"First of all, I'd like to ask for everyone's forgiveness. I have hidden something from everyone..."
Creating suspense, John apologized with a sorrowful expression.
This sentence immediately piqued the curiosity of the countless audience members.
Hidden something?
What exactly?
Everyone held their breaths in anticipation, waiting keenly on John's next words.
Then, John slowly started to explain.
"I told everyone previously that my twenty crosses have the ability to detect ghostly qi...
"But in reality, I was hiding another one of their functions: to prevent the ghostly qi from invading people's bodies.
"This is actually the fundamental function of these crosses.
"However, because I was worried that Blake would meet with misfortune, hovering alone in the distance, I added this ability to Blake's cross.
"Originally, I thought that this way, Blake wouldn't be affected by the ghostly qi.
"However, I never expected that the ghostly qi in this graveyard would turn on us instead, entangling me and the other ten members of the expedition team.
"That was why we fell into hallucinations, which is what led to the current situation.
"Sigh, I regret it. If only Blake had been with us at that time, such a tragedy may not have occurred.
"It's all my fault... my intentions were to protect Blake, but I didn't expect that in doing so, two members of the expedition team would lose their lives in vain..."
At this point, a sorrowful expression covered John Jones' face.
He shed two streams of tears that trickled down slowly from the corners of his eyes.
Upon hearing this, the viewers in the livestream thought that they had been enlightened, revealing expressions of sudden realization.
"See! I told you all... Captain John has twenty crosses that have all been blessed. How could he have been so easily tainted by ghostly qi? I didn't expect that he'd put himself on the line for Blake..."
"I told you all not to jump to conclusions too early. Now, the truth is out. It turns out that the reason why Blake's cross was so powerful is all thanks to Captain John!"
"Captain John is really a kind-hearted man. That kid Blake is only human... Not only did Captain John not reprimand him, he even secretly protected him..."
"That's right. If that brat hadn't messed things up, and if Captain John hadn't been forced to redirect the protection of the twenty crosses onto Blake, they wouldn't have been in so much trouble..."
"Sigh, I thought Blake was to thank for saving the situation. I didn't know that there was something else behind it..."
The audience collectively wondered in amazement.
In just a moment, the tides of public opinion had shifted, and Blake was once again the target of blame and ridicule.
Credit had to be given to John Jones, who was incredibly aware of crowd mentality. He utilized manipulation as a sturdy tool, keeping the audience's favors on a tight leash.
His explanations, which were all over the place and clearly wrong, were actually bought by the viewers!
...
After seeing that everyone had woken up, Blake had been prepared to go up to them and explain the state of the increased ghostly qi, intent on warning them that it would be best to leave quickly.
However, he hadn't expected that the moment John Jones awoke, he would pin the blame for the illusions on him.
Blake was somewhat angry and amused at the same time.
Watching John's hypocritical behavior, he suddenly regretted saving these people.
Upon arriving at this realization, he gave up on his intentions of warning them that they should leave. He turned around, prepared to leave them alone.
However, Captain John's voice abruptly rang out from behind him.
"Blake, wait!"
Under everyone's watchful gaze, John ran towards Blake.
Blake turned around as his eyes landed on the self-righteous man. Stopping in his tracks, he sized him up with a puzzled look, curious as to what ridiculous words would emerge from his mouth next.
John walked forward with an assured smile. "Blake, you must have heard it just now, right? This cross of yours is only able to restrain the ghostly qi because of the magic power I redirected toward it.
"Now, although the ghostly qi has dissipated, it is very likely that the dark clouds will gather again.
"So, in order to ensure everyone's safety, I will need that cross now.
"I'll activate a new protective barrier to protect everyone, using that cross and the chants.
"Oh right, also, don't run around. Just listen to my commands. Is that okay?"
After he was done speaking, he extended his right hand to Blake as his eyes winked at the cross hanging on Blake's chest.
His meaning was evident: hurry up and hand over the cross.
Listening to the man's arrogant words, Blake was completely stunned.
He couldn't react for a long time. He was confused for a moment, before he finally understood.
This man wanted his cross?
Furthermore, he would dare demand it so righteously?
On top of all that, he wanted him to follow his orders?
Blake was so angry that he couldn't help but laugh.
In two lifetimes, this was the first time he had ever met such a shameless guy.
...
At the same time, the audience in the livestream voiced their thoughts, tacitly agreeing with John.
They had taken John's explanation of the situation earlier as gospel, and as such, it seemed only fair to them that John should take back the cross now!
"Right! Blake, hurry up and hand the cross to Captain John! What is a high school student like you doing with such a treasure? Can you handle it?"
"That's right! This kid... I'm dying of anxiety! Don't just stand there! If something happens to everyone again later, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Could it be that this 'Blake' doesn't want to return the favor after feeling the safety of John's protection? How can such a shameless guy exist? I feel bad for Captain John! He really shouldn't have transferred the blessings to this kid just now... Blake brought this upon himself!"
"That's right... This Blake guy... He's really shameless!"
A horde of curses directed at Blake erupted in the comments section of the livestream. Blake did not notice them, as the screens were in his blind spot.
However, the other eight surviving members of the expedition team did.
For a moment, they looked left and right, at a loss for what to do. They did not know what to say.
Their instincts were telling them that the person who had saved them was indeed Blake. This guy, John Jones, did not seem to be as powerful as he claimed to be.
Looking at the surge of public opinion, however, they did not know how to refute their anger.
Therefore, in the end, they chose to remain silent.
...
"What's wrong, Blake? Are you unwilling to return the cross to me?"
John watched on at the blank-faced Blake. He put lowered the smile on his face for just a moment as he said slowly in a low voice,
"If that's what you've decided to do, don't blame me for being rude.
"With everyone's safety on the line, I will not hesitate if I have to resort to violence."
This was a stark warning.
John's meaning was clear as day: 'You're just a weak high school student. If I had to take it by force, it would be simple.'
After listening, Blake raised his head, meeting the warning look in the man's eyes. He simply smiled.
'There really was someone in this world who could be so shameless...
'It doesn't matter. If you want it that badly, I'll give it to you.
'But... I hope you don't regret it.'
Blake reached out as he took the cross off his neck. Shaking it at John, he smiled.
"Are you sure you want it, and are you sure you won't regret this?"
His face wore a casual expression of nonchalance, as if he was taking a carefree stroll.
He didn't seem to care much about the cross at all.
His indifference left John stunned.
Why would this guy be so obedient?
Was there something strange about the cross?