Once, I wanted to be a good person

Capítulo 1177: Chapter 339: The Mastermind Uncovered! (Part 2)

Contrary to the intelligence provided by the Flower God, the interior of the Moon Rabbit Palace, although extremely competitive, doesn’t only have 500 Moon Rabbit soldiers; instead, there are families centered around these soldiers. And being eliminated doesn’t mean they’ll be expelled from the palace immediately; there exists a tiered buffering system.

For example, Mandy’s mother is a deputy commander in the Moon Rabbit Palace, so Mandy can reside in the palace her entire life, receiving good education and training.

Take Beibei’s mother, who used to be a Moon Rabbit soldier; Beibei can stay in the palace as well. However, if her mother is defeated and eliminated, their family starts the “Palace Exit Countdown.” They will have five years of buffer time, during which if she or her mother becomes a Moon Rabbit soldier again, they can continue staying in the palace.

This buffering system results in the Moon Rabbit Palace theoretically having only 500 core soldiers, but actually accommodating about two to three thousand people including families.

The only difference is, for families like Mandy’s, due to their high status, they won’t be expelled; because of abundant resources, they are likely to become new soldiers regardless of talent, and no one dares to challenge them.

Whereas families at the bottom like Beibei’s, with their kin eliminated, resources are scarce, facing exclusion and deductions; hence, cultivating is out of reach, often only able to ensure basic needs. Producing a new soldier like Beibei feels like a stroke of luck.

Yet, even so, this merely extends their time, without the ability to fundamentally change the situation. When they age, they’ll face the same dilemma as their mothers: being replaced by newcomers and left with only five years of buffering time.

Therefore, many lower-class soldiers often tighten their belts, saving resources to cultivate the next generation, which forms another cycle of bottom-level competition.

As for the upper echelon of Moon Rabbits… the competition certainly doesn’t reach them. Over the past decade, with the Venerable Moon Rabbit in slumber, all matters of the palace are under the control of the upper echelon, concentrating resources excessively, resulting in an immense disparity between the upper and lower classes.

The simplest example is… Beibei barely managed to save five grass seeds to exchange for a palm-sized red cloth to make a handkerchief for her mother, yet Mandy’s Space Folding Bag casually holds rolls of fabric in various colors.

If ordinary living supplies show such disparity, it’s even more so for cultivation resources.

After understanding the basics of Moon Rabbit Palace, Fang Ze felt assured: he thought he ended up on the right path purely by chance.

Considering the internal competition and class solidification among the Moon Rabbit soldiers, if he chose Beibei to figure out which Believer could approach the Venerable Moon Rabbit, it would really take ages.

Now, being transformed into Mandy, perhaps casually chatting with her family would yield crucial information. Get full chapters from novelFirｅ.net

Thinking this, Fang Ze composed himself, while continuing to interrogate Mandy’s intelligence in the Late-Night Investigation Room, and also followed Mandy’s plan to purchase some clothes, jewelry, and gifts.

After buying gifts, the gathering time quickly approached, and Fang Ze returned to the meeting spot. Other Rabbit Ladies already arrived, with those from affluent families also purchasing some gifts and resources. Those like Beibei, from lower-class soldiers, came empty-handed, while tasked with the tedious job of counting resources.

The leader this time was a steward from Moon Rabbit Palace, who briefly checked the resources purchased by Beibei and others, confirmed the quantities were correct, and led everyone back to the palace.

Masked under the guise of Demigd Prison, the Divine Power Protective Layer didn’t trigger any alarms, allowing Fang Ze to smoothly infiltrate the Moon Rabbit Palace.

Returning to Moon Rabbit Palace, a few elite members went home yawning with their personal items, whereas Beibei and other lower-class soldiers followed the steward to store resources in the warehouse, facing a new round of inventory work.

As Fang Ze interrogated Mandy in the Late-Night Investigation Room, he became familiar with the layout and the process of “returning home” in the Moon Rabbit Palace.

Soon, he returned to Mandy’s home.

Moon Rabbits reproduce in an extraordinary asexual way: after reaching adulthood, their bellies swell up periodically, leading to offspring.

This is considered a gift from the True God—many Demigods researching the Moon Rabbit Race in the Outer Realm suspect this belief in divine protection stems from this phenomenon.

Thus, Mandy’s family consists only of female members like her mother and sister.

Back home, Mandy’s mother hadn’t returned yet, and Fang Ze, according to Mandy’s habit, handed the purchased gifts to her sister—a magnificent princess dress and a box of white strawberries.

Due to a shortage of fruits and vegetables, the box of white strawberries holds considerable value in the Outer Realm. Yet, in Mandy’s sister’s words, it’s consumed as if it’s the most mundane food, not even sparing the strawberry tops.

Her extravagant demeanor starkly contrasts Beibei’s thrift in buying a handkerchief.

After playing with Mandy’s sister for a while, Fang Ze began cultivating as per Mandy’s routine, patiently waiting for Mandy’s mother to return.

His plan was simple: when Mandy’s mother returned, he would probe her regarding the Venerable Moon Rabbit, subtly ask about access to Mandy’s great-grandmother, or Mandy’s mother’s ability to contact the Venerable Moon Rabbit, and then act accordingly.

Based on intelligence extracted from Mandy: her mother is at the Absolute Pinnacle of Ascension, while her great-grandmother is an expert at the highest level, both being most trusted confidants to the Venerable Moon Rabbit for almost a century.

Therefore, there’s a high probability these two have access to the Venerable Moon Rabbit.

Thus, Fang Ze “cultivated” for five to six hours before Mandy’s mother returned home.

Mandy’s mother seemed especially busy today; upon returning, she didn’t greet “Mandy” and went directly into her room, seemingly handling urgent affairs. Fang Ze looked for opportunities to speak with her, yet found none appropriate.

While Fang Ze sought a chance, soon an uninvited guest arrived at Mandy’s home: another deputy commander from Moon Rabbit Palace.

Upon arriving, Mandy’s mother promptly dragged her into the room, seemingly to discuss that important matter.

Out of curiosity about what was happening, and whether it related to his own goal, Fang Ze tested Mandy in the Late-Night Investigation Room, confirming it wouldn’t be abrupt to send fruit in, he washed some fresh fruit bought today and pushed open Mandy’s mother’s door.

At the moment Fang Ze opened Mandy’s mother’s room, Mandy’s mother and that deputy commander turned to look warily. Seeing “Mandy” entering with fruit, they resumed their conversation as usual.

Fang Ze slowed his steps to hear more details. Suddenly, he discovered they were discussing him.

The deputy commander said, “That Fang Ze is indeed remarkable; the dark line laid by the Venerable in the Real World was directly exposed. If he continues investigating, he might reach the Venerable.”

She paused and then asked, “Should we notify the Divine Official to alert the Venerable?”

Upon hearing this, Mandy’s mother thought for a moment, then shook her head slowly, “I think it’s better not to notify.”

“The dark line holds little clues; it’s unlikely that human named Fang Ze will follow it to the Venerable. Moreover, considering the Venerable has done so much for the Human Race, even if he investigates, the Federation’s elders wouldn’t believe him.”

“Currently, the Venerable is communicating with the True God; no one knows she’s…”

Saying this, Mandy’s mother seemed to realize something and suddenly raised her head to see “Mandy” setting the tray. She frowned and said, “Why are you so slow today?!”