Sorcerer’s Handbook

Chapter 227: Guess the True Heart

“The game is called ‘Guess the True Heart.’”

“Right now, you all have one Gold Coin and six Silver Coins in your hands. After the game is over, you don’t have to return them; use them to feed the spirits.”

“The rules of the game are as follows: First is the answering phase. Each person asks a yes-or-no question in turn, and everyone uses the Gold Coin to provide a truthful answer. The head side of the Gold Coin means ‘yes,’ and the tail side means ‘no.’”

“Next is the guessing phase. Everyone must guess how many people answered ‘yes’ and wager the corresponding number of Silver Coins. Players who guess correctly earn one point. The person with the most points at the end wins.”

“However, neither before nor after the game can anyone ask others for information, nor can they reveal what they themselves have answered.”

“It’s a simple game, isn’t it?” Annan smiled. “Anyone who scores higher than me will have their wish granted, whether it’s retrieving a Corpse from the Sewer or wanting to spend money in the game.”

The game did sound straightforward at first, but Harvey quickly found a Loophole: “But how can you ensure that everyone will give a truthful answer during the answering phase?”

“It’s simple,” Annan said. “Banjeet, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Bukin, and Ashe, you must give truthful answers in the upcoming game. It’s your turn, Ashe.”

Ashe bowed his head and spoke to the little girl: “Lise, you must answer honestly in the game. If you lie, then all your dolls will be handmade by Uncle Harvey.”

Lise turned pale with fear: “I will not lie!”

Harvey looked at Ashe curiously: “How do you know that I make dolls?”

“After all, making dolls sounds very much like a pervert’s hobby…”

“Wait,” Igor narrowed his eyes. “We are bound by the Contract and naturally wouldn’t intentionally lie, but what about you, Miss?”

“Isn’t there a clause in the Contract that binds me as well? As long as I recite the binding spell, then the words that follow will also become an oath that binds me. If I break the oath, our Contract will end. And the binding spell is…”

“By the name of Dolan,” Annan lifted her head. “I will uphold the virtue of honesty in the game to come.”

“No, that’s not right!” Ashe suddenly became shrewd, “There must be some spirits or Miracles that can detect the state of the Gold Coins, right? Maybe even directly read the thoughts in other people’s minds! Wouldn’t such cheating be undetectable?”

Annan was very amenable: “I swear I will not use any Sorcerer’s power during the game.”

Then everyone turned their gaze to the Con Artist who ranked second on the Two Wings Mind Ranking, who had just brushed his teeth and still had the taste of lies in his mouth. He put his hands together as if wanting handcuffs, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “It seems my promise won’t win your trust, but you really don’t respect me enough.”

“It’s precisely because we respect you that we must restrict your cheating methods,” Ashe stated.

“That’s the utmost disrespect—You actually think I need to cheat to win against you in such a game,” Igor raised his head, a mocking smile curving his lips, “The rules are but the hem of the skirt lifted by the goddess of victory for me.”

“Why would she lift her skirt? Aunt Bukin, do you want to see the goddess of victory’s panties?” Lise asked, puzzled.

“Lise, you don’t understand,” said Ashe, “It is said that Bewitchers, as well as men with Bewitcher Bloodline, like to lick—”

Before Annan could speak, Igor had already flipped the table and covered Ashe’s throat with his hand to prevent this zero-star trash from spouting lewd nonsense in front of the child.

“What are you doing—”

Annan seriously said to Lise, “If you want to change your dad, I’d be happy to help.”

“I don’t want that!” Lise went over and pulled Igor away, “Aunt Bukin, stop bullying dad!”

“Really, I’m the most normal adult here, do you think I’d say something perverted? I’m not Harvey!” Ashe struggled to pry Igor’s hand away, “I just wanted to say that people with Bewitcher Bloodline like to lick legs, that’s all!”

“That’s already perverted, okay?!”

After the commotion, not only Igor, but everyone else was ordered not to use any Sorcerer methods. The six people sat around the coffee table on the sofa, with Banjeet thoughtfully bringing over drinks and a snack fruit plate, giving off quite the party atmosphere.

“Do I get to play too?” the Butler Youth asked.

“Of course, you’re part of the Firm as well,” Annan replied cheerfully. “This is the Funeral Firm’s first team-building activity since we expanded. If you beat me, I can also fulfill a request of yours.”

“You must be joking.”

“You know, I feel like this is a bit unfair,” Annan suddenly said. “If you guys win, I reward you, but if I win, shouldn’t you also reward me?”

“But we’re already at your beck and call,” Igor scoffed. “What could we possibly offer you that you couldn’t just command us to do?”

Harvey chimed in, “Our Contract does allow us to refuse sexual advances, so we could actually say no to that.”

“Come on, don’t be so gloomy,” Ashe interjected. “Maybe the boss just wants us to show we care. And we do have gifts we could give. For instance, Lise, you’re a young girl, you could make a flower crown; Harvey, you’re a Necromancer, you could fashion a charm out of one of your ribs; Igor, as a Mind Sorcerer, you could… carve out your own heart…”

Harvey looked puzzled, “How did you know I’ve taken out my own rib to make a gift before? Although not to make a charm…”

Igor wanted to retort fiercely, but Harvey’s comment caught him off guard—Ashe’s whimsical imagination couldn’t keep up with Harvey’s strong follow-through.

“It doesn’t need to be that serious,” Annan said with a smile. “How about this: If I win, I’ll still fulfill your wishes, but you’ll have to do something for me. Something that may not be work-related, but I’d like us all to do together.”

“What is it?”

“We can talk about that after the game,” Annan said, releasing the Scarlet Gold Dragon Lizard. “I know you don’t trust me. Which is normal, who would trust a super beauty who enslaved them with tricks and plots?”

Igor’s face showed disdain, while Ashe and Harvey had no reaction—their looks weren’t enough for them to dispute that statement.

“But I truly have no intention of enslaving you. In my eyes, you are all equal partners, and the profits from the Weaving Festival will be shared among us. We are colleagues striving together. The Funeral Firm is just a platform for you to advance further, and these 101 days will become a valuable experience in your life.”

“Let this game be the proof of my sincerity,” Annan continued.

“Since it’s my game, I’ll start with the first question.”

“Do you wish to obtain the Divine Master’s Wish?”

A ripple of emotion went through the group.

“Hide a Gold Coin in your hand and then place it in this handkerchief.” Annan slid his hand inside the handkerchief on the coffee table, depositing the Gold Coin from his palm: “It’s your turn now.”

They looked at each other, but had no choice—bound by the Contract, they were compelled to answer truthfully, unable to deceive.

“Now for the guessing part,” Annan said. “I think everyone answered ‘yes,’ so I’ll wager six Silver Coins.”

Everyone, including the loyal Butler Banjeet, also placed six Silver Coins. When the handkerchief was lifted, there were indeed six Gold Coins facing up, indicating everyone’s affirmative answer.

“What wish would you make after receiving the Divine Master’s Wish, Banjeet?” Annan asked curiously.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Banjeet shrugged. “Probably something like ‘please fulfill Annan’s wish’?”

“I don’t believe that. You must have your own desires,” Annan said, turning to the others. “It’s natural, everyone has desires. I do, Banjeet does, and so do you. As long as you can breathe, you definitely covet the Boon of the Divine Master that can fulfill any wish.”

“I might be selfish, but I’m not so selfish as to believe others are without self-interest.”