Player 2 took a deep breath, as if trying to exhale all the shock, anger, and unease that had built up in his heart along with that single puff of air.
The expression on his face flickered repeatedly between rage and a dazed stupor.
Ren Yi sat in his seat, taking in all of Player 2's expressions by the faint candlelight.
He could somewhat understand Player 2's current state of mind.
The deduction he had reached was too far-fetched, too horrifying. He instinctively wanted to escape it, unwilling to believe that such a terrifying thing could be happening right beside him.
But his reason told him over and over that this was currently the only explanation for all the lingering doubts.
A commotion rippled through the hall. Player 2 remained silent for several heartbeats. Only when the noise gradually subsided and everyone's emotions had stabilized enough to reluctantly accept this bizarre theory did he finally speak again.
"I know what I'm saying sounds like a fantasy, like the ravings of a madman. But don't forget, we are currently in a fantastical death game. Anything is possible."
He slowly scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over the shifting expressions of doubt on everyone's faces. "Please discard your useless fixed mindsets. Do not immediately reject a theory just because it defies common sense."
"Anomalies themselves are existences that transcend common sense. We cannot use the logic of ordinary people to measure their abilities and methods."
"I don't have the time to keep trying to persuade you to believe me. Time is running out. We must make a decision quickly."
Player 2's tone suddenly became firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
"That's it. We vote tonight. Everyone votes for Player 10."
"Tomorrow, I will combine all the clues and analysis from these past two days to decide who we'll send out next."
As he finished speaking, he reached out and pinched his candle, instantly extinguishing the dim yellow light.
In the next second, the candle in front of Ren Yi flared to life. The flickering flame illuminated his face, which was still covered in white paint.
Ren Yi slowly stood up, his posture straight, his face wearing a touch of perfectly measured calm.
His current situation could be described as safer than ever before.
Among the existing list of suspects, there were undoubtedly only Player 10 and the three women: Players 5, 6, and 11.
As for himself, because he had stayed with the Peeper, Player 2, all of last night without leaving—combined with his calculated move of skipping the kill to create a peaceful night—he had completely cleared himself of suspicion.
According to the current situation, at least two more people would have to die before suspicion could even possibly fall on him again.
In other words, now was the perfect time for him to charge onto the battlefield and lead the narrative.
Ren Yi first gave a light cough to draw everyone's attention. Then, his lips curled into a perfectly crafted look of admiration as he turned his gaze toward Player 2, his tone so sincere it was flawless.
"Brilliant. Truly brilliant."
"Our Chosen Peeper, Player 2, certainly hasn't let everyone down."
Aside from the joy he was faking, there was actually a hint of genuine sentiment in those words.
"First, I want to formally vindicate Player 2."
Ren Yi's tone grew serious as his gaze swept over everyone present.
"Player 2's identity as the Peeper is absolutely genuine. There is no doubt about it."
"Last night, I stayed with him the entire time. I saw him summon the surveillance images with my own eyes, and we watched the activity in Room 11 together."
"If you still want to doubt him and say he's an Anomaly trying to lead us astray, then you're basically saying that both Player 2 and I are Anomalies."
"But let's not forget: the clue on the ceiling clearly points to a female, and both Player 2 and I are male."
"That possibility became completely invalid the moment that clue appeared."
"So, let's have no more useless speculation regarding Player 2's suspicion. It's a pure waste of time."
Ren Yi let a look of sincere guilt cross his face as he shook his head slightly, taking the opportunity to explain his brief probing after yesterday's meeting.
"Thinking back, my suspicion of Player 2 after yesterday's meeting was truly unnecessary. I hope Player 2 won't hold it against me."
Ren Yi spoke with a solemn tone and a steady gaze, acting as if he were Player 2's most loyal follower.
"Without a doubt, I will firmly follow the instructions of my 'Chosen Peeper.' I will be voting for Player 10 today."
Having finished his performance in support of the "Chosen Peeper," Ren Yi knew the groundwork was laid.
Next, it was time to start throwing mud—no, it was time for his own analysis.
He turned slightly, his gaze sweeping over Player 5, Player 6, and Zhang Qiuqiu as his tone gradually shifted.
"Alright, I've already stated my stance regarding today's vote."
"Now, let's analyze which of these three is the most suspicious."
"Based on Player 2's earlier speculation, there is one point you must keep clear in your minds during your upcoming reflections."
Ren Yi paused intentionally, slowing his speech, successfully capturing everyone's full attention.
"The Anomaly we need to find now is an identity after possession."
"Therefore, her performance during the leadership election and the first day must be judged separately from her current performance. They cannot be lumped together."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment.
Ren Yi continued, "For example, we can be almost certain now that Player 11's act of accusing Player 12 on the first day was the work of a good person."
"Because the Anomaly on the first day was undoubtedly Player 7."
The others nodded one after another, agreeing with Ren Yi's logic.
Zhang Qiuqiu sat in her seat, her face still devoid of any expression.
"Of course, I'm not saying Player 11 is completely free of suspicion," Ren Yi said, his tone becoming more rigorous.
"I'm simply saying that the logic used by some to attack and doubt her based on her accusation of Player 12 on the first day is no longer valid."
"We can no longer use past behavior to judge her current identity."
How marvelous it was—every word was the truth, without a single lie, yet it allowed everything to unfold exactly according to his wishes.
"So, I think we might as well look further ahead and focus more on comparing the states of these individuals over the past few days."
Ren Yi's tone softened slightly, and a trace of a helpless smile even appeared on his face.
"But actually, in my opinion, all three of them have their own suspicious points. It's hard to immediately determine which one is the possessed Anomaly."
As he spoke, Ren Yi began to list them off with practiced ease.
"For instance, first there's Player 6. I don't know if everyone noticed, but she has become very active these past two days."
"She climbed the fireplace twice. Whether it was searching for clues or analyzing the situation, she has been exceptionally proactive."
Player 6 remained calm, her gaze cold and without a hint of panic, as if the person Ren Yi was talking about wasn't her. She simply watched Ren Yi silently, waiting for him to continue.
"Then there's Player 5." Ren Yi turned his gaze toward Player 5, his tone remaining flat.
"On the first day, she clearly had a desire to lead everyone, speaking up proactively and offering her views. She even had a bit of a dispute with Player 2 over the keys."
"But these past two days, she has become unusually quiet."
As Ren Yi spoke, Player 5's expression instantly became somewhat unsightly.
"And finally, Player 11." Ren Yi's gaze finally landed on Zhang Qiuqiu. "On the first day, she went through something so terrifying and saw the Anomaly's form with her own eyes. But these past two days, she seems to have recovered quite quickly."
These words intentionally or unintentionally put pressure on all three of them.
After tossing out a round of mud, Ren Yi changed the subject.
"To be honest, I think we might as well think from another angle—from the Anomaly's perspective."
"Think about it: if you were the Anomaly and had the ability to kill and possess someone, who would you choose to possess?"
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