Survival Showdown

MMP!

That guy hadn't come from Elite Academy after all. Just as I thought, you couldn't trust a word he said.

Good thing he didn't believe him either...

Du Ge cursed under his breath and asked, "Ninth Brother, weren't you from Elite School? You even said you'd figure out a way to transfer me from Civilian School to Elite School..."

"Seventh Brother." Feng Jiu looked at Du Ge helplessly. "I admit I was wrong to lie to you before, but I'm being completely honest with you now. You're a good person, and I was planning to stick with you and make the top ten in the Simulation Field!"

"But I really am from Civilian School," Du Ge said.

"Seventh Brother, it's this late in the game. You can stop pretending!" Feng Jiu shook his head with a smile, then raised the roast chicken in his hand. "What's this?"

"Roast chicken," Du Ge said.

"Want some?" Feng Jiu asked.

Du Ge shook his head.

"Caught you!" Feng Jiu took a big bite of the chicken and said as he chewed, "Students at Civilian School eat synthetic meals every day, with barely any oil or salt. How could they see a delicacy like roast chicken and not even react? Only elite kids like you, who eat lavish meals every day, wouldn't care about the food in the Simulation Field.

"Your eyes give you away. No matter how well a Civilian School student pretends, they could never be as indifferent as you when it comes to food! Which student from Civilian School, upon entering the Simulation Field, wouldn't gorge themselves? I figured it out yesterday, when you gave me those pastries. You really don't treat food like food!"

Holy shit!

Even roast chicken was a delicacy, and everyone ate synthetic meals...

What kind of world was it out there?

Before, Du Ge had still looked forward to the real world. After all, he'd always imagined that a world with technology advanced enough to create a lifelike game like the Simulation Field must be incredibly sophisticated.

But in that moment, he suddenly wasn't so eager to see the outside world. Reality didn't seem as wonderful as he'd imagined. It sounded downright harsh...

He wondered whether the person whose body he'd taken over had been a commoner or an elite.

"You elite kids already have a good life, so why come and compete against us? It's not even an important exam. What would it hurt to let us have the top ten spots? In the end, you're the ones who get to enjoy the rewards anyway..."

Perhaps something had stirred up painful memories. Feng Jiu's tone abruptly changed, and he launched into a long, melancholy complaint. But when he saw Du Ge standing silently, he realized he'd taken his frustration out on the wrong person. With an awkward chuckle, he explained, "Seventh Brother, I'm not talking about you. You're a good person. You were willing to teach me things sincerely. I mean those elite kids who treat us commoner students like we're not even human. You're different from them..."

Was the divide between commoners and elites really this severe?!

Du Ge frowned slightly, thinking to himself that making the top ten in the Simulation Field must mean more than just prestige. It would determine their fates, too.

"Seventh Brother, don't be mad. This is what I wanted to tell you. When you go out and make your way in the world, you need to disguise your identity. Don't be as conspicuous as you've been at Feng Manor," Feng Jiu said. "A lot of commoner students in the Simulation Field hate the elite students. Some of them would rather get eliminated themselves than let you get away. The way you carry yourself makes it obvious you're an elite. Once you go out there, you'll be a shining target, and people will easily ambush you."

"Mm, I understand. Thanks." Du Ge nodded. Before, he'd approached this like a game, but now that he understood the truth about the Simulation Field, he'd decided to take it seriously.

He wasn't sure whether his identity outside was elite or commoner.

If he was an elite, it didn't matter. But if he was a commoner, making the top ten in the Simulation Field might change his fate.

He didn't want to go out there and eat synthetic meals...

"Why are you thanking me? Without your guidance, I'd never have understood what Taotie meant. This is my way of repaying you," Feng Jiu said with a shrug and a smile. "I'm not ungrateful. If I get the chance, I still want to fight for a spot in the top ten. I hope you won't go all out against me when the time comes, Seventh Brother."

