I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

“Since you gave up your last chance,” the fairy said with slight dissatisfaction and arrogance, “then join me in this game that I have prepared for you.

“Hmph, it's too late to regret it now.”

With that, she clapped her hands, and the mist crawled out of the lake like an invisible monster, engulfing Ma En and the fairy standing in the open space like a rising tide. As the mist completely covered the surrounding environment...

The faces of the others began to emerge in the mist—Serri, You Yue, Yan, and the Helmet Woman. The slightly surprised expressions of the first three revealed a direct message: they must have seen the faces of the others as well.

However, as the mist churned, their faces quickly disappeared.

“What you saw were them,” the fairy said with a smile. “You know I can't lie.”

“Are you saying that what I saw was the current them?” Ma En asked.

Even if, as she said, he saw the others, it wasn't necessarily the current ones. Perhaps he saw them as they were a few minutes ago.

Seeing him trying to catch her in a linguistic loophole, the fairy only showed a smug smile, as if this so-called flaw was something she had prepared long ago.

“Of course, I'm not playing tricks with time. Next, I might occasionally show you the expressions of the others, depending on what I feel like.”

With that, she showed a cunning smile:

“Since you dare to refuse me, you must be confident that I can't do anything to you. You're right, I really can't do anything to you. If you really ignored me, I would definitely leave impatiently.

“But unfortunately, you have a reason to leave here quickly, don't you?”

Ma En said confidently:

“Maybe, but even delaying time is much better than believing you.”

He was indeed confident that he would remain steadfast.

The fairy also believed it. Although her so-called "courtship" was more of a cruel and crazy game, it was still a way to tease the wishers to satisfy herself. And what she had just said about "flattery" was not what humans would understand.

But it was true that not just anyone could receive this invitation from her. Either they had some interesting qualities, or they were simply strong-willed. Destroying such people gave her a special sense of accomplishment.

Ma En at least belonged to the latter.

The tougher they were, the more pleasurable it was to see them show weakness.

“You're absolutely right,” the fairy said with a complacent smile. “And if you had appeared alone, I really wouldn't have been able to do anything to you. But do you really trust your companions?

“You've already seen my methods. Yes, I can't do anything to you, you win.

“But I actually expected this, so I'm doing this for an even more important reason.

“Guess what it is?”

Hearing this, Ma En immediately understood what she wanted to say.

“What you mean is simple: I myself may not waver.

“But my companions will inevitably make wrong judgments.”

The fairy's smile became especially bright:

“That's right, and more importantly, even if you believe they won't be bewitched by the fairy, how can you believe that they will believe you? Mutual suspicion between people will destroy all trust.

“Now, let's start the game. Let's start with introducing the rules, but I don't like to waste words, so I'll directly use a game to teach you how to play.

“Let's start with the two of you.”

With that, she clapped her hands, and the image of the Helmet Woman appeared in the mist.

She was looking at the fairy on her side with her arms crossed, her raised head revealing strong disdain and contempt. When she saw Ma En, she seemed a little surprised.

Then she took half a step back and readjusted her posture. The contempt disappeared instantly, and her posture and temperament instantly returned to the relaxed state she usually had with Ma En.

This instantly made Ma En realize that the fairy had just used a misleading tactic.

The expressions of the others at that time seemed to be seeing the same scene, so ordinary people would mistakenly believe that the Helmet Woman who appeared at the same time should also have seen them.

But in reality, the Helmet Woman's current reaction showed that she was seeing the others for the first time.

Even if it wasn't necessary, this kind of cunning misleading was still present in every action of the fairy.

It was like an instinct.

Ma En spoke to the Helmet Woman:

“Do you have any thoughts?”

But the instant he spoke, the Helmet Woman's image froze.

“Don't try, I won't give you a chance to communicate,” the fairy said arrogantly. “Even if you speak, your voice won't be able to reach her, and I'll stop any movement in advance.”

After she finished speaking, the Helmet Woman's image returned to the present.

“The game is very simple,” the fairy announced triumphantly. “I'll give you two choices.

“You just need to tell me whether you agree to wish to leave here and help me with a small favor. If you and she both refuse my request, then nothing will happen.

“As long as you can persevere like this, I will definitely get bored and leave here soon.

“And if you both express your agreement, then I won't do anything this time. The result is no different from you refusing at the same time, but if one of you agrees and one of you refuses…

“Then I will let the one who agrees leave and leave the one who refuses behind forever.

“Turning him into my toy.”

Saying this, she looked at Ma En with a smug look, as if to say that since you refused me, I can only treat you in a worse way.

Thinking of this, the fairy smiled like a child about to get candy:

“Do you think you're safe just because I can't hurt you? You're too naive. I really can't directly hurt you, but it's different if someone makes a wish to me.

“I can't hurt you, but she can hurt you through my wish.

“And how can you guarantee that others won't make desires that are beneficial to themselves? How can you guarantee that even if they can overcome the desire to escape, how can they believe that you won't make desires that are detrimental to them?

“The answer is simple: make a wish and you'll know.”

Saying this, she waved her hand, erased the Helmet Woman's projection, and then looked at Ma En:

“Agree, or refuse?”

Looking at Ma En, she showed a triumphant expression. Although as a fairy, she couldn't directly hurt anyone, including Ma En, as long as one of them made a wish, it would be different.

And even if they could firmly believe that making a wish was terrible.

But it was difficult for them to firmly believe that others would not betray themselves first, because in this game, the first betrayer would suffer the least loss, and anyone might try to grab this position.

At that time, they would truly "betray first" because they were worried about others betraying them first.

Just when she thought Ma En would fall into deep thought…

“Refuse.” The firm words were thrown at her face without hesitation.