"The self-verification phase is over. The question-and-answer phase will begin in thirty seconds.
Each person may ask one question of one other person. Whoever is questioned must answer.
We will begin with Number 1."
The Withered Ghost, the game's guide, promptly opened the next phase, driving the proceedings forward at a brisk pace.
Its loose hair concealed whatever expression its ghostly face wore as it spoke, but time was short. They could only comply.
After the self-verification phase, all seven had more or less settled down and immersed themselves in the game, using those thirty seconds to quickly formulate their questions.
The thirty seconds passed in a blink. The first to speak was the man in cowboy clothes.
His face was still full of confusion and bewilderment, but he was far less panicked than before. After thinking it over repeatedly, he said:
"Everyone, I haven't lied. Actually, I'm from..."
Before he could finish, he suddenly let out a wretched scream. Both hands covered his face, and blood flowed between his fingers.
Ji Li, who had a full view of Cell 1, saw a mangled piece of flesh slip from the man's palm.
The man whimpered in agony. He frantically pulled his hands away, dropped to the floor, and picked up the dust-covered piece of flesh, desperately trying to stuff it back into his mouth.
Only then did Ji Li realize that the fallen piece of flesh was his tongue.
"Number 1 has failed to follow the rules. His right to speak is revoked. Number 2, continue."
Those who lost their heads brought destruction upon themselves.
In all fairness, the game had been relatively safe so far. The Withered Ghost's only intervention had merely been to sever a tongue.
There was no time to dwell on the injury of the man