The countdown was getting shorter and shorter! Xingchen grew more and more nervous.
He was used to being in control of everything, and now, he was full of self-doubt about the situation at hand.
Deep down, he still believed Yu Tu had 3 points. Otherwise, his earlier actions were just too strange.
As for Rabbit Ears and Overlord, they were either 11 and -10 points, or 2 and 1 point, respectively.
Xingchen didn't know Rabbit Ears' ability, but he was sure she definitely had some kind of restraining method to limit the men she had slept with.
He just didn't know whether that restraint was one-way or two-way.
In fact, Xingchen felt that a two-way restraint was more likely. Otherwise, her ability would be way too overpowered in this kind of game.
So, the most likely current situation was:
Tiezhu with 3 points, Rabbit Ears with 2 points, Haozi with 1 point, Zhezhi with 1 point, Overlord with 1 point, King Kong with 0 points, and himself also with 0 points.
Another secondary possibility:
Tiezhu with 3 points, Rabbit Ears with 11 points, Haozi with 1 point, Zhezhi with 1 point, Overlord with -10 points, King Kong 0, himself 0.
Xingchen clenched his agreement tool. This thing was fake—neither one-way nor two-way. Completely fake!
No matter what the point distribution looked like, he had to take a chance. He definitely had to choose "Fight."
If he was unlucky and the opponent also chose "Fight," he'd lose 1 point. The result wouldn't change. Dead is still dead, and not dead is still not dead.
If he was lucky and the opponent chose "Peace," he'd gain 10 points. That way, a death situation could turn into survival, and a survival situation would stay the same.
Xingchen shouted at King Kong again, "Are you f***ing stupid? In this situation, you have to give it a shot!"
Of course, King Kong wasn't stupid.
So after hearing Xingchen's outburst, King Kong was even more certain: the agreement tool in Xingchen's hand didn't actually bind Xingchen at all.
Otherwise, two people with zero points teaming up for one point each wouldn't make a difference—dead would still be dead!
King Kong sneered and ignored Xingchen, continuing to polish his long blade.
Xingchen realized he'd let something slip and quickly turned back to shout at Overlord, "Overlord, you and I, let's go!"
This was a test. If Overlord agreed, then he probably had -10 points. If he didn't agree, he probably had 1 point.
Overlord didn't respond to Xingchen. Instead, he looked at Rabbit Ears and said warmly, "Hey, Bunny, let's do it again!"
———
From Overlord's perspective, he didn't know Haozi had -10 points. He thought Rabbit Ears was trying to get first place, so she had chosen "Fight."
In Overlord's analysis, Yu Tu should have 3 points, Rabbit Ears 12. Though she was temporarily first, Yu Tu might win another round unexpectedly.
So, if Rabbit Ears got another 1 or 10 points, she could secure first place 100%.
At this moment, he just wanted to quickly pair up with Rabbit Ears again. Worst case, he'd drop to -20. He was dead anyway.
If he got lucky and Rabbit Ears, knowing she was already first, gifted him 1 point, he'd be at -9. If Xingchen or Yu Tu managed to trick someone else—say King Kong—then he'd have a sliver of hope to survive.
And even if he couldn't survive, it was just death. Since he was dying anyway, he'd rather help Rabbit Ears secure first!
Everyone was walking on the edge of life and death—what was there to fear?
If Rabbit Ears wanted to win and that meant harming him, he wouldn't blame her!
Since he was going to die, he'd rather help her win than let someone else take it.
After all, he had slept with her.
———
Looking at King Kong polishing his blade, Rabbit Ears didn't want to keep playing anymore. The reason was simple.
She didn't believe Overlord would be willing to give her 20 points back-to-back just because of a meaningless fling.
Could this world really still have a man who would willingly sacrifice himself for her over some one-night stand?
Ha! Don't make her laugh.
So, even if she exploited Overlord's hopefulness to get another 10 points and reach 10 herself, she definitely wouldn't be able to fool Haozi again.
From Haozi's perspective, he could analyze everyone's point totals.
If he believed her ability was one-way binding, then he'd know she had tricked Overlord and wouldn't let himself get tricked again.
If he believed her ability was two-way binding, he still wouldn't play with her—because either way, his points were the lowest!
So, both Overlord and Haozi were likely at -10 points. That meant two deaths. Even if she couldn't be first, she could still earn more gold coins, right?
Rabbit Ears turned her head to look at Haozi, who was staring at her with a pleading face, and frowned in disgust.
So ugly!
Well then, you can go and be a dead rat!
Rabbit Ears looked back at Overlord, smiled seductively, then shook her head.
Overlord was shocked. She actually refused something so clearly in her favor?
Why?
———
Xingchen didn't have time to care about Overlord and Rabbit Ears. Overlord's reaction gave Xingchen the false impression that Overlord had 1 point, so he wasn't panicking.
The countdown had entered the final 2 minutes, and Xingchen shouted anxiously, "Tiezhu, we have a deal, let's get one more point."
Yu Tu didn't even look at Xingchen. "This idiot, the more pressure he's under, the dumber he gets." Seeing Yu Tu ignore him, Xingchen looked toward the last person he had a deal with.
