Although the hotel lobby was large, it was also very open. Even from the foot of the stairs, most of it was visible.
So when Su Bai heard someone talking as they came downstairs, he had already missed his chance to leave the lobby. He could only step aside beside the wall near the stairs and lower his eyes, like a Doll on standby. Although the eight server Dolls the Players had met each had their own duties, they probably did not have to remain at their assigned posts.
At least, Su Bai had seen Number Six and Number Seven in various corners of the lobby, even though they were supposed to stay upstairs and tidy the guest rooms.
As the voice drew closer, Su Bai still could not see the speaker from where he stood, but he could clearly hear what the man was saying. He could even identify him from his somewhat familiar voice.
It was Peng Zhen.
When the game first began, Peng Zhen had spoken to the Players at length as their temporary leader. His voice was rich and resonant, with a quality that seemed naturally able to inspire trust.
Peng Zhen's voice was easy to recognize, but from what he was saying, Su Bai could tell he was talking to someone as he came downstairs. Strangely, however, only Peng Zhen's voice could be heard in the stairwell. It was as though the other person was not walking with him, but communicating with him remotely through something like a telephone.
"I still don't understand why the rules had to say six o'clock. If everyone stays holed up in their rooms, we'll..."
At that point, Peng Zhen looked up and spotted server Number Eight standing there. Even while talking to someone, he could not help giving the