"But before that, I believe I should have a much-awaited conversation with the two from Classic first," Lego Prophet said. "After we finish discussing our business, I will answer the questions that you and your friend have in more detail."
Feng Bujue nodded. "Okay, then I will not intervene. Go ahead." Then he used his right hand to make a show of zipping his mouth shut.
In the next ten minutes, the two Transformers, Lego Avengers and Lego Prophet had a three-sided, long, and boring negotiation. The atmosphere though was not that nervous because this was a misunderstanding that could be easily explained. The reality was the toys from Novel stole some blocks from Lego and used them to build their own helicopters. If the Lego were to blame, their only fault was they did not pay as much attention to their resources as much as they should. But that was not something that people from Classic were in the right to comment about.
"Therefore, the neutrality of Lego will not change, and Novel will pay for what they have done. That will be something we Legos will discuss with Novel." At the end of the conversation, Tony said, "With regards to the losses that you have suffered due to the Lego helicopters, we can only pay our condolences."
"Hmm…" Jazz was silent for a few seconds before exchanging a look with Nightbeat. Then he said, "Okay, we will relay all that to Optimus Prime." He turned around to tell Feng Bujue and Xiao Tan, "Newbies, Nightbeat and I will report back to the base first. Come back on your own after your conversation with the Prophet."
"Yes, sir," Feng Bujue replied. He appeared to be following orders but actually, he just wanted the Transformers to leave. Jazz shrugged like he had no comment and left the building with Nightbeat.
"Tony, you guys can leave as well," Lego Prophet announced. "I wish to speak with these two guests in private."
"Prophet, they are strangers…" Smith warned, "Are you sure you want all of us to leave?"
"Don't worry." The Prophet replied, "They will not harm me, and I am not afraid if they do."
"Since you have said that… Then okay." Tony answered on Captain America's behalf and patted Smith on his shoulder. Then they left with the other Avengers. After the doors closed, the Prophet was the first to break the silence. "How do you do, Feng Bujue, Kuang Tanzhi."
After hearing the NPC call them by their ID, Feng Bujue looked inspired. "Hah… No wonder you're the Prophet. Theoretically speaking, only a small part of the toys from Classic will know about our names and ever since we entered the Lego City, Nightbeat and Jazz haven't once referred us by name but called us 'newbies'. Under that condition, you still find out about our names… The only possibilities are…"
"Two." Lego Prophet finished, "One, I can gain information from Classic through certain methods like spies or other similar devices." The crystal paused. "Two, I can observe your ability and status on the data level."
Feng Bujue smiled. "You sure are quick in your mind…"
"The same can be said for you," Prophet replied.
Feng Bujue said, "Since you've pointed out the two hypotheses yourself, then I believe… there's a seventy percent chance that it is the second one." He crossed his arms before his chest and looked up. "And because of that, it leads me to another hypothesis… You are not a normal set of data."
"That is obvious." Prophet laughed. "This crystalline Lego collection is merely how I look in this space. I am not physically here." He did not intend to hide his identity and introduced himself. "I am One of the two Juries from the Court of Truth—Prophet."
"How come I am not surprised…" Xiao Tan's lips twitched.
"Then you have to know what is going on with this war in the mall," Feng Bujue asked.
"This is not a mall but a prison." Prophet didn't sound like he was kidding.
"So, the toys are all inmates?" Feng Bujue followed the man's supposition.
"Yes, and they are all parole-less inmates." Prophet replied, "Of course, they are not originally toys. They used to be students, working-class men, billionaires, local ruffians, athletes, killers, or actors, and so on. After they arrived at this prison, their memory and consciousness would be altered, but their 'personality' as data that cannot be worked with, will be retained. So, they will be turned into toy characters that are closest to their natural personality."
"So, for example… Nintendo's King Kong could actually be Hideaki Sorachi from some other universe…" Feng Bujue rambled.
"Humph… How is that possible." Prophet joked. "If Hideaki really got turned into a chimpanzee, he will be one swinging on a tire swing. To be transformed into King Kong, one has to be on the level of at least someone like Akagi Takenori."
"Hmm… Indeed." Feng Bujue scratched his chin. "But… I suppose Kondou Isao would work as well…"
"Hey! Why are you talking about this random nonsense when the NPC is seriously trying to give us some insight into the hidden background of the scenario‽" Xiao Tan couldn't help but interrupt. "What is so interesting about a discussion regarding which character will be stronger after they got transformed into a chimpanzee‽ Furthermore, Akagi and Kondou themselves are fictional characters already!"
"So that's why…" Feng Bujue suddenly said seriously, "No wonder none of the toys can tell us about the origin of the war and don't care about being discovered by the humans."
"Adjustment of consciousness is a very useful tool," Prophet admitted. "It can effectively limit one's thoughts without undermining the altered individual's innate ability." He paused. "In these inmate's minds, there are many blind spots. If one looks for an analogy, it's like 'a color that you cannot recognize'. Before you see this color with your own eyes, you cannot imagine it. Even if you do see it, you wouldn't be able to tell what color it is."
"Wait a minute. The two of you are jumping too fast!" Xiao Tan shouted. "Don't act like the conversation about King Kong did not happen at all! And suddenly turned back to the serious topic!" Brother Jue and Prophet ignored Xiao Tan and continued their conversation.
"So… what are the security guards? The jail wardens?" Feng Bujue asked.
Prophet scoffed. "The night security reports to work at 8 pm and they will patrol every three hours. There are only a few minutes left to 2 am. You will see for yourself in a bit what 'they' are…"
"Wait!" Xiao Tan was still trying to interrupt. "I have a question! Since this is a prison, why is this made into a setting like this? Changing inmates into toys and throw them into an endless and meaningless war, what is the point?"
