Chapter 384: Dessert Time

"Dissatisfied?" Pan Shi sharply seized the key in Cheng Shuili's words, "You mean, killing the attendants themselves might trigger some hidden rule that works against us?"

"Exactly." Cheng Shuili nodded, her gaze sweeping over the attendants' corpses on the ground, "The Faceless Joker is the embodiment of the rules; it too must obey them. But it clearly enjoys seeing us break the rules, or… violate its taboo. Killing its attendants likely accumulates its displeasure; when that displeasure reaches a threshold, perhaps it can bypass certain restrictions and strike us directly."

This speculation was sound and reasonable, making all players break out in a cold sweat on their backs.

But soon a player furrowed his brow and questioned, "You already knew why we should still attack that attendant?! We've only killed impostors so far; among those present, only you have killed an attendant! And you're the one who knew."

Cheng Shuili's expression remained unchanged; she didn't even glance at him, merely asking, "Anyone else with doubts?"

On that plain face, there was not the slightest panic from the questioning; instead, it bore a lofty, scrutinizing gaze.

The air was filled with a brief silence.

Under her gaze, the questioning player's aura unconsciously weakened, yet he stubbornly held his neck stiff, seemingly seeking an explanation.

Hao Hao gripped his axe tightly, his eyes fierce as he stared at that person, ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.

Pan Shi's brows furrowed slightly, about to speak to smooth things over.

But Cheng Shuili spoke first, fixing her gaze on the guy who had jumped out, and said only four words: "What the hell is it to you?"

Those four words were like an ice pick, instantly piercing the tense atmosphere.

The questioning player's face instantly flushed red, as if his throat were being choked, all his prepared arguments stuck in his throat.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The surrounding players also froze, not expecting Cheng Shuili to respond so directly, even rudely.

Yet oddly, this unabashed firmness instead steadied the hearts of those who had been wavering.

In such a precarious situation, a leader strong enough and resolute is far more reassuring than someone who constantly reasons and tries to please everyone.

Hao Hao barely kept from laughing out loud, quickly lowering his head as his shoulders twitched slightly.

She felt more and more that following this big shot was absolutely right!

Pan Shi swallowed the words he had prepared to mediate, the corner of his mouth twitching imperceptibly before turning into a light cough.

Kai Er turned his face away, snorted, but said nothing more.

Although he was arrogant, he wasn't stupid; he knew now wasn't the time for internal strife, and… for some reason, Cheng Shuili's "I'm like this, suck it up if you don't like it" attitude actually gave him little resentment.

Finally, the female member of Pan Shi's team, eyes shining, looked at Cheng Shuili and asked, "What should we do next?"

Finally someone cared about this.

Cheng Shuili revealed an extremely faint smile, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, and spoke clearly:

Cheng Shuili's gaze swept over everyone present, and she spoke clearly:

"Next, we have two things to do. First, figure out what the so-called Dessert Time actually is and how to deal with it. Second……"

She paused, a flash of cold light in her eyes, "Attempt to overturn the Banquet."

"Overturn the Banquet?" Kai Er couldn't help but repeat, "How is that possible? That Faceless Joker can't be killed at all!"

"Who said we have to kill it?" Cheng Shuili countered, "It's a rule monster, fundamentally unable to be slain by players, but when it violates its own rules, it too is erased by the rules. What we must do is force it to make a mistake."

This information was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples spreading outward.

The players' eyes reignited with the light of hope.

"How exactly should we do it?" Kai Er asked in a low voice, his tone filled with unprecedented seriousness.

Cheng Shuili couldn't help but shrug, "If I knew everything, what would you guys be here for?"

"You——!" Kai Er choked again, but this time he didn't lash out, merely scratching his head in irritation.

Pan Shi was even thicker-skinned, nodding earnestly and saying, "Indeed. If Wu Ya alone could handle it, our team instance would be meaningless."

That flattery was really rather obvious.

Players from other teams, unfamiliar with Pan Shi, didn't think much of his words, but his own teammates exchanged glances, their astonishment nearly spilling over.

When did their team captain become so good at climbing the pole?

