Lethal Stunner: Kicking Off with Five Beast Husbands-Chapter 198 Hope Our Friendship Remains

Xiao Jinsheng knew this was the very reason the Terminal felt comfortable releasing them.

Because the Terminal understood that even if the Mist Continent’s secrets were revealed, very few would believe them.

Unless one experienced it personally, survivors could hardly imagine the truth—that the Terminal was raising humans like livestock.

"I... I need a moment." Ming Huaxin breathed deeply: "I believe the Insect Clan’s arrival on Mist Continent."

"But to think the Terminal is evil—I really can’t imagine that."

"It’s the Terminal."

"The very Terminal I’ve trusted and revered since I was a child!"

And the Terminal’s secret of consuming humans was tied to the information about the Insect Clan’s descent upon Mist Continent.

The Terminal was also the protector of humanity, the leader tasked with guiding everyone in the fight against the Insect Clan.

How could such a Terminal be evil?

"I really want to believe you." Ming Huaxin looked at Xiao Jinsheng, shaking her head in confusion: "But I equally have no reason to doubt the Terminal."

"And..." Ming Huaxin’s face grew serious: "You said you discovered the Terminal’s secret, and it has already declared your death sentence."

"Aren’t you afraid... that by telling me this secret, the Terminal might kill you earlier if it finds out?"

"Or perhaps, aren’t you worried I might distrust you and think you’re the traitor the Terminal mentioned?"

Faced with Ming Huaxin’s questions, Xiao Jinsheng replied with a smile: "Because the Terminal hasn’t killed me."

"But if I report you as the traitor to the Terminal, it will..." Ming Huaxin spoke passionately.

But mid-sentence, she realized something didn’t sit right: "But the Terminal has already declared your death sentence..."

"So, nothing in Mist Continent can escape the Terminal," Xiao Jinsheng replied. "Do you really think the Terminal doesn’t already know who the traitor is?"

"It knows." Ming Huaxin clutched her head, trying to organize her thoughts, yet found her mind growing only more chaotic.

"The Terminal knows. It’s precisely because it knows you’re not the traitor but merely someone who has uncovered its secret, that it hasn’t killed you outright," Ming Huaxin speculated. "Is that right?"

"But if you know its secret, why hasn’t it killed you right away?"

This was what Ming Huaxin couldn’t understand—it even made Xiao Jinsheng’s claims seem absurd.

Dead sooner, dead later—death would still come.

Why wouldn’t the Terminal just erase someone immediately and completely bury its secret?

"That’s where the three paths I mentioned at the start come in."

"The Terminal gave me three paths, and every one leads to death."

"But only the unmarked third path is the one the Terminal most hopes I will take," Xiao Jinsheng explained.

"When a blade hangs above you, when your death draws closer, when the second apocalypse looms."

"No matter which path you take, the end will always be death."

"Will you despair or feel fear?"

"Not even one sliver of life? Then what am I fighting to survive for?" Ming Huaxin listened to Xiao Jinsheng’s description, her empathy so strong that her face instantly turned pale.

"The Terminal wants you to die in despair," Xiao Jinsheng answered.

She even had a guess.

Based on the death time the Terminal assigned her, and its demand for survivors to transport insect eggs to Cloud Island.

Perhaps, the Terminal no longer cared about the survival of humans on Mist Continent.

The arrival of the Insect Clan might even provide it with a new flavor of food.

The Insect Clan’s reproduction rate far surpassed that of beastmen.

The Insect Clan’s descent might actually help the Terminal consume humans.

When the apocalypse arrived, humans, in their struggle to survive, pushed themselves to enhance their Superpower Level.

Meanwhile, they lived under heightened fear.

Whether they died amidst the Insect Clan’s invasion, consumed by fear.

Or attained a Twelve Stars Superpower, thinking they were rescued, only to end up on the Terminal’s dining table, meeting despair after glimpsing hope.

All of this merely seasoned the Terminal’s meals.

For the Terminal, all of this was delightfully exquisite.

"I tell you these things not because I hope for you to believe me," Xiao Jinsheng shook her head and spoke sincerely. "It’s simply because you’re one of my few friends in this world."

"This conversation has already been shielded from the Terminal."

"Even if you don’t trust me, I still hope you’ll be cautious of the Terminal."

"I..." Ming Huaxin met Xiao Jinsheng’s earnest gaze, her expression conflicted.

She had always had a good impression of Xiao Jinsheng.

But conversely, the Terminal had always treated Mist Continent’s females well.

Relying solely on Xiao Jinsheng’s words, any normal person would find it difficult to believe her story and doubt the Terminal.

Yet precisely because she thought it through, Ming Huaxin realized something.

"If you’re not Mist Continent’s traitor, then despite how absurd what you say sounds, between you and the Terminal, I should trust you more," Ming Huaxin answered.

As long as Xiao Jinsheng wasn’t the traitor.

It would prove that the traitor was someone else.

And since she possessed knowledge of the Terminal’s secret yet was left alive to wait for death.

It was just as Xiao Jinsheng said—the truth was often the most implausible.

The Terminal was waiting, waiting for Xiao Jinsheng to walk toward despairing death herself.

"Xiao Jinsheng." Ming Huaxin’s expression grew serious. "If you’re not the traitor, and you risked your life to tell me these truths, I won’t betray your trust."

"Just to doubt, to guard against the Terminal—I can already show you my response through action."

"But until I fully discern the Terminal’s truth, whether it’s like you said, I won’t engage the Terminal directly."

"Thank you for your trust," Xiao Jinsheng replied with a smile.

Ming Huaxin appeared ashamed: "Sorry, I haven’t completely trusted you."

"It’s okay. The Terminal hasn’t given me much time, which means the Insect Clan will act soon. Its arrival is inevitable, but when it happens, you and even all humanity on Mist Continent will know the truth."

With that, Xiao Jinsheng extended her hand to Ming Huaxin: "I hope our friendship remains."

Ming Huaxin’s eyes fell upon Xiao Jinsheng’s outstretched hand, and a sense of guilt surged in her heart.

If the Terminal were indeed evil.

Then her previous decisions—not having fully trusted Xiao Jinsheng—meant she was betraying Xiao Jinsheng’s trust and good intentions.

"Not going to shake hands?" Xiao Jinsheng lowered her gaze, visibly disheartened: "I thought at this moment, we were still friends."

"Of course we are." Ming Huaxin gathered her thoughts, smiled, and reached out to shake her hand.

She laughed: "I hope our friendship remains."

[Key to Contract successfully identified]

[Temporary Guardian Contract successfully signed]

[Contract validity: 30 minutes]

"Since you believe me, it’s better to prepare early," Xiao Jinsheng withdrew her hand and offered earnest advice: "The space provided by the Terminal may not be safe."

"Time is short. You might start by clearing out the insect eggs near your home."

"Okay, I’ll go make arrangements now," Ming Huaxin nodded, apologetic as she said goodbye: "I had initially planned to listen to some gossip and play with you for a while."

But since learning the truth about the Terminal being evil, Ming Huaxin no longer felt in the mood.

As for the Insect Clan’s arrival.

Without directly facing the Insect Clan and their capabilities firsthand, some on Mist Continent didn’t even take the Insect Clan seriously.

In their minds, perhaps the Insect Clan wasn’t as terrifying as the Fog Corpses or Poisonous Fog.

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