"I won't. Isn't my Keyword 'maintenance'?" Du Ge smiled. "The ultimate form of maintenance is staying loyal to one person from beginning to end."

"If the Feng Family really captures contestants from the Simulation Field, what are you going to do about them?" Feng Jiu glanced at Du Ge. "Are you going to maintain them, too?"

"If I can maintain them all, then I will," Du Ge said with a smile. "There's strength in numbers. If Civilian School students can't get good food outside, they can stay in the Simulation Field a little longer and enjoy themselves for a while. Why fight and kill? We can unite some people and eliminate some others first. Then we can settle the top ten spots among ourselves at the end..."

Feng Jiu swallowed his food and looked at Du Ge. "Seventh Brother, is that what you really think?"

"Of course!" Du Ge said. "You just said students from Elite School already have everything. Why should I compete with you for the top ten? I'm different from them. I'm very generous. It'd be best if we could all have fun together."

Feng Jiu shook his head with a smile. "All right. I'll stay at Feng Manor and clean up after you, and I'll pass your goodwill on to the others. If they accept, we can all play together. If they don't, or if they try to harm me, I'll deal with them. Don't blame me when the time comes..."

"Mm. I won't." Du Ge looked unconcerned, but inside, a storm was already raging. His conversation with Feng Jiu had revealed far too much and completely changed his understanding of the Simulation Field.

So the so-called Simulation Field was really a cruel selection machine.

It wasn't a competition between elite and commoner students. Everyone was competing against one another, all for those top ten spots in the Simulation Field...

Three thousand people fighting for ten places. No wonder eliminated contestants couldn't come back.

Fuck!

This was insane!

Thousands of soldiers fighting for a single plank bridge.

This was basically Earth's civil service exam!

No wonder the teacher had said, "Don't reveal your Keyword." No wonder Feng Jiu had initially schemed to hurt him. No wonder Feng Jiu was trying so hard.

It all made sense now.

Du Ge was relieved. Thank goodness he'd shown Feng Jiu goodwill and earned information that was actually useful.

Otherwise,

if he'd continued treating the Simulation Field like a game, he would've gotten himself into serious trouble out there...

"Seventh Brother, is there anything else you want me to do?" Feng Jiu asked.

"No. Handle things at Feng Manor however you see fit." Before coming here, Du Ge had indeed made plans for the Heavenly Demon's future. But now that he understood the truth about the Simulation Field, he knew none of those plans would work. The top ten spots were a glaring bait, luring everyone into killing one another.

Rather than waste his time on those fanciful schemes, he'd be better off focusing on developing his Keyword and coming out on top in this brutal Chicken Dinner Game...

All right!

He was already in the lead.

Then he'd protect that lead all the way to the end.

Feng Jiu turned and left. Watching him walk away while eating, Du Ge stood rooted to the spot for a long time. He needed to process the new information.

The true purpose of the Simulation Field had left him stunned.

And Feng Jiu was still the same Feng Jiu he'd been from the start. He hadn't gotten stupid.

He was observant and patient. He'd used a chicken leg to test Du Ge's identity at the last moment, while hiding his Advanced Skill...

It was even possible that he'd deliberately made himself stink that morning, just so Du Ge would be disgusted and he'd have an excuse to stay at Feng Manor instead of going out with him. Feng Jiu couldn't have been unaware that his attributes would improve and his five senses sharpen.

Even his later show of goodwill might have been another layer of disguise, meant to lower Du Ge's guard.

After all, he didn't know Du Ge was a transmigrator. Everyone should have known the information he'd shared and the kindness he'd shown, yet he'd used them to win Du Ge's trust!

Every move, every step, had been calculated!

If one Feng Jiu was already this cunning, and there were hundreds of people like him out there, they were a pack of wolves. The slightest mistake, and they'd devour him without leaving a bone.

Du Ge sighed quietly and reminded himself of his new identity. He'd transmigrated. He was no longer the carefree Earthling who'd never had to worry about food or clothing.