"Haozi, you and me!"
———
Haozi, seeing Rabbit Ears reject Overlord, started to feel desperate.
He wasn't sure about Rabbit Ears' and Overlord's point totals.
But either he was at -10 and Rabbit Ears at -9, making him the lowest, or both he and Overlord were tied at -10.
Either way, he couldn't play with Rabbit Ears.
Xingchen was his only chance now. He had to bet Xingchen would pick "Peace" and that Xingchen's agreement tool actually worked.
So when Xingchen asked him, Haozi didn't hesitate at all: "Okay! Let's do it."
———
Hearing Haozi's response, Xingchen was stunned. Wait a minute—Haozi is already in a safe spot, so why would he agree?
Unless…
Xingchen's eyes lit up—unless Haozi wasn't at 1 point, but at -10.
If that's the case, then Yu Tu wasn't at 3 points either. Zhezhi's calmness came from knowing Haozi had -10 and that Yu Tu and Zhezhi had schemed to trick Haozi and Rabbit Ears.
Then the real situation should be…
Zhezhi: -1 point, Haozi: -10, Yu Tu: 19, Rabbit Ears: 0, Overlord: -10.
Xingchen laughed wildly, looking at Haozi with pity: "Hahaha, I changed my mind. I'm not doing it!"
———
Xingchen figured it out. So did Overlord!
Why did Rabbit Ears reject an obviously good deal? Because even if she got 10 more points, she still couldn't be first. If she said no, then two people would die!
Because Haozi also had -10!
Overlord raged. "You b**ch! I was thinking of helping you get first even while I was dying, and you could've pulled me back!"
There was already one -10. You could've helped me and let Haozi die alone—why not?
If Rabbit Ears did it to survive, he wouldn't blame her;
If she did it to get first, he wouldn't blame her either;
But in this case, she wasn't trying to survive or win—she just wanted Overlord dead for no reason!
Overlord looked at this sweet, soft woman. After all we shared… how could she be so heartless?
He had always thought she treated him differently.
And he was right. For maximum benefit, now that she couldn't win, Rabbit Ears wanted both Overlord and Haozi dead!
She had actually tried to get 10 points from King Kong to make a last-ditch effort, but King Kong refused. Her chances were gone.
So there was no point in getting 10 from Overlord—it would just save Haozi.
And Rabbit Ears hated Haozi. He was ugly, and he had slept with her.
If she couldn't scam Overlord then scam Haozi, she'd rather Haozi die too!
As for saving Overlord with 1 point? She never even considered it.
Not once!
Rabbit Ears was disgusted by Haozi;
She didn't even look at Overlord.
———
Overlord got it. He suddenly looked at Haozi. Haozi, seeing Overlord's reaction, also understood everything. They stared at each other.
"Eye bags."
They both looked at the countdown. Less than 1 minute left!
"Let's do it!"
Without hesitation, they each rushed to the "Fight or Peace Pavilion," then—
Both pressed "Fight."
They both knew whether they lived didn't depend on what they picked—it depended on what the other picked!
"Throne Rat, you chose 'Fight.' Dragon-Slaying Overlord also chose 'Fight.' You each lose 1 point. Current score: -11."
"Dragon-Slaying Overlord, you chose 'Fight.' Throne Rat also chose 'Fight.' You each lose 1 point. Current score: -11."
The mechanical voice ended. Haozi rushed out, panicking:
"Xingchen, save me!"
"Bunny, save me!"
"Tiezhu! Save me, please!"
"Zhezhi, sweetie, I was wrong—save me!"
"Big bro King Kong…"
But no one responded.
Unlike Haozi's desperation, Overlord walked calmly out of the pavilion, teeth clenched. He knew he was doomed. No saving him now.
30 seconds left on the countdown.
Overlord unchained himself and threw the chains at Rabbit Ears, roaring: "You bitch! Die!"
Before the chains could hit her, Overlord's head exploded on the spot. The chains fell weakly to the ground.
As Haozi kept screaming, a cold voice said: "Game ends in 10 seconds. Countdown begins: 10… 9… 8…"
Yu Tu looked at Haozi with curiosity. He wondered, if Haozi also died due to an attack, how would that affect the rankings?
Zhezhi, in a good mood, seemed to read Yu Tu's mind and patiently explained, "If someone dies during the game, their points still count in the final ranking!"
"'Fight or Peace' game ends. Final scores: Tiezhu 19 points, Rabbit Ears 0, Xingchen 0, King Kong 0, Zhezhi -1, Throne Rat -11, Dragon-Slaying Overlord -11. Lowest score is -11. Throne Rat and Dragon-Slaying Overlord, dead!"
As the mechanical voice ended, Haozi's head also exploded, and his headless body collapsed.
Zhezhi and Rabbit Ears stepped aside in disgust to avoid his blood.
Yu Tu kissed Zhezhi's forehead, then blew a kiss to Rabbit Ears.
"The brave fear nothing. Game over!"
With that cold declaration, a flash of white light appeared, and Yu Tu saw the exchange interface once again…