Cheng Shuili was also taken aback by Pan Shi's sudden "profound righteousness," glanced at him, said nothing, then turned her gaze to the guests and attendants still mechanically eating, pondered a moment, and directly began assigning tasks.

"Pan Shi, you and your people keep watch on those attendants and guests still dining, record any of their minute movements, especially the direction of their gaze or repetitive small actions."

"Kai Er, you lot have loud voices, go harass those impostors who seem uneasy; don't ask directly, just chat with them about whether the dessert will be sweet, what to do if they can't finish it, etc., and observe their reactions."

What does "loud voice" mean?

Kai Er's forehead veins twitched, but seeing Cheng Shuili's matter-of-fact task assignment, he swallowed his retort, merely letting out a heavy snort from his nose, tacitly accepting.

Cheng Shuili didn't care whether he was willing or not, turning her gaze to the other teams and, like a diligent NPC, issued tasks to them one by one.

But no matter what tasks she assigned them, it all boiled down to four words: gather information.

The more we know, the higher our chances of survival.

Action is effective.

Word from Pan Shi's side came quickly.

"Wu Ya! We've found something! The true attendants and guests, every roughly three minutes, glance fleetingly and in unison toward the lower-left of the shadow behind the main seat! The frequency is very fixed! That spot is very likely the Island Heart Passage the impostors mentioned!"

Maybe.

But it's really not very useful.

Finding a way to escape the island would only save a few people; of course, Cheng Shuili's choice of the "overturn the banquet" path is absolutely not because she wants to save these people.

Rather, because as long as everyone focuses on this path, the matter of the attendants' marks will eventually be exposed.

This is a necessary condition for leaving the island; nearly all players will attempt to kill the attendants.

And the more attendants die… Cheng Shuili is all too aware of the consequences.

Who does the Faceless Joker most want to kill right now?

Undoubtedly, it's Cheng Shuili, the one who sent it the local specialty!

Thinking of this, Cheng Shuili couldn't help but prop up her chin.

That Faceless Joker really is—biting the hand that feeds, not recognizing kindness!

Other players didn't bring any gifts for it, but she had brought gifts, and yet the Faceless Smiling Joker still targeted her.

Cheng Shuili indeed wanted to take care of things, but not this kind of care.

Kai Er also quickly sent a message: "Those impostors! As soon as they heard 'dessert,' a few visibly trembled! We deliberately talked about how last time the dessert was too rich, almost uneaten, and one guy even dropped his fork! They definitely know something, and they're terrified!"

Fear...

Cheng Shuili caught that keyword.

What could make these impostors posing as attendants, trying to survive in the cracks of the rules, feel fear—dessert time is certainly not just a literal meal.

"Dessert is probably not food, but… us."

Cheng Shuili's voice was icy as she voiced the guess lurking in everyone's subconscious.

"Or perhaps it's a deadly ritual requiring our participation. The previous segments were obeying the rules while eating and forced dancing, so dessert time is likely the final, and most dangerous, screening or execution."

"Hao Hao suddenly interjected: 'Don't forget, the guests' entire role is called sacrificial guest.'"

"That is to say, we might be the dessert?"

Pan Shi's expression was grave; as he voiced this speculation, his voice unconsciously sank low.

This conclusion made the surrounding temperature seem to drop a few degrees.

If 'dessert' refers to the players, then the so‑called dessert time is likely a slaughter or sacrifice aimed at them, one they cannot escape.

"Sacrificial guest… so we were actually the offerings all along." Kai Er spat with a grim face, "This damned place really has no good intentions!"

"What do we do now?" a female member of Pan Shi's team said, her voice trembling, "If we're the dessert, doesn't that mean we can only wait to die?"

Panic began to spread silently like a plague.

Cheng Shuili shook her head, her eyes still calm: "Not necessarily. The rule‑bound monster must obey the rules—that is its greatest shackle, and our only chance. Dessert time is a segment that must have its own specific rules and procedure. We need not be passive food waiting to be eaten."

She paused, scanned the crowd, and spoke with firm resolve: "Remember, at this banquet we are first and foremost guests."

