"It's you again, Chu Yue......" Looking at Chu Yue, the boss of the smiling coffin gritted his teeth and said.

"yes." Chu Yue pointed her sword at the murderer with a kitchen knife, "This time, I won't let you run away again." ”

"Hmph......" The boss of the smiling coffin chuckled, and then said, "You're alone?" ”

"You forget, how many of you were last time?" Chu Yue also said disdainfully.

"But......" said the smiling coffin boss, placing the kitchen knife on Humit's head, "this time, we still have hostages on our side." ”

"......" saw that Xiumit had been paralyzed, and that Yuerko and Kainz were not of high rank, and Chu Yue seemed to fall into silence.

Indeed, with Chu Yue's strength, he was able to kill these three members of the Smiling Coffin here. But in this case, I'm afraid that these three people will fight to the death and kill the three people of Xiumitt, Yuerko, and Cainz first.

Of course, in fact, more importantly, these three people are "bait".

"So, what are you going to do? Mr. Chu Yue. The boss of the smiling coffin stared at Chu Yue and said.

"Let's take a step back." Chu Yue said, "I won't do anything to you, and you shouldn't do anything to the three of them." ”

The boss of the smiling coffin remained motionless, as if he had thought for a moment, before he said, "Okay, so be it." ”

With that, he snapped his fingers, and the three members of the smiling coffin collected their weapons together.

Seeing that the three of them had collected their weapons, Chu Yue had also taken away the one-handed sword, but the other hand was also holding the kunai.

"Let's go." The boss of the smiling coffin said and left with two of his men.

Chu Yue also kept her promise and did not make a move against these three people.

As soon as the three of them left, Yuerko finally couldn't hold it anymore, his legs went limp, and he fell to his knees.

Just now, if Chu Yue hadn't appeared in time, all three of them would have died here!

"Yurko......" Kainz crouched down to hold Yurko, but his condition was also not very good.

"Alright, it's okay." Chu Yue turned back to the three of them and said.

"Chu, Chu Yue......" Among the three people, only Youerke and Chu Yue are relatively familiar, and at this time he thanked and said, "Thank you, thank you......"

Chu Yue walked up to Kainz and squatted down, took out the antidote potion from the inventory and used it on Xiumit, relieving Xiumit's paralysis.

"Thank you, thank you, Chu Yue." Xiumit was finally able to act on his own, sat up and said to Chu Yue.

"You're welcome." Chu Yue said, "However, your plan is really good, even Asuna has been deceived by you." ”

"I wanted to wait until it was all over before I apologized to you." "But even if I say that, you won't forgive me......"

"What do you say?" Chu Yue smiled at Yuer and said, "If I still mind that you lied to me and Asuna, why should I come here to save you now?" ”

"But...... Chu Yue, how did you know that the person with the smiling coffin would come here? Schumit asked, "This matter should only be the ...... of Yurco and Cainz."

"It would have been nice if it was just the two of them." Chu Yue said with a sigh.

"Chu Yue...... What do you mean by that? "Yurco still doesn't seem to know what's going on.

"Well......" Chu Yue said, "Do you know who invited the smiling coffin over to kill you?" ”

Yurco and Cainz looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Alright then, you guys wait, that person must be around here, I'll go and bring him over first." Chu Yue said, "Before that, you should think about it: who is the real 'murderer'." ”

After saying that, Chu Yue ran to the other side, and soon disappeared from the sight of the three of them.

After Chu Yue left, the three of them fell silent again.

After a while, it was Yuerke who asked first:

"Cainz, do you have any clue?"

"......No," said Cainz, "I still can't figure out who is trying to harm us." ”

"Who else knows about this but you?" Or has he become a cadre of the Holy Dragon Alliance, Xiu Mit's head is a little more flexible, and asked.

"Except for the two of us, there's only Grimlock." Yuerko said.

"Could it be him?" Schumit speculated.

"How is this possible!" "Mr. Grimmrock didn't agree with our plan at first, and wanted Miss Greenelda to rest in peace, but we agreed to it after repeated requests!" ”

"And, even if it's him, why would he want to kill us?" Yurco also looked puzzled.

"Perhaps...... Maybe he killed Miss Greenelda, and then didn't want the matter to be revealed, so he wanted to kill us again? Schumit said.

"It's even more impossible!" "Mr. Grimlock and Miss Greenelda have such a good relationship!" They, they're husband and wife! ”

"......" Schumit knew that his speculation was ridiculous, but it was the only plausible explanation for now.

