System Showdown

What does it mean to actively admit mistakes but never repent?

Zhao Yijiu is definitely not it.

He didn't even admit his mistake.

Zhao Mou was speechless, after all, he had never been able to beat his younger brother since they were very young, so he could only pretend to be fierce and say, "You can't do it even if you dare. From now on, you have to follow the orders of the captain and vice-captain."

Zhao Yijiu shrank further into the sofa, avoiding his gaze.

Zhao Mou: "... Sigh, my status is too low... Never mind, since we've already gotten to know each other, let's assign positions. Yu Xing, don't be silent, you're the captain, shouldn't you be the one to say it?"

Carlos was watching the two brothers' interaction like a spectator when he realized the topic had been changed, and he let out a soft sigh of regret.

Yu Xing pretended not to mock Zhao Mou and smoothly continued, "Okay. First of all, when we consider the overall strength of the team, we can't include Yi Qing and the Ghostification Brother Jiu, since even if the former is well-intentioned and wants to help, he will basically be in a state of being restricted by the system."

Yiqing sat down next to him and smiled.

"Let's see what we need to be careful about when we only have five people." Yu Xing leaned over and took Zhao Mou's notebook, twirling the pen between her fingers rather erratically. "First of all, there are two and a half people in the team who don't need healing: one is me, one is Xiao Ququ, and the other is Carlos (half of a person)."

Qu Xuanqing raised an eyebrow, but considering that the sofa wasn't that close and that Yi Qing was in between, she didn't kick him.

Carlos thought about half of himself and realized he was right.

"You all already know that my body can heal itself no matter what injury it suffers. Even a fatal wound can be resurrected, although resurrection takes time. As for Xiao Ququ, her situation is also quite good. Currently, after her body is injured, she can replenish and repair herself by absorbing milder ghost energy. As long as I am here, she will always be in an immortal state." Yu Xing also pointed to Zhao Mou, "Even if I'm not here, the hungry ghost in Zhao Mou's cane can be used. At the very least, if Brother Jiu can skillfully use some of the abilities of a vengeful ghost, it can also have a repairing effect."

"Carlos is only half a 'paper doll' because he can use it to transfer damage or even block it in advance. However, if he is seriously injured in battle, he probably won't have time to fold the paper doll. With his mind damaged, the paper doll is useless. My suggestion is that Carlos must always be in a state of at most minor injury and with both hands intact. If the situation gets out of control, he should immediately go find the other three people besides Zhao Mou."

"Excellent suggestion, "Carlos nodded in agreement, while Zhao Mou once again felt weary of his own weakness.

"Then, the people who can fight head-on... are all fine except Zhao Mou." Yu Xing glanced at Zhao Mou's expression with amusement. The little fox looked a little wilted, but his expression was very stable, so no one could tell.

He continued, "Little Ququ is suited for frontal attacks, Brother Jiu is more inclined towards explosive attacks and damage, I'm a bit weaker, and in a fight I'd probably be a suicidal attack, Carlos is more agile, requiring meticulous calculation and timing. Of course, as a Magician, I believe Carlos is fully capable of doing it, isn't he?"

"Of course." Carlos wasn't intimidated at all when it came to magic; it was his area of expertise.

"Both Zhao Mou and Carlos can handle the support role, though in different directions." Yu Xing tapped her notebook, searching for clues in Zhao Mou's sharp, elegant handwriting. "Zhao Mou is best suited for routine planning, and his abilities are most effective when unattended. When on missions, information gathering and deduction both require Zhao Mou's guidance, except from me. Although the three of you are all very intelligent, and Xiao Ququ is particularly strong in reasoning, but..." Yu Xing turned to Qu Xuanqing, "You prefer fighting, so you lack the awareness to think proactively. If both combat and reasoning could achieve the same goal, you would definitely choose the former."

"I know." Qu Xuanqing Xianqing nodded, glancing at Zhao Mou. "I will be obedient."

Zhao Mou dared not speak.

"Hmm... As for Carlos, tsk, I hadn't thought about it seriously before, and I really didn't realize that Carlos was the most versatile one." Yu Xing twirled her pen rapidly. "Carlos's paper doll can serve as a communication tool. If we're in a simulation or need it in reality, it's best to carry a paper doll with facial features on it. That way, if anything happens and we can't use electronic devices because of supernatural forces, Carlos can act as a relay station for communication."

"That's all for now. The direct combat is up to Xiao Ququ and Brother Jiu. If they get bogged down, I'll take their place. Carlos, remember to stay alert. Your ability is crucial for communication in every battle; you absolutely cannot lose contact. Oh, and also, protect Zhao Mou."

