Chapter 2596: Chapter 1737: Conversion (Exhausted Sleep Every Day)

Everything went smoothly in the following month.

The national tour was highly popular, and Duanmu Huai released several new songs to thank the audience. The reactions were intense, and as the national tour neared its end, with Tokyo Dome just ahead, Inquisitor’s fame reached new heights.

Finally, they arrived at Tokyo Dome.

"This is Tokyo Dome, I never imagined we would come here..."

Standing backstage and preparing, Fukawa Shoko sighed with emotion. Yahata Miru beside her agreed wholeheartedly.

"That’s right, this month has been so busy and fulfilling, I never thought I’d be standing here, though thanks to Duanmu."

"Hmm."

Ruoya Mu also nodded beside them.

"It would be nice if we could always be together."

"There’s no such thing as an everlasting feast, are you planning to form a band for life?"

Duanmu Huai stretched lazily and stood up, joining their conversation.

"Good times will end, farewell isn’t hard, it’s not like we won’t meet again. Life goes on, doesn’t it?"

Duanmu Huai said, taking a look at his phone again at the videos. During the month-long tour, that account released many videos, and more people believed the video owner was the lead singer, even trending. This unusual popularity triggered Duanmu Huai’s alertness. Things online can heat up quickly, but if the hype decreases, it usually fades fast. Online, once the heat dissipates, another thing takes over. But now, it’s different; it reminds Duanmu Huai of those damned computer viruses from long ago, which would always pop up on the desktop no matter how you tried to close them.

What exactly is this thing?

Duanmu Huai could feel an invisible pressure gathering around him with the rising online popularity. It’s a group’s mental pressure trying to permeate him, change him, wanting him to admit he’s Shirai Kiri.

But Duanmu Huai was unyielding.

Other people might buckle and collapse under such intangible mental pressure, but to Duanmu Huai, this level of mental pressure is meaningless and valueless. As a Judge, he can unemotionally issue an Extinction order to an entire planet or even galaxy, eradicating everything within. The resentment from those lost souls towards him is much stronger than this, but what does it matter?

Duanmu Huai couldn’t care less about this trivial matter.

"Let’s confirm again, make sure you don’t mess things up."

Duanmu Huai refocused, looking at Fukawa Shoko. During this Tokyo Dome concert, Duanmu Huai would remove his mask before the last song, revealing his true face to all the audience. Then he would perform the finale, the Inquisitor band’s debut song.

"Got it, but... shouldn’t we perform a short skit or something?"

"No way, it’s too troublesome."

Faced with Fukawa Shoko’s suggestion, Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes. During the national tour, Fukawa Shoko had repeatedly approached Duanmu Huai, suggesting that the number of songs in the tour was a bit lacking, and they’d like to perform some short skits within the songs to show the audience the Hymn’s world view.

Naturally, Duanmu Huai was firmly opposed.

Are you crazy! Perform short skits!

It’s not Tokyo Blade’s 2.5 adaptation!

Now, it seems even standing on Tokyo Dome’s stage, Fukawa Shoko remains unwavering.

"If you’re really keen on performing, after the concert I’ll have Hei Chuan Chi Yin introduce you to the LALALAI troupe so you can act all you want!"

Looking at Fukawa Shoko, Duanmu Huai was speechless. In the band, he, Hei Chuan Chi Yin, and Ruoya Mu were all professional actors, yet none of them wanted to act in short skits, whereas Fukawa Shoko, an outsider, was thrilled. Duanmu Huai also checked out those short skit scripts she brought.

To put it bluntly... they’re too cringy to look at.

If it were someone else’s stage, Duanmu Huai wouldn’t care, it could be performed.

But this is his stage!

Is he trying to leave himself with a black history?

Fukawa Shoko might be at her youth’s whimsical age, but Duanmu Huai isn’t!

Plus, having a skull doesn’t mean being whimsical! No such stereotype! So Fukawa Shoko, don’t look at me with that like-minded gaze, Tribunal’s emblem has sanctified and profound meanings, totally different from the meaningless decorations of whimsical folks!

"Alright, let’s get ready to go on stage."

Duanmu Huai decisively averted his gaze, ignoring Fukawa Shoko’s dissatisfied protests, giving a firm order.

