Deceitful Game

Chapter 251 Carriage No. 8

Seeing that almost everyone's attention was focused on Ai Shiping, Mingpo glanced around with some displeasure.

"What," Mingpo narrowed her eyes, tapping her finger on the sofa armrest, and said slowly, "want to ask more questions?"

People didn't react; they just remained silent.

Mingpo immediately burst out laughing.

Sometimes, silence is tantamount to acquiescence.

So Mingpo said casually, "He's my friend, but he doesn't usually like to socialize. Just ask me if you need anything." This wasn't the truth, of course. After all, Ai Shiping had far more friends than Mingpo.

This person has a rather sinful profession... but surprisingly, he is quite popular.

How ironic.

Because, at least in Mingper's view, the HR department was far more wicked than the executive department.

The executive branch typically deals with people who have done wrong. For example, those who deliberately cause trouble and create large-scale chaos, those who leak important secrets and betray company interests, and those who kill many people and resist arrest. Those who have done less wrong are simply handed over to local non-human, non-intelligence law enforcement agencies.

But the personnel department...

Their job typically involves luring people in by selling them dreams, then squeezing them dry before throwing them out. Those escaped miners were all recruited by the personnel department back then.

"...Is it someone I know?"

Chen Bingwen adjusted his glasses and muttered to himself, "If that's the case..."

Mo Qian, who had remained silent since Ming Po's identity was exposed, also showed a look of realization in his eyes.

If these two strongest individuals knew each other... that would actually be a good thing.

Because that means that there can only be one wolf between the two of them at most!

If they are both wolves, then the rest of the team has no chance of playing. The rest of the team is doomed from the start.

A deceptive game should be fair.

Therefore, Mingpo and Aishiping will at most produce one wolf, or even at most none!

"Alright, everyone."

Mingpo slowly stood up and clapped his hands: "Let's hurry... I suggest we split into two groups."

This carriage has a closed door at both the front and back, leading to a new space.

They had to fix the navigation system within half an hour, or half of them would die.

"First, we need to find where the 'navigator' is."

Mingpo extended one finger, then a second: "Secondly, we need to figure out how to repair it."

"To prevent it from being on one side while we happen to be going the wrong way... we'll split into two teams, each heading in a different direction. I'll lead one team myself, is that okay?"

As he spoke, he looked at Ai Shiping inquiringly: "Then you...?"

"I'm on your team."

Ai Shiping answered without hesitation.

He showed absolutely no intention of leading another team.

"Then I'll lead the other team."

Mo Qian took over the command position of the other team without hesitation.

He even took the initiative to add, "I suggest this approach."

"After we split up, we went to opposite sides of the carriage. Once we found a resource point in the wild, two people stayed behind to form a small team to collect resources in that area. The others continued to explore forward."

"Once we finish collecting the data, we'll immediately move on. If anyone discovers the exact location of the 'navigator,' they'll immediately notify everyone. Then, we'll take the collected resources and head to the navigator's location as quickly as possible."

As he spoke, he took out the communicators hidden behind his back and laid them out in a row on the table.

There were thirteen people present, and six communicators.

Mingpo found the communicators somewhat familiar.

This communicator is somewhat similar to a type of portable telephone called a "big brother" before the war.

It looks rather bulky, like a thermos filled with water.

Each communicator has six buttons numbered from "6" to "6", as well as two buttons for "connect" and "hang up", giving it a very minimalist look. "I've just been studying it for a while."

Mo Qian smiled, showing no shame for his actions, but rather quite pleased with himself: "These communicators can be activated by pressing any button. Once pressed, the corresponding communicator will light up immediately. If you click to connect, you can hear the other party's voice."

"There are six communicators here in total. If we divide them into two groups, that should be enough."

"...I think it's fine."

After listening, Chen Bingwen pondered for a moment, then looked up at Ming Po, nodded, and replied, "Separating the searches would be more efficient." "It's wonderful that we've reached a consensus."

Ai Shiping chuckled, but his voice had a strangely sarcastic tone: "Well... you'd better take good care of yourself and your companions. Otherwise, if your companion in the same room accidentally dies somewhere else, then you'll 'become a wolf.'"

Wolves, of course, cannot "become" wolves.

Because each player's identity is fixed at the start of the game.

However, people can directly kill those they "believe are wolves".

From this perspective, the wolf's advantage may not be as significant as it seems.

Because the wolf needs the sheep's help to solve the puzzle, it's impossible for it to kill so many sheep at once. The wolf might not even make a move in the second round of the game.

The real danger, if we're talking about, is after the "paradox engine" has been repaired, but before the train arrives at the station.

