Evaluation

After walking through the 45-meter-long passage, the five of them finally arrived in the same space—the entrance to the official game area.

"Are you okay?"

Wang Yongxin supported Cai Zhiyuan and helped him sit against the corner wall to rest.

But Wang Yongxin himself was not in much better shape. His original composure and confidence had vanished completely, leaving only sweat and utter disarray.

Blood had seeped through his suit as well, though not as severely as Cai Zhiyuan's.

Cai Zhiyuan shook his head. "I'm fine. It's nothing serious. I probably won't die."

Wang Yongxin glanced at Ding Wenqiang, looking as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely sighed silently.

He truly had no standing to blame Ding Wenqiang.

After all, during Blood Poker, when Wang Yongxin had reentered the compartment and discovered the secret of the Chip Exchange Machine, he could have left and shared the information with the others. But in the end, he had not done so.

Wang Yongxin raised his head toward the game area, ready to listen carefully to the official rules.

At the center of the area stood a massive four-sided display screen, with a VCR beneath it that could play old-fashioned Videotapes.

In front of the VCR was a locked glass cabinet. Inside were a crown, a Golden Scepter, and five Videotapes locked separately in different compartments.

[Ding Wenqiang has obtained the identity of "King." Please scan your Visa Time to continue the game.]

Ding Wenqiang had been looking in Cai Zhiyuan's direction, his expression somewhat hesitant, as though considering whether to step forward and comfort or apologize to him. When he heard the prompt, he did not react at first.

At that moment, Gao Zhankui, the tall, burly middle-aged man with a vicious face, had already shoved Ding Wenqiang aside and extended his wristband toward the Visa Time scanning area.

[Violation detected.]

A fierce crackle of electricity rang out. Gao Zhankui jerked his left hand back and screamed.

"Ahhh—"

His entire body convulsed as he dropped to his knees. Blue electrical arcs were clearly visible around the wristband on his left wrist.

[The violator will have 50,000 minutes of Visa Time deducted. A repeated violation will result in Instant Death Punishment.]

Ding Wenqiang had panicked a little just now, but now he shook his head with an amused smile.

There really were idiots like this.

These games had all been reviewed by the Gallery and selected from the best of the best. There would not be any obvious, low-level loopholes. Trying to exploit one like this was unbelievably stupid.

Ding Wenqiang stepped forward and extended his wristband toward the Visa Time scanning area.

With a click, the glass cabinet unlocked.

Immediately afterward, the game instructions continued appearing on the screen.

[The scepter before you is the King's exclusive item. When you make a legitimate request that complies with the game process and the other four prisoners refuse to carry it out, press the button on the scepter to administer electric shock punishment to the prisoners.]

[The Videotapes contain records of each sinner's crimes.]

[There are six different prison cells in the area, each corresponding to a different punishment.]

[You may choose to imprison any sinner in any prison cell for judgment, but please note:]

[Prison Cell No. 1 and Prison Cell No. 2 are unlocked by default. Only after either of them has been used will Prison Cell No. 3 unlock, and so on.]

[The initial duration of each judgment in a prison cell is 10 minutes. As the number of judgments increases, the judgment will become increasingly severe.]

[In most prison cells, prisoners will face mortal danger by the third judgment.]

[Once a prison cell is bound to a prisoner, it cannot be changed. Please choose the prison cells carefully and deliver fair judgment to the sinners.]

[The game ends under either of the following circumstances:]

[1. Ten judgments have been completed. If there is remaining time at that point, the King may freely choose to end the game immediately or continue until the countdown ends.]

[2. Any special circumstance occurs that makes the game impossible to continue.]

[After the game ends, you will be injected with the antidote and regain your freedom.]

[Finally, this is an unpleasant but sincere piece of advice for the King:]

[No matter what kind of person you were before, or what attitude you held toward this world, after becoming King, you must learn to play your role:]

[You must find the right advice among those chaotic voices, then decide the fates of others and yourself with a fair and compassionate heart. For that is precisely the King's duty.]

[Now, as King, please take out your own Videotape and publicly reveal your crime first.]

With a click, the glass cover over one of the Videotapes automatically sprang open. Three words were written on it: Ding Wenqiang.

The speakers in Lin Sizhi's room began continuously broadcasting prompts that only the audience could hear.

[Audience Member No. 10 bets on "King."]

