To: Ms. Cifera
We cordially invite you to join the Pursuit Team as a special expert for "Global Pursuit: Final Heist."
Your unparalleled trickery skills will be a tremendous asset to our production team.
...
Finally, on behalf of the entire production team, I extend our sincerest gratitude for your participation.
Issued by: Guo Tao, Chief Director, China Region
Date: June 21, 2052
The live stream revealed the contents of the invitation letter in Inspector Nie Bing's hand.
The others present took turns examining it, unanimously concluding that it was a genuine invitation letter.
"Special paper, standardized format, Chief Director Guo Tao's personal signature, and the production team's official seal—now, Little Bingbing, you have no room for argument," Liu Shanhe said, standing beside the silent, head-bowed Nie Bing as he watched Cifera being swarmed with questions about the secrets behind her earlier trickery. He chuckled, "I told you, your Master never misjudges. Now do you finally believe the young lady is one of us?"
"Yes, I was wrong... Master, can trickery really achieve such levels of deception? I... couldn't detect even the slightest flaw."
"Isn't the truth right before our eyes?" Liu Shanhe exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
"It's true what they say—genius emerges in youth. Honestly, I can't even fathom how Cifera pulled that off. How did a cat suddenly leap out like that?
"If I didn't know you so well, I'd swear your backpack was some kind of magic portal and that today's performance was a staged act by you two girls. Ha ha."
"...Master, I've made up my mind."
"Hmm?"
"I'm determined to unravel the principles behind Cifera's trickery, no matter how long it takes."
"Aiya, you're getting all serious again, aren't you? Well, suit yourself. Cifera is a worthy peer; she possesses many qualities you lack. Study her well."
"Understood, Master."
Seeing that Nie Bing wasn't as dejected as he'd feared, Liu Shanhe felt relieved. He clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention and declared grandly:
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's officially welcome our master magician, Cifera, to the team! With her joining, our seven-member Expert Team is finally complete!"
"Bravo!"
Clap clap clap—the assembled experts erupted in genuine applause, genuinely impressed by Cifera's spectacular performance.
This harmonious scene of the Expert Team uniting unfolded before the viewers of the live stream. Those who knew the truth could barely contain their laughter!
Who could have imagined that Cifera, as a contestant, would miraculously turn the tables under such dire circumstances, successfully deceiving all members of the Expert Team and completely concealing her true identity!
The live stream erupted like a New Year's celebration, with a dazzling barrage of gift animations flooding the screen like fireworks.
The promised ten Carnivals from the wealthy entrepreneur arrived right on schedule, pushing the atmosphere in the live stream to its peak!
[Happy New Year~! I wish Cifera prosperity, I wish Cifera success~!]
[I heard the gift revenue split in individual live streams is 90% to the contestant and 10% to the Production Team. Cifera definitely hit the jackpot with this wave of gifts!]
[I can't help it, Cifera is just... sobs uncontrollably ...how is she this amazing?!]
[There are so many mind-blowing aspects to this trickery, but I just want to know: how did she get that invitation letter in the first place?]
[Some guy on Tieba theorized that Cifera is actually the Mysterious Expert herself. The Production Team deliberately started her as a contestant to manufacture drama for the show.]
[Your info's outdated! The Production Team already debunked that rumor. Cifera and the Mysterious Expert are absolutely not the same person!]
[Even the Production Team can't figure out how Cifera got their specially designed invitation letter!]
[Ahhh! I really want to know how she did it!]
In truth, there was someone who wanted to know even more than the Bullet Comments in the live stream: Nie Junfeng, who had been humiliated once again.
"Impossible... absolutely impossible..."
Nie Junfeng muttered, unconsciously rising to his feet.
He watched in stunned disbelief as the Expert Team warmly welcomed Cifera into their ranks.
"Inspector Nie, while it defies logic, Cifera truly deceived everyone with her trickery. The audience is particularly curious about how she obtained such a remarkably authentic-looking invitation letter without prior knowledge. As a seasoned professional from the Police Force, could you provide some insight for our viewers?"
Though Host Qiu Qiu was thrilled, she didn't actually want to call on Nie Junfeng. But the Chief Director, Guo Tao, was relentlessly urging her through her earpiece.
Clearly, Guo Tao was deliberately trying to embarrass Nie Junfeng. Imagine being humiliated twice, yet forced to smile and analyze how brilliant his opponent is—what perfect entertainment!
"This..."
Despite his frustration, Nie Junfeng represented the Police Force and couldn't afford to lose composure.
He took a deep breath, forcibly calming himself, and forced a slightly strained smile.
"In my opinion, if the Production Team truly didn't inform Cifera about the invitation letters beforehand, then there's only one possible explanation:
"Cifera used some method to steal all the information related to the invitation letters in advance, and then forged her own invitation letter before the program even began."
As he spoke, Nie Junfeng clearly shifted into his usual detective mode. A crucial detail suddenly clicked in his mind, and he exclaimed with sudden excitement:
"Hacking Technology!"
"Hacking Technology? Inspector Nie, are you suggesting... Cifera is a hacker? Could this be why she was so confident in obtaining the Pursuit Team members' positions?"
Host Qiu Qiu, no fool herself, immediately recalled Nie Junfeng's earlier mention of a third possibility: Cifera possessing exceptional computer skills.
And who better to fit that description than a hacker?
"Exactly! That's it!"
Nie Junfeng wasn't afraid of failure; he just couldn't stand losing without understanding why. Now, at last, he had found the answer.
"There's a high probability that Cifera is a hacker. Long before the show started, she had already hacked into the Production Team's computers, gaining access to all sorts of information related to the program.
"That's how she learned about the invitation letters and devised her plan to impersonate a member of the Expert Team using a forged invitation letter."
"Though I don't know her ultimate motive, I can say with certainty that she wasn't forced to interact with the Expert Team because the Production Team assigned her a 'Hell Start' scenario.
"She had already set her sights on the Pursuit Team long ago. In her eyes, they were prey, and she was the true hunter!"
Nie Junfeng's statement sent the Bullet Comments section into another frenzy.
[Has Inspector Nie turned from hater to fan? I swear he's become a Cat God stan!]
[Stan? He's just telling the truth! Cat God is going wild!]
[Thank you, Inspector Nie, for the explanation! From now on, I'm officially a devoted follower of Cat God!]
["They are prey, and I am the hunter"—Cat God's relentless advance!]
Seeing the Bullet Comments section's reaction, Host Qiu Qiu quickly interjected:
"Given what you've said, it seems the Pursuit Team is in dire straits. Do they still have a chance to turn the tide?"
"Turn the tide? At this point, their only hope lies in Police Officer Nie Bing's computer skills outmatching Cifera's."
Nie Junfeng left one crucial sentence unsaid:
But the odds are slim.
After being proven wrong twice already, Nie Junfeng now saw Cifera as nothing short of a super-genius. His own daughter, at least for now, couldn't even compare.
Let the bet be lost, then. It's better that way!
Ha! A talent like this must be recruited into our Police Force!