Because Schumit also indirectly killed Greenelda, now seeing that Yurko and Cainz are hostile to him because of their speculation, he doesn't say anything more.

After all, after Chu Yue brought the mastermind behind the scenes, everything would be revealed.

It didn't take long for Chu Yue to come back with someone.

This man wears a pair of black round sunglasses, a bowler hat on his head, and a dress similar to a male cheongsam, which is a bit like the image of a traditional Chinese charlatan.

"Ah, long time no see, everyone." The tone of the person who came didn't feel like he had been caught at all.

"Ge, Mr. Grimlock......" Yurco said, still a little disbelieving, "really, is it really you?" ”

"......" Grimlock did not speak.

"Looks like you've figured it out just now." Chu Yue stood behind Grimlock, didn't take the weapon, crossed his hands in front of his chest and said, "I think, you must have a lot of questions, right?" ”

"Why, why! Grimlock! "Youerke is not stupid, it's just hard to accept at this time.

"Is it for money?" Keynz also asked with a sad look.

"Money? For money? Grimlock laughed a few times as if he were self-deprecating, and then said, "It's not about the money." I, I had to kill her...... When she was still my wife! ”

It turns out that Greenelda and Grimlock are shown to be a couple. After they enter the game together, they are trapped in Sword Art Online.

In the beginning, both in reality and in the game, Greenelda and Grimlock were an enviable couple. But......

As time went on, Greenelda became stronger and stronger. Grimlock, on the other hand, is still terrified and unacceptable about this game of death.

So, I don't know when, Grimlock discovered that the current Grin Zelda in Sword Art Online was no longer his wife.

In that case, why not kill her in this Sword Art Online game where no one cares? In this way, the wife he loves the most can live in his heart forever.

Therefore, at the time of the Ring Incident, Grimlock contacted the man of the smiling coffin and asked Shumit to set the destination of the cloister crystallization at the door of Greenelda's room, and took advantage of this to kill Greenelda.

Because husbands and wives share the inventory, after Greenelda's death, the ring that was originally kept by Greenelda naturally became Grimlock's personal belongings.

However, after so much time has passed since the ring incident, they didn't expect Yurko and Kainz to want to find out the real culprit of the incident by faking their deaths.

Fearing that the truth of the Ring incident would be discovered, Grimlock agreed to help Yurco and Kinez forge weapons, and on the other hand, he contacted the original Killing Guild Smile Coffin again, wanting to kill all three of them when they got together this time.

It's a pity that Chu Yue already knew everything, not only did she not let Grimlock get her wish, but also found out the mastermind behind him.

The truth of everything has come out.

"Mr. Detective......" Grimlock said at last.

"My name is Chu Yue, and besides, I'm not a detective." Chu Yue said.

"Then, Mr. Chu Yue." Grimlock continued, "I don't regret what I did...... And, I'm sure, you'll understand me one day, too. ”

"You're wrong." Chu Yue walked up to Grimlock, stared into Grimlock's eyes and said, "You're just a clown who deceives himself. And your wife...... Greenelda, she's a truly admirable woman. You're no longer worthy to be her husband. Unfortunately, in the end, she died at your hands...... This kind of thing can only be a cup. ”

Chu Yue's eyes were full of confidence in firmness. That elegance and calmness made Grimlock seem to see Grimelda, who was wearing armor and leading everyone in the guild......

In comparison, I have been afraid of this death game, I am so small and ugly.

Grimlock seemed to finally understand something, but it was too late by this time.

The night seemed to be coming to an end, and it was no longer so dark at this time.

Grimlock seemed to lose his strength at once, and he collapsed to the ground.

The two men, Xiumit and Cainz, suddenly stood up, walked to the sides of Grimlock, and then said to Chu Yue, "Mr. Chu Yue, can this man be handed over to us?" ”

"Okay, I'll leave it to you." Chu Yue nodded.

On either side of Grimlock, Kainz and Humit set up Grimlock and walked towards the Hill of Crosses together.

Youerke nodded gratefully to Chu Yue and followed.

After the figures of the three people disappeared, the night finally passed.

Sunlight shone from behind Greenelda's tombstone, dispelling the gloomy fog of the Hill of Crosses.

Looking at this woman who was full of personality charm, even if she died, she still attracted her former guild companions to try their best to find out the truth and the murderer, Chu Yue bowed slightly, then turned around and left along the way she came.

It's just that Chu Yue, who had her back to the tombstone, didn't notice that in the early morning sun, on Glencelda's grave, a smiling woman watched Chu Yue's departure.

