Four Split Personalities

What a pity for them that their current footing wasn’t a chessboard but a sand table—a war.

Hence these three cunning individuals, well versed in deceit, did not intervene in the command, simply continuing to craft their schemes in the shadows, leaving the specialized tasks to the professionals.

If Jiawen possessed an extraordinary talent in military strategy, or if it were Hei Fan here instead of Tan Mo, the endgame might have turned quite spectacular, with climax upon climax. Alas, the players at hand weren’t of that caliber, so while the process wouldn’t be too unsightly, the outcome was unlikely to change.

"Where there are many temples, there will be victory" applies everywhere.

The peak of Jiawen’s advantage was right after she had just shielded the Marshall Family from Double Leaf’s "sudden attack." Operating from the dark, she had calculated everyone’s accounts, maximizing the Marshall Family’s resources and, with a mixture of clandestine and overt tactics, managing to keep all within the "rules of the game." Thus, barring any unexpected events, the cornered Double Leaf would remain passive, until the matter concluded with the Marshall Family granting Fire Claw a meager fortune to keep the Slave Capturing Group contented for a few years. A tacit agreement to let bygones be bygones.

Under those circumstances, even if she hadn’t anticipated the involvement of Prince Bresen, hiding his light under a bushel, it wouldn’t have mattered. Given the pre-existing order, him suddenly exerting his Kingly Aura against the tide and leaping out without justification would not have been a wise choice. If Bresen were such a fool, he would have met his demise long ago without anyone noticing.

Yet, to an ill-fated turn, just when Jiawen and Baffey believed the situation stable, that damned Anthony Dabus appeared with Zack, stirring what was a stagnant water...

After that came the collapse, akin to a line of falling dominoes. Despite Jiawen and Baffey’s ceaseless struggle, with Bresen fully entering the fray, Marshal’s last hopes were extinguished on Judgment Day without suspense.

The situation had completely reversed, with Jiawen becoming the Double Leaf she herself had once schemed against, without a glimmer of hope for a reversal of fortunes.

But she still didn’t give up—partly because Jiawen was never one to accept defeat readily, and partly because her current boss had subtly indicated from the start that "you will lose."

His uncannily accurate predictions, along with the immediacy with which Silent Prayer informed her that she could return after Judgment Day, greatly vexed Jiawen.

Thus she struggled on, conducting extensive investigations and even purchasing costly intelligence from the Cloud Traveler Inn, continuing in her capacity as the Marshall Family spokesperson to engage with Crown Prince Ribbo, Duke Dundis, and Duke Hussein. She successfully persuaded them, concocting a series of venomous plots.

Should either the second Prince of Sālāmù’ēn die or Emperor Klyvvo perish in a personal campaign, as long as any of these conditions were met, she could carve a path of survival for the Marshall Family.

Therefore, Jiawen had yet to give up, even when the other party unexpectedly learned of the relationship between the Whisper Sect and the Marshall Family and even discovered some dreadful method of counteraction. She still hadn’t yielded.

She had cards to play!

Even if Bresen hadn’t died, even if the first assassination attempt on Klyvvo failed, Dundis and Hussein had no way out after yesterday’s failed assassination. Should today’s second attempt succeed in killing the Violet Emperor, there was still hope.

A false hope!

If Jiawen knew of Ribbo’s death, she would’ve no doubt said, "Game over," and left at once, but she didn’t know.

Oh, the irony—Jiawen, who initially prevailed over Double Leaf through her advantage in intelligence, was thoroughly outplayed at the endgame.

It wasn’t her fault; after all, how could Jiawen anticipate the extent of Bresen’s hidden strength, let alone predict that the Warren Dundis Sword Saint, right beside them during the plotting with Duke Dundis, belonged to the second Prince?

Jiawen was also unaware that Motan had his eyes on the Whisper Sect from the start of the game, researching the strength of those heretics covertly and overtly while she lay low in the peaceful village, pondering the true nature of their god.

Jiawen didn’t know that Motan never sent her to aid the Marshall Family but rather as a test for "himself."

So she remained unfazed, continuing to push her final plans as far as she possibly could.

Jiawen wasn’t someone who couldn’t tolerate defeat; she simply didn’t wish to concede while there was still a chance.

To use a gaming analogy, for Jiawen, if there was but one chance of a comeback in a thousand games, she would surely seize that single game victory—it was that simple.

Even long after, when Jiawen realized the truth of this day, she would casually remark that she merely made the choice that was right for her, with no shame attached.

...

"We will continue to strike three times as quickly as possible according to the plan, and if the enemy is fully committed to eradicating us here, we’ll initiate the second phase." Quinn, supporting Jiawen, rushed to the very front of the troops and used the irregular greatsword in his hand, which resembled a saw, to slay a Zijing Guard who had descended from the sky. After a two-second silence, he continued, "If there is still no breach in the enemy’s Violet lines after three strikes, I will carry out a fourth assault alone. You lead the others to begin the second phase."

Jiawen quirked an eyebrow, "Will you die?"

"Yes."

Quinn nodded without hesitation, his voice grave, "But before I die, the enemy will believe they are battling a multitude of elite warriors."

Jiawen made a quick calculation in her heart, concluding that as long as the lure was successful, Quinn’s survival during the assassination was irrelevant. She nodded slightly, "Very well, do you have any last words or wishes you would like me to convey to His Grace the Duke?"

Quinn hesitated momentarily before continuing in silence, leading the assassination group several hundred meters behind the Night Watcher army before speaking indistinctly, "His Grace owes me a favor; my actions are purely to repay that kindness. However..."

"However what?"

Having recovered a bit of strength, Jiawen turned to Quinn, her brows slightly furrowed, "You better make it clear quickly, then focus on the battle."

"I want to know, is this appearance your true face?"

"Hm?"

Jiawen blinked, then smiled coquettishly, "You want to see what I look like?"

"Yes."

"For your master?"

"I have always fought for His Grace the Duke; however, this time, it’s simply because I myself want to know."

Quinn’s voice remained low, like that of an emotionless machine.

"Very well, I... shall gratify you."

Jiawen smiled brightly, then swiftly withdrew her right hand which was supporting Quinn and elegantly turned mid-air...

Moments later, an exquisitely beautiful face appeared before Quinn — that of a gorgeous human woman with dazzling golden hair like sunshine and a delicate yet graceful figure. She stood before him with her hands gracefully behind her, her lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. On this fiercely contested and roar-filled battlefield, she was like an immaculate flower blooming amid the blood-stained thorns.

"Thank you."

Quinn only glanced at Jiawen before shifting his gaze away, continuing to carve a path for the hundreds behind him as their spearhead.

"You’re welcome."

Jiawen, having transformed back into a Flower Elf, smiled brightly, lightly following behind Quinn, busily refining the assassination plan in her mind.

As for the ’true appearance’ and Quinn’s reaction, she didn’t let these thoughts linger in her mind for more than half a second.

After all, shaping a captivating face to let a man, whose greatest value lies in his sacrifice, take one last look and willingly go to his death was nothing more than a trivial detail to ensure a higher success rate.

Chapter 548: The End