Four Types of Voting

The White Faction's base is a fully metal apartment building.

It has two floors and is very spacious.

In the center of the first floor is a round table that appears to be capable of projecting.

One of the surrounding walls is a floor-to-ceiling window, through which one can see an open space littered with debris and rocks, and even blood-stained weapons. It looks like a gladiator arena!

They are like being in a VIP viewing room next to this gladiator arena.

Directly opposite is an identical apartment building, but its exterior is painted black.

Through the floor-to-ceiling window, indistinct figures can be seen inside. But they are too far away, about a hundred meters, so it's hard to see clearly.

"Are they making us two major factions duel?"

Sule looked around the first floor and saw two doors. One leads to the gladiator arena, and the other is the entrance they used.

The entrance door automatically closed after the time was up, clearly only opening when the game ends.

Besides these, there are stairs on both sides leading to the second floor.

Dongfang Yi came down from the second floor: "There are twenty-five rooms upstairs. They are empty, but seem to be able to project. If it corresponds to the number of people, each faction can have a maximum of twenty-five people."

Gaoxin found a chair and sat down: "Let's hear the rules first."

Xing Shiping very seriously took out a notebook, preparing to write down all the rules.

Soon, Number 97 appeared in the center of the round table, displaying text like a rolling wheel while speaking.

[Glass Cannon game. Black and White bases take turns launching a 'Duel Invitation' from one base to the other.]

[The content of the 'Duel Invitation' is customizable, with options. The first round has two options, the second round can have three, and so on, increasing indefinitely. The people within the initiating base can arrange it themselves. The editing time is ten minutes. Once confirmed on the round table, it will be sent to the voting room on the second floor of the opposing base.]

[The opposing base must have everyone enter a separate voting room within one minute, in a state where full communication is impossible, to see the Duel Invitation and vote on their choice individually.]

[If everyone in the base votes unanimously on the invitation, it is considered a rejection of the duel.]

[If the votes are not unanimous, or if the full vote is not completed, it is considered acceptance of the duel.]

[The base that accepts the duel must send one Glass Person to become a gladiator within three minutes to participate. Failure to do so will automatically count as a loss for this round.]

[The base that initiates the duel can send any one person to become a gladiator to participate within three minutes.]

[Each base can only have one gladiator per round, decided by a full vote. The person with the highest number of votes is the gladiator for this round. The gladiator must enter the gladiator arena within one minute, or face instant kill.]

[Once both gladiators enter, a no-holds-barred deathmatch begins until one side is killed. No third party may interfere with the deathmatch, or face instant kill.]

[During non-combat time, no one is allowed in the gladiator arena. The victor must return to the base within one minute, or face instant kill.]

[The defeated faction will have 1 point deducted from their faction's life value. Each faction has 5 life points. When one faction's life points are depleted, the game ends. All members of the faction whose life points are depleted will be instantly killed.]

At this point, Number 97 projected white numbers above, a large '5', as if symbolizing five life points.

Hearing the rules, everyone's expression became strange.

So this is what Glass Cannon meant?

Taking turns initiating duels, the accepting side can only send a Glass Person to fight, while the attacking side can send anyone.

What would be the outcome of a fight in the gladiator arena? If the attacking side sends a Radiator, the Glass Person is sure to die!

In other words, both sides are 'high attack, low defense,' like cannons made of glass.

When attacking, they would definitely send the strongest 'cannonball,' but when defending, they only have Glass People, whose defense is as fragile as 'glass.'

As long as the duel is established, the attacking side is guaranteed to win!

No wonder each faction has at least five Glass People, because losing five Glass People depletes their health!

"Damn, we don't have a single Radiator. Low attack, low defense..." Sule ran his hands through his hair.

Their faction was democratic, but with all Glass People, their combat power was far inferior to the opponent's. They would shatter at a touch when defending, and might not even win when attacking.

"The key move is in the design of the 'Duel Invitation.' A unanimous vote from everyone is the true 'defense'..." Qiao Long murmured.

Dongfang Yi said solemnly: "There are still rules. How could there be no way to deal with Radiators?"

Number 97 continued speaking.

[In the global game, there are also rules for Defection and Eliminating Traitors.]

[After each invitation vote phase, in the voting room, each faction can initiate a defection vote to have any member of the opposing faction defect. The vote must be unanimous for the defection to succeed.]

[Players can defect to a faction multiple times. Defection notifications will be projected directly onto the target's retina.]

[Defected players can connect to the opposing base at any time from the voting room and designate a player to communicate with.]

