Deceitful Game

Chapter 247 Corporate Judge

Upon seeing Ai Shiping and himself appear there at the same time, Mingpo realized what had just happened.

He never expected that Gao Fan would use such methods to send them into this deceptive game...

...Do you really have to stab yourself in the back?

What if something happens and I don't survive?

I don't know why that guy's will to live is so weak.

It's practically like deliberately courting death...

Thinking about this, Mingpo felt a strange sense of familiarity. It was like someone he knew before who had a similar personality. However, his current situation was quite good.

Rather than maintaining that deathly silence in front of Gao Fan and Ai Shiping, Ming Po would rather do some dangerous missions.

Even participating in a deceptive game is fine.

He's participated in plenty of dangerous missions anyway, so one more won't make a difference.

Thinking of this, Mingpo raised her head and looked at the host who called himself "Mo".

This surprised him quite a bit.

Their host is... a cat?

Although not a Deceiver, Mingbo knew some of the rules of the Deceiver game. After all, one of the main tasks of the Execution Department was to eliminate runaway mining machines. Mingbo had even killed Deceivers who had had their collars removed.

To ensure they could kill the conman, they would naturally need some knowledge of the conman.

This includes the "host" mechanic, which is inherent in deceptive games.

All the hosts are under the company's surveillance, but the company doesn't have much control over these powerful hosts. While the hosts can't directly attack the con artists, they can retaliate. And the number of high-ranking officials who can consistently outmaneuver the hosts is actually quite small. Getting these people involved is extremely difficult, so in most cases, the company can only control the hosts through threats, warnings, and negotiation. The hosts were all powerful con artists in their previous lives.

That's why Mingpo was puzzled as to why a cat could become a host.

It's not about being strong enough to become a host; rather, weaker hosts are killed outright by stronger hosts and charlatans from the very beginning. Only those at the level of Moon Silver can survive.

Each host can be resurrected and become a Deceiver by completing a certain task. To prevent them from secretly resurrecting and altering history, these hosts are all equipped with a "collar" system. Mingpo doesn't know how the company did it, but even if it's troublesome, it has to be done this way. Because the company cannot interfere with the internal workings of the Deceiver game.

For a company that wants to control everything in the world, there is one thing it cannot control: what happens within the game of deception. Once the game begins, even the host cannot stop it, much less interfere with the outcome.

Therefore, intervention in deceptive games mainly focuses on the period before the game begins.

A "deceptive game" must be fair. An unfair game cannot exist.

But on the basis of fairness... there are still some ways to manipulate things.

For example, those who are deceitful and have important status or talents will participate in safer games. But if they offend the company... for example, if they have previously tried to escape but were caught and brought back, or if they try to use the "Year Chip" to do something, they will be relegated to more dangerous and exciting games.

It is said that the gentlemen at "The Spire" can see the content of the deceptive games from the host's perspective.

The charlatans fighting each other make for a fantastic form of entertainment.

Watching the show itself can even be considered a "serious business." Because if the charlatans reach a certain level, they must make a choice: join the higher-ups or be eliminated.

Therefore, watching the show itself can be considered a form of market research. It pre-screens individuals whose personalities and abilities are suitable for deception.

Even if they successfully defect... knowing their thought processes and abilities in advance, and gathering intelligence on them, would obviously be useful.

This is a secret. Mingpo knew about it only because of a coincidence.

Fortunately, Mingpo knew this secret.

Even if he joins the Deception Game now, he can know in advance that... in the Deception Game, his actions may be seen by others.

So Mingpo didn't stand out much, but simply observed the reactions of others.

They are now in a luxury carriage... and the carriage is quite crowded.

Including Mingpo himself and Ai Shiping, there were thirteen people in total.

There were elderly people, children, men, and women.

Besides myself and Ai Shiping, there were four people who seemed calm, probably having entered the game of deception willingly; two people seemed to have heard of the game of deception before and didn't seem to have much of a reaction; five people looked somewhat panicked and nervous... and among these five people, two of them even had exaggerated performances.

While it can't be said that exaggerated performances necessarily mean lying... it does mean they're not entirely trustworthy.

That's outrageous.

Are there only three real newcomers?

While he was observing the others, Mingpo was also being observed by them.

Mingpo sensed it very clearly.

A man wearing square-framed glasses, with a serious expression and dressed in luxurious clothes like an aristocrat, kept staring at Mingpo.

The collar around the man's neck was sky blue.

This means he comes from Millennium Technology in the Celestial Sector. That strange collar with a square white cloth hanging below the neck is said to be a characteristic style of judges' attire from the pre-war era.

The man's attire clearly indicated that he was a corporate judge from the legal department.

The legal department typically handles patent wars and contractual disputes between companies. Many conflicts between companies don't require the involvement of the executive department. These disputes, which don't warrant violent confrontation, are usually resolved by the legal department. Whether it's laying off executives, dismissing relevant personnel, ceasing infringement, paying damages, or reimbursing patented technology… as long as the other party agrees, the matter is generally considered closed.

If the Ministry of Justice's ultimatum is ineffective, then it's the turn of the enforcement department, a forceful unit, to step in.

He kept staring at Mingpo... was it because he knew Mingpo?

This doesn't make sense.

As a member of the Executive Department, Mingpo's identity was kept highly confidential. Millennium Technology's relationship with Gaotian Life wasn't particularly good, so it was impossible for them to obtain Mingpo's information through normal channels.

unless……

Mingpo's heart skipped a beat.

...He knows my mother.

Mingpo's mother happens to work at Millennium Technology!

Even though she was aware of this, Mingpo still pretended not to know.

He didn't look over, but simply let the other person sized him up.

The almost manic voice still came from the mouth hanging on the black cat: "Everyone, you may know all this, or you may not."

"Having suddenly arrived here, did you think of the inescapable death games in various works?"

"But don't be too nervous! Our game is tolerant, compassionate, and gentle. As long as you pass this game, you can leave at any time and return to your daily lives—I mean, if your company doesn't arrest you!"

At this point, the mouth hanging around the black cat's neck let out a triumphant and arrogant laugh.

Everyone present wore collars around their necks, signifying that they all lived in a place controlled by the company.

"Mo's" words were sarcastic, but Mingpo could also hear... it was also a form of pity for those controlled by the company. Perhaps there was also a sense of sorrow for those who had suffered the same fate.

After all, he himself also had a dark green ring around his neck.