While Player 9 was breaking down at the table, the group chat remained exceptionally lively.
【Class monitor, you're acting too well! You're about to crush my arm!】
Lu Zihan sent a message of protest.
【Shut up and keep acting natural. If you slip up, I'll tell your mom you were slacking off in the game when we get back!】
Zhang Qiuqiu's message carried a sense of overwhelming pressure.
【Copy that! I promise not to mess up! I definitely won't drag you down, class monitor!】 Lu Zihan immediately backed down.
Back at the table, Player 9 paused before adding, "Also, regarding the room assignments, I agree with Player 5's proposal to draw lots."
"And as for the Locksmith, I also agree with what Player 3 said earlier. Tonight, don't stare at those of us who claimed to be the Lost Soul. Go look at the ones coasting, like Player 4, or those who haven't spoken yet, like Players 10, 11, and 12. They're much more suspicious!"
As he spoke, the candle flame before him began to flicker slightly, a clear sign that his speaking time was almost up.
The veins on Player 9's forehead were bulging with urgency, and his voice had turned hoarse.
"In short, I beg you all to believe me! Don't be fooled by the Anomaly's disguise on Player 7, and don't let those who are just messing around lead you astray!"
"You can vote for me, but please wait until tomorrow. Give me a chance to prove my identity. Don't let a real Anomaly get the Leader position, or we're all finished!"
With that, he sat back down, his chest heaving heavily.
In the dim manor banquet hall, four green candle flames flickered in a silent, ghostly standoff.
【This uncle is really desperate. Sigh, it would be so great if I could have a melon to eat right now.】
In the chat, Lord Cha posted a message with a hint of regret.
【Hahaha, but he also seems a bit dazed.】 Lu Zihan replied.
【Stop laughing. Let's see what Player 10 has to say. If another Lost Soul steps up, the situation will get even messier,】 Zhang Qiuqiu reminded them.
That was true. Ren Yi stopped fiddling with his hair and turned to look at Player 10, who was slowly standing up.
Player 10 was an old man with a small mustache, wearing a dark traditional robe. He stood tall and appeared calm and composed.
"Sigh..." He looked at the four competing green candles and gave a soft sigh, his tone filled with helplessness. "This situation is truly complicated. I thought I'd be able to see through it, but it's only getting more chaotic."
With those words, everyone felt a wave of relief.
Judging by his tone, he clearly wasn't going to claim to be the Lost Soul.
For now, that left only Ren Yi, Player 6, Zhang Qiuqiu, and Player 9.
Player 10 first glanced at Player 7, Zhang Qiuqiu. His gaze was flat and his tone steady, devoid of aggression, yet there was a distinct note of criticism in his voice.
"I wasn't very comfortable with Player 7's speech just now."
"You said that if everyone doesn't believe you, they can vote you out tomorrow to prove yourself... Saying that during an election for Leader is quite inappropriate."
He paused and added:
"We are electing a Leader right now, someone to lead the team."
"Coming out and saying 'at worst, vote me out tomorrow' is not a responsible attitude. It certainly doesn't sound like a Lost Soul who can stabilize the situation."
He shook his head slightly, his gaze falling on Zhang Qiuqiu's tearful eyes. There was a faint, barely perceptible trace of disdain in his voice.
"I'm not saying you aren't the Lost Soul."
"My thought is that even if you are, I don't want to give my vote to a little girl like you. I don't think you can handle the position..."
After finishing with Zhang Qiuqiu, he glanced at Player 9, who was still panting, and shook his head dismissively.
"As for this Player 9... his emotions are too erratic, and his analysis is a mess. He's talking about supernatural tales and intuition without any substantial evidence. It's not very convincing."
"I find it hard to believe that someone who can't even control their own emotions would be the real Lost Soul."
However, he shifted his tone, not wanting to offend everyone completely, and added a steadying remark:
"But as of now, Player 6's state seems the most like a good person."
"Her logic is clear, her targets are definite, and she's bold enough to call people out. For now, I'm siding with Player 6."
As for Ren Yi—well, he didn't even give him a glance.
It was as if Ren Yi, who was acting crazily and jumping back and forth on the field, wasn't worth his time to comment on.
In his eyes, Ren Yi was either an Ordinary Human who didn't understand the rules or someone intentionally trying to cause trouble; there was no need to take him seriously.
Having said his piece, he adjusted his robe and prepared to sit back down.
In the silence where one could hear a pin drop, a soft "Whoosh" sounded, clearly heard throughout the banquet hall.
The eerie green candle flame in front of Player 6 had been blown out by her.
The entire room went silent.
Everyone's eyes snapped to her, then simultaneously whipped back to the old man, Player 10.
Just as Player 10 had firmly sided with Player 6 and publicly praised her for being calm and looking like a good person, Player 6 had directly blown out her candle.
She abstained, retracted her claim, and quit the race.
Player 6, who had just been aggressive and forceful in pointing people out, had chosen to extinguish her candle at the very moment she should have been doubling down to solidify her position.
This meant she was denying being the Lost Soul, withdrawing from the Leader election, and no longer standing against the others who had claimed the role.
The atmosphere instantly became exceptionally awkward.
Abstaining after probing for identities was normal, but why did she choose to quit right when Player 10 had confidently sided with her?
The calm, self-assured composure on Player 10's mustachioed face froze for an instant, and the smile at the corner of his mouth solidified.
He had just openly declared, "I stand with Player 6," and she had immediately turned around and put out her light.
It was a direct slap to the face.
The corner of the old man's mouth twitched, and his fingers tightened slightly as he struggled to maintain his dignified elder persona, but he couldn't hide the shock in his eyes.
The silence persisted as everyone mentally speculated on Player 6's reason for withdrawing.
Was she scared? Could she not keep up the act? Or was she an Anomaly all along, intentionally faking a role to confuse everyone, and now that she'd achieved her goal, she was making a graceful exit?
Ren Yi, tired of playing with his hair, began to rub his nose, a playful glint in his eyes.
He figured Player 6 was indeed just probing. She had stepped up initially to see the reactions and find out how many people would claim the Lost Soul role.
Once two other "Lost Souls" had appeared, she was probably ready to bow out.
He wasn't sure what her logic was—maybe because there weren't many people left to speak, she wanted to wait until just before the formal vote to withdraw to get the most genuine reactions?
In any case, something went wrong. Player 10 turned out to be a bit of a blockhead and suddenly sided with her, putting her on the spot.
Afraid that she might actually mislead the good people and be unable to maintain her disguise later, she had panicked and immediately retracted her claim.
Messages jumped one after another in the group chat.
【Hahahahahahaha! I'm dying! That old man, Player 10, is so pathetic!】
【Player 10: I stand with Player 6! Player 6: Sorry, I'm out.】
Lu Zihan was typing at lightning speed, though how he managed it was a mystery.
Perhaps because he couldn't laugh out loud, he was about to burst from holding it in.
Lord Cha emerged slowly: 【Interesting, very interesting.】
【Hiss, that's gotta sting. The old man probably wants to find a hole to crawl into right now.】
Ren Yi finally understood.
Lord Cha's love for board games probably wasn't because he liked the games themselves, but because there was drama to enjoy.
Fair enough. Cha likes eating melons—it was perfectly reasonable.
Rate on N.U.
