[Number One Su Ming'an, your identity is — "Order Angel."]

[Order Angel: Every round, you may choose one person to "exonerate." If that player suffers a fatal attack during this round, they will be spared from death. This ability cannot be used on yourself.]

...

The cards vanished.

Su Ming'an glanced at the expressions of the people around him.

Shadow wouldn't sit idly watching these people; surely, some players were lured by Shadow's manipulation. Mentality Disturbance, brainwashing, special identity temptations... it was hard to determine if the players kept their true hearts.

...

[Next, enter the "Word Spirit Session."]

[The "Word Spirit Session" is a supplemental phase of the night segment. Please proceed to draw cards.]

...

Cards resembling Tarot Cards appeared on the table, with candlelight flickering. Surrounded by murals and statues, the people were solemn. It felt like they weren't just playing a game but deciding the fate of the world.

The reality was, if Su Ming'an and Mizushima Kawa Sora couldn't win, everything would end.

Su Ming'an cautiously drew a card, and upon flipping it open, it was blank. Noel and others also drew blanks.

...

[Player eleven drew the Angel card. Please choose two players.]

...

Eleven, Boris, paused, looking at the Angel card in his hand: "Choose players... then I'll choose Number Five Mizushima Kawa Sora and Number Seven Eli."

He felt this wasn't a good thing, best not to choose his deity for now.

...

[Then, please conduct a selection from the three options.]

[Question: Numbers Five and Seven, do you trust the deity or Shadow?]

[Question: Numbers Five and Seven, what is your ultimate wish?]

[Action: Number Five pierces Number Seven's shoulder.]

...

Witnessing this, everyone immediately reacted.

Word Spirit implies "irrefutable commands," "conditions that must be fulfilled." So this was the game method.

"Like the King's Game... a sly game, trying to uncover our secrets," Number Eight Agnes frowned. To gain an advantage in the day segment, one must participate in this "Word Spirit Session" to obtain props.

Eleven Boris pondered for a moment, then spoke with a smiling face: "I choose three."

Eli stared coldly at him.

"Obviously, the first two are easy, one is easier than two, yet you choose three?" Eli's voice was cold enough to freeze.

...

[Please note, the more severe the consequences from a chosen option, the more precious props the three participants can obtain. (Sometimes, the consequences of questions are more severe than actions.)]

[Does Player Five accept this action? (If not accepted, another punishment will be received.)]

...

"Accept." Mizushima Kawa Sora kept a straight face.

She walked to Eli, with the Black Blade raised.

"Miss Mizushima, I just told you the myth on the chair's back," Eli said helplessly.

"Sorry." Mizushima Kawa Sora swung the blade.

Blood splattered, instantly dyeing Eli's suit and brooch red. He shuddered, clutching his shoulder, suppressing the pain.

Mizushima Kawa Sora's strike carried no special skill, just an ordinary strike, targeting the left shoulder instead of the right. Yet when Eli tried using a Blood Bottle, the wound didn't heal, as if it would linger for a long time.

Throughout the process, Eli couldn't dodge successfully. This reminded Su Ming'an of High-Level Matrix Orders; previously, Chao Yan used a High-Level Matrix Order, which was also irresistible, like a system command.

...

[Numbers Five, Seven, and Eleven each gain 30 Points. (Points can be exchanged for props.)]

[Currently available props for exchange:]

[Voting Right: In the next night segment, you will have the power to vote for banishment. (Exchange price: 30 Points)]

[Clue Hint: In the day segment, you will receive one clue hint. (Exchange price: 30 Points)]

[Affection Hint: In the day segment, you will learn one person's specific Affection Value for you. (Exchange price: 30 Points)]

[Route Hint: In the day segment, you will learn the specific next step route. (Exchange price: 30 Points)]

[Resurrection Right: When facing fatal damage, you can revive once. (Exchange price: 150 Points)]

...

[The "Word Spirit Session" consists of three rounds each time, with two rounds remaining. Please continue to draw cards.]

...

It seemed like a punishment session. Due to the randomness of Action Cards, no one knew if they drew something good or bad.

In the next round, Number Six Xue Qixia drew the Angel card. He raised an eyebrow, and the Heart's Blood swayed by his ear:

"I choose Number One Su Ming'an and Number Four Noel."

