When the group from the third floor rushed down to the second floor, they breathed a collective sigh of relief upon finding Cifera still sitting at the Technical Booth.
The Pursuer who had been monitoring Cifera on the second floor asked in confusion:
"What's going on? Did you catch her?"
"We caught nothing but frustration!" Zhang Hong replied. "Good thing the real target's still here. You did well!"
After praising the Pursuers, Zhang Hong instructed them to guard the staircases. When Liu Shanhe arrived, the group approached the Technical Booth, stopping about two meters away.
Everyone, except the still-dazed Lin Zhiyuan, eyed Cifera warily.
For Liu Shanhe, while winning the game wasn't his top priority, his duty remained clear. With the "criminal" right in front of him, he would give it his all.
Stepping forward, Liu Shanhe stood at the front and addressed Cifera in a gentle tone:
"Cifera, you're such a prankster! You've led us on another wild goose chase.
"But do you really think this was worth it?
"You originally had ample time to escape, enough to prepare everything thoroughly before carrying out your theft."
"But you didn't choose that path. To be honest, at this point, I can't imagine you still have any chance of escaping.
"Before you're captured, would you tell me your true thoughts?"
Once captured, contestants would be taken away by Production Team staff, leaving Liu Shanhe no further opportunity to speak with Cifera.
"Just give me one more minute. I'll finish photoshopping all the group photos right away," Cifera said, raising a finger, her gaze still fixed on the computer screen as her hands danced across the keyboard and mouse.
"No problem, I'll wait for you."
To be honest, Liu Shanhe deeply admired Cifera's current mental state.
This ability to maintain composure no matter how dire the situation was crucial for a true genius.
Throughout history, every dynasty has produced its share of geniuses, but not every one has fully realized their potential.
Apart from unavoidable external factors, the most critical influence was temperament.
Only geniuses with the right mental fortitude can fully unlock and manifest their Talent.
At that moment, in Liu Shanhe's eyes, Cifera was exactly that—a genius with unparalleled mental fortitude.
[This Cat is truly fearless, relying on her exceptional skills to completely disregard the Pursuit Team.]
[No choice, if I were Cat and they underestimated my true abilities, I'd be just as composed.]
[The Pursuit Team could never dream that Cat would escape via the balcony next, they're in for a massive shock.]
[Old Liu, you're still underestimating Cat. She's about to outsmart you... again and again!]
[Old Liu: Is all this worth it? (Full of regret)]
[Cat: Absolutely! Totally worth it! (Laughing so hard I'm rolling on the floor)]
[You can tell Old Liu genuinely loves Cat; his eyes are full of admiration. Please, Cat, just be human for once! Stop teasing the old man.]
[Cat: What's it to you? I'll tease him if I want! I'm not even human anyway!]
[Ha ha, enough from you! You've stripped Cat of her very humanity!]
As the Bullet Comments scrolled rapidly, the one-minute countdown expired.
Simultaneously, every Pursuer's phone chimed with a new message notification.
"Mmm~"
Cifera leaned back in her chair, stretching luxuriously, her full curves displayed without reservation to the assembled crowd.
Looking at the Expert Team before her, Cifera flashed her signature smile:
"All done! The photoshopped group photos have been sent to everyone. Now that the graduation ceremony is drawing to a close, it's time to say goodbye...
"Oh, Old Liu, you asked me what I was thinking?
"From now on, you'll experience it through your own eyes~"
The moment she finished speaking, the Expert Team saw a flash of white suddenly detach from Cifera's body and hurtle toward them at incredible speed.
It was incredibly fast!
In an instant, their vision was completely obscured by the blinding white, and Cifera's figure vanished.
By the time Liu Shanhe managed to block and catch the white object, they realized it was the white coat Cifera had been wearing.
But Cifera herself was already gone from the Technical Booth.
"What?!"
"No way!"
"A live disappearing act?!"
"Hiss~! The Magician's tricks are terrifying!"
"..."
A collective gasp rippled through the room.
Liu Shanhe immediately shouted, "Everyone, calm down! People don't just vanish into thin air! This is a basic magic technique: misdirection!"
"For that split second, all your attention was focused on the garment, and none of you noticed her slip onto the balcony."
"Am I right, Cifera?"
Before Liu Shanhe could finish speaking, a soft chuckle came from the balcony.
There stood Cifera, pressed flat against the vertical wall just inside the balcony door. She had squeezed herself into the narrow gap between the doorframe and the wall, the frame's thickness providing perfect cover.
Cifera slowly stepped out, grinning. "Heh heh, you're too sharp, Old Liu! You saw through my little trick right away."
"Cifera, if this is the escape method you wanted to show me, then this old man is a bit disappointed."
Hearing Liu Shanhe's words, Wang Lei clapped his hands in sudden realization. "I get it now! Cifera exploited the psychological principle that the most dangerous place is often the safest. It's all about psychological manipulation!"
"When we realized she was missing, our panic would immediately lead us to suspect she'd used her Magician skills to escape in some unexpected way.
"We'd likely rush downstairs to pursue her, giving her the opportunity to slip out onto the balcony and hide somewhere in the base.
"Then, at our first moment of carelessness, she'd seize her chance to leave."
Wang Lei finished speaking, only to realize everyone was staring at him with "what are you even talking about" expressions.
Scratching his head, Wang Lei said awkwardly, "Is what I said really that far-fetched?"
"Hmm, logically it has some plausibility," Cifera replied. "But in this current scenario, its viability is practically zero.
"Think about it: most of us here are elite members of the Police Force. Even if they realize I'm missing, they wouldn't all rush downstairs in a frenzy to look for me.
"At the very least, they'd split up, leaving some to thoroughly search the second floor.
"Doesn't that make sense, Teacher Wang Lei?"
"Ah... you're right. I was definitely oversimplifying things."
Wang Lei's face flushed crimson after Cifera spoke, and Liu Shanhe quickly steered the conversation back on track:
"Cifera, that's enough. If you have another trick up your sleeve, use it now. If not, then Old Liu here will personally cuff you."
Although Old Liu claimed to be giving Cifera another chance, everyone present knew she had been cornered on the balcony, leaving her with no escape.
Unless she jumped, escape was impossible.
But this was just a reality show, and Cifera wasn't a real fugitive. Who would risk their life to jump off a balcony for a game?
Yet, just as everyone, including Liu Shanhe, was resigned to Cifera accepting defeat, her next move stunned them all—even the viewers who already knew her true capabilities!
A collective gasp of shock erupted from both the studio audience and viewers at home.