第86章 "Denial of Betrayal"

**86. Web of Deceit: The Web Unravels (Continued)**

Lin Chao's words hung in the air like a challenge, daring Old Ghost to deny the truth. The air in the room was thick with tension, and the silence that followed was oppressive. It was as if time itself had slowed down, waiting for the next move.

Old Ghost's expression remained unyielding, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. He cleared his throat, his voice low and measured. "I assure you, Lin Chao, I am telling the truth. I did not betray the trust of our guild."

Lin Chao's anger boiled over, his face red with rage. "Don't lie to me, Old Ghost! I have proof, and I'm not going to let you get away with it!"

Old Ghost's eyes flashed with surprise, and for a moment, Lin Chao thought he saw a glimmer of fear. But it was quickly replaced with a cold, calculating gaze. "Proof, you say? I'm shaking with anticipation. Please, do tell."

Lin Chao's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the consequences of his actions. He knew he had to tread carefully, but his anger and hurt pride drove him forward. "I have a recording," he spat, pulling out his phone and playing the evidence.

The room fell silent as Old Ghost's eyes locked onto the phone screen. Lin Chao could see the gears turning in his mind, calculating the odds, weighing the consequences. And then, the expression on Old Ghost's face changed. The cold, calculating gaze was replaced with a mixture of shock and dismay.

"You...you recorded me," Old Ghost said, his voice barely above a whisper. "How did you...?"

Lin Chao's eyes gleamed with triumph. "I have my ways. And now, it's time for you to pay for your betrayal."

Old Ghost's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Lin Chao thought he saw a glimmer of the old, ruthless fighter that he once knew. But it was quickly replaced with a calculating gaze. "You think you're clever, don't you, Lin Chao? But you're just playing into my hands."

The room fell silent once again, the air thick with tension. Lin Chao's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications of Old Ghost's words. What did he mean? Was he saying that he was playing a game, and Lin Chao was just a pawn?

And then, it hit him. Old Ghost wasn't just a traitor. He was a mastermind, a chess player who had been manipulating the game all along. Lin Chao's anger and hurt pride were replaced with a cold, calculating gaze. He knew he had to think fast, to outwit Old Ghost and turn the tables on him.

But as he looked into Old Ghost's eyes, he saw something that made his blood run cold. It was a glimmer of triumph, a hint that Old Ghost had been preparing for this moment all along.

And then, the lights in the room flickered, and everything went dark.