After walking through the 45-meter-long corridor, the five people finally arrived in the same space, which was the entrance to the official game area.
"Are you okay?"
Wang Yongxin helped Cai Zhiyuan, letting him rest against the corner of the wall.
But Wang Yongxin himself wasn't in great shape either, his original composure and confidence had completely vanished, replaced by a head full of sweat and a disheveled appearance.
Blood was also seeping through his suit, though not as severely as Cai Zhiyuan's.
Cai Zhiyuan shook his head: "I'm fine, it's nothing serious, I probably won't die."
Wang Yongxin looked at Ding Wenqiang, hesitated to speak, and finally just sighed silently.
He really was in no position to criticize the other person.
After all, in "Blood Poker," after Wang Yongxin re-entered the cubicle and discovered the secret of the chip exchange machine, he could have left the cubicle to share this information with the others, but in the end, he didn't.
Wang Yongxin looked up at the game area, preparing to listen carefully to the official rules of the game.
In the center of the area, there was a huge four-sided display screen, with a VCR below it that could play old-fashioned videotapes.
In front of the VCR was a locked glass cabinet, containing a crown, a golden scepter, and five videotapes locked in separate compartments.
[Ding Wenqiang has obtained the 'King' identity, please scan your visa to continue the game.]
Ding Wenqiang was originally looking in Cai Zhiyuan's direction, his expression hesitant, as if wondering whether to go over and offer comfort or an apology, and he didn't react for a moment when he heard the prompt.
At this moment, the tall, burly middle-aged man, Gao Zhankui, had already pushed Ding Wenqiang aside and extended his own wristband to the visa scanning area.
[Irregular behavior detected.]
A fierce electric current sound crackled, and Gao Zhankui violently retracted his left hand, letting out a scream.
"Ahhhhhh—"
He convulsed and fell to his knees, the blue electric sparks clearly visible on the wristband on his left wrist.
[The violator will have fifty thousand minutes of visa time deducted, a second violation will result in an instant death penalty.]
Ding Wenqiang had panicked for a moment, but now he shook his head, somewhat amused.
To think there was such an idiot.
These games had all been reviewed by the Arcade, selected from the best of the best, and wouldn't have any particularly obvious, low-level loopholes. To think of exploiting a loophole like this was just ridiculously stupid.
Ding Wenqiang stepped forward and extended his wristband to the visa scanning area.
With a "click," the glass cabinet unlocked.
Then, the game instructions continued to appear on the screen.
[The scepter before you is an exclusive item for the King, when you make a legitimate request in accordance with the game's procedure and the other four prisoners refuse to comply, you can press the button on the scepter to administer an electric shock punishment to the prisoner.]
[The videotapes record the crimes of each sinner.]
[In the area, there are six different prison cells, each corresponding to a different punishment.]
[You can choose to lock any sinner in any cell for judgment, but please note:]
[Cells No. 1 and No. 2 are unlocked by default, after either of them is used, Cell No. 3 will be unlocked, and so on.]
[The initial time for each cell to judge a sinner once is 10 minutes, as the number of times increases, the judgment will also become increasingly severe.]
[For most cells, the prisoner's life will be in danger during the 3rd judgment.]
[Once a cell and a prisoner are bound, they cannot be changed. Please choose the cell carefully and conduct a fair judgment of the sinner.]
[The game ends when one of the following two conditions occurs:]
[1. 10 judgments are completed. At this time, if there is still time remaining, the King can freely decide to end the game immediately, or continue until the countdown ends.]
[2. Any special circumstances occur that make it impossible for the game to continue.]
[After the game ends, you will be injected with the antidote and regain your freedom.]
[Finally, here is a piece of harsh but honest advice for the King:]
[No matter what kind of person you were before, or what your attitude towards the world was, after becoming the King, you must learn to play your role:]
[You must find the correct advice amidst those chaotic voices, and then, with a just and compassionate heart, decide the fate of others and yourself. Because, this is precisely the duty of a King.]
[Now, as the King, please take out your own videotape and first make your crime public.]
With a "click," the glass lid of one of the videotapes popped open automatically, and on the tape were written three characters: Ding Wenqiang.
...
The speakers in Lin Sizhi's room began to continuously broadcast announcements audible only to the audience.
