Xu An

What kind of mini-games are there before tomorrow? How many rounds are there in these mini-games you're talking about?

All-Purpose Character

Game Administrator: Hahaha~ Interesting, someone's even willingly courting death.

All-Purpose Character

Game Administrator: But, no comment!

Xu An

Damn it...

Xu An frowned, his steps slightly heavy as he walked back to his room. The moment he opened the door, he was startled to find everyone gathered inside.

Li Xingyan

Hey! You're back! Everyone's been waiting for you!

Xu An

What are you all doing... gathering together and then coming to my room to discuss something?

Li Jiong

Don't just stand there, come in and sit down! We've just gotten to the most crucial point!

Zhao Xue

These dishes probably won't be so easy for us to eat, will they?

Before the game administrator finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and then a variety of delicious dishes were laid out on the table: Lanzhou noodles, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), spicy chicken, spicy rabbit head, Kung Pao chicken, celery stir-fried with pork, diced radish, white rice, pickled fish, and braised pork with preserved vegetables.

Xu An

This meal is most likely what you call "mini-games," and you want us to play them. I'm pretty sure I'm right.

Wang Sijia

I agree with you. There's no such thing as a free lunch; a trap is more likely.

Welcome all players to this gathering! We've prepared mini-games for our esteemed players to strengthen our relationships.

Xu An

What games do you want to play?

The rules of this mini-game are as follows: Using a lie detector as a medium, the game revolves around the names of dishes. If someone lies, the dish they chose will be poisoned, and each of you must take a bite.

All-Round Role

Game Administrator: The game is called "The Prey"

Zhao Xue

No choice... Okay, I'll play this mini-game.

Xu An

You guys are really ruthless, linking our lives together.

▲Note: Your poison is not guaranteed, and being poisoned doesn't necessarily mean certain death.

Li Xingyan

Let's participate; at least we understand the rules here.

Li Jiong

Surviving is more important than anything else; we must seize the initiative!

Wang Sijia

I'll participate too. I'm not willing to die in this mini-game.

The mini-game 'Prey' begins. All players are participating.

Xu An

What's my question? (A half-smile, waiting for the question that could kill him at any moment)

All-rounder

Game Administrator: Since entering the game, how many people have you killed?

Xu An

I killed two people, including those I indirectly caused to die.

Everyone was startled, with Wang Sijia and Zhao Xue being the most astonished. However, what shocked them was not Xu An's answer itself, but the unusual state and emotional fluctuation he displayed while answering—or rather, the almost complete absence of emotional fluctuation. His voice, cold and mechanical, was the one they had long been accustomed to. But Xu An, as a human being, revealed an indifference to life and death the moment he was questioned. His response was as flat as a stagnant pool, without a ripple, as if the entire world could not move him in the slightest. It was this extraordinary calmness that made one wonder if someone were to say that Xu An was not human; some might be skeptical, or even agree.

Zhao Xue

Xu An, when did you kill two people? Wasn't it always just one person? (Confused)

Wang Sijia

He said it included those indirectly caused to die, so…

Li Xingyan

So Zhao Lei's death is also counted. According to Xu An's thinking, that's indeed correct.

The game was progressing too smoothly, much to the displeasure of the person hiding behind the scenes. The situation only started to get interesting when the last few players entered the fray.

Li Jiong

"I really don't know the answer to that question! I can't answer it."

"Li Ling's chosen dish, 'Kung Pao Chicken,' has been poisoned. Please, players, taste this delicacy."

Xu An

(Taking a bite of the tender, juicy Kung Pao Chicken) "It really is a low-probability event. After all, eliminating too many players in a mini-game isn't good for them."

Zhao Xue

"So you mean our chances of being poisoned are actually very low, but also very dangerous!? Xu An, do you know what to do?"

Wang Sijia

"Perhaps...perhaps the game hints told us this from the beginning, but we didn't notice."

Omnipotent Character

Game Administrator: Hurry up and enjoy your food, you two.

Everyone assumed the person who tasted the food earlier was unharmed, but fate is fickle. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Zhao Xue and Wang Sijia collapsed one after the other, their faces as pale as paper, falling into a coma and becoming silent. This sudden turn of events sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Li Xingyan

Calm down, there must be clues or hints! (Thinks carefully and recalls)

Li Jiong

The hint is: "Your poison isn't guaranteed to work, and even if you are poisoned, you won't necessarily die." (Analyzes diligently)

Omnipotent Character

Game Administrator: You humans are really strange~ You make such a simple thing so complicated, is it to show off that you are a higher species?

The manager's words were like a wake-up call for Xu An. At that moment, Xu An seemed to understand certain aspects and details of the mini-game.

Xu An

"Let me try. They should still be saved."

Xu An had the two girls slowly drink from the cups corresponding to their five elemental positions. After seeing Zhao Xue and Wang Sijia wake up, he asked Li Jiong and Li Xingyan to take care of them.

Xu An

"Now that we've passed your mini-game, shouldn't you start the third round of the official game?"

Li Xingyan

"We have too few people left this time. We'll most likely be eliminated in just one round!"

Li Jiong

"That's right. So, mastermind... what are you going to do?"

As soon as Li Xingyan, Li Ling, and Xu An finished speaking, they saw many people dressed like police officers rush into the secret room.

All-rounder

Game Administrator: Let's welcome our new friends.

Police Officers

There are hostages! We must ensure their safety and survival!

Xu An

Inner monologue: Police, hostages... It seems we've been caught up in a murder case.

-Flashback & Inside the Mall (Six Hours Ago)-

Police Officers

Officer Zhao, there's a murder! The crime scene is the women's restroom in the mall.

Officer Zhao

What kind of case is it?

Police Officers

The People's Fragment case. This is the third one this month.

Officer Zhao

Let me see the victim's information. Have you also figured out the victim's network of relationships?

Victim information is as follows:

Information: Female, 23 years old, suffers from congenital heart disease, ordinary family, only child, sent to an orphanage after her parents' divorce, her network of relationships consists of only three casual friends she met after starting work.

Officer Zhao

The victims in the three cases are two men and one woman. The only commonality is that their parents are divorced and they all grew up in an orphanage.

All officers

Officer Zhao, have you discovered anything?

Officer Zhao

The orphanage… Yes! It's the orphanage! You all need to quickly investigate the past experiences of those three victims in the orphanage. Make sure you thoroughly investigate everything they did there!

"If you want the truth and justice for them, come here to find the real culprit. Everything you desire is here."

Police

Who are you? Why should we believe you!?

Who is killing?(superior)