He and Su Ming'an were already at odds; whether facing a true person or reflection, Xue Qixia had done things to sabotage Su Ming'an. More importantly, Shadow promised that if he hindered Su Ming'an, he would reveal the fundamental secret of the World Game to him and offer a racial class change.

He didn't care about Points. If the Word Spirit game had severely consequential options, he could easily eliminate a competitor. Thus, he chose the highest Combat Power, Number One Su Ming'an and Number Four Noel.

Three choices unfolded before him.

...

[Question: Please, Number Four, answer why you transformed children?]

[Question: Please, Number One, besides Soul Ferry, do you have any trump cards? If so, what is your final trump card?]

[Action: Number Four sever Number One's left hand.]

...

The options appeared, shocking everyone.

Originally, stabbing Eli's shoulder was considered severe, but now, in the second round, an option of severing a limb emerged. If this continued, how bloody would this Word Spirit game become?

... Noel, have you transformed children?

Mizushima Kawa Sora's gaze fell on Noel. She vaguely heard rumors, but this was the first time to confirm it. Although she hadn't thought much of it, moral guardians were different; they didn't care if the children survived, only wanting to keep them pure.

Under the crossing gazes, Noel's face remained calm. His eyes settled on the faintly burning flames, lost in thought.

"Shadow... hmph," Noel muttered to himself.

"I choose the third option," said Xue Qixia.

"...You've gone mad!" Agnes was incredulous. Lu Meng also shot him a reproachful look.

"Since it's a competitive mini-instance, we can't trust anyone, so targeting a high-configuration player isn't a problem, right?" Xue Qixia spread his hands: "Previously, moral condemnation was fine, but now you can't expect me to sacrifice myself for the Number One Player. I scrutinized their appearance, and Su Ming'an doesn't seem to be from the good man camp."

Su Ming'an recalled that he hadn't offended this person in any way. The closest interaction was when Xue Qixia shot and killed Yi Zhongyu's father, but there was no personal enmity between them.

If he wasn't unable to see the chat, he could even anticipate how rowdy the viewers in the live broadcast room would be... Hmm?

He lifted his eyelids.

Text was flickering faintly in the top right corner of his vision. After staring at the option [Pull up the chat interface] for three seconds, the chat box appeared:

[What's Xue Qixia's true identity? Probably a witch, targeting Su Ming'an like this.]

[Today is March 18th. I see that commercial brands in the Main God World are starting activities to earn Points, trying to create a new kind of Valentine's Day. Points from young couples are easy pickings; even a bouquet of roses can sell for 0.2 Points.]

[Judging Su Ming'an as not a good man just by his looks? That's too biased.]

[It's over! Dieying is about to descend, the World is going to be destroyed, sigh...]

[...]

Su Ming'an widened his eyes.

... The chat is back?

He suddenly realized that the Deity hadn't successfully stopped him, so continuing to block his awareness made no sense. All the things he couldn't see before, he could see now—including the live broadcast room chat.

Perhaps noticing Su Ming'an's gaze, the live broadcast room suddenly erupted:

[Damn! He seems to be able to see the chat now?]

[For real? I've been sitting in an empty room for thirty-three days, thirty-three days! Do you know how I've gotten through this! Ah—?]

[Rejoice, the global forum is about to explode, the Number One Player is finally awake!]

[Who knows how much I've suffered these days... a kiss, mwah mwah...]

...

Su Ming'an withdrew his gaze.

The chat, which he used to find annoying, now seemed rather comforting.

...

[Number 4, please act.]

...

Noel sat in his seat, a knife appeared before him.

Without even looking at Su Ming'an for confirmation, he said, "I forfeit this action."

He chose to accept the punishment.

...

[Number 4 records a punishment, which will take effect after entering the daytime phase.]

[Number 1 and Number 6 each receive 30 Points.]

...

The punishment that can replace chopping off a hand surely won't be lighter than losing a hand.

Su Ming'an saw that the chat had started to become turbulent again. Although there wasn't any more information about Noel's child-modification activities, viewers self-proclaiming as "related parties," "insiders," and "New World staff" began to talk about various unverifiable things to gain attention. Noel's supporters also flooded into the live broadcast room, vehemently cursing at those spouting nonsense, creating quite the chaotic scene.