……

Chu Yue, who returned to Asuna's house, knocked on the door, but no one responded.

Because Chu Yue had already been set up by Asuna as a relative and friend who could enter the house, Chu Yue walked directly into the house.

Asuna was nowhere to be seen in the living room, but there was a meal on the table that had long since cooled.

Chu Yue immediately remembered that she left after saying "I'll eat back after dinner" last night, but she didn't expect that it would be the next morning when she came back.

Asuna shouldn't have woken up yet, or had gone out early in the morning.

If she hadn't woken up yet, Chu Yue wouldn't have been able to enter Asuna's bedroom, but if she had gone out early in the morning, she would definitely not be able to come back until night.

There was no way, Chu Yue went out again, ready to find Kirito.

Because there are no bosses to raid recently, Kirito didn't go with the people in the strategy group, and together with Xing, he was about to go out to level up, and he met Chu Yue.

"Chu Yue?" Kirito said, "Why aren't you with Asuna?" ”

"Maybe, Asuna is angry, right?" Chu Yue thought that Asuna didn't seem to have left even a note, maybe she was angry.

"That's right, Chu Yue." Xing looked a little worried and asked, "How are you and Asuna investigating the 'death in the circle' incident?" ”

Because of the seriousness of the matter, Kiriwa and Yuki had already known about the "death in the circle" incident. But after all, it was the deputy head of the Blood Alliance, and Asuna was investigating this matter, so everyone didn't panic for the time being.

Because Kiriwa and Yuki knew that Chu Yue had been with Asuna recently, he asked Chu Yue about this at this time.

Moreover, Yuki's personality has not changed much even after marrying Kirito, and he is afraid of death. For example, Yuki has never participated in the boss battle of the Raider group.

Therefore, fortunately I am very concerned about this "death in the circle" incident.

"It's just a trick, and there is no real 'death in the circle' at all." Chu Yue smiled and began to explain the essence of the "death in the circle" incident to Kiriwa and Yuki.

"I see." Listening to Chu Yue's words, Kirito nodded, "I didn't expect that there would be such a way to disguise death." ”

"Great...... Yuki said with a smile of relief.

"Hmm." Kirito nodded to Yuki.

Seeing that Xing was still so timid, Chu Yue thought of the dead Gresselda again.

is also a married woman, Glencelda and Yuki are completely opposite in all aspects-

Greenelda is strong and strong, but fortunately timid and cowardly; Greenelda died half a year ago, but fortunately survived to the present; Greenelda's husband was extremely cowardly and killed her, but Luck's husband was extremely strong and took care of Luck.

But...... If we are lucky enough to continue like this, will we be able to stay lucky?

"Luckily, Kirito." Chu Yue said to the two, "I have something to tell you. ”

"Huh?" Kirito looked at Chu Yue strangely, "What's the matter?" ”

"What's wrong, Chu Yue?" Yuki asked strangely.

"I'll be more direct first...... Chu Yue said, "I think that if I continue like this, I'm afraid I will still encounter danger." ”

Kirito and Yuki were stunned at the same time.

"In the past two days, the 'death in the circle' incident was actually made by a member of a guild called 'Golden Apple'." Chu Yue said, "I'll tell you the detailed process." ”

The three of them found a small teahouse and sat down, and Chu Yue told Kirito and Yuki the whole story of the incident.

"Greenelda and Luck...... It's almost the exact opposite. Chu Yue said, "Fortunately, because I am very lucky, I have the use of resurrection props and have survived until now." However, luck doesn't come every time. ”

Kirito looked at Yuki, but Yuki lowered his head.

"I know that Kirito loves Yuki deeply, but ......" Chu Yue said, "No matter how strong Kirito, no matter how strong you are, you can't always be by Yukito's side and protect her all the time, right?" ”

Chu Yue's words made Xing tremble.

"Kirito, too, you should have been aware of this problem a long time ago, right? It's just that I don't know what to do, and I've been safe all the time, so I hide this hidden danger in my heart, right? Chu Yue continued.

Kirito was silent for a moment, but finally nodded.

"Kirito ......" Yuki saw Kirito nod, stretched out his hand, and shook Kirito's hand.

"It's been a year and a half since Sword Art Online was launched." Chu Yue said.

Hearing Chu Yue say this, Kirito and Yuki felt a little strange. Because, almost no one calls this game "Sword Art Online" anymore, they all call it "Game of Death", and ...... words like "open service" are not used.

