第114章 "Deception's Shadow Lurks"

**Chapter 114: The Shadow of Betrayal**

"Deception's Shadow" lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the engineer's duplicity. 程星's words had pierced deep into his psyche, and he knew he couldn't avoid the consequences forever.

As the silence stretched on, the engineer's eyes darted towards the small, unassuming tablet on his workbench. The device, a gift from the mysterious stranger, now seemed to mock him. He felt a sense of unease growing in his chest, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

"程远," he said finally, his voice laced with resignation. "I think it's time we had a... discussion."

程远's eyes snapped back to the engineer, her grip on the tablet tightening. "About what?" she spat, her anger still simmering just below the surface.

The engineer hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "About what really happened at Yin's Peak. About the true purpose of the research."

程远's eyes narrowed. "You're talking about the anomaly, aren't you? The one that got us all killed?"

The engineer nodded, his eyes pleading for understanding. "Yes, but it's not just about the anomaly. It's about what happened after. The cover-ups, the lies, the people who died because of it."

程远's face twisted in rage. "You're saying that you knew all along? That you let innocent people die for your own gain?"

The engineer's mask began to slip, revealing a hint of desperation. "I'm saying that I didn't know everything, but I knew enough to suspect. And I did nothing. I was too afraid to speak out."

程远's laughter was like a knife cutting through the air. "Afraid? You were afraid? You're the one who should be afraid now. Because I know the truth, and I'm not going to let you get away with it."

The engineer's eyes flashed with a mixture of fear and determination. "程远, please. You have to understand—"

But 程远 was beyond reason. She raised her hand, and the tablet in her hand began to glow with an otherworldly energy.

"You're done," she spat. "You're done playing games. You're done lying."

The engineer's eyes widened in horror as 程远's words hung in the air, threatening to unleash a storm of chaos and destruction. The darkness closing in around them seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy, like the beat of a black heart.

And in that moment, 程远 knew that she had finally found the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. But at what cost? The price of her own humanity?