What was going on?

Lin Ya's expression changed drastically.

Why would someone of this caliber appear in such a low-level game?

Her face immediately flickered with uncertainty, and she clenched her hands tightly.

The other two also felt uneasy. They subconsciously exchanged a glance but did not say anything else.

"I have a question."

Ming Po suddenly spoke up. "If two people wager the same 'maximum' time, how is the dealer determined? Is it passed down? Rerolled?"

"..."

"If there is a tie for the most," the Host replied, "then the dealer position passes to the person with the second-highest amount.

"I highly advise you not to do that. I will add an extra rule: if the round is voided, one person will be randomly selected to be shot to death.

"Alright, please place your wagers—"

However, the Host did not leave them much time to think. Barely five seconds had passed since the rules were explained.

Let alone fully formulating a strategy—they were still processing the rules and had not completely grasped how the game even worked.

The fat man codenamed Protector steeled his resolve and decided to follow the example provided by the Host.

He wagered thirty seconds!

Lin Ya, meanwhile, bit her lip.

She had lost too many times in a row. Ever since the beginner game ended, she had barely earned any chips.

She could not afford to lose again!

In the past few games, without exception, she had fallen into a passive state because she lacked perspective, lacked intelligence, and lacked initiative!

She was still somewhat immersed in the game that had just concluded. Anger burned in her mind—Lin Ya believed she had done her absolute best; it was only because she lacked perspective that her deductions were wrong.

Since her arguments had been acknowledged by everyone present without any doubts raised, Lin Ya felt this proved her train of thought was clear and correct. Her words were an unquestionable truth! The only reason her deductions fell apart was a flawed premise—the player acting as the Seer had absolutely no idea how to play and failed to investigate as previously agreed. That was why she deduced everything incorrectly.

Such a failure obviously had nothing to do with her!

Because attacking her would expose flaws and easily draw suspicion, no one was willing to do it! Even when a person targeted by the entire group was saved by her—a mere commoner—no one attacked her for it.

This was why she had ultimately survived despite her failure.

After that game ended, a highly dissatisfied Lin Ya immediately started the next round.

These were her very last chips.

In this game, she was determined to seize the initiative. However, the 'wolf' from the beginner game, who had dragged everyone into a gamble with their lives, still left a psychological shadow on her.

Lin Ya was a little afraid. What if she chose sixty seconds and everyone else also chose sixty seconds? What if they had to play that damned game of Russian roulette again?

But if sixty seconds was dangerous, and others thought the same way, then fifty-nine seconds might also be dangerous.

She hesitated for a moment before finally wagering fifty-five seconds.

"The dealer is Diplomat," the Host announced.

Immediately after, with a whirring rush, the Sunflower spun around to face Lin Ya.

"Please enter the time within five seconds. Five, four, three—" The Host's voice rang out once more.

Lin Ya hesitated for a split second, her mind racing.

Her shortest wager time was fifty-five seconds, and the maximum... should be one hundred and fifteen seconds!

A thought popped into Lin Ya's mind—

Can I just bet it all?

Just go all-in!

This way, the earlier someone presses [Terminate], the more time I can have removed!

If I get terminated in the first round, my time might instantly decrease by over a hundred seconds!

In that case, even though I have the longest time right now, I might actually have the chance to be the first one out!

Just like... Fight the Landlord!

The landlord has the most cards, but they are the easiest to empty out!

Although she had not fully figured out the specific rules, time was running out.

She rapidly punched in 115, wagering the maximum amount of time!

"Two, one—"

Right at the moment the Host said "one," Lin Ya hit confirm.

With a humming hum of energy charging, the Sunflower raised its head, emitting a chilling, trembling sound of a gun chambering a round.

"I..."

Lin Ya originally wanted to smile and say something like, "I actually didn't wager that much time," to bluff.

But only then did she realize that her palms were completely drenched in sweat.

The cute Sunflower she was facing was a vicious weapon capable of shredding her to pieces in an instant!

The words caught deep in her throat; it felt like she had a severe case of pharyngitis, unable to spit them out or swallow them down.

"Please press [Pass] within five seconds. Five, four—"

Ultimately, she could only dejectedly press the button, turning the Sunflower toward the next person.

As the Sunflower rotated to the position of the young man codenamed Monkey, a beeping sound like a timer about to detonate began to ring out:

Beep, beep, beep...

The numbers on the digital watch hanging from the young man's forehead finally began to drop.

Starting from 60, it decreased by one every second.

He visibly began to tremble. His brain, which had just been trying to think, instantly turned to mush.

Seeing this, the expression of the middle-aged man, Protector, relaxed. "Since we can see the time, this makes things much easier—"

"Seven—"

"Wait, we can see the time?"

The skinny and frail Monkey was still a bit confused. He cast a pleading gaze at the middle-aged man. "What time?"

Even now, he still failed to comprehend the rules of the game.

He seemed to want to call for help, but clamped his mouth shut at the last second.

He did not want to expose the fact that he knew the other party—because that might cause them to be targeted.

"Tell me a number lower than the time you just wagered!" Protector asked sternly, "Hurry!"

"Then... twenty-five! Fifteen!" Monkey said without hesitation.

The middle-aged man nodded, seemingly relaxing a bit.

He stared at the time above the young man's head, silently counting down in his heart.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man ordered, "Pass!"

Monkey pressed the button without hesitation, turning the Sunflower toward the middle-aged man.

The number above his head had dropped from 60 to 45.

"I see..."

Ming Po nodded slowly and spoke, "The dial only displays everyone's base time—the time added through wagering is not shown here.

"In that case, the personal time added by pressing [Terminate], as well as the time deducted from the dealer, are probably hidden as well."

"I understand now, too."

Lin Ya also realized what the middle-aged man was doing.

Or rather, she was the person who could most easily realize it—