Deceitful Game

Chapter 261 Five Amber

Liao Tinglan stayed close to Mingpo.

Apart from the two of them, everyone else had already dispersed to different carriages to collect resources.

They searched almost nothing, simply moving forward through carriage number nine.

Aside from the resources that were exposed and blatantly displayed on the table, which Liao Tinglan would casually take, they didn't touch a single container and charged forward headlong.

In just ten minutes, Mingpo had entered different carriages number nine more than twenty times.

Their movement speed was roughly the same as that of a healthy adult without cybernetic modifications, jogging at a leisurely pace.

After all, Liao Tinglan hadn't undergone any extensive prosthetic modifications, so Mingpo still took some care of her. For Mingpo, this pace was practically strolling.

Mingpo's purpose is very clear.

He wanted to play games with that "Fog Man".

He had been lucky enough to have it happen once before, but he missed it because he didn't have any chips on hand.

Unfortunately, we don't know what "treasure" Mo Qian obtained after completing the game...

From a game design perspective, this kind of "game within a game" nested within the initial game is clearly a benefit for newcomers. Like an "optional question" in an exam, it's a crucial element in differentiating high-achieving students.

Even if Mingpo didn't know the specific function of the treasure, he would never miss the opportunity to acquire this "initial resource".

If it's just a game like the Tower of Hanoi, then Mingpa is very confident.

The only pity is that the treasure ended up in Mo Qian's hands.

Thinking of this, Mingpo narrowed her eyes.

...He always felt that when Ai Shiping asked to switch to the other side, the sense of excitement was somewhat out of place.

Could he be trying to steal that treasure?

Although this doesn't quite sound like the weak and gentle Ai Shiping that Mingpo remembers... based on Mingpo's understanding of Ai Shiping, he is actually a very quiet person.

This doesn't mean he's an autistic person.

Ai Shiping has excellent social skills and many friends. However, he is not an extroverted person.

He doesn't draw strength from social interactions. On the contrary, he's the kind of person who drains his energy from them.

His social skills stemmed from his insight—Ai Shiping possessed the ability to discern a person's preferences, strengths, personality, weaknesses, desires, and lies in a very short time.

This ability is not based on logic, but on instinct.

It was precisely because of this talent that he was able to thrive in the human resources department.

In other words... Ai Shiping is actually a rather passive person. His talent lies in observation and listening, and when he starts to speak, it usually means that he is either nervous or excited.

In either case, it means he most likely wants to do something.

I hope Mo Qian is alright.

Mingpo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mischievous smile.

Finally, he stopped walking.

Just as Mingpo had seen the location of the Fogman, the Fogman reappeared.

But unlike before... this time there were four fog people!

They sat scattered on three different sofas, and each of the fog people's faces were not visible; they were just a cloud of white mist.

Some people were sitting, some were lying down, and some were even squatting on the sofa.

The mist figure who initially placed his hands on the table, his fingertips forming a triangle in front of him, is still sitting in the same spot where he first met Mingpo.

Noticing Mingbo's gaze, the Mistman raised his head and uttered a clear, ethereal voice:

【We meet again】

It was a sound like it had a very strong reverberation.

It sounded so hollow, like someone speaking into a microphone in an underground parking lot.

Mingpo sat down opposite him, took out a bright red chip, and placed it on the table.

"Now I have money."

Mingpo narrowed her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Want to play a game?"

【Can】

My game rules are simple... the key is fairness.

In my game, you cannot use your cybernetic bodies for complex calculations, nor can you use the communicator to call for outside assistance. Titles and treasures will also be nullified. If either of you clears the game, the entire game is cleared; if either of you fails, the entire game fails.

[Now, let's move on to the specific game content.]

Of the four of us, only one is the true body, and only one will tell the truth. You must precisely kill my true body. At the same time, you also only have one chance to attack, and you cannot harm my clone.

You have five minutes to think.

[If I don't reply within the time limit, or if my clone gets hurt...]

[One by one, you will become us]

Now, you have one more chance to back out... Are you sure you want to play this game?

"certainly."

Mingpo said without hesitation.

He became slightly excited.

...Will I die if I answer incorrectly?

【Then, as you wish】

As the Fogman's voice faded, a thick fog began to rise around them.

In the thick fog where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, Liao Tinglan quickly lost her way.

She ran around in a panic and accidentally bumped into someone.

"Huh?"

She paused for a moment, then suddenly widened her eyes: "Huh??!!!"

Because there were five bright pearls in front of her!

Within this space, Mingpo could only see four fog people.

Their originally transparent white bodies gradually transformed into solid forms in this space.

Those four fog figures had all transformed into Ming Po's appearance!

And the positions of each of them have changed from before.

The four "Mingbo" sat in a row on the sofa, each with a different expression.

One Mingpo was all smiles, one Mingpo had a gloomy expression, one Mingpo looked sad, and one Mingpo had a mocking and arrogant smile.

The real Mingpo sat opposite them.

Just like an examiner.

It was only then that Liao Tinglan finally realized that the one alone was the real Mingpo. So she approached with some skepticism. Mingpo stared at them for a moment, then suddenly understood.

Oh, I see.

It's [joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness].

For a moment, Mingpo thought that it would be great if she were a medical student.

In that case, we can now call them "the laughing doctor," "the sighing doctor," "the cheerful doctor," "the sorrowful doctor," and so on. Soon, Mingpo, smiling, was the first to speak, her tone relaxed and cheerful: "Simply put, of the two of me who are in a bad mood, one is the real me."

His voice is exactly the same as Mingpo's.

Immediately afterwards, Mingpo, expressionless and with a gloomy expression, shook his head and said in a low voice, "No, obviously... that idiot in the main body should be very happy right now."

A heartbroken Mingpo sighed and resigned herself to her fate: "Fine, just kill me... I am the real me."

The fourth Mingpo leaned back mockingly: "Ah... anyway, it wasn't me. If you kill me, we'll die together, but I don't mind... you decide."

Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—four different people, each uttering a completely different sentence. Yet, each sentence was something a real person would say.

Mingpo narrowed her eyes slightly, remained silent, and turned to look at Liao Tinglan.

Without the aid of a "collar" to assist in the calculations, Liao Tinglan soon broke out in a sweat.

She dared not move.

Because she was more afraid of answering the question wrong than of not knowing the answer.

Seeing Liao Tinglan sitting obediently and motionless, Mingpo smiled with satisfaction.

If this girl tries to sneak in and answer the questions without thinking it through, then Mingpo will have to break her legs.

It seems this young girl does have some sense of self-awareness.

"It seems the initial mini-games are about this difficult. But that makes sense, the qualifiers... can't be too hard."

Mingpo sighed, stretched out her hand, and pointed to "herself".

"You are the true essence."