Lu Bai's guess wasn't baseless.
From what he knew, although each Deathmatch contestant started with a different identity, the differences were basically just in their professions. No one would start out as the head of a country—that would be absurd.
This Deathmatch Showdown had only been underway for a little over a week, and the first Ability Pool was a mere white one, practically useless.
That meant that no matter how resourceful the surviving contestants were, they probably couldn't sway public opinion—not with this much influence, at least.
"Forget it. Don't get involved."
Lu Bai saw Tong Shujuan open her contacts, apparently intending to give one of her colleagues a heads-up, and immediately stopped her.
If this was the "mayor's" doing, then there was no way a mere clerk like Tong Shujuan could stop it. She'd only put herself in danger by attracting the Parasitic Organism's attention.
"We can't just sit by and watch public opinion spiral..."
Tong Shujuan instinctively started to argue, then realized halfway through, "You know who's behind this?"
"I have a pretty good idea. Don't worry. I'll settle the score with it."
Lu Bai lowered his right hand, signaling for Tong Shujuan to calm down for now.
He wasn't in too much of a hurry. It was better that his opponent had made a move than stayed hidden and silent.
Judging by the Parasitic Organism's usual behavior, they always sought the most optimal solution.
Since the focus of public opinion was Lu Bai himself, the mayor couldn't possibly take action personally. In this situation, even if the mayor sent subordinates after him, they wouldn't dare make a big spectacle of it.
In other words, his physical safety was assured. At worst, his reputation would suffer, and Old Xu would buckle under the pressure and remove him