At this stage, killing has absolutely no cost or consequence. That's when the ultimate battle royale begins.

Before that, the sheep was much more likely to try to kill the wolf.

...It has to be said that the current Ai Shiping is nothing like the "fox" that Mingpo used to know.

In terms of its appearance, it does resemble a reptilian snake.

That chilling sense of dread is exactly the same.

Mingpo simply looked at the others: "Who else wants to come with me?"

"The rest of you, come with me."

Mo Qian didn't care at all about the fact that he had just been ridiculed, and instead raised his hand very actively and frankly.

However, unexpectedly...

In the end, the number of people who stood by Mingpo's side was far fewer than the number of people who stood by Moqian's side!

At first, there were quite a few people surrounding him, eager to flatter him. But now, apart from Mingpo and Ai Shiping, only Chen Bingwen and Liao Tinglan are willing to follow Mingpo.

Liao Tinglan was that young girl in her early twenties.

At first, Mingpo was a little confused, but then she understood.

Ultimately, they still couldn't trust Ai Shiping and Mingpo.

If either Mingpo or Ai Shiping were a wolf, they would likely reach a deal with the other. Fighting both of them would be virtually impossible. Therefore, they chose to team up with Mo Qian, who was extremely weak.

At least we can still fight back!

"Since you have fewer people here," Mo Qian seemed unsurprised by the situation, "I'll give you two communicators." With that, he handed two communicators to Ming Po.

They are "1" and "4" respectively.

Thanks.

Mingpo took the communicator from him and handed the other one to Chen Bingwen.

The team of thirteen was thus divided into two groups of four and nine people each.

He watched Mo Qian's group leave, his brows furrowing slightly.

Because none of them knew that Mingpo had actually gotten into trouble.

He's shown a strange BG (Best Before You Go)... if bugs really do exist in deceptive games.

Mingpo realized from the very beginning that she had nothing in her pocket.

That place was originally supposed to hold the ID cards and the initial funds for playing "mini-games".

But now, it's empty inside...

Mingpo's pockets were empty—no identification, no chips, not even a weapon. He kept his hands in his pockets to hide the fact that he hadn't acquired anything.

...Why is that?

Could it be because he has so-called "past life memories"?

But Mingpo's memories of his past life had not yet awakened, and he had no recollection of it at all.

It was precisely because the game seemed to be malfunctioning that Mingpo didn't know whether he was the wolf or the sheep... which is why he closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Revealing his identity was against the rules, so he couldn't confirm it from the other side.

...That means we must win through our own strength.

Just in case, Mingpo needs to complete both the wolf's and sheep's tasks simultaneously.

"That's strange."

Mingpo murmured in a voice only she could hear, "Why did this happen..."

He was practically shut out of the "deceptive game".

With that in mind, Mingpo led them to open the door on the other side.

Clang, clang, clang...

After the door opened, the sound of the train hitting the rails seemed to become even louder.

On the other side of this rather luxurious space, there are many chairs.

But there was no one on those chairs.

There were just some boxes scattered around.

It was a rather old-fashioned style, somewhat like the small medicine box that doctors used when they went out to see patients in the 18th or 19th century.

There were also some coats scattered on the seats.

They looked as if there had been someone here before, who had just gone to the toilet and left for a short while.

...There are no exclusive resource points for "wolves".

Mingpo glanced around, thinking to herself.

Is it because there really aren't any here? Or is it because the sheep can't see them?

...Or perhaps, am I actually the wolf? But all the resource points appear to be the same color to me, so I can't be sure if, from the sheep's perspective, "wolf-exclusive resource points" would be highlighted...

Mingpo pondered, considering various possibilities.

"Stay a while, Chen Bingwen."

Suddenly, Ai Shiping spoke up: "Let's search this carriage... and I also have some questions for you. Let's... be sincere with each other."

For some reason, he seemed somewhat familiar with this game mode.

"it is good."

Chen Bingwen adjusted his glasses and nodded.

"Okay, I'll write this down. This is..."

Mingpo hummed in agreement and looked up at the carriage.

But then he froze.

They just spawned in carriage number eight.

After opening the carriage door, it should theoretically be in carriage number seven or nine.

But now, it clearly says on it: Carriage No. 8.

Is this also carriage number eight?

Thinking this, Mingpo took a few quick steps forward.

After passing these seats, he found himself back in that luxurious reception room.

However, there was no trace of where they had sat before. And although it looked similar, some drawers and fabric colors were different. "...Very well, it seems that giving directions directly won't work."

Mingpo sighed, then became slightly interested: "Let's go... let's go to the next carriage. We'll leave this one for them to search." "Okay, okay!"

Liao Tinglan followed closely behind Mingpo.