By the way, Banai and Chitanda also came to this Tokyo Dome concert; they originally planned to buy tickets, but when Duanmu Huai heard about it, he directly gifted them two VIP tickets. Both were extremely grateful, but even Banai never imagined Duanmu Huai was the lead singer, thinking Duanmu had good connections in the entertainment industry hence managed to get such tickets... anyway, the mystery would soon be unveiled.

Meanwhile, the backstage lights dimmed, followed by thunderous cheers erupting from outside.

After so many national tours by Duanmu Huai, Inquisitor’s fans have become familiar with the band’s style and habits. Unlike other bands that introduce themselves upon entering and interact with the audience with jokes, this band sneaks on stage before the lights turn on, and once illuminated, they start singing.

They perform all their songs in one go, then turn and leave directly afterwards. By the time the audience realizes what happened, the band members have already vanished from the stage.

Because of this, everyone is especially intrigued by the band members’ identities—particularly the lead singer’s—which is why Shirai Kiri’s news frequently tops the trending searches. Who knows, she might be the correct answer?

Anyway, the correct answer will be revealed soon. Anyone who guessed wrong can cry at the sidelines.

The music started.

Standing on the Tokyo Dome stage, Duanmu Huai felt entirely different from before, not due to the grand scene. Rather, he could feel the entire audience’s spirit converging into a tangible pressure aimed at him.

You are Shirai Kiri.

You must be Shirai Kiri.

You are Shirai Kiri.

It’s like an exam where everyone thinks the correct answer is C, but the actual correct answer is A.

Generally speaking, personal will cannot affect or interfere with material reality.

But in this world, it just might be possible!

Everyone believes that the correct answer is C, so it becomes C!

There’s something fishy here.

Duanmu Huai could confirm this now — the mysterious videos, the strange connections, leading to the audience’s near "fanatical" hope that he becomes Shirai Kiri.

So there’s a question: Who benefits from Duanmu Huai becoming Shirai Kiri?

Normally, an average person might have been swayed by all this, but Duanmu Huai wasn’t afraid. His singing hymn automatically formed an icy barrier, dispelling the fervent thoughts and mental invasion surrounding him with majestic and glorious chanting.

But that’s not enough.

At this moment, Duanmu Huai’s identity is still unknown. He is like Schrodinger’s cat: until the box is opened, life and death each hold half.

The same is true for Duanmu Huai. Until he takes off the mask, both being Shirai Kiri and not being Shirai Kiri are possibilities. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

And now, Duanmu Huai is going to kill this possibility!

When the song ended.

Duanmu Huai took a deep breath, then reached out and grabbed the mask, throwing it off. As Duanmu Huai moved, his robe fell to the ground as well. Then, under the spotlight, Duanmu Huai’s face appeared across the screens for all the audience to see.

"Eh?"

The audience, who had been immersed in Duanmu Huai’s hymn, suddenly realized what happened. Seeing the familiar face on the screen, their minds went blank.

It’s like thinking the masked singer on stage was Liu Dehua, but removing the mask revealed Cheng Long!

How is that possible?

While the audience was stunned, the mental wave pressing towards Duanmu Huai halted. Duanmu Huai seized the chance and sang aloud.

The familiar hymn echoed again, a blazing flame tearing apart the spiritual force previously formed.

The correct answer is A.

No matter how many people believe it’s C, once the box is opened and the conclusion drawn, everything is settled.

At this moment, no one was thinking; they merely sat there, wide-eyed, watching Duanmu Huai chant the hymn.

But it’s not over!

Duanmu Huai suddenly raised his voice, the grand hymn breaking through the spiritual anger of fifty thousand people at the Tokyo Dome, shooting straight into the sky. Then, the spiritual forces trying to invade him seemed to switch sides, chasing the direction of the hymn towards the heavens!

"Boom—————!"

Muffled thunder echoed through the sky. Duanmu Huai looked up at the sky, a smug cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

It was thunder, but Duanmu Huai knew it wasn’t thunder—it was the wail of some unfortunate soul.

Yes, Duanmu Huai now knew who the so-called "Shirai Kiri" really was.