In the first round, when everyone still didn't understand the rules...

The "wolf" had completely ignored his absolute safety window, holding onto the explosive for so long.

Was that even possible?

Lin Ya hadn't paid much attention to the time back then, knowing the first pass wouldn't trigger the explosion.

But this game was different from the initial Death of the Minority. In Death of the Minority, they had sat very close together, much like guests at a round table during a wedding banquet.

In this game, however, the gap between them was nearly two meters!

With such a distance and such dim lighting, could he really read micro-expressions accurately?

Then...

Under what circumstances could the "wolf" absolutely outsmart me?

On the first level, I would follow his command, press [Pass], and immediately send the turntable to Monkey.

On the second level, I would doubt his command, immediately press [Terminate], and snatch back the initiative of the dealer!

No matter what the "wolf"'s actual bet time was—taking a step back, even if he really had only bet a few seconds, it didn't matter.

As long as I didn't wait, it definitely wouldn't explode!

So under what circumstances would I lose choosing either of these options?

At this thought, a clear realization sprang to Lin Ya's mind:

Ming Po had gone all-in with his time.

She and Monkey no longer had any chips, but the "wolf" was different; he absolutely could not afford to lose.

If she directly clicked [Terminate], she would absorb all of the "wolf"'s remaining time into her own.

The "wolf"'s time would instantly hit zero, and he would smoothly detach from the game!

Similarly, if she directly clicked [Pass], and Monkey directly clicked [Terminate], Monkey would immediately absorb all of the "wolf"'s remaining time.

The "wolf" would detach from the game just the same!

For Monkey, who already had the most time to begin with, it didn't matter at all whether he lost.

Moreover, Lin Ya had noticed it—Protector and Monkey must have secretly traded chips just now!

Otherwise, why would he reach his hand under the privacy screen on Monkey's right?

Could they be gay?

The movement was far too obvious!

That was why she wanted the "wolf" to send her out of the game first. That way, she would have an excuse to ask him for his chips and keep them for him.

"Three seconds have passed," Ming Po suddenly reminded her.

In that instant, Lin Ya's pupils contracted sharply.

But immediately after, a surge of ecstasy swelled in her chest.

Excellent—she guessed right this time!

With the "wolf"'s Wisdom, if he intended to go for the shortest timer, he would have chosen either one or two seconds.

Anything longer than that carried the risk of being rotated back by the opponent in a one-on-one battle!

Obviously, the timer paused while the Sunflower was rotating—otherwise, it might explode in the empty gap between players. If that happened, no one would be killed, and the game would be meaningless.

Now that three seconds had passed, she still wasn't dead.

This proved that the "wolf"'s true timer wasn't that short!

No, his bet couldn't possibly be short!

Blowing someone up would only net a chip worth "one day." This wasn't a particularly tempting option for someone who had already cleared a Promotion game. Furthermore, instantly blowing someone up and ending the game right off the bat would be far too boring.

Based on Lin Ya's judgment, the "wolf" was clearly a thrill-seeker!

He would disdain to choose such an uninteresting option even if he figured it out!

If he were a player who pursued victory and efficiency, she would have died long ago in the first game!

Then, if the "wolf"'s true timer was very long, what should she do?

Should she try to consume her own time first? But she had too much hidden time beyond "sixty seconds," making accurate timing impossible. Or should she seize back the position of the dealer first—

"Game over. Thank you for your hard work."

The Host's voice suddenly rang out.

The restraints on Ming Po's and Monkey's wrists were released simultaneously.

"...?"

Lin Ya froze.

In that instant, time seemed to pause in her world for an eternity.

The next moment, her whole body began to tremble.

Lin Ya realized what had happened.

She pressed the [Terminate] button without hesitation. But no matter how many times she hammered it, the machine showed absolutely no reaction.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

Lin Ya let out a piercing scream, her right hand frantically mashing the [Pass] button.

When it still yielded no response, she started furiously smashing the keyboard. Even as the back of her hand was scratched and covered in bloody streaks, she showed no signs of stopping.

"Why? Why?! Why! Why!!"

She couldn't understand.

Why this time?

What was the point of setting this time?

How long had she just been thinking?

Should she have just pressed [Pass]?!

"Because you took my money."

Ming Po laughed, yet there was no hint of mirth in his eyes. "With that chip, I bought your loyalty. That's why you were able to live until now.

"As long as you didn't betray me, I wouldn't betray you."