[Audience Member No. 7 bets on "King."]

[Audience Member No. 8 bets on "King."]

[Audience Member No. 3 bets on "Prisoners."]

More and more audience members began placing bets.

Clearly, with the rules announced, the King's identity held an enormous advantage.

Anyone who wanted to bet on the King's side had to be quick, because there were only five slots.

However, Audience Member No. 3 still chose the prisoners' side. Lin Sizhi remembered that he had sent Cai Zhiyuan a message saying, "Good luck."

It might have been Officer Cao, or perhaps someone with a stronger sense of empathy.

Lin Sizhi looked at the betting buttons on the table. After considering it, he chose to press the button for the prisoners' side.

[Audience Member No. 5 bets on "Prisoners."]

About another five seconds passed.

[Audience Member No. 2 bets on "King."]

[The King's side has reached its betting limit. Audience Member No. 4 and Audience Member No. 6 will automatically bet on the prisoners' side.]

Inside the game area, Ding Wenqiang picked up the Golden Scepter.

It was cold and heavy in his hand.

Gripping the scepter tightly, Ding Wenqiang felt an intense sense of security.

Then, he looked toward the crown.

The rules did not mention what the crown was for. It seemed to be nothing more than a decorative prop with no actual function.

Just as Ding Wenqiang hesitated, Zhang Peng, the skinny young man with dyed yellow hair, quickly walked over to his side.

"Uncle Ding, how could you handle something like this yourself? Let me do it for you."

As Zhang Peng spoke, he picked up the crown.

Ding Wenqiang froze for a moment, nearly pressing the button on the scepter directly at Zhang Peng.

But in the next second, Zhang Peng respectfully and carefully placed the crown on Ding Wenqiang's head, then bowed humbly and retreated.

The heavy crown rested firmly on his head. Ding Wenqiang inexplicably felt something strange.

He instinctively wanted to take it off, but then reconsidered. It was only a game prop. Since his role in the game was King, there was nothing wrong with wearing the crown to distinguish himself from the others.

It did not seem appropriate to simply toss aside an item arranged by the game.

Ding Wenqiang said nothing more. He simply picked up the Videotape beside him and inserted it into the VCR.

Moments later, static flickered across the giant screen, followed by a first-person view.

An emotionless narration began.

[As a delivery driver, you worked ten hours a day. You believed yourself to be diligent and hardworking, yet your life remained difficult.]

[To support your family, you had no choice but to drag your exhausted body through the city.]

[Until that accident changed everything.]

[You may have many excuses. For example, you were forced to drive while fatigued in order to complete your delivery quota. Or perhaps you had just been robbed by masked thugs, and the beating had swollen your left eye and restricted your vision. But no matter what, you were directly responsible for that accident.]

[Although you have paid the price for it, when you awaken from countless dreams at midnight, do you still see that blood-covered face?]

The image on the television shook slightly and became somewhat blurry, seemingly indicating that the driver was already extremely exhausted, even dozing off.

Yet in the next second, a yellow figure riding an electric scooter abruptly appeared ahead!

The piercing sound of brakes rang out, but it was already too late. The figure crashed into the windshield before being flung far away.

Then the Videotape ended, and Ding Wenqiang's profile appeared on the giant screen.

[Ding Wenqiang, male, 53 years old.]

[Occupation: Large parcel delivery driver]

[While driving fatigued, he seriously injured a food delivery rider who ran a red light on an electric scooter. The rider later died of his injuries.]

[Sentence: One year and three months in prison, suspended for two years for causing a traffic accident resulting in death. Compensation of 400,000 yuan was paid to the victim's family, and forgiveness was obtained.]

The area fell silent.

Zhang Peng involuntarily looked at Ding Wenqiang, then quickly shifted his gaze away.

As for Ding Wenqiang, he lowered his head slightly and did not meet anyone's eyes. Yet his somewhat stiff expression still revealed his thoughts to a certain extent.

Although he had more or less prepared himself mentally beforehand, having a deeply buried wound suddenly torn open still caused severe discomfort.

"Uncle Ding, it wasn't your fault. It was just an accident." Cai Zhiyuan seemed to be in better condition now and spoke in a hoarse voice to comfort him.

However, Ding Wenqiang ignored him and merely said sternly to the other four, "Get up and move forward!

"The game isn't over yet!"