Lu Zihan immediately sent a massive question mark, his tone helpless: 【Stool, aren't you getting a bit too into character? Is this level of exaggeration really necessary?】
Ren Yi was relentless.
【Exaggeration? Where am I exaggerating? Who are you saying I killed? Am I the murderer? You're slandering me left and right—watch out, or I'll sue you for defamation!】
Lord Cha stared at the screen for a long time before sending a single period, his tone overflowing with exasperation.
【This is too ridiculous. Zhang Qiuqiu, aren't you their class monitor? Can't you keep him in check? If he keeps acting like this, even I'm going to start believing he's a good person!】
Zhang Qiuqiu replied instantly.
【Halt! You, a mere ghost who died by my hand, how dare you try to get chummy with me?】
【I am a righteous champion of the human faction. How could I ever associate with an Anomaly like you!】
Ren Yi immediately chimed in, his tone sycophantic and cooperative: 【Yes, yes! The class monitor is absolutely right. Well said!】
Lord Cha: 【...】
At this moment, Ren Yi's tone became serious, as if he were truly plotting a victory for the human faction.
【Since our Lord Locksmith has already accurately locked down an Anomaly, then as long as we follow the lead of Lord Locksmith and Lord Peeper tomorrow and vote out that locked "Anomaly," won't we humans win?】
Watching these two play off each other, Lord Cha was completely speechless. He silently sent a "lying flat" emoji and then sent a private message to Lu Zihan.
【It's over, Old Lu. These two have lost it. Let's ignore them and go play games.】
【Wait, wait, wait!】 Lu Zihan suddenly interrupted in the group, his tone carrying a hint of sudden realization, 【I get it! I finally get it!】
【So, your plan is to deliberately skip the kill to create a peaceful night, and then smear the person the Locksmith locked as the Anomaly? Since they were locked, they couldn't kill anyone, which resulted in the peaceful night—is that it?】
Ren Yi sent a "gratified" emoji, his tone carrying a bit of praise: 【Not bad, Old Lu. It looks like you've finally learned some perspective-taking. My teaching wasn't in vain.】
【But I have a question,】 Lu Zihan continued. 【Why are you so sure they won't think the Locksmith protected the Anomaly's target?】
【Some might think that, but... what does it matter?】
He then explained in detail: 【As the "good guys," Player 3—me—and Player 11—the class monitor—along with our great Peeper, Player 2, will all lean toward believing that the Locksmith definitely locked an Anomaly last night.】
【In this situation, we only need to trick one more person into voting with us to get the locked person out.】
Ren Yi paused and added: 【This is why I've been intentionally and unintentionally hinting to Player 2 that "the Locksmith might lock an Anomaly."】
【Stereotypes are a terrifying thing. I want to plant that idea in her head so she has a preconceived notion.】
【Right now, there are actually two possibilities.】
【First, there might be one or two Anomalies, and the Locksmith protected their target last night, resulting in a peaceful night.】
【Second, there's only one Anomaly left, and the Locksmith happened to lock that sole Anomaly, so they couldn't go out to kill, resulting in a peaceful night.】
Lu Zihan immediately followed up with his own doubt, his tone uncertain.
【I have another question. How can you guarantee that Player 2 will definitely lean toward the "Anomaly was locked" theory?】
【What if he thinks the Locksmith protected a human?】
Ren Yi sent a sly smiley face.
【He'll think that way without us even having to guide him.】
【Comparing multiple Anomalies to just one, the situation with only one Anomaly is obviously more ideal.】
【So, he'll naturally lean toward the more "optimistic" direction.】
【He'll subconsciously take our side and agree with the narrative that the Locksmith locked the Anomaly.】
The group fell silent for a moment.
Truly Baffling: 【That's so dirty, Stool.】
Don’tTouchMyTailAndMelons: 【So dirty!】
WhatAreYouLookingAt: 【So dirty +10086. But I like it.】
Slime Flight Edition: 【I call this being strategic!】
The banter in the group continued, but Ren Yi slowly exited the chat and turned to look at Player 2 beside him.
Player 2 was still in the same position, propping up his head and staring at the surveillance screen. The exhaustion in his eyes was about to overflow, yet his brow remained tightly furrowed, his face full of vigilance.
"Still worried?" Ren Yi spoke up, his voice very low, a hint of undetectable eeriness hidden within his warmth.
"Worried that an Anomaly will burst in and kill you while you're not looking?"
Player 2 stiffened all over and turned his head to look at him, his eyes full of wariness. "What else? It's just the two of us here. An Anomaly could come at any time."
Ren Yi smiled softly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the edge of his clothes, his tone flat yet guiding.
"Actually, there's no need to be so tense. Think about it—the Anomaly hasn't come yet."
"Like I told you last night, the Locksmith might have already locked the Anomaly. If they really did, there won't be any danger tonight."
He paused, his gaze falling on the reddened corners of Player 2's eyes. "Look at you, you didn't sleep well the last two nights. If you keep pushing yourself like this, even if the Anomaly doesn't come, you won't be able to hold on."
Player 2 pursed his lips and said nothing, turning back to stare at the screen, though his shoulders remained tense.
Ren Yi didn't press further. He just sat quietly beside him, his gaze occasionally drifting over Player 2's profile.
That look wasn't exactly friendly, nor was it malicious, but it carried a subtle sense of a predator examining its prey, as if he were admiring Player 2's current tension and unease.
Time passed bit by bit as the night deepened. The only things left in the room were the faint light from the screen and the steady breathing of the two men.
Player 2's head grew heavier and heavier. His eyelids kept drooping as sleepiness surged like a tide.
Even though he desperately pinched his own arm, he couldn't stop the heavy drowsiness. His head would nod occasionally, and his gaze became vacant, as if he were about to fall completely asleep.
Just as Player 2's head was about to drop to his chest and he was about to sink into a deep sleep, Ren Yi suddenly reached out and gently shook his shoulder. His tone was still gentle, but it carried a hint of undeniable power: "Don't sleep."
Startled, Player 2 sat up instantly, the hair on his body standing on end. His eyes were full of terror, and his voice trembled: "W-what's wrong? Is the Anomaly here? Is it going to kill me?"
He snapped his head toward the door, his hands instinctively clenching, looking ready to fight back at any moment.
Ren Yi reached out and lightly pressed on his shoulder. The force wasn't great, but it was enough to calm him down.
Then, he slowly shook his head, a faint smile curling his lips: "Don't panic. There's no Anomaly."
He pointed out the window. The horizon was already turning a faint white. The morning light filtered through the gaps in the window, spilling into the room and dispelling some of the night's chill.
"It's dawn."
Rate on N.U.