From within that small Sunflower, countless steel gun barrels extended outward.

The number and size of those gun barrels were several times, if not dozens of times, larger than the Sunflower itself!

They resembled a sprawling, mechanical monster, reaching its predatory tentacles toward Lin Ya.

"Weren't you the one who betrayed me first?!" Lin Ya screamed, her voice breaking. "You colluded with them!!"

"What Mr. Frankenstein actually said to me was," Protector suddenly interjected, "'Cheer Monkey on, he needs your affirmation.'"

...How was that possible?

Lin Ya's eyes widened.

"You betrayed me three times, Lin Ya. Yet you still show no remorse."

Ming Po answered softly, "Even on the third time, I left you a chance to repent.

"I even gave you clear hints.

"I asked: 'Can you trust me?'

"'Can you trust me at all times?'"

If Lin Ya had trusted Ming Po even once, she would not have died in this round.

Because Ming Po's timer was seven seconds.

Seven—that was Ming Po's favorite number.

In his living room, the incense burner in front of his own black-and-white funeral portrait held exactly seven sticks of incense.

So from the very beginning of the betting, he had locked in this number.

Before the game even started, Ming Po had realized that he didn't need to exert much effort at all.

The Host had him use "thirty seconds" for the demonstration precisely to implant a subconscious bias in the others, preventing them from immediately thinking of the optimal solutions of "one second" or "sixty seconds."

The fact that the Host did this meant it was effective.

And Lin Ya's intention to choose a large number to seize the initiative had already been seen through by Ming Po.

His goal was fundamentally different from the others'.

They were all here to earn chips.

But Ming Po was different.

He had come specifically to judge Lin Ya.

And now, the verdict was out.

—Guilty.

"I—I was wrong! I beg you—"

Lin Ya's screams rang out.

She was almost completely covered by the continuously spreading forest of gun barrels.

"I trust you! I absolutely trust you! I was wrong, I'll change—"

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

A slender bullet pierced her shoulder, intentionally missing her vitals.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!

The next moment, bullets roared like a torrential rain, and Lin Ya's body was excruciatingly slowly torn to shreds.

Lin Ya's miserable screams were drowned out by the gunfire, the muzzle flashes resembling a warm campfire in a dark, dense forest.

Ming Po stared intently at the scene, watching Lin Ya get blasted into minced meat bit by bit.

"It's too late," he said softly. "I won't forgive you again."

"Sir..." Protector walked over, looking at Ming Po with a complex gaze mixing gratitude, sympathy, and vigilance. "Thank you—for being merciful..."

The gratitude went without saying. The sympathy stemmed from his belief that a companion's betrayal was deeply painful to the soul.

As for the vigilance, it was because of Ming Po's actions in the final round: if Lin Ya had believed his words, the one to die might have been Monkey.

But that was to be expected.

After all, they truly hadn't colluded, meaning they were inherently in opposing factions.

"It's nothing."

Ming Po glanced at them, his eyes somewhat conflicted.

He seemed a bit wistful, yet also slightly envious.

"Now that the game has ended, we don't need to be hostile anymore."

Protector asked in a highly familiar tone, "Perhaps... we can cooperate in the future?"

"If fate allows, we will naturally meet again."

Ming Po nodded, declining Protector's invitation.

He pondered for a moment before speaking up, "Right—I'll give you a piece of advice.

"It's best to hide your true appearances and true names. Otherwise, you will die."

Hearing Ming Po's solemn warning, Protector's heart tightened as he realized something.

He cast a glance at Lin Ya's remains and nodded earnestly. "Thank you, I understand."

Although who knew what he thought he understood...

Ming Po couldn't be bothered with him.

If he was willing to listen, he would naturally survive. If not, it would be someone else's turn to punish him. Ming Po had no interest in babysitting and nagging endlessly. Reminding him once was already more than enough.

Even this single reminder was solely on account of the other party belonging to the Domain of Virtue.

[Passing the Flower Drum, Cleared]

[Host: Ink (Balance - Silver)]

[Difficulty: 1 Hour]

[Number of Cleared Players: 3]

[This game has additional rules]

[You gained Clearance Reward: 0]

[You completed a special rule, gaining an additional reward: Time Chips - False Gold of Days (1 Piece)]

[Evaluating...]

[Based on current highest authority level, obtained Title: Forgiver]

[Forgiver (Virtue - False Gold)]

[A severe error occurred]

[Unable to obtain titles from the Domain of Virtue]