[When the duel ends, the base of the defeated faction can initiate an 'Eliminate Traitor' vote within their base against any member. If the vote passes with a simple majority, the traitor will be successfully eliminated.]

Only then did everyone's brows relax slightly.

There were also Defection and Eliminate Traitor mechanics. Planting spies in the enemy camp?

That made sense. If it were just Glass Cannons fighting each other, then Radiators would be invincible.

Now, there was a way to deal with the enemy's Radiators.

First, get a Radiator to defect, then find a way to inform the enemy. When the enemy holds an 'Eliminate Traitor' vote, as long as it passes with a majority, they can be instantly killed.

Of course, in this game, unity within the base is crucial. They could choose not to eliminate traitors and wait to defect back later.

But the members of the Black Faction are too complicated: nine Radiators, ten Glass People, and the Radiators are divided into two factions. The entire faction has at least three different agendas!

Voting is conducted individually in separate, enclosed voting rooms.

The strong might be able to kill indiscriminately and take revenge, but they cannot directly control the vote.

This game isn't about having more people in the base; there are four types of voting mechanisms! If the initial players are too mixed, the voting will be very chaotic.

From this perspective, their White Faction has a significant advantage.

Finally, Number 97 explained the reward rules.

[When the game ends, the faction that survives will each receive 'remaining faction HP multiplied by 1000' redemption vouchers.]

[Regardless of whether it's through force or eliminating traitors, for every enemy player a player kills, they will receive an additional 1000 redemption vouchers.]

Everyone sighed. As expected, when it came to the reward rules, it was all about encouraging killing.

And direct killing by force is also allowed.

This means that as long as you know who among those around you has turned into an enemy player, you can directly draw your sword and cut them down; there's no need for a traitor elimination vote.

Of course, eliminating traitors should yield greater collective rewards, as everyone who voted for the instant kill should receive a reward.

This could give the Glass People more chances to survive, allowing the strong to choose to protect the Glass People, gain more votes, and then earn more redemption vouchers by charging protection fees... similar to a negotiation tactic where a dog chases its tail, it's one of the common survival strategies for the weak in all games.

However, in this game, negotiation strategies are unlikely to work.

Because the Glass People also have the power of life and death, and the ten Glass People on the Black Faction's side are all NPCs. No matter how they complete the game, they will ultimately receive no redemption vouchers.

In intermediate games, NPCs are truly expendable, practically guaranteed to die.

"The game begins immediately, with the Black Faction attacking first. They have ten minutes to send out a Duel Invitation." After saying this, Number 97 disappeared.

Dongfang Yi sneered, "They're attacking first? Is it because they have more people?"

Qiao Long stroked his chin, "The Black Faction has too many people in their base, and they're not united. It will be difficult for them to vote consistently, so they have a disadvantage."

"Compared to us, it's much simpler. As long as we are united, we can vote consistently."

"If we reveal the defectors to them, they might end up killing each other internally, especially since killing an enemy player grants an extra 1000 points."

"Even if they don't kill each other, if enough people defect, it means many people in their base will end up playing for our White Faction, which will further lead to inconsistent voting on their end."

Xing Shiping, from the servant squad, said vigilantly, "But they can also try to sway our people. During the first vote, they are all part of the Black Faction, with no conflicting interests. Why wouldn't they try to defect?"

"Once our White Faction has defectors, the subsequent invitation votes will also be difficult to align."

Qiao Long said with a wry smile, "That's why I emphasize unity. We must be truly united, regardless of whether someone is Black or White."

"If I defect, I will openly admit it and still help you vote."

"Because my companions are here. This game is played in teams, not by isolated orphans."

"No matter what, the five of us will advance and retreat together. Xing Shiping, I believe you and your companions feel the same way?"

"Of course!" Xing Shiping was taken aback, then looked back at his teammates. The other four seemed to be looking at him with pity.

Xing Shiping said firmly, "In this game, we have every reason to win, at the very least, we must survive."

Qiao Long smiled, "That's right, we're the same."

"We are all the same kind of people. In comparison, the ideas of the other side are much more chaotic."

"So, as long as our two teams can trust each other and cooperate, we will definitely achieve victory."

Xing Shiping nodded heavily. Their side was indeed much easier to deal with, and the atmosphere was coordinated.

He couldn't imagine how uncomfortable the situation would be if there were a few Radiator players nearby.

Thinking of this, he looked at Gaoxin.

The rules of this game are complex, and there can be many ways to play. Having Radiators on both sides is one way, having all Glass People on one side is another, and if the teams are scattered among various small squads, it's yet another way.

The initial faction assignment is crucial; it almost determines the entire direction of the game.

