Ma Ban felt a strange sensation, as if the phone had transformed into a monstrous maw, swallowing his head and neck.

The voice on the other end sounded inhuman, like a demon gnawing on his flesh.

“…It’s just money. The Qinglang Gang has plenty,” Ma Ban said, his breathing heavy.

The phone seemed to ignore his labored breathing, chuckling.

After about ten seconds, Ma Ban took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said, “Your demands are excessive. I need time to prepare. About a week.”

Ivy narrowed her eyes, recalling Ma Wei’s reports. “A week from now, Zheng Si will be dead.”

Why would he need a week to prepare?

Ma Ban was clearly using this week to eliminate Zheng Si and then take his place.

If Ivy were to simply claim her payment, what would happen next?

Ivy didn’t reveal her plan but adopted the persona of a vengeful killer, her voice filled with hatred. “Fine. Call me when you’re ready. I want to kill Zheng Si myself.”

“Good!” Ma Ban agreed, sneering inwardly.

Ivy, suddenly growing cautious, warned, “Don’t even think about tracing my identity after hanging up. I’m easily frightened; my reaction is intense.”

Ma Ban, who had been considering this, changed his mind. “We have the same goal. Protecting each other’s secrets is the basis of our cooperation.”

Ivy understood the implication and chuckled. “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t betray me, I won’t call Zheng Si.”

They could have ended the call there, but Ivy paused, looking at the terrified redhead, who seemed to be both pleading for mercy and hoping Ma Ban would save him.

Ivy said into the phone, “Your redhead underling can’t move. Do you want someone to pick him up?”

She turned on the speakerphone.

The speaker crackled slightly, making his voice sound colder, “Killing two people whose secret was discovered by a third party is not a secret.”

Beep beep beep…

The call ended abruptly, not lingering for even a second.

The redhead’s face was ashen. His mouth hung open, his tongue trembling, unable to form words. Only tears and snot flowed into his mouth, a silent scream.

“See? I didn’t want to kill you, but Brother Ban wants you dead.”

“Don’t cry. You look terrible,” Ivy said, her fingertip gently stroking the redhead’s neck, like a kind person offering comfort.

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“Everyone’s accountable for their actions. Don’t blame me. When you get to the other side, tell the judge that Ma Ban is the one who wants you dead.”

The redhead’s throat was slit, preventing him from speaking. He could only look at Ivy, the hatred in his eyes diminishing.

Everyone knew that hatred didn't disappear; it simply shifted.

The redhead died, his eyes wide open.

Ivy waited until they were both dead before digging a shallow grave in the ground, burying them together.

She kept her promise. If she said she’d bury them, she wouldn’t leave them exposed.

[You brutally murdered two people.]

[One was driven to despair and begged you to kill him.]

[One desperately wanted to live but was killed by you, his hatred shifting before his death.]

[You not only killed them, you played with their emotions. You went too far.]

[You seem to have grasped the essence of villainy. Inheritance progress slightly increased!]

These messages appeared on her retina while she buried the bodies, diminishing Ivy’s good mood.

Ivy: “…”

She had simply wanted to ease her guilt, wasn't that human? But the system labeled it as toying with thier emotions?

This system is biased! It's slander!

[Not only did you kill, you also mastered the art of deception.]

[You disguised the truth as a lie, using your truthful words to clear yourself of suspicion.]

[You disguised lies as truth, using your lies to conceal your identity.]

[You exchanged a false secret for a real secret, twisting the boundaries of truth and lies!]

[Your masterful manipulation of deception surpasses 99% of villains. I'm proud of you. Inheritance progress slightly increased!]

Ivy: “???”

Ivy’s face was unreadable. The system seemed genuinely praising her, yet she felt no joy.

Ivy sighed, whispering to the system, “As a villainous system, please don’t be so honest in the future, okay?”

The system didn’t respond.

But it did display a new message—[Game inheritance progress increased. This time, the progress increased to 3%.]

[Rewards have been distributed. Rewards delivered!]

[Enjoy the game….]

Fine.

As long as you keep giving me rewards, I won’t argue with your slander. I’ll swallow any grievances.

Ivy finished burying the last body, noting the system message with a pleased expression. “The performance bonus has been delivered. It’s a direct reward.”

A black exclamation mark appeared above her 3D model.

Clicking it, the exclamation mark transformed into countless symbols, densely packed, filling her vision.

Non-human whispers filled her ears.

[You have inherited a dark god’s forbidden technique—The Tongue Curse!]

[The Tongue Curse: A vicious blood curse. The person cursed cannot reveal your information without suffering a fatal hemorrhage.]

Ivy absorbed the new knowledge, thinking, It’s like that thing from that anime I saw. The effect is just… infinitely more terrifying.

Although this reward didn’t directly increase her combat strength, it was still incredibly useful. Ivy was satisfied.

Licking her lips, Ivy muttered, “The inheritance progress reached 2% and 3% with the rewards, but the 1% reward is still missing....”

The key point was that Ivy’s attitude had changed significantly. She no longer cared about the 1% inheritance reward.

Whether it was lost or delayed, it was best if it remained lost.

She wasn’t worried about it getting lost, but that it would suddenly appear unexpectedly, bringing unwanted surprises.