"Assassinations and intelligence gathering in dangerous locations can be handled by Brother Jiu and me. Brother Jiu will do the assassinations, and I'll gather intelligence."

"Communications, as I just mentioned, will be handed over to Carlos. The others also need to get used to finding ways to leave messages for their teammates when they lose contact."

"The overall planning and brainstorming tasks will be handled by Zhao Mou and me. We'll discuss it together; otherwise, I'm afraid my plan will be too crazy for you to handle."

"We'll leave the support to Zhao Mou and Carlos; the paper dolls' abilities to ward off disasters, divine, and bestow blessings are all very useful."

After Yu Xing finished making the arrangements, strangely enough, although the team had never acted together before, and some of them had only just met, they seemed to already have a sense of direction.

They rested for a while, chatted for a bit, and then Qu Xuanqing went to the kitchen and brought out a few bottles of drinks.

Yu Xing caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye, and curled her lip. "Hey, you just took my drink like that?"

"Can't drink?" Qu Xuanqing her eyes at him.

Yu Xing: "You used to buy me drinks, you've changed!"

"Back then? When we were kids? I used your money to buy you drinks back then, have you forgotten?" Qu Xuanqing's words shattered Yu Xing's fond memories.

She placed the drinks on the coffee table, even giving one to Yiqing, but Yiqing couldn't drink it. After curiously examining it for a while, she quietly asked Yu Xing from behind the fan, "Is this good?"

"If it doesn't taste good, can I buy it? Hey, you can't get it, right?" Yu Xing started teasing Yi Qing.

Yi Qing: "Heh."

After resting for a while, they sat down again, ready to discuss the second important matter.

Regarding secret activities.

"If nothing unexpected happens, all the factions with the most information will participate in this event, including the Research Institute, Midnight, the Widow Investigation Team, Single Prism, Mysterious Eye, Hourglass, Desire Rose, Ghost Enthusiasts Club, Full Moon, and even the LSP Foundation... These top-ranked guilds will inevitably bring a highly equipped team, and the Undead might even have all its members available to participate." Zhao Mou started by using a series of names representing powerful forces within the Absurdity System to establish his presence.

"Huh?" Carlos exclaimed in surprise, "No way, such a big fuss, even the last event wasn't this extravagant."

He had spent more time in the absurd world than Yu Xing, and had witnessed the grand spectacle of the last event, which was already quite lively.

"Yes, even if this team isn't formed, I'll participate solo." Qu Xuanqing naturally belonged to the upper echelons of the Absurdity and had some knowledge of certain secrets. "This event is very different. From my perspective, it's like... the system was forced to activate it."

Qu Xuanqing rarely spoke so much at once. Everyone looked at her, Yu Xing smiled encouragingly, "Go on, tell me more?"

"..." Qu Xuanqing really wanted him to tone down his coaxing tone. She was no longer the child who needed Yu Xing to coax her when she was too tired to practice fighting. She wasn't socially awkward; she was just quiet because she was too lazy to talk.

But in order to save Yu Xing's face, she didn't say anything and silently retracted her complaint, "Actually, it has been very obvious. The event promotion said that only one hundred people can be selected in the second phase, and each group of twenty people will enter five event worlds. However, this is the first time that a world that can accommodate forty deducers is opened. Obviously, team competition should not be a melee between twenty people. Our opponents should be the extra twenty people..."

"That's right." Yu Xing snapped her fingers. "Experience tester."

"Our system has always been intertwined with the Experiencer system, sometimes even competing for control of the simulation worlds—which are Yugi worlds for the Experiencers," Zhao Mou continued, adjusting his glasses. "Based on the intelligence I've gathered, although the Sims and Experiencers are often matched into the same world, completing non-conflicting or even cooperative tasks, this is just an illusion. The two systems have overlapping territories and are definitely in a hostile relationship."

"Recently, experience testers have become even more active. According to incomplete statistics, on average, all levels of deducers encounter an experience tester once every ten deductions. This has also caused the long-dormant Anomaly Research Studio to resume its work. The studio includes people from the Research Institute, members of the Zhao family, and some members from Midnight, Mysterious Eye, and Hourglass. The project leader is Yan Ming from the Widow Investigation Team, which not many people know and is kept secret from the outside world."

Zhao Mou was used to easily obtaining classified information, and spoke of it casually, "Recently, the Absurdity System has not only become more and more human-like, as if it has acquired biological intelligence, but it also frequently exhibits vulnerabilities and errors that wouldn't occur for several months in the past. I can confirm that the Absurdity System is in a dual state of evolution and instability, and the only cause of this state can be other systems at the same level as it."

