3, 2, 1...
The clock finally struck 9:00 AM.
In an instant, the alert announcing the release of the arrest warrant reverberated throughout the Pursuit Team's base.
Liu Shanhe glanced at the notification on his phone:
[New Arrest Warrant Issued]
[Target: Cifera]
[Officially Wanted]
[Crime: Stealing Intelligence from the Pursuit Team]
[Location of Crime: Pursuit Team Base]
[Note: Due to the unique nature of the stolen items, they cannot be counted toward Wealth Points. This arrest has no time limit for valid point acquisition.]
Confirming that the arrest warrant indeed targeted Cifera, Liu Shanhe issued the order without hesitation:
"Move out!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Expert Team members and Pursuers responded in unison, their voices ringing with determination. Their faces were grim and focused.
In their eyes, Cifera's farce had gone on long enough.
Evil cannot triumph over righteousness. Faced with the Pursuit Team's overwhelming power, Cifera had nowhere left to run.
The scene of the Pursuit Team charging in with high morale should have sent the live stream viewers into a frenzy.
But after Nie Junfeng's earlier confirmation, everyone knew that the person inside the room was none other than Nie Bing herself.
The Pursuit Team had made such a massive blunder, yet they remained oblivious. The more serious and earnest they appeared, the funnier the viewers found it.
Many eagerly anticipated the reactions of Liu Shanhe and the others—especially the self-assured Lin Zhiyuan—when they discovered it was Nie Bing inside.
"Attention, whoever's inside! In ten seconds, I'm breaking down the door!" Zhang Hong warned, mindful of avoiding harm to Cifera inside.
The ten seconds flew by. Without even taking a running start, Zhang Hong raised his leg and kicked!
Bang!
The dormitory's wooden door splintered and burst open.
Zhang Hong charged in first, followed closely by Lin Zhiyuan and the rest of the Pursuit Team.
But when Zhang Hong saw Nie Bing lying on the bed with her eyes closed, status indicators plastered all over her body, he froze in disbelief.
"Brother Zhiyuan," he stammered, "what's going on here?"
Lin Zhiyuan frowned slightly, refraining from an immediate response as he meticulously surveyed the room.
After confirming that "Nie Bing" was the only person present, lying on the bed, he murmured to himself, glancing at the status bar above her head:
"Bound, drugged with sleeping pills, won't wake up until noon... That's Nie Bing's previous state."
Lin Zhiyuan shook his head, a wry smile creeping across his face:
"Brother Zhang, don't be fooled by this facade. The 'Nie Bing' lying here is definitely Cifera in disguise. She thought she could evade capture by feigning unconsciousness, but this is far too naive. She's desperate, grasping at straws."
"Is that so..."
Zhang Hong still harbored some reservations. Both the fake Cifera downstairs and this imposter Nie Bing were eerily identical to their originals.
To be honest, if not for Lin Zhiyuan's analysis—which suggested this was Cifera's only escape route after 9 p.m.—he would have sworn both women were genuine.
Seeing Lin Zhiyuan's unwavering confidence, Zhang Hong decided not to press the matter further. After all, they had captured the suspect. Once the Production Team confirmed the information, they would know the truth.
With that thought, he picked up a pair of handcuffs and clamped them directly onto "Nie Bing's" wrists, then turned to Lin Zhiyuan and said:
"Brother Zhiyuan, confirm with the Production Team whether the capture was successful."
"No problem," Lin Zhiyuan replied confidently. Having captured so many contestants before, he was well-versed in the post-capture confirmation protocol.
"I've already sent a message. We should receive confirmation shortly."
While waiting for the reply, Lin Zhiyuan gazed earnestly at the "Nie Bing" lying on the bed and declared:
"Cifera, there's no point in pretending any longer. Just admit defeat. You've already done exceptionally well."
"But this time, I'm the winner! That's the truth!"
-
Meanwhile, Nie Bing, lying on the bed, heard Lin Zhiyuan's boastful declaration and her mind flooded with question marks.
What on earth are you talking about?!
I don't understand a single word you're saying!
