Sure-Win Method

If any of the seven characters die prematurely on a certain level, the ascendant descending from a higher level will skip to the next lower level.

"This means that determining the number of floors by the number of descents is no longer accurate."

Chunbai calmly said, "In other words, each descent could involve descending any number of levels. Therefore, we can only know the relative upper and lower relationships."

As the Old Inspector spoke, he drew his elven short sword from his waist and picked up several empty cups from beside the round table.

With practiced ease, he used the tip of his sword to carve the names of several people onto the rim of the cup in Elven Language.

Fox. Pure Jacaranda. Living silver. Detective.

The font is small, but it is exquisite and clear.

"Based on your testimonies, the situation is as follows."

Pure White spoke softly, starting by placing the cups from the side furthest from her.

In order, they are: Living Silver, Detective, Jacaranda, Fox, and Pure White.

"The detective and Jacaranda killed the living silver twice in between. As a result, he dropped at least three levels directly, jumped directly to the Fox level, and then came to my level with Jacaranda."

"The Jacaranda also descended twice, but only by two levels."

"The detectives dropped three times in a row: Jacaranda, Fox, and me."

"Three times..."

Iver sighed, "There's no way I can cover this up for you now. How could you make such a simple mistake?"

Under everyone's gaze, Iver looked at the "detective".

"When you first met me, you said... ' The Jacaranda came down from a higher floor to my floor.'"

—Have you seen the couple arguing in Room 204? That woman is Jacaranda, but she isn't yet. She came down from a higher floor to my floor; we've already exchanged information. I think she'll come down to this floor soon...she can corroborate what I said.

The reporter's words resonated deeply with Iver.

"But you quickly realized that I am the Fox, and I am on your side. So you immediately changed your testimony. You said that you had actually descended twice. And that after the first descent you met the Jacaranda and killed the receptionist. After the second descent you met me."

"Because at that time we hadn't yet recognized each other's identities."

The reporter said with a grin, "I don't know if you're friend or foe... so of course I have to tell a few lies. If you can see right through my lies, then it means you're Merlin —that makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

That's really reasonable.

Without any evidence, Iver should have followed the reporter's line of reasoning. Because that was the only piece of information he had at the time, and it was his only logical basis.

"You see, after I found out you were Fox, I immediately changed my testimony..."

The reporter looked pitifully at the Jacaranda as she spoke, "I saw you, didn't I? Not only that, I also killed the receptionist right in front of you—"

"... That's how it is."

Jacaranda hesitated slightly. "I did see the reporter at that time."

"But we cannot rule out the possibility that both of these 'reporters' were actually played by Merlin."

Chunbai said calmly and rationally.

Iver crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and said, "You did change your testimony, but new loopholes have appeared in it."

—On my first floor, I didn't see anyone. To avoid meeting anyone else, I immediately committed suicide and went down to the next floor. On the previous floor, I saw the Jacaranda. At that moment, I suspected that the person at the front desk was Merlin ... because he was deliberately stalling for time, making excuses to make me wait longer.

This is the updated version of the reporter's testimony.

"You didn't see anyone, so how did you kill the living silver?" Iver asked.

"Ah, that explains it too."

The reporter interlaced his fingers on the table and smiled, saying, "This is a setup, and also a calculated move."

"If I told you that I follow a certain pattern, killing or inducing those who ascend to this level to kill certain people in certain levels, so that the number of times they fall is independent of the level number."

"How would you deduce which level we are on now?"

At this point, the reporter slightly raised his chin and pointed to Chunbai: "Take him for example."

"He said he was born on this floor, is that true? Maybe he was actually born on the floor above, then killed everyone with that sword before committing suicide... and now he's actually on a lower floor?"

"In this way, all of your understanding will be missing a layer. And this layer will only be known to Pure White."

"Is it possible that we are currently on the Layer Zero?"

So you're admitting it?

Chunbai spoke calmly, pointing the blade of his sword at the "reporter".

But at that moment, Iver suddenly raised the gun in his hand and pressed the muzzle against Pure White's temple.

"Don't move, Mr. Pure White... or Miss."

Iver squinted and said softly, "It's best not to resort to force until we understand everything."

"You believe me?"

Pure White turned around and looked at Iver, asking him a question in return.

"Because that possibility does exist."

Iver nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Who do you think Merlin was talking to when he revealed his identity and said those things?"

He's talking to you.

Huo Yin suddenly spoke, a smirk playing on his lips. "Because he knows you're very suspicious."

"They were indeed telling me that, but not because I was being paranoid."

Iver replied, "It's because he knows my companions aren't around. So I can't afford to gamble."

If the reporter is Merlin, it means that three people are still missing from the scene.

Apart from Topaz, neither of Iver's two teammates were present. In other words, they were currently on other floors.

Although everyone's tasks are different, there are also some common tasks. For example, in this mission, "killing Merlin" and "killing Merlin on the Layer Zero" should be the tasks assigned to everyone.

"If the death of someone on a certain level causes those who are promoted to a higher level to skip that level when they descend..."

"Does that mean that as long as we're currently on the Layer Zero, which is the Reality Layer, even if Merlin is killed, the person he possesses will also be eliminated?"

Iver said slowly.

It's like making a hole in the Layer Zero. People on the First Layer jump down, and before they even land, they fall straight through the hole into an abyss.

"Similarly. If this is the Layer Zero, then no matter how sweet Merlin's words are, he only needs to survive. And if he kills anyone, then the person whose identity Merlin stole can fall to the Layer Zero before the end and push Merlin out."

Iver squinted at the calm, pure white figure: "In other words—"

"If this is the Layer Zero, then you don't really care who Merlin is. You just need to find an excuse to kill any one of the three of us."

"Whether he is Merlin or not, you all have a chance to clear the game."

This is the underlying logic behind this ceremony.

Or rather, this is the Sure-Win Method to win this ritual.