"Perhaps it's trying to seize power from the Experiencer System so that true intelligence can emerge. However, its power will also be constrained and taken away by the Experiencer System, resulting in slower responses and more vulnerabilities. Continuing like this will be a huge drain on both sides. Therefore, this event is likely a game of negotiation between the two systems, where they are handing over the decision of who will back down and who will gain the upper hand in the future to their users."

Carlos understood. Shen and Lin from the tomb were experience testers last time, but... those two seemed very friendly.

Perhaps, the testers' attitude towards them is just like their attitude towards the testers—mostly out of curiosity, with little hostility.

"If this event is this important... I'm afraid it will be held in a neutral world where both sides have roughly equal control, right?" He stroked his blue hair. "In that case, even if you don't die in the preliminary events, the system definitely won't be able to guarantee that the deducer who dies at the hands of the experience tester can be resurrected in the team competition mode. So, the deducer will most likely die in the core event. Tsk, facing a completely unfamiliar system is obviously very dangerous. Why would so many forces be so eager to die?"

Zhao Mou sighed softly, "You're right. To be realistic, we don't feel a strong sense of belonging to the Absurdity System. After all, it's an abstract thing without emotions. While maintaining order and justice and bringing power, it also brings fear and death. We don't know if the Experience Master System will be better than it, so no matter which system controls the world, as long as stability is maintained, whether we become Deducers or Experience Masters, it's the same for us."

"However, the collapse of a system is not so simple. Do you know how long the anomaly research work has been going on?" Zhao Mou said, "Twelve years."

"The two systems began contacting each other twelve years ago, and to this day, they have still not made any disruptive progress."

"Back then, Yan Ming hadn't become a diviner yet. The head of the studio was a senior figure, but like Ren Yi's teacher, that senior had already died in the process of divination. The studio has undergone updates and replacements, but the system remains the same... Perhaps to the system, we are just passersby, but to us, the system's lifespan is so long that it requires a lifetime to experience it."

Zhao Mou said to Carlos, and to everyone else, "Do you understand? We don't know what will ultimately happen to the system, so we can only help it as much as possible within its control. Only in this way can we access higher-level secrets, obtain higher privileges, and thus ensure our own survival."

"The system has always been more lenient towards the strong, which can be seen from the special benefits and privileges. Everyone who is not content with merely surviving will try their best to get more. And in this absurd world, the only known way to survive more easily, at least to avoid being plotted against and killed at will, is to increase one's privileges."

"In this absurd world, anything connected to the rules carries considerable authority, like rule-level sacrifices, and certain..." Zhao Mou paused, "... certain individuals who wield special rules."

"Besides the rules, if you want more privileges, you need to build a good 'relationship' with the system. Helping the system on important matters will definitely be remembered by the system, giving you more leverage in future negotiations and bargaining."

"The reason why this event has attracted so many forces with knowledge of this information is precisely this: this is one of the few times the Absurdity System needs the help of the Deducer. If they perform exceptionally well in the team competition, suppressing the Experiencer System and allowing the Absurdity System to obtain the benefits it desires, then..."

"These victors will have the opportunity to gain more privileges. Some who want to explore the origins of the system and various secrets that were not originally permitted by the system can also take this opportunity to touch what they want." Zhao Mou glanced at Yu Xing, "For example, our dear captain, the Ghost Tree that you want to contact... is among them."

Although Yu Xing did not specify the effect of the Ghost Tree on him, he did reveal to Zhao Mou his desire to understand the Ghost Tree better. In addition, given Yu Xing's special constitution, Zhao Mou had already guessed the possible connection between them.

If he can't deduce the whole spider web from a single clue, what right does he have to claim he's good at deduction?

"... That's right, so for me personally, this event is a must. And for you, I also hope to take this opportunity to meet the experience testers and learn more about the situation, which will be of great help to our future development." Yu Xing didn't deny Zhao Mou's words, but instead readily admitted it. He sat casually, one hand supporting his chin. "Of course, there are still risks. If you really don't want to, you can say so now. I won't force you."

"You wouldn't even dare to do that? You're such a coward." Qu Xuanqing remarked sarcastically. "Look at the prerequisite mission. The system excluded Combat Power and tested the strategist's more intellectual abilities. Plus, as Carlos just mentioned, the active world must consist of two neutral worlds with roughly equal control over two systems. If the combat power systems of the two systems differ, then fair competition in this world is impossible, so..."

