Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The words were Liang Chen’s death sentence, to be carried out immediately. His vision darkened, and his legs almost gave way beneath him.

“Mr. Liang Chen, I can have a server escort you to the room on the first floor for euthanasia,” Tina said.

Tears spilled down Liang Chen’s face as he sobbed quietly. Many of the others could not bear the sight.

“Then I’ll call a server…”

Halfway through her sentence, Liang Chen suddenly remembered something. He wiped away his tears.

“Wait. Didn’t you say that during the entire game, we have three Mastermind votes? If we vote out the Mastermind, the game ends immediately. That means I won’t have to die, right?”

“That’s right. So, Mr. Liang Chen, are you planning to call a vote now?” Tina asked.

“Yes. I want to call a vote!” Liang Chen had grasped a lifeline.

“Hey! We only get three votes in total, and you plan to waste one?” Hong Long shouted. “The game has barely begun. How could you possibly know who the Mastermind is? If you’re guessing blindly, you’ve only got a one-in-nineteen chance. There’s no way you’ll get it right!”

“I’m not guessing blindly. That last contest told me who the Mastermind is!” Liang Chen shouted.

Everyone stared in surprise. Ruirui immediately asked, “Who?”

“Him!” Liang Chen pointed at Chen Nuo.

Chen Nuo frowned. “What evidence do you have?”

“There was something wrong with you from the beginning! When we gathered at the airport, everyone else was talking and laughing, but you showed no emotion and looked burdened by something. I remember wondering why someone going on vacation didn’t look happy at all.

“Now I understand. You infiltrated our group with a purpose. Later, when one thing after another happened, you always seemed calmer than anyone else. Perhaps you didn’t realize I was watching you in secret. You weren’t nearly as frightened as the rest of us. Since you’re the Mastermind, nothing that happened surprised you!

“And you were the most impressive player in both the first and second contests. You devised tactics and strategies within minutes. Perhaps that’s because, as the Mastermind, you’d already considered every possible outcome and how to respond.

“Of course, there is another possibility. Perhaps you truly are so intelligent that you can devise tactics almost instantly. But think about it, everyone. The Mastermind dared to take an enormous risk and challenge so many people, which means they must be extremely confident in their own intelligence. Even from that perspective, Chen Nuo is the most suspicious person among us!”

Liang Chen’s analysis gave everyone pause. They could not help wondering whether it might be true.

Chen Nuo wanted to reveal that he had cancer. It would explain why he had been unhappy and why he was not as terrified as everyone else. But he suspected they would still see it as a desperate excuse. He had not brought his medical report and could not prove he had cancer. Besides, he had no need to defend himself that way.

“You think I’m suspicious and want to call a vote. I don’t object,” he said. “But you’re making this decision recklessly to save yourself and wasting one of our chances. That puts everyone at a disadvantage.”

“You’re scared, aren’t you? You pretend not to care, but inside you’re panicking. You’re afraid we’ll vote you out, so you call it ‘wasting a chance,'” Liang Chen said.

“Fine. I won’t say another word. Call the vote.” Chen Nuo could not be bothered to explain further.

“Mr. Liang Chen, are you certain you want to call the first vote now?” Tina asked again.

“Yes. I want to call a vote to name Chen Nuo as the Mastermind!” Liang Chen said.

“Very well. When someone calls a vote, I must explain the detailed voting rules!” Tina said.

“The group has three Mastermind votes in total. Anyone except the Mastermind may call one. In other words, the Mastermind cannot initiate a vote.

“Any other person may call a vote against someone at any time. Three possible outcomes may follow.

“First, A calls a vote against B, and at least half the group votes for B. If B truly is the Mastermind, the game ends immediately. The surviving contestants split the prize money equally, and the organization sends them safely home.

“Second, A calls a vote against B, and at least half the group votes for B, but B is not the Mastermind. In that case, one Mastermind vote is consumed.

“Third, A calls a vote against B, but fewer than half the group votes for B, meaning the majority do not believe B is the Mastermind. The vote is void and does not consume one of your three chances. However, A, who recklessly initiated the vote, is immediately eliminated.”

After explaining the rules, Tina asked the group, “Does everyone understand how the vote works?”

“The third outcome counts as a failed vote, correct? And the person who initiated it dies?” Xiang Meiling asked.

“Yes. That rule is meant to ensure you only call a vote when you’re confident! If you initiate one recklessly and fail to win the support of half the group, the consequences will be severe!” Tina said. Then she asked, “Do you still want to call the vote, Mr. Liang Chen?”

Of course I do! I’m about to be eliminated anyway. How could I refuse my last chance to live? If fewer than half the group votes with me, I’ll be eliminated, but that’s already going to happen. Why not try to persuade everyone to vote for Chen Nuo? If he really is the Mastermind, the game will end and I’ll survive!

“Yes. I am calling the first vote now. I name Chen Nuo as the Mastermind!” Liang Chen declared.