I'm Cifera in disguise?!
How could I not know?!
Earlier, Cifera had taken Nie Bing's jacket, put it on, done nothing else, waited a while, and then left.
Although Nie Bing's intuition told her that Cifera intended to use the jacket for some scheme, she couldn't fathom what the other woman was planning.
Before the Pursuit Team entered, she had found Liu Shanhe's announcement strange.
Cifera left ages ago! Why is he claiming she's hiding in my room?
He had even declared that Lin Zhiyuan had already seen through Cifera's escape plan.
Now, looking back, she realized that "seeing through" their plan must have meant believing Nie Bing wasn't herself, but Cifera disguised as her—an absurd notion!
Master, you've been led astray by that charlatan Lin Zhiyuan and dragged into this stinking gutter!
Our Pursuit Team's reputation has been completely ruined by that con artist Lin Zhiyuan!
Nie Bing could imagine the live stream's Bullet Comments now—no doubt they were all mocking the Pursuit Team. And indeed, that was exactly the case:
[Lord Lin, please stop! My cringe levels are off the charts!]
[Ha ha ha! Lin "Holmes" Zhiyuan's real name reveal just crashed and burned!]
[Nie Bing's thoughts: Who am I? Where am I? How did I become Cifera?!]
[You can just imagine how utterly devastated Goddess Nie Bing must feel right now. Watching this bunch of clueless teammates confidently capture her, unable to speak up and explain—it's just too much!]
[I don't think Little Bingbing is suffering the most here. The real agony belongs to those handcuffs: "I cuffed nothing but emptiness!"]
[The Pursuit Team after learning the truth: "We looked so ridiculous trying to be serious."]
[LOL, massive public humiliation for the Pursuit Team! This is going to be a legendary scene in the show's history.]
[Backstage at the Production Team, everyone's losing it with laughter: Ratings up 200%!
[You have to admit, Cifera's deception skills are just too good. The Pursuit Team never stood a chance.]
While the Bullet Comments relentlessly mocked them, Lin Zhiyuan received a reply message from the Production Team. As soon as he read it, the confident smile on his face froze, and his phone clattered to the ground.
Even if Zhang Hong and the others weren't experts at reading microexpressions, they could immediately tell that Lin Zhiyuan was completely stunned.
"The confirmation failed?"
"..."
Seeing Lin Zhiyuan still frozen in place, Zhang Hong ignored him and grabbed the phone off the floor to check:
[Capture failed. The apprehended subject is not Cifera herself. Please try again.]
"Holy shit, it really failed! I knew it couldn't be a disguise!"
Zhang Hong hastily unlocked Nie Bing's handcuffs and said awkwardly, "Sorry about that, Sis Bing. This whole mess is on Brother Zhiyuan—don't blame me!"
With that, Zhang Hong hoisted the still-dazed Lin Zhiyuan by the arm and bellowed, "Everyone, upstairs to the second floor immediately!
"The real Cifera is at the technical booth!
"Don't let her escape!
"And whoever's last out, remember to lock the door for Goddess Nie Bing—it's crucial!"
Outside the room, Liu Shanhe, who had been standing by the hallway window admiring the view, watched the swarm of people burst out of Nie Bing's room. He knew something was wrong without even needing to ask.
Though equally surprised, Liu Shanhe showed little tension, instead appearing relieved.
Perhaps "surprised" wasn't the right word to describe Liu Shanhe's current mood; "delighted" would be more accurate.
Clearly, Liu Shanhe viewed the show's outcome as secondary to his primary goal: discovering the nation's future leaders through this competition.
And Cifera was the contestant he valued most.
But even the most exceptional ability would be wasted without the right mindset.
His earlier decision not to enter the room to apprehend Cifera stemmed from his belief that she had foolishly squandered a precious escape opportunity, choosing to surrender instead. This had truly disappointed him.
Now, however, it seemed it had all been a misunderstanding.
"Cifera, you're truly not one to give up easily. This is fantastic!"
With that, Liu Shanhe hurried down the stairs from the second floor.
He couldn't wait to see what further surprises Cifera would bring.