Lin Yu basically agreed with Bu Wang's statement.
Although Crowman had indeed played a word game and set a "trap" in the first question.
But.
That alone could not be used as proof that this question definitely contained a word trap.
In a sense, this was also a kind of "fraud."
So, after putting himself in the position of a "Fraudster" and thinking it over, Lin Yu easily reached a conclusion...
If he were in Crowman's place, Lin Yu would definitely make things seem both true and false, both real and illusory.
After a brief moment of thought, Lin Yu picked up where Bu Wang had left off.
"Then for now, let's treat this 'question' as an ordinary elementary-school math problem."
"If we discover a possibility of a 'word trap' while solving it... it won't be too late to consider that angle."
Lin Yu spoke in a low voice.
Since Lin Yu had practically solved the first question on his own.
Therefore, although he was the "newest" among them in terms of experience, he had still become the backbone of the group at that moment.
Naturally, the other four players had no objections to Lin Yu's suggestion.
Number Eight quickly began calculating.
"There are five of us now, but the total number of people required by these 'tasks' is six!"
Number Eight looked toward Crowman, as though he had thought of something.
"Examiner, does this number have to be exact? Is it possible to do them with one more or one fewer person, with the only difference being the time needed to complete them?"
Number Eight asked aloud.
Crowman shook his head. "Caw-caw, the number of people completing each task must be neither more nor fewer!"
After saying that, Number Eight scratched his head sheepishly.
"So that's how it is. I thought the 'trap' was hidden there!"
He then began calculating in his head.
"Then if we solve this question strictly as a math problem..."
"If we use that method, it will take at least twenty-five minutes," Bu Wang said from the side. "One person cracks the password, three people search for the key, and one person stands by—then, once the password is cracked, that person immediately joins the one standing by to turn the switch."
"Twenty-five minutes?" Uncle Tie pondered. "At that rate, it seems quite likely that someone among us will die."
After all, under the most optimistic circumstances, this room would probably be completely flooded in about fifteen minutes.
Even if they took the time they could hold their breath into account, someone would surely fail to hold out and die.
April also frowned. "So the answer is... that someone will definitely die?"
"No, that's the conclusion reached by treating it as a 'math problem,'" Bu Wang said, shaking her head. "We haven't considered the possibility of a 'word trap' yet. I don't know whether you noticed it just now, but what Crowman asked was, 'Can you guarantee that no one will drown when the trapdoor is closed?'"
"He never told us that we had to complete all three tasks."
"In other words, if we first complete the task of closing the switch, which takes the longest, then after fifteen minutes—the trapdoor will close and the water will stop flowing in."
"If we take the time we can hold our breath into account in that situation, it's very possible that no one will die."
As Bu Wang spoke, Uncle Tie and Number Eight were both convinced.
"That makes sense. This seems to be where the 'word trap' lies!"
Only April knitted her brows.
"I feel like something's wrong... but I can't put my finger on it."
Lin Yu also felt that something was very wrong.
By then, the water had risen to his chest. Bu Wang, who was shorter, already had to stand on tiptoe in the water just to speak.
April was not tall either, so she was also standing on tiptoe.
Number Eight grew somewhat anxious. "Whether it's right or wrong, at least Bu Wang's analysis sounds reasonable..."
"Why don't we answer that way? If we take too long to answer, there'll be a 'punishment' anyway!"
Number Eight's words also swayed April.
However, just as April decided to agree with Bu Wang's analysis as well.
Lin Yu spoke up.
"No—that entire analysis by Bu Wang is the biggest 'trap'!"
Even though Lin Yu had said they should temporarily set aside the issue of the "word trap," everyone still could not truly ignore its possibility.
It was difficult for people to overcome preconceived notions in their subconscious.
After the fraud in the Novice instance, Lin Yu understood perfectly that when carrying out a fraud, if one could calculate and exploit another person's "subconscious," the success rate would be very high.
"So the 'trap' in this question isn't in its wording... it's on the wall."
Lin Yu looked at the projection of the safe on the wall.
It was a projection of an old-fashioned safe, with a combination lock operated by a knob.
"Whether it's twenty-five minutes or fifteen minutes, the time is still too 'ambiguous.' Both someone dying and no one dying are possible... so the answer can't be such an uncertain amount of time."
"Besides, I'm curious—why did you have to use 'hypothetical' tasks instead of actually giving us tasks to complete?"
Crowman shrugged. "After all, this game is called 'Deadly Q&A'!"
As he spoke, Lin Yu shook his head.
"No, it's more than that."
"That safe on the wall should be the 'diagram' for the first task, right?" Lin Yu looked at Crowman. "Then... where are the 'diagrams' for the other two tasks?"
Hearing Lin Yu's question, Crowman floated on the water and burst out laughing, beating its wings against the water's surface.
"Caw-caw, you found the key again!"
Crowman waved a wing, and the projected diagrams for the other two "tasks" appeared one after another.
First was a long, narrow hole too tight for a human hand to reach inside, with a metal key lying within.
This should be the diagram for the second task, "finding the key."
Next, a projection of an old-fashioned rotary switch appeared on the wall—and looped around the switch was a thick iron chain, each link as thick as a fist. At the end of the chain was a huge lock.
This was the diagram for the third task, "turning the switch."
The lock's design was almost identical to that of the metal key.
Upon seeing the three diagrams, the other four players all realized something.
Lin Yu looked at Crowman and spoke in a low voice. "I'll confirm this just to be sure, Examiner. These three tasks must be completed one before the next can be completed, right?"
Crowman laughed. "Caw-caw, that's right—the safe contains a magnet and thin thread, while the key can open the lock on the switch. You're almost too clever for your own good!"
Lin Yu let out a breath.
"So the time needed to close the trapdoor above is ten plus twelve plus fifteen—a full thirty-seven minutes. At that point, forget about whether anyone will die; there might not even be anyone left alive among us."
"So my answer is... we cannot guarantee that no one will die."
Crowman looked toward the other four players.
Before it could ask, the remaining four spoke one after another, racing against time.
"We all agree with Lin Yu's answer!"
After all, the water level had risen considerably more, and even the three taller men were unconsciously standing on tiptoe.
Crowman then announced the answer.
"Caw-caw, then congratulations... you answered the second 'Reward and Punishment Question' correctly!"
"This time's reward is—during the 'Dilemma Question' in the first room that follows, after you answer for the first time, I will open the door you did not choose in this room and give you one chance to change your choice!"
Before you continue