"Although the players in the game are much more stable, the ......," Chu Yue continued, "This game is still full of dangers. If you don't have the will to survive, I'm afraid it will be difficult to survive to the end. ”

Saying this, Chu Yue stopped, and saw that Chu Yue and Xing were silent and did not speak, and sighed helplessly.

"Alas...... I won't say much else. Chu Yue said, "I think, you should understand what I mean......"

"I understand." Kirito smiled at Chu Yue and said, "Thank you, Chu Yue." ”

Chu Yue nodded, looking at Kiriwa and Yuki's current appearance, it was estimated that he would not go to level up, so he said, "Then, I'll go first." ”

"Well, good. Goodbye, Chu Yue. ”

After saying goodbye to Kirito and Yuki, Chu Yue left the teahouse. Because the chat with Kiriwa Yuki just now made the atmosphere a little depressing, Chu Yue also decided not to level up and do some other things to change her mood.

"By the way, in order to apologize to Asuna, let's go find some ingredients!" Chu Yue said suddenly.

Cooking in Sword Art Online, that is, cooking skills, is very different from reality, and it is much easier than in reality. Because he hadn't deliberately upgraded this skill, Chu Yue's cooking skills were only at an ordinary level.

But Asuna is different, Asuna's cooking skills are about to reach the full level, and I'm afraid there are few people in the whole game who have such a high level of cooking as Asuna.

After deciding, Chu Yue walked towards the outside of the town. Rare ingredients are of course impossible to buy in shops in town, they are all collected in the wild.

Night.

April 13, 2024, Al Ain Grant, 55th Floor, Gransam, Teleportation Plaza.

After teleporting back, Asuna was about to go home when she heard someone calling for her.

Looking back, I found that it was Yuerke who had faked his death in the past two days.

"Ah, Miss Yurko." Asuna said, "Sure enough, it's the same as Chu Yue said, you faked your death." ”

Yulco blushed, then said, "I'm sorry, Miss Asuna! ”

"It's okay, it's okay." Asuna smiled and said, "Thanks to Chu Yue, otherwise I would have really been deceived by Miss Yuerko." ”

Youerke smiled embarrassedly, and then asked, "Aren't you with Mr. Chu Yue?" ”

"Hmph, he left last night and didn't come back." Asuna said with some displeasure.

When Chu Yue left last night, she said that she would come back for dinner, but Asuna waited all night and didn't wait, and now of course she is angry.

When Yuerke heard this, he immediately understood that it turned out that Chu Yue came by himself last night and didn't tell Asuna.

"That, Miss Asuna." Yuerke said, "Today, I have come to thank you and Mr. Chu Yue. ”

"Huh? Thank? Asuna said, "It's okay, it's okay, it's up to us to investigate the incident." ”

"No, not for this...... Although we do deserve to be thankful for that. Yuerke said embarrassedly, "Actually, it's for last night's incident." ”

"Last night......" Asuna immediately understood, "he went to help you last night?" ”

"Yes." Yuerke nodded, "So, please also ask Miss Asuna not to be angry with Mr. Chu Yue again." ”

"Hmm......" Asuna nodded, of course no longer angry, but felt a little strange.

Chu Yue has been with herself for so long, and she rarely hides the other party's situation, not to mention that this is not something worth hiding, why did she hide it from herself last night?

"That, does Miss Asuna know where Mr. Chu Yue is?" Yourco asked.

"I'll check it for you." Asuna said, swiped open the friends menu, and looked up Chu Yue's location.

"Ah, it's at my house." Asuna said, "Miss Yurko, if you want to find him, come home with me." ”

"No need." Youerke hurriedly said, "I also said it just now, that, we want to thank Mr. Chu Yue and Miss Youerke, so we want to invite the two of you to Shixianglou for a meal......"

Shi Xiang Lou is the largest and most luxurious hotel in the 57th floor of the main town of Martin Lane, which is full of restaurants. Of course, such a large restaurant is opened by NPCs, and the food inside is said to be made with ingredients above grade B, and the price is surprisingly high.

"Shixianglou? No need for it! As soon as she heard the name, Asuna hurriedly said, "Miss Yuerke is not from the strategy group, such an expensive place ......"

"Please let us treat this guest!" Before Asuna could finish her words, Yurco said, "This is our decision after discussion, please let us thank you two like this!" ”

Looking at Yurko's serious expression, Asuna sighed.

"Okay, I'll go find Chu Yue." Asuna said, "Miss Yurko, please wait for me here. ”