"It's a good thing you went to grab that blocking position, even at the risk of completely offending the Viking Gang. Otherwise, we'd be in a difficult situation right now," Xing Shiping said sincerely.

Gaoxin smiled, "What does offending them matter?"

"Glass People are like walking redemption vouchers in the eyes of Radiators. Don't be afraid of offending people; you have to be even more ruthless than them!"

Dongfang Yi also said coldly, "Kill them. Later, during the defection vote, we'll all choose the one with the hammer."

Qiao Long looked at Gaoxin, "Captain, what do you think?"

Gaoxin pondered, "Actually, I'd prefer to sway an NPC first..."

"But swaying 'Big Hammer' first should be fine too... You guys just want to provoke them into killing each other directly."

Xing Shiping seemed to understand, "That's right! Once a Radiator on the other side defects and becomes White, then everyone next to him will be an enemy player in his eyes!"

"Killing one gives him 1000 redemption vouchers! He'll definitely kill five first."

"Given his personality, he'll definitely do that."

Dongfang Yi grinned, "Do you think the other group of Radiators are dead? As soon as Big Hammer makes a move, no matter the reason for suddenly killing someone, Twin Tails will definitely suspect he's defected."

"And those Glass People over there are like lambs to the slaughter. There are so many of them. If 'Big Hammer' kills one, the redemption voucher Meimei might get in the future will be reduced by one. So she'll probably stop him."

"Meimei's squad is at full strength with five people, but the Viking Gang only has four. I'm sure 'Big Hammer' won't dare to act rashly."

Meimei couldn't help but say, "Even if he doesn't act rashly, we can spread the word that the Glass People over there fear him. They'll vote him out if they get the chance."

Gaoxin said, "That's why I said I'd rather try to defect the Glass People."

"The Glass People definitely wouldn't dare to reveal themselves."

"However, 'Big Hammer' might directly confess and reach an agreement with Meimei, forming a strong alliance. Then they could block our defection vote."

"After all, in this game, there's no reason for strong players to necessarily kill each other. There can be a win-win..."

Sule was stunned. Block the defection vote?

That's right, the defection vote is cast by everyone within the faction, so it naturally includes the defectors from the opposing base!

If the defectors were part of the White Faction but were still playing for the Black Faction, their White Faction would permanently lose a vote, making it impossible to defect a second person.

"Good heavens, I thought everyone in the same base voted," Sule blinked.

Meimei looked at him, "How is that possible? Make sure you remember the rules clearly."

"There are four types of votes in total. The first is the invitation vote, cast by people from the same base, requiring unanimous consent."

"The second is the gladiator vote, also cast by people from the same base, with the highest vote getting to fight."

"The third is the defection vote, cast by people from the same faction, requiring unanimous consent."

"The fourth is the eliminate traitor vote, also cast by people from the same base, requiring a majority."

Meimei was extremely quick at organizing these kinds of rules. After hearing them once, she had memorized them all.

Finally, she said, "This game is all about finding ways to break through the opponent's faction."

"You also have to constantly defect the opponent. Anyway, the final number of people in the faction doesn't affect the rewards."

"Actually, there's a guaranteed win method, which is to actively defect to the opposing faction..."

"For example, we could cooperate with people from the Black Faction. Regardless of our identity, we'd first help them play, coordinate our efforts, refuse duels, and delay until the end to have everyone defect. Then, we'd sacrifice five health points each, and the game would be over."

"At that point, everyone would be in the Black Faction, surviving easily, and each person would receive a 5000-point reward."

Gaoxin sighed, "That's the ideal scenario. If everyone trusted and cooperated with each other, every game would be simple."

"But human hearts are unpredictable, and people participate in games for various reasons. Some just want to survive, while others want to gain more."

"You can only defect one person per round. How long would it take to defect everyone through coordinated play? If even one person makes a mistake in the meantime, the trust collapses."

"And a faction can have at most twenty-five people. What about the remaining five?"

"Finally, don't forget, those Viking Gang members definitely want me dead."

Everyone became solemn. Indeed, Gaoxin had a mortal feud with the Viking Gang.

If they were to negotiate such cooperation, the Viking Gang's condition would undoubtedly be... to first use Gaoxin's head as a token of allegiance before discussing anything else...

If he agreed without them bringing this up, it would be even worse. Who knows what they were plotting?

From the very beginning, they had offended a group of Radiators, making it impossible to trust each other.

But Gaoxin said, "However, let's still strive in that direction."

"At least, we can try to help all the Glass People survive. The NPCs on the other side definitely just want to survive."

Hearing this, Xing Shiping looked at Gaoxin strangely.

p.s: Sorry.