next master. Once you have me, you can resurrect your beloved."

Zhou Chen wasn’t surprised by the Wishing Box’s answer. Confidential documents had recorded instances of the Wishing Box actively seeking out Receptors. It changed masters frequently and was known to have exacting requirements.

"Resurrection is the most absurd thing in the world. It simply doesn’t exist." Zhou Chen scoffed. "Trying to bewitch me? A pity for you, but I’m not falling for it."

"No, no, no, resurrection isn’t impossible; you just haven’t been exposed to it. Many, many years ago, when the Goddess of Life was at Tier Five, she resurrected the dead. And not long ago, in the distant East, another person came back from the dead."

’The East...’ Zhou Chen was startled. He instinctively thought of Erin. ’This thing actually knows about Erin’s resurrection?’

He pretended to ponder for a few seconds, then said in a deep voice, "Tell me the details."

Seeing that he was tempted, the Wishing Box struck while the iron was hot. "The Goddess of Life can resurrect the dead because of the supreme Authority she wields. For a God of the Life Realm, resurrection is as simple as eating or drinking. She’s actually resurrected many, many people, but don’t even think of asking her to resurrect your beloved. You’d never even get to meet her.

As for that incident in the East, it’s even more mysterious.

"The first to discover it were the Tier Fives who wield the ’Death’ Authority. They sensed this phenomenon that defied ’Death’ and were certain it wasn’t the work of the Goddess of Life. So they secretly traveled to the East to investigate, but they came up with nothing.

"If you have powerful enough channels, you could inquire about the movements of those Crowned Kings. You’d find they’ve been staying on the Eastern Continent for some time. Furthermore, two Crowned Kings who wield the ’Death’ Authority personally stated they sensed the phenomenon of ’resurrection’. If you don’t believe my words, you can go ask an information broker and find out for yourself."

At this point, Zhou Chen was absolutely certain the Wishing Box was talking about Erin. ’But how does it know? And can Crowned Kings who wield the ’Death’ Authority really sense resurrection?’

"You’re just a Forbidden Object. How do you know so much?" Zhou Chen asked.

"Hehehehe... Don’t mistake me for some inanimate object."

The strange voice laughed, speaking cryptically, "I am far more powerful than you imagine!"

"In short, with the precedents set by the Goddess of Life and the Eastern Resurrectionist, do you still think resurrection is a fabrication? That man who said he couldn’t do it simply didn’t want to. After all, you’re strangers. He had no reason to commit such a taboo act for your sake.

"But if you possessed me, everything would be different. You could do anything you wanted, including bringing your dead beloved back to life. Don’t you... miss her?"

The Wishing Box’s words were filled with a bewitching Magic Power, every sentence designed to sway the heart. If Zhou Chen were truly "Siegfried," he probably would have succumbed in short order. But he wasn’t. He regarded the Demon’s temptations with cold detachment, almost wanting to laugh.

He was, however, quite interested in figuring out the true nature of the Wishing Box’s Power.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"It’s simple. Bide your time. When the moment is right, I will come to you."

"You want to betray the Black-robed Man?" Zhou Chen couldn’t help but frown.

"To use an Eastern saying, ’A worthy servant chooses their master, just as a good bird chooses its tree.’ I’m simply choosing a more exceptional master... Do you know what that means? It translates to..."

"That’s enough. Let me think on my own for a while," Zhou Chen said, feigning annoyance.

"I await your answer." The Wishing Box let out a low laugh, and then its voice fell silent.

’Why does the Wishing Box want "Siegfried" as its new master? What is it about "Siegfried" that attracts it? The brainwashing Ability?’ Zhou Chen mused. At the same time, he mobilized the Power of the Prayer Space, quickly located a wisp of black gas clinging to "Siegfried’s" body, and isolated it.

"Eva, can we understand the nature of the Wishing Box’s Ability by analyzing this Dark Essence?" Zhou Chen asked Eva.

[Affirmative. Wish Points required: 10,000]

’Ten thousand points. That’s appropriate for a B-Level Forbidden Object...’ Zhou Chen hesitated for a few minutes, but finally gritted his teeth. ’Done!’

’I need to secure an intelligence advantage first!’

[Wish Points -10,000. Analysis in progress... Please wait.]

[Analysis complete. The Rule contained within the Dark Essence is "Wish Fulfillment."

Connecting to the internet...

Querying database...

Searching...

Search complete.]

[In year 95 of the New Era, there appeared a Tier Five - Crowned King named Benedict Joseph, who wielded the Authority of "Wish Fulfillment." This Crowned King mysteriously vanished in New Era year 96. His whereabouts are unknown, and he has not been seen since.

No residual Essence data from Benedict could be found. Comparison is impossible.]

Watching the text materialize on the panel, Zhou Chen frowned. ’If I remember correctly, the earliest recorded appearance of the Wishing Box was in New Era year 98, exactly two years after Benedict’s disappearance...’

Eva’s analysis confirmed the Wishing Box’s Ability is "Wish Fulfillment," and the Authority wielded by the Crowned King named Benedict was also "Wish Fulfillment." It was hard not to draw connections from such a coincidence.

’Perhaps Forbidden Object B-025: Wishing Box is the Forbidden Object that formed after Benedict’s death...’

"Mr. Siegfried, I’ve finally found you!"

Just then, a voice pulled Zhou Chen from his thoughts. A Salvation Army Warrior came jogging over. "The Plague Doctor is looking for you."

"Looking for me? I’ll be right there." Zhou Chen rose from under the tree and followed the Warrior to the command room.

"Siegfried, pack your things. We’re heading to the front line." The Plague Doctor walked over to meet him. Inside the command room, Warriors were packing up equipment and instruments, looking as if they were preparing to relocate.

The Plague Doctor pulled him aside and whispered, "We’ve found a few moles in the front-line units who were planning to use poison. They’ve had rigorous training, and we can’t get them to talk no matter what we do. We need you to go handle it. This is urgent. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes, so hurry up and get ready."

’Moles...’ Zhou Chen nodded. "Understood."

·

「One hour later.」

「The front line.」

In a prison cell thick with the stench of blood, a prisoner, drenched in it, lifted his head. He stared at the newly arrived "Siegfried," a profound smile spreading across his blood-caked face.

"Mr. Siegfried, hello."

"Mr. Siegfried..."

"—Goodbye!"

Zhou Chen’s expression flickered. He immediately tried to use his brainwashing Ability, but he was a step too late. The moment he had stepped into the cell, an irreversible Matrix had already activated.

The prisoners’ bodies suddenly began to swell as a searing light burst forth from within. In an instant, the terrifying heat vaporized their flesh.

BOOM!

The explosion roared, the earth trembled, and the entire prison was leveled in the flash of light.