As long as we retain this identity, the Faceless Smiling Joker cannot arbitrarily put us on the table. It must find a legitimate reason, or lure us into breaking a rule that would turn us into dessert.

Those words were like a shot of adrenaline, temporarily steadying everyone's hearts.

Just then, a melodious bell rang out across the island.

Dong—dong—dong—

All the players felt a sudden tightness in their chests.

On the high platform, the eerie silhouette of the Faceless Smiling Joker appeared once more.

It didn't speak right away, merely sweeping its faceless gaze over the crowd, as if counting something.

As its gaze swept over the attendant corpses on the ground, pausing slightly over Cheng Shuili, an invisible chill seemed to permeate the air.

"Honored guests…" the Faceless Smiling Joker spoke, its voice still carrying that exaggerated cheer, but if you listened closely you could detect a faint… anticipation: "It seems you've all had a rather… lively break. The fun of the feast lies in participation, doesn't it?"

It tilted its head slightly, the hollow face seemingly pointing toward Cheng Shuili.

"To thank you guests for your… enthusiasm, we will now officially enter dessert time!"

The bell's resonance still trembled in the air; the Faceless Smiling Joker's words were like icy chains, wrapping around each player's heart.

"Dessert time…" a player muttered blankly, face ashen.

The figure on the high platform spread its arms in an embracing pose, voice rising in gleeful delight: "The rule is simple! In ten minutes I will randomly pick one lucky guest to share dessert with me! And the chosen guest must… make the dessert themselves!"

Make it themselves?

The players exchanged glances, a deeper chill rising from their feet.

As sacrificial guests, what could they use to make dessert?

The Faceless Smiling Joker seemed to see through their doubts, its smooth face turning toward Cheng Shuili, the cheerful tone laced with an indescribable malice: "The ingredients for dessert are naturally… part of the feast. For example, those overly active, even disrupting the banquet's harmony… impurities."

As soon as its words fell, the area around Cheng Shuili instantly cleared, leaving only Hao Hao still standing in place.

Cheng Shuili: "..."

All the players' gazes, whether subtle or direct, fell upon her.

Pan Shi and Kai Er's faces likewise changed abruptly.

The Faceless Smiling Joker had practically spelled it out!

It wanted to kill with a borrowed knife!

It intended to use the other players to eliminate Cheng Shuili, the troublemaker who constantly provoked the rules and slaughtered attendants!

"Of course," the Faceless Smiling Joker added slowly, pointing casually at the players below, "It could also be anyone here. After all, the fun of the feast lies in surprise, doesn't it?"

Randomly chosen, but the material specifically pointed to Cheng Shuili, the disruptor of harmony.

This seemed random, but in fact it placed Cheng Shuili opposite all the other players.

If the selected person isn't Cheng Shuili, then to survive that lucky one would likely have to strike at Cheng Shuili!

If the chosen one is Cheng Shuili herself…

then she would have to face the bizarre rule of making dessert, as well as possible sabotage from the other players.

"What a vicious scheme…"

Pan Shi cursed under his breath, "This is practically putting Wu Ya over the fire."

Cheng Shuili herself, however, seemed not to have heard the near‑personal attack; she even lifted a hand to touch her chin, murmuring thoughtfully, "Making dessert… the ingredients are impurities… so that's where my accumulated dissatisfaction comes in."

She was still being targeted.

Having previously slain the attendants, she had indeed provoked the Faceless Smiling Joker, reaching a threshold that allowed it, in the dessert segment, to use rule priority to designate her as the target.

But it didn't stop to think.

Who among the players would dare to move against her?

Being chosen means death, moving against her means death, breaking the rules means death.

Wu Ya's displayed firmness and decisiveness make her terror level nearly on par with the Faceless Smiling Joker; as for which player the chosen one would choose to attack…

It's roughly a fifty‑fifty chance.

Quite nervously approaching Cheng Shuili, axe held horizontally before them, they vigilantly scanned the surroundings, eyes flashing: "Wuya Dalao…?"

Cheng Shuili gave her a reassuring glance.

The ten-minute countdown began.