"In formal events, there are only two possibilities: either the combat power system is completely abandoned, and the outcome is decided purely by intellect, or both systems may temporarily acknowledge the power system of the neutral world itself, allowing us to borrow the power of this world, assimilate our abilities with this world, and truly achieve fairness."

"Personally, I lean towards the second scenario. I don't believe a large world that can accommodate forty people can be a place where you can survive using only your brain. This world will have NPCs, a worldview, and all sorts of behavioral logic. We need to utilize these things; that's the essence of a deducer."

Although Qu Xuanqing is skilled in combat and loves the way she fights, it doesn't mean she will blindly cling to these ideas. She knows that the full name of the Experience Tester is Abnormal Yugi Experience Tester. For the people there, each world is a Yugi, and in terms of survival mode, it should be the same as that of the Deducer.

"Assimilation?" Zhao Yijiu interrupted at this moment, seemingly very interested in the word.

"That's right, assimilation. At my level, I've had a chance encounter with such a world once. Let me give you an example, big brother." Qu Xuanqing mischievously decided to tease Zhao Yijiu again at this moment. Seeing that Zhao Yijiu's expression indeed stiffened, she continued with satisfaction.

"In that world, our abilities are rejected. If we want to use them, we need to achieve logical consistency and make our abilities explainable in that world. For example, healing abilities. When your original healing offering is a voodoo doll, in that world, the voodoo doll will become a roll of bandages, a syringe, or any healing item that fits the world's view. Moreover, you need to go to the hospital to find it based on clues, and its function may also be different from the voodoo doll's form."

"Because I've had that experience before, it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the event promotion," Qu Xuanqing smiled. "Your brains might be better at reasoning and calculation than mine, but I have more experience than any of you, and sometimes experience can be a big help."

"If that's the case, I understand better. I had similar guesses before, but I couldn't find specific behavioral standards." Yu Xing stroked his chin. "After all, it gave us two months, and that timeframe is very intriguing. What kind of competitive mode requires two months?"

"In other words, a complete world view and numerous NPCs are almost inevitable. For the next two months, we'll spend most of our time laying the groundwork, making the logic coherent, and finding usable forces. Perhaps leveraging existing power would be a good option. If we can control a certain number of NPCs within two months and use them to kill our opponents..."

Seeing that Yu Xing were getting increasingly gloomy, Zhao Mou hurriedly interrupted him, "Wait a minute, don't start plotting against the NPCs before the event even starts. You're really doing them a disservice..."

"I was just saying, I didn't mean anything by it." Yu Xing firmly denied what she had just said. "Besides, it depends on what kind of experience user it is. Actually, I don't really want to kill those experience users who have the potential to form an alliance. More friends, more eyes, maybe they can be used as leverage to threaten the system, right?"

Zhao Mou didn't want to comment on his "treasonous" remarks, and gave him a fake smile befitting a business elite.

Yu Xing shut up.

Zhao Mou then summarized. "That's roughly how it is. Because of the event's mechanics, even those at the Struggle Level have a chance to pass the preliminary test. In this event, the 'Despair' and 'Mourning' levels are useless. If it were a scenario where the Absurd System fully controlled the deduction, higher levels would certainly have suppression and advantages, but when it comes to confrontation... the Absurdity System will never allow unqualified people to participate. This is a good thing for us."

"Of the one hundred spots, eight are definitely still alive. Every member of the Widow Investigation Team is truly strong. They may have weaknesses in different areas, but they have none when it comes to mental ability. Even Qiu Ziyan, who on the surface seems to dislike using her brain the most, won a purely mental challenge a few years ago," Qu Xuanqing reminded her. "Medusa's fame has grown in recent years, but people's impression of her deductive abilities has become increasingly vague. This is something she herself has done. I vaguely remember that she beat Ren Yi in deduction tasks more than once or twice. She is a true deducer and deserves her current reputation."

"I know that. I've never lowered my assessment of Medusa." Zhao Mou nodded. "Aside from those in the major powers who are already skilled in strategic warfare, out of the one hundred slots, about fifty can be given to other strategists of various levels. Hmm... if the five of us are cautious and astute, we have a chance of all passing."

Because Yu Xing was selective in recruiting people, he preferred quality over quantity. Although Carlos seemed unreliable, Yu Xing never forgot the subtle sense of danger emanating from Carlos. This Magician must have a deeper secret, but like Yu Xing, he chose to keep the real secret hidden.

In other words... how many lone wolves these days are truly simple?

The true strength of the Broken Mirror Squad may be much greater than it appears. In activities without strict level requirements, their competitiveness is in no way inferior to that of some major forces.