[Audience No. 10 has bet on 'King'.]
[Audience No. 7 has bet on 'King'.]
[Audience No. 8 has bet on 'King'.]
[Audience No. 3 has bet on 'Prisoner'.]
More and more audience members began to place their bets.
It was obvious that with the announcement of the game rules, the King's identity showed a very significant advantage.
To bet on the King's side, you had to be quick, because there were only five spots.
However, Audience No. 3 still chose the Prisoner side, Lin Sizhi remembered that they had once sent a "Go for it" message to Cai Zhiyuan.
It could be Officer Cao, or it could be someone with strong empathy.
Lin Sizhi looked at the betting buttons on the table, and after some consideration, still chose to press the 'Prisoner' side.
[Audience No. 5 has bet on 'Prisoner'.]
About five seconds passed.
[Audience No. 2 has bet on 'King'.]
[The number of bets on the King's side is now full, Audience No. 4 and Audience No. 6 will automatically be bet on the Prisoner's side.]
...
In the game area, Ding Wenqiang picked up the golden scepter.
It was cold and heavy in his hand.
Holding the scepter firmly in his hand, Ding Wenqiang felt a strong sense of security.
Then, he looked at the crown.
The rules didn't say what the crown was for, it seemed to be just for show, with no actual function.
And just as Ding Wenqiang was hesitating, the thin, yellow-haired young man, Zhang Peng, had already quickly approached him.
"Uncle Ding, how could you do this kind of thing yourself? Let me do it for you."
As Zhang Peng spoke, he picked up the crown.
Ding Wenqiang was stunned for a moment, almost pressing the button on the scepter on Zhang Peng.
But in the next second, Zhang Peng respectfully and carefully placed the crown on Ding Wenqiang's head, then humbly bowed and retreated.
The heavy crown pressed down on his head, fitting securely, and Ding Wenqiang inexplicably had a strange feeling.
He subconsciously wanted to take it off, but on second thought, it was just a game prop, since his identity in the game was the King, there was nothing wrong with wearing the crown to increase the distinction from the others.
It also didn't seem appropriate to just toss aside a prop arranged by the game.
Ding Wenqiang said no more, just picked up the videotape from the side and inserted it into the VCR.
A moment later, static appeared on the large screen, followed by a first-person view.
An emotionless narration began.
[As a delivery driver, you work 10 hours a day, considering yourself diligent and hardworking, yet your life is still tight.]
[To support your family, you have no choice but to drag your weary body through the city.]
[Until that accident changed everything.]
[You may have many reasons, such as being forced to drive while fatigued to complete your delivery tasks, or having just been robbed and beaten by a masked thug, causing your left eye to swell and your vision to be limited, but no matter what, you are the one directly responsible for that accident.]
[Although you have already paid the price for it, in countless midnight dreams, do you still see that blood-covered face?]
The image on the TV screen flickered slightly and became somewhat blurry, seeming to represent that the driver was extremely drowsy, even dozing off.
However, in the next second, a yellow figure on an electric scooter suddenly appeared ahead!
A piercing screech of brakes sounded, but it was too late, the figure crashed into the windshield and was sent flying far away.
Then, the content of the videotape ended, and Ding Wenqiang's file appeared on the large screen.
[Ding Wenqiang, male, 53 years old.]
[Occupation: Large-item express delivery driver]
[While driving in a state of fatigue, he struck a food delivery driver who ran a red light on an electric scooter, causing severe injuries that ultimately resulted in death.]
[Verdict: Sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for the crime of causing a traffic accident, with a 2-year suspended sentence (has compensated the family with 400,000 yuan and obtained their forgiveness).]
The area became very quiet.
Zhang Peng couldn't help but look at Ding Wenqiang, then quickly averted his gaze.
As for Ding Wenqiang, he had his head slightly lowered at this moment, not meeting anyone's eyes, but his somewhat stiff expression still revealed his inner thoughts to a certain extent.
Although he had more or less mentally prepared himself beforehand, having a deeply buried wound suddenly torn open still made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Uncle Ding, it wasn't your fault, it was just an accident." Cai Zhiyuan seemed to be in a better state, offering comfort in a hoarse voice.
However, Ding Wenqiang ignored him, simply saying to the other four with a stern face: "Everyone get up, move forward!
"The game is still going on!"