Even though Maple Syrup's breathing had grown heavier with anger, she didn't storm off. Within seconds she'd forced her expression back under control, head bowed, calm and quiet, waiting for the game to begin.

She knew exactly how to handle someone like Captain. With arrogant egomaniacs, silence was the sharpest blade.

Everyone at the table who recognized him had the same thought and the same plan: pretend ignorance.

The round table wasn't large—one careless gesture could brush another player's sleeve.

"Well then, let's begin," Captain said brightly. His tone was light, almost cheerful. He spread his hands across the surface, and a divine white card shimmered into being at the table's center. Silver runes rippled across its back before he flipped it over.

First card: "This one once proposed marriage to a god."

Every player's head snapped up at once.

What? Who?

Each saw the same look of shock on the others' faces.

Quex exhaled. "...You're all good actors."

Frenzied Shark studied each face in turn, but no one's expression cracked.

Only Maple Syrup's gaze sharpened. After a few seconds of quiet observation, her eyes stopped on BS Rita. "Something that ridiculous? Definitely you."

Rita frowned, offended. What was that supposed to mean?

Then, belatedly, memory hit her—oh right.

During Chaotic Blocks, when she'd been testing the [Foolishness Game], she'd once told a certain Fat Duck, "Let's get married."

She kept her face perfectly blank.

Time to test her acting skills.

Above the card, silver motes formed a floating countdown. The four players studied each other in silence. No one flinched.

But Quex's eyes glowed faintly, Frenzied Shark's fingers shimmered with magic, and Maple Syrup twirled an owl feather between her fingers. Everyone was using detection skills.

When the final second hit, four fingers pointed at Rita simultaneously.

A light bloomed on the tabletop—one point for each correct answer.

Quex, Frenzied Shark, and Maple Syrup all went quiet.

Quex finally broke it. "When did that happen?"

Frenzied Shark: "Did it work?"

Maple Syrup: "With who?"

Rita replied smoothly, "Aba Aba Aba ba." Too many to remember. Which one are you talking about?

Captain's expression didn't change, but his silence spoke volumes.

Still scrolling through the god-and-demon chat feed, he flipped the next card.

"She once made her world cry."

Every gaze turned to Rita again in perfect synchronization.

Rita: "...Aba." Not me.

Why was she always the first suspect?

But unease crept into her chest. Had BlueStar ever cried? No... had it?

Frenzied Shark turned to Maple Syrup. "You said Lania Kaia's invading BlueStar, right? So BlueStar's crying because of her?"

Maple Syrup said evenly, "I wouldn't know. But I understand."

Rita: ?

What was with this sarcastic tone from everyone?

When the timer hit its final second, she pointed at herself.

This time, only Maple Syrup joined her. Quex and Frenzied Shark both pointed at Maple Syrup.

Quex raised a brow. "So that face just now—you were reflecting, weren't you?"

Rita replied instantly, "Aba." Reflection doesn't exist in my life.

Third card: "She once carved off part of a god's flesh and baked it into cookies."

No one hesitated this time. All fingers shot toward the notorious cookie enthusiast—Maple Syrup.

And judging by their stunned faces, none of them had thought she'd actually pulled it off.

Maple Syrup's eyes sliced toward Captain. She pointed at herself.

Fourth card: "She was once deeply loved by a god… until she gave that god's divine token to her pet."

Rita immediately pointed to Winter Sea, Frenzied Shark.

Something about it just felt right—and maybe even connected to her old curse.

Correct.

Maple Syrup, ever the quick learner, started copying her answers.

Fifth card: "She betrayed her world."

Rita glanced around. Maple Syrup and Frenzied Shark both pointed at Quex, who calmly lifted his own finger toward himself.

Sixth card: "She was betrayed by her own race."

Again Rita looked around. Maple Syrup and Quex both aimed at Frenzied Shark, who wordlessly pointed at himself too.

Seventh card: "She personally shattered her own world."

At that, Rita noticed all three of them glaring murderously—at her.

Maple Syrup: "Do we get to write our own questions now?"

Quex: "Do you always cheat off our answers?"

Frenzied Shark: "Proud of yourself?"

Rita: "..."

Their outrage made it obvious who the real culprit was.

She pointed at Maple Syrup.

Correct.

Rita smirked. "Aba?" Just a bit of simple deduction. Why would I need to copy?

Then she gestured lazily toward them, smiling at Captain. "Aba Aba~" Getting mad over a game already?

Captain smiled back, amused, and flipped the next card.

Eighth card: "She is the only World Arbiter."

Rita's pulse skipped, but her face didn't move. She looked up just like before—only to find all three players staring straight at her.

The silence stretched.

At the final second, all four pointed.

Every finger landed on Rita.

Veteran players tended to know each other's reputations. Once the other possibilities were eliminated, only BS Rita remained.

Maple Syrup's tone was low, incredulous. "You're the Arbiter of BlueStar?"

Quex and Frenzied Shark both stared at her, a tangle of awe, envy, and caution flickering behind their eyes.

Rita smiled sweetly. "Aba, Aba ba~" That connects the dots, doesn't it? My world cried and begged me to be its Arbiter.

Captain: "..."

He didn't think this was the seahorse's influence at all. This was just Rita—pure, unfiltered Rita.

Ninth card: "During a certain war, the invading leader promised the conquered world a fifty–star-sea-year ceasefire if a certain player would die. The world voted… and in the end, that player slaughtered the invading leader and every compatriot who had voted yes."

No need to copy anyone this time. Everyone linked it to an earlier question.

All fingers pointed to Winter Sea, Frenzied Shark.

He raised a thumb at himself and nodded politely to the table. "Anyone who wants the full details of that legendary battle can come find me anytime."

"..."

Correct.

Tenth card: "She accelerated Lania Kaia's invasion of BlueStar."

Rita froze. Her eyes flicked sideways—and met Maple Syrup's.

That icy gaze curved upward in a smile, one that looked sweet but never reached her eyes.

She leaned in slightly, voice soft and sing-song. "Hard one, isn't it? Who do you think it could be?"

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