People always like to assume the worst in others, even when they don't know the full story, believing that others' actions must arise from the deepest malice.

There were rumors that Noel had been snatching children away, that his entire power came from the sacrifices of children, and eventually, some even claimed that Noel's Authority was also obtained through the lives of children, and so on.

The diversity of humanity's morals was particularly evident.

But there were also many Awakeners dedicated to maintaining order. Noel usually had excellent popularity; many liked him, so the disturbance didn't last long.

After all, in most people's eyes—Noel was someone who possessed "Authority," even the Organizers had to be somewhat wary of him, and he had great potential to save all of humanity. In the face of their own life-and-death crisis, people were still somewhat clear-headed.

Su Ming'an had cut off the live broadcast when discussing the Authority bet with the Deity, so no one heard about the bet on Su Ming'an's "Authority."

He was an insider. He knew the transactions between Noel and the children were mutually consensual with no deception or coercion involved. From the post-war conditions of the Ruined World, one could tell that once the World Game ended, the helpless children couldn't survive at all. Those scenes of bloody Emotional Resonance, Su Ming'an still remembered now.

However, some viewers only had moral righteousness in their hearts and believed that children should never be involved. Anyone helping the children must have malicious intentions.

[Anyway, kids should behave and stay in the kindergarten, shouldn't get involved in instances.]

[I think it's great. Since we can't help the kids, and Noel, this pinnacle player, is willing to help, isn't that a win-win?]

[I don't think Noel has bad intentions. So many children sincerely like him; if he was a hypocritical person, the children wouldn't like him.]

[I'm only in my teens too! I'm also a kid! Noel! Please modify me too! I don't want to be a waste anymore (crying)]

[Who knows if he deceived the children.]

[...]

The third round of the Word Spirit game quickly began.

This time, it was Alger who drew the Angel card. He pointed at Number 9, Zhang Daoxuan, and chose a non-lethal option, ending the round quietly, apparently not planning to make enemies.

The Word Spirit game ended. Next, the twelve would choose their partners and enter two-by-two through the doors on the wall. If Su Ming'an wanted to check teammates' identities, this was one of the few opportunities. In the church, private identity confirmations were not allowed.

"First, confirm Lv Shu or Yuanyuan's identity; you don't need to confirm mine." Noel came over.

With such suggestive language, Noel should be in the good people's camp. If death in the Third Tower was indeed real death, then Lv Shu and Yuanyuan were in the most dangerous situation.

...This round, should he confirm identity with Yuanyuan or Lv Shu?

Su Ming'an turned his head.

Lv Shu said, "I'll go with Noel, you go with Yuanyuan."

He gave the chance to Yuanyuan.

For him, he was always the least important.

There were a total of six doors. Number 5, Mizushima Kawa Sora, and Number 6, Xue Qixia, went through the first door. Number 7, Eli, and Number 8, Agnes, went through the second door. Number 9, Zhang Daoxuan, and Number 11, Boris, went through the third door. Number 10, Alger, and Number 12, Lu Meng, went through the fifth door.

Casually choosing the sixth door, the moment he walked in with Yuanyuan, Su Ming'an heard the system prompt sound.

...

[Now entering the dawn-to-dusk transition time, players with nighttime identities, please use your abilities.]

[Number 1, you have been chosen by a player with the Puppet Master identity, you will leave your original camp, establishing a third party, and align with the third party's win conditions.]

[You have ten minutes for discussion. After the discussion time ends, it will transition to the daytime phase.]

...

He entered a pure white space.

Number 11, Boris, smiled as he stood in the space, surrounded by invisible threads.

"—You're the Puppet Master?" Su Ming'an said.

He knew that the [Puppet Master] would certainly pull him into a third party since who wouldn't want to win alongside the Number One Player? But he didn't expect the Puppet Master to be Boris. Besides Su Ming'an, Boris would surely choose someone else with high Combat Power…

Then, another player walked into the pure white space.

It was Number 2, Yuanyuan.

Their eyes met, and Su Ming'an was surprised.

"I won't let you be separated by life or death, after all, the Deity and she are good friends, right?" Boris smiled, "Is my choice to your satisfaction, God?"

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