Skipping the Kill

After Ren Yi finalized the plan to "skip the kill tonight" in the group, the chat fell silent for two seconds. Lu Zihan was the first to pop up, sending two messages in a thoroughly confused tone that perfectly shattered the cool atmosphere Ren Yi had just built.

【What does skipping the kill mean?】

Ren Yi looked at the screen, the smile on his face instantly freezing. He mentally face-palmed: silence.jpg.

Old Lu, can you not kill the vibe like this?

When he had typed those words, he felt like a master strategist, cool as could be. Yet, in the next second, he was dragged back to reality by this guy's existential questioning.

Before Ren Yi could explain, Lord Cha popped up with a smug "I get it, I get it" attitude, voluntarily switching into tutorial mode.

【You're so hopeless, Old Lu. You don't even know what skipping the kill is?】

【It means we aren't killing anyone tonight. We're deliberately creating a peaceful night and not advancing the elimination count. Get it now?】

Lu Zihan remained completely dazed and followed up with another question.

【Not killing anyone? Isn't that just giving them a free round? Rounds are already tight in a slaughter game. Isn't this move a bit too ridiculous?】

Lord Cha's tone softened slightly, carrying a hint of regret and helplessness as he patiently explained.

【It's not like we have a choice! Right now, we can't be sure if the monitor counts as an Anomaly. Ren Yi absolutely cannot be voted out.】

【If he's gone, the only "suspected Anomaly" left on the field might be the monitor. We'd be completely finished then.】

【If we kill Player 2 tonight, Ren Yi is right there next to him. He'd be the prime suspect and would definitely be voted out tomorrow. It's too dangerous.】

【So, even though skipping a kill is a loss, it's currently the only safe way. As long as there's no danger, it's fine.】

After saying that, Lord Cha sent a "Zen-like lying flat" emoji.

After what it had just gone through, it now looked as though as long as it didn't die, things like rounds didn't matter. It was all about maintaining a good mindset.

Ren Yi looked at Lord Cha's explanation and was about to add a few words to clarify his layout.

Suddenly, Zhang Qiuqiu, who hadn't spoken for a while, sent two messages. They were brief and sharp.

【Ren Yi.】

【Yeah?】 Ren Yi replied quickly.

【You're so dirty.】

Just three short words. There were no extra flourishes, but Zhang Qiuqiu's sincerity could be heard even through the screen.

Her tone didn't sound like she was complaining; it sounded like she was offering a genuine, heartfelt compliment.

If they were face-to-face right now, Zhang Qiuqiu would definitely give him a thumbs-up without hesitation, her eyes filled with the respect of "you really know how to play dirty."

Ren Yi was instantly displeased, and his typing speed picked up.

【How can you describe me like that? This is called tactical adaptability and resourcefulness. What do you mean by dirty? Broaden your perspective a bit!】

Zhang Qiuqiu replied instantly. The praise in her tone was almost overflowing, yet her tune remained unchanged: 【Fine, you're incredibly dirty.】

This back-and-forth completely baffled Lu Zihan and Lord Cha, who were just watching the show.

The two of them didn't react for a long time, and the group fell into a brief silence.

After quite a while, Lord Cha couldn't help but send a "face full of question marks" emoji and asked.

【Wait, what kind of riddles are you two talking in? What's dirty or not? Why don't I understand?】

Ren Yi sighed helplessly, rolled his eyes at the screen, and typed.

【Lord Cha, I seriously doubt if you actually like playing board games. Did you just join the Board Game Club to make up the numbers? You can't even figure this out?】

These words instantly set Lord Cha off. He exploded on the spot, sending a string of messages full of indignation.

【What nonsense are you talking! I'm a veteran of the Board Game Club. I've played at least eighty to a hundred games. How could I be there just to make up the numbers? Don't you look down on me!】

So... he was the type who loved to play but was terrible at it?

Seeing Lord Cha's bristling reaction, Zhang Qiuqiu helplessly sent a message to guide them.

【Alright, alright, stop arguing. You two think about it—if you were on the human side and saw that last night was a peaceful night, what would you think?】

Lu Zihan was the first to ponder, eventually squeezing out a sentence.

【Uh... would they think the Anomaly was blocked by the rooms?】

【After all, those safety pods are rule patches that Anomalies can't break through. So they couldn't kill anyone?】

Lord Cha also chimed in, his tone carrying a bit of smugness.

【I know! Would the humans think the Anomaly was scared off by Player 2's words?】

【Since Player 2 was staring at the screen the whole time, the Anomaly thought they'd be discovered if they tried to kill him, so they hesitated and ultimately didn't dare to act?】

Zhang Qiuqiu was silent for a moment, her tone tinged with helplessness.

【That's a situation we only know from the Anomaly perspective. Although we were indeed blocked by the rules... the humans won't think that way.】

Ren Yi cut in at this point, his tone sounding like he was frustrated by their lack of insight.

【Can you two try to put yourselves in their shoes?】

【After my intentional and unintentional descriptions last night, most of the human Participants have realized that Anomalies are "supernatural" entities.】

【They don't know the rules have loopholes, nor do they know the monitor has been sealed.】

【Furthermore, when they saw the horrific scene of Zhang Qiuqiu's death this morning and the suddenly collapsed room, the idea that "Anomalies are powerful and not restricted by ordinary physics" will only be more deeply rooted in their hearts.】

【Why is your thinking as Anomalies more human than the humans? You need to learn to jump out of your own perspective and practice some empathy!】

Lord Cha was a bit indignant at Ren Yi's words but couldn't rebut them, only muttering.

【I get it, I get it. I've seen a lot and played so many games; how could I not think of it!】

【Wait... then the only possibility is that the Locksmith protected one of you last night? That's why the Anomaly couldn't kill anyone?】

As soon as those words landed, Zhang Qiuqiu sent a message: 【Wow, Lord Cha is so good.】

Ren Yi also followed suit, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness: 【Lord Cha is so smart, simply amazing.】

Lord Cha looked at these two messages of praise, but he couldn't feel happy at all.

【You're clearly praising me, but why don't I feel happy at all? I feel like you're being sarcastic.】

Zhang Qiuqiu exposed him without mercy: 【Because you answered incorrectly.】

【In this situation, the assumption is obviously that the Locksmith locked an Anomaly.】

Ren Yi immediately added, joking: 【Yes, exactly.】

【Our Lord Locksmith is truly incredible. With one move last night, he accurately locked down an Anomaly.】

【The Anomaly was locked and couldn't go out to kill, which is why we have a peaceful night.】

Lu Zihan was completely lost and asked.

【What are you two Anomalies talking about?】

Ren Yi instantly switched modes, his tone righteous and stern: 【Who are you calling an Anomaly? I'm a good person!】

【I'm a confirmed innocent, personally vouched for by the Peeper himself. Plus, I stayed with him all night, never leaving his side.】

【I am the confirmed innocent among confirmed innocents, a pure member of the human faction!】

【Look at these hands of mine—so clean, not a single drop of blood on them. I haven't even stepped on an ant!】

【You Anomaly, how dare you slander a pure and kind-hearted human like me!】