"That is not that uncommon. I've seen stranger settings…" Feng Bujue could not help but be reminded of the corridors that imprisoned Billy, Ravid, and Aldan.
This time Prophet chose to deign to answer Xiao Tan. "The responsibility of the Court of Truth is to observe, judge, and detain. Of the forty-two known main universes, all high intelligent life forms are within our ruling. Among them are very powerful criminals and they have to be solitarily confined. For some, we have to come up with a special themed prison." He paused for two seconds. "This prison that you're in is a prison for normal criminals. The number for this group of people goes up into tens of thousands and that makes it hard to manage all of them…"
"But if you can keep them busy, that will be much easier." This time, it was Feng Bujue who completed the prophet's sentence. "Every night, they are conducting a war that 'they cannot win and cannot lose. Yes, there will be death and injury, but new inmates will be replenished as toys into the store again and again… War is an activity that requires absolute participation. It will exhaust these inmates and drain their focus. They will not have time to think about anything else or do anything else. They have been turned into toys and busy themselves all over the mall within a limited time every night but not one of them will come across the idea that… I want to climb through this window and escape from this mall."
"Wouldn't there be an exception to this kind of imprisonment method?" Xiao Tan asked.
"That depends on this technology of 'adjustment of consciousness'," Feng Bujue replied, "When these toys wonder questions like 'why am I fighting this war', it's like you wondering 'what is the purpose of my life'. Obviously, you won't have a definite answer, but you wouldn't live differently because of it. Similarly, the toys do not know why they are fighting this war, but they will continue to fight for it."
"Haha… You're a sharp one." Prophet laughed. "Feng Bujue, no wonder you are able to help Billy and his gang escape from their prison." Once Brother Jue heard that, he knew something was off. But on the surface, he appeared unfazed and he asked probingly. "What are you talking about… I don't understand…"
"Haha… Don't worry. I'm on your side. Otherwise, I wouldn't tell you so many things." Prophet said, "You should remember Ravid, right? He's my old friend. I'm glad that he is able to escape from the Master of Time's prison."
Now that he said that Feng Bujue remembered Billy say something like… 'Ravid and his cousin used to be juries at the Court of Truth, but he was punished due to contempt of court.'
Prophet sighed and said, "Actually when Billy and Aldan were called to the court due to their crimes of 'spreading the chaos', I voted non-guilty, but the final result was… Guilty. Therefore, Ravid and Bugs Bunny got a bit out of control over the verdict. Ravid even kicked the juries that voted guilty and Bugs tossed his poop pellet at the judge, causing quite a stir at the scene."
"Hey… we are approaching TMI territory…" Hearing this strange retelling, Xiao Tan's Terror Points shot up.
"Oh… I get it now." Feng Bujue though appeared calm. "So, the final result was… Bugs drew a hole on the wall and escaped in the commotion. Ravid, though, was captured for contempt of the court and was sent to the prison under the Master of Time along with Billy and Aldan." At this point, his mind had clarified the timeline. "After that, the jail warden, Sam Montier, betrayed his master and ran into me. That caused him to be captured and sent to the Island of Devil's Maw. Billy and the rest were recaptured but this time the new warden became Faust. And then… because of me again, the three of them successfully escaped from the prison again."
"Yup, you're absolutely right," Prophet confirmed.
"Are we even playing the same game…" Xiao Tan used an unbelievable look to address Feng Bujue. The impression he had of Brother Jue continue to rise and rise in his heart. Feng Bujue asked, "Based on what you said earlier, the warden at this prison is not the supermarket's security, so you are the actual warden?"
"No, I am just a bystander who is slightly more interested in the events here," Prophet replied. "I make use of this identity of 'Lego Prophet' to control the neutral force that is the Lego to maintain the balance and the ferocity of this overall war." He laughed. "Actually, what I need to do is very simple. I only need to 'talk'."
"Humph… Looks like the people from Classic has a correct assessment of you." Feng Bujue used one second to dissect the laughter of the Prophet. "The fact that Novel can successfully steal the Lego blocks has something to do with you, right?"
"Haha… unfortunately, you are a traveler from another world, or it would have been my pleasure to write you a recommendation to join the Jury of the Court of Truth." The Prophet laughed. "We have quite a number of openings." What he said basically confirmed Brother Jue's accusation.
Feng Bujue was not interested in the Prophet's proposal. He continued to ask for the information that he wanted. "We haven't finished the topic earlier. Since you said the security at the mall are not the wardens and that you are not the warden, then who is this warden? And where can I go to find him?"
Prophet asked, "Why are you in the interest to go and find him? Is there anything you want from him?"
"I do." Feng Bujue used a normal tone to say, "I need his help to end this war."
Hearing that, the Prophet was silent for a loaded few seconds. The Legos on the surface of the crystals moved a bit too lively. "Mr. Feng Bujue, you should understand that be it myself or that warden, our responsibility is to ensure that this war will continue on and on until the end of time itself."
"But like you said earlier, aren't you just a bystander?" Feng Bujue's gaze turned cold and ruthless and his words cut like blades. "So, where does this 'responsibility' come from?"
This question sent the crystal into silence.
At the same time, the building that they were in started to change… the Lego blocks on the walls and ground started to fidget unkindly like they were coming alive.
"Erm… what going on here?" Xiao Tan gasped. "The conversation that you guys have sure turns quickly. How did you manage to share joke one moment and try to threaten each other the next…?"
"You told me ninety percent of the truth and that is to hide that ten percent of falsehood." Feng Bujue smirked chillingly at the crystal. "But the more information I am given, the more anomalous the piece of information becomes. Do you really expect me to not notice it…"
