New Babylon, Upper Sector. The "Cloud Garden" Hotel.

  This was the absolute pinnacle of the city, the point closest to the clouds filled with radioactive dust. A massive holographic dome simulated a perfect, aurora-filled night sky, hermetically sealing off the land of flowing sewage and despair far below.

  Tonight, the "Starlight & Mercy" Charity Gala was in full swing.

  The host was none other than the "Eternal Charity Foundation," a subsidiary of the Necromancers' Guild. Invitations were sent only to celebrities with net worths in the hundreds of millions, high-ranking officials, and tycoons desperately needing to launder their dark histories.

  The banquet hall was resplendent. Champagne towers were stacked higher than the residential blocks in the Lower Sector. Every table featured exquisite caviar and deep-sea bluefin tuna. Men and women in priceless evening wear raised their glasses, chatting and laughing, wearing practiced smiles of compassion.

  "This caviar is divine," a fat man with rings on every finger remarked. "I hear for every tin sold, the Foundation donates a tube of... uh... what was it? Oh right, nutrient paste, to the Lower Sector."

  "What a noble deed." The noblewoman beside him dabbed the corner of her mouth elegantly. "We are saving those poor souls."

  What they didn't know was that beneath this glossy surface, a "rat" from the sewers had quietly slipped in.

  John Doe, wearing an oversized, slightly moldy tuxedo scavenged from a second-hand store, stood awkwardly in the corner of the hall.

  He had sneaked in.

  To be precise, thanks to Grace forging electronic invitations and Bone causing a little chaos in the parking lot (he removed the tires from a councilman's car), they had barely managed to bypass security.

  "Boss, these clothes are tight."

  Bone's voice came through John's earpiece. The skeletal giant had somehow stuffed himself into a waiter’s uniform and was currently hiding in the kitchen, pretending to wash dishes.

  "Suck it up," John whispered, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk. "We're here to work, not to enjoy the party."

  He raised a champagne flute but didn't drink. instead, using the glass as cover, he quietly activated [Spirit Vision].

  In this banquet hall filled with celebrities, John didn't see people. He saw a horde of... hosts carrying monsters.

  That Chemical Tycoon, loudly pontificating about "green concepts," had a demon dripping with green venom clinging to his back—an amalgamation of souls who died from pollution.

  That Councilwoman, branding herself as a "Defender of Women's Rights," had several faceless female ghosts riding on her neck, their hands strangling her throat.

  And the Foundation Chairman hosting the auction on stage... his shadow was a gluttonous snake, devouring gold coins.

  "Demons dancing in a chaotic frenzy..." John sneered.

  "Disciple, stop gagging for a second," Daoist Singularity’s voice suddenly rang in his mind. "Look at the auction item."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  John looked toward the center of the stage.

  Under the spotlight, a piece of parchment embedded in a crystal frame glowed with a faint golden light.

  [Lot: Supreme Atonement Ticket (S-Class)]

  [Starting Bid: 1.000.000 Credits]

  [Effect: Personally blessed by the High Priest of the Necromancy Guild. The buyer receives one 'Soul Exemption.' Regardless of sins committed in life, the buyer is exempt from Hell's judgment post-mortem and granted direct entry to 'Cloud Heaven' (Guild VIP Server).]

  "One million one hundred thousand!"

  "One million two hundred thousand!"

  Bids flew back and forth. The tycoons carrying demons on their backs were red-eyed with desire, as if that piece of paper wasn't just parchment, but their last lifeline.

  "This is their charity," John gripped the glass so hard his knuckles turned white. "Creating sin with one hand, buying peace of mind with the other. Donating exploited money to their own foundations for tax evasion, then buying a piece of waste paper to tell themselves 'I'm a good person.'"

  "Atonement tickets? This is an insult to the gods."

  "But this is exactly your chance," Singularity reminded him. "The system has detected a high concentration of 'Merit Deficit' here. These people owe too much debt—so much that even the Heavenly Dao can't stand it."

  "System Alert: Hidden Mission Triggered — [Mandate for the People] (Wei Sheng Min Li Ming)."

  "Mission Objective: Make these hypocrites pay the price, and channel no less than 50% of their illicit gains back to the Lower Sector via 'Merit Conversion'."

  "Reward: Massive Merit (Enough to clear your debt, and maybe even level you up)."

  John’s eyes lit up.

  Massive Merit.

  This wasn't just for the money. It was for that spilled pot of medicine, for his mother's broken bowl, for the dignity of everyone these "great philanthropists" trampled underfoot.

  "Are we playing big?" John asked.

  "We're playing big." Singularity snapped his fingers in the void (visible only to John).

  Meanwhile.

  In the pure white virtual space, Singularity was watching John's livestream while messaging Moriarty, who was sipping tea.

  [Singularity: I say, Professor, your dog (Agent K) bites a little too hard, don't you think? Spilling an old lady's medicine? That doesn't fit your aesthetic.]

  Moriarty didn't look up, replying elegantly: [That was to test his stress threshold. Facts have proven that his computational ability does not degrade under anger; instead... it becomes more interesting.]

  [Singularity: Hmph, careful you don't play yourself. Even a rabbit bites when cornered, let alone this kid leading a bunch of lunatics.]

  [Moriarty: Then let him bite. If no blood is spilled, how can we prove that the Atonement Ticket... actually works?]

  Back in the banquet hall.

  The auction had reached its climax.

  "Two million! Do I hear any higher?" the auctioneer shouted excitedly.

  "Two million five hundred thousand!" The Chemical Tycoon with the venomous demon raised his paddle. "I want that ticket! For... for world peace!"

  The room erupted in applause.

  Just then.

  Crash!

  The crisp sound of shattering glass broke the harmony.

  John "accidentally" slipped, smashing his champagne flute. The liquid splashed all over the Tycoon's dust-free leather shoes.

  "Hey! Watch what you're doing!" The Tycoon glared at the clumsy waiter.

  "Sorry, sorry," John bowed, pretending to wipe it off. Then he looked up, revealing a smile that was apologetic, yet bizarre.

  "I just got too excited. Because I saw... what's behind you."

  "Behind me?" The Tycoon instinctively turned around.

  "Not there," John pointed to his shoulder. "There. That young lady pouring poison into your ear... she says... she misses you."

  The Tycoon's face went deathly pale.

  "You... what nonsense are you talking about?!"

  "Nonsense?" John straightened up, dropping the humble posture. He adjusted the ill-fitting tuxedo, raising his voice so it carried clearly across the hall.

  "Honorable ladies and gentlemen. Do you really believe that spending a few million on a piece of paper will send away the 'friends'... that have been following you all your lives?"

  Dead silence.

  Everyone stared at this waiter who had suddenly gone mad.

  "Security! Where is security? Throw him out!" The Foundation Chairman screamed from the stage.

  "Don't be in such a rush."

  John pulled the talisman-covered iPad from his chest.

  "Since this is a charity gala, I'd like to make a donation too."

  He looked at the crowd of well-dressed elites, his eyes gleaming with the light of a hunter spotting prey.

  "I donate... a Truth."

  "Everyone, want to see what you actually bought with all that money?"

  John’s finger hovered over the familiar [Summon] button.

  This time, he wasn't summoning a warrior, nor a doctor.

  He was summoning a madman... one who would tear off these hypocritical masks and force everyone to face their deepest fears.

  [System Status]:

  Physical Realm (Royal Road): Connection Unstable / Paused.

  Spirit Realm (Patreon): 20+ Chapters Online / Stable.

  [Link]