chapter 44
As soon as Jiang Li finished speaking,
the Survivor who was originally going to team up with Jiang Li as No. 40 was immediately shot dead by the Administrator.
A loud “Bang-!”
The Administrator put away the shotgun and then handed Jiang Li the “No. 32” Wrist Tag.
Jiang Li’s fingertips were icy cold as she took the Wrist Tag and sat down.
The Survivor who had been shot by the shotgun wasn’t completely dead yet.
That person trembled as he tried to get up.
The Administrator pulled out the shotgun again, walked up, and fired three more shots at the person’s head.
“Bang-Bang-Bang!!”
Only after the person was completely dead did the Administrator put away the shotgun.
The Experts in the Live Streaming Room let out a collective sigh.
Fortunately, Jiang Li had switched to No. 32.
If Jiang Li had just switched to No. 01 and ended up alone, even nine lives wouldn’t have been enough for her to survive this kind of killing.
After returning to her Seat, Jiang Li unconsciously clenched her fists.
Her action had saved one person, but had also indirectly caused the death of another…
But there was no other way. If they failed this Instance, and the Strange Tales descended upon Huaguo, even more civilians would die!
Xia Xiaoqiang thought Jiang Li was afraid.
She patted Jiang Li’s hand. “It’s okay, Sister Jiang. That person was just unlucky.”
Jiang Li nodded lightly.
Xia Xiaoqiang was right. In an apocalyptic environment, survival depended not only on strength, but also on luck.
Take Liang Jie, for example… his luck was pretty good!
Just a moment ago, his earphones had fallen off, and Jiang Li happened to notice the Red Mole on his earlobe.
If that accident hadn’t happened, Jiang Li definitely wouldn’t have stepped forward to care about his life or death.
Across from her, Liang Jie stared straight at Jiang Li.
His beautiful brows arched slightly, and he smiled brightly. “Thank you. I didn’t expect you to save me.”
The boy’s voice sounded casual.
Jiang Li looked at him and gave a faint, cold smile.
“Don’t overthink it. Last time you told me the Carriage number, so you could say you saved me once.”
Liang Jie raised one eyebrow and chuckled. “I’m not overthinking it.”
Jiang Li couldn’t be bothered to respond and simply withdrew her gaze.
She always felt there was something odd about this boy.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on what exactly was strange.
“All Survivors, please switch Seats and sit facing your partner.”
Xia Xiaoqiang greeted Jiang Li and then got up and left.
Wang Qiang also left.
Now, only Jiang Li and Liang Jie remained at the table.
After a few minutes of Seat switching, the Survivors found their partners, and the Carriage gradually quieted down.
At Jiang Li’s table, the two adjacent Seats remained empty; no one came over.
A group of Staff Members in Black Vests came forward and handed out three cards to each person.
One was the Game Rules, and the other two were game items.
All three black cards were placed face down on the table, showing only three identical skulls ??.
After the cards were distributed, another Staff Member placed a pile of coin-like objects on the table.
There were four stacks, five coins in each stack, totaling twenty coins. Each coin had “10 Points” written on it.
So, there were 200 Points on this table.
“This game will be timed for ten minutes. Survivors, please read the contents of your cards carefully… The game begins!”
As the Administrator finished speaking, he rang a silver bell in his hand.
The Survivors present all flipped over their cards and began reading the Game Rules.
[Train Card Game]
[Game Name] Points Contest.
[Game Introduction] In this game, the Points pool contains a total of 200 Points. Survivors are paired in groups of two and must discuss a Points distribution plan. The time limit is ten minutes.
[Game Rules]
[1. Both parties may communicate.]
[2. During the game, you may not kill your opponent.]
[3. If both choose “Take All,” each receives 0 Points.]
[4. If both choose “Split Evenly,” each receives 100 Points.]
[5. If one chooses “Split Evenly” and the other chooses “Take All,” the one who chooses “Take All” receives 200 Points, while the one who chooses “Split Evenly” receives 0 Points.]
Jiang Li looked at these Game Rules and was reminded of the seventh rule of the Dining Car Rules:
[At the end of a single game, those with less than 50 Points will die.]
In other words, in this round, anyone who ends up with 0 Points… will die!
Jiang Li glanced at the other two cards.
One card had “Split Evenly” written on it, followed by a sentence: “If both choose to Split Evenly, cooperate for a win-win, and no one will die.”
The other card read “Take All,” with another sentence:
“Will he really ‘Split Evenly’ with you?
You agree to Split Evenly, but if he chooses ‘Take All,’ you’ll be killed by his betrayal!
Remember, you are enemies, not teammates.
Don’t trust his nonsense. Never choose ‘Split Evenly.’ If you must choose, choose ‘Take All.’
Either get everything, or everyone dies together!”
Jiang Li didn’t need to think to know that this game was designed to sow discord among people.
They wanted to use this game to filter out those who are greedy and skilled at deception.
If you trust your partner too easily in the game, you’ll most likely die.
But the deceiver in the game not only survives, but might even get all the Points.
The entire process on the Train seemed to be pushing people toward being “evil, selfish, and cold-blooded.”
Jiang Li looked up at Liang Jie.
At this moment, Liang Jie had also finished reading the rules and looked at Jiang Li.
The two of them fell silent.
They stared at each other for a long time.
“Let’s Split Evenly,” Liang Jie broke the silence first.
He took out a card, placed it face down on the table, and pushed it to the center.
“If you also choose ‘Split Evenly,’ we can both survive.” Liang Jie looked straight at Jiang Li.
Jiang Li didn’t respond.
She didn’t know whether this Liang Jie was a good person or a bad one…
If Jiang Li listened to him and put out the ‘Split Evenly’ card now-
But if Liang Jie was deceiving her, and the card he pushed out wasn’t ‘Split Evenly’ but ‘Take All,’ then things would be bad!
Jiang Li would get 0 Points, while Liang Jie would get 200 Points.
Jiang Li would die here due to having less than 50 Points at the end of the game.
But Liang Jie could accumulate Points and work toward reaching 1000 Points before dawn tomorrow.
Jiang Li’s eyes flickered, her emotions unreadable.
This Liang Jie in front of her-he had entered the Dining Car Carriage safely, unscathed. This person was definitely not simple!
Jiang Li’s index finger tapped the table lightly, one beat after another.
Three seconds later.
Jiang Li pressed down on the card Liang Jie had placed in the center and pushed it back to him.
“Take it back first,” Jiang Li said seriously. “I can tell you clearly, I will choose ‘Take All.'”
Liang Jie’s eyes changed.
Jiang Li continued, “Don’t be in a hurry. If I get 200 Points, I promise to give you half before the game ends.”
Liang Jie laughed, “Why should I trust you? If I let you get all the Points, what if you go back on your word afterward?”
Facing Liang Jie’s question, Jiang Li just smiled faintly:
“I said, I will definitely choose ‘Take All.’
Anyway, if you choose ‘Take All,’ you’ll definitely die.
If you choose ‘Split Evenly,’ and I betray you by not sharing the Points, you’ll still die.
Since you’re doomed to die no matter what you choose, why not take a gamble?
If you win the bet and I keep my promise to give you half, you’ll still have a chance to survive.”
Liang Jie understood Jiang Li’s logic and couldn’t help but laugh, “Haha, I’m dead either way. Why am I so passive?”
“Want to bet?” Jiang Li curled her lips into a smile and placed a Skull Card in the center of the table.
Liang Jie took back his original card, mixed it with his three cards, and shuffled them.
“Let’s bet!”
Liang Jie agreed with a smile.
He picked up a card, placed it face down in front of him, and pushed it to the center of the table.