[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h":3,"chapter-the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-chapter-164":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Eighteen Levels of Hell: Lying is Forbidden Here",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},749439,993,"Chapter 164: Liar-Slayer, Reset to Zero!","the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-chapter-164",164,"\u003Cp>With that, the first financial war came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Company No. 5 and Company No. 9 had been reduced to penny stocks, leaving them with absolutely no chance of a comeback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Company No. 6 was reduced to a mere money-making tool. If Zhou Chen wanted to turn the tables, his only option was to slowly repurchase his shares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Company No. 6 earned another sum of money, a Shareholders' Meeting was immediately convened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Attention. Company No. 8 has initiated a Shareholders' Meeting. Please vote on the following options:]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Option One: Do not issue dividends. Keep the funds on the books to prepare for further expansion of production.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Option Two: Issue dividends. Temporarily halt production expansion and distribute dividends according to shareholding percentages.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment this message appeared, the faces of Zhang Meili and Cao Xiu instantly drained of color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu's shares: 14.5%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Meili's shares: 13.5%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, the three held 52.5%. Logically speaking, as long as the three of them chose to issue dividends, the rest of the shareholders could not do a single thing about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter had to be considered from Zhou Chen's perspective. Based on the current situation, Company No. 6 was unlikely to go bankrupt easily. After all, the other companies relied on it as a blood bag to make a profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, even if Zhou Chen chose not to issue dividends, he would be perfectly fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a lack of dividends would be a fatal blow to Zhang Meili and Cao Xiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they did not receive dividends, they would be unable to cover the deficits of their own companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It truly was a case of one wrong step leading to a cascade of errors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu hastily spoke up, \"Zhou Chen, you need to think this through. If Zhang Meili and I die, do you really think they will let you off the hook?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We must hang together or hang separately. I believe you understand this principle,\" Zhang Meili urged anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chen felt a bit swayed. He knew very well that these two had been scammed miserably and were now bound to his ship. They could not possibly backstab him, and keeping them alive would make him much safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not rush to conclusions just yet. I think you should take a look at the rich man's shareholding percentage in your company first,\" Diwu Zeyi reminded him at an unhurried pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chen frowned and checked the shareholding composition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Company No. 5s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One held shares: 13.5%\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other held shares: 17%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one holding 17% was definitely the wealthy NPC.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Diwu Zeyi means that if I choose not to issue dividends, I might be able to starve the rich man to death, and the second Secret Room will be cleared.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No, that is not right!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If Zhang Meili and Cao Xiu die, there will be seven of us left. That is still an odd number, which changes nothing for Diwu Zeyi.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It is a trap!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seemingly aware of what he was thinking, Diwu Zeyi chuckled lightly. \"I think you might have misunderstood something. Why would you assume an even number benefits me? Do not forget, the prerequisite for using a skill is to sacrifice one Guaranteed Judgment opportunity, which means someone has to lie. If it is an odd number, and Long Hui and Dorje coordinate to use a skill, I can completely execute the liar through Judgment. Would not the number of people then become even?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know why you could not figure out such a simple logic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is very simple. It is highly likely that none of you are good at trading stocks. It is like stepping onto an unfamiliar battlefield, your minds are in chaos...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is why you were confused by the maneuvers of Long Hui and the others, leading you to the wrong conclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Diwu Zeyi, an odd number was actually more advantageous. He could directly execute the liar through Judgment, instantly turning the count into an even number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if it was an even number, even if he did not execute the liar, someone else, such as Li Zhitong, might do it. If that happened, the headcount would drop to an odd number, putting him in real danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chen pondered deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Right now, the equipment maintenance fees for Zhang Meili and Cao Xiu's companies should be as high as 310,000.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Both of their companies should have around a million left on their books. If dividends are not issued, their companies will not last even twenty minutes...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'They will go bankrupt!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Once these two die, their shares in my company will likely appear in the stock market like newly issued shares.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That does not really matter.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The crucial point is whether we can starve out the rich man's Company No. 5 and bring this Secret Room to an end.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The rich man purchased 29% of the shares in Company No. 8 and another 17% in my company... He should not have too much capital left on his books either.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But he reaped a harvest earlier, and the shares he bought from my company were all acquired at rock-bottom prices, so...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It will be very difficult to starve him out!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zhou Chen sighed and ultimately chose to issue dividends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[System Prompt]: Please note, according to the Shareholders' Meeting vote, shareholders holding 61% of the shares have chosen not to issue dividends!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this message, everyone vigorously rubbed their eyes, suspecting they had misread it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Company No. 9: Issue dividends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Company No. 6: Issue dividends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other eight companies...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All chose not to issue dividends!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Meili did not choose to issue dividends!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu's eyes widened in sheer rage. Smack! He slammed the table, sprang to his feet, and pointed at Zhang Meili. \"You!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now we are even,\" Zhang Meili said indifferently without even looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, a careful analysis would make it clear. Zhang Meili was restricted by a Future Lie, unable to determine whether Company No. 7 or Company No. 9 belonged to Cao Xiu, so she had reserved 1.5 million in capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Cao Xiu was only restricted by the Future Lie regarding purchasing Company No. 6. Moreover, he had indeed gone all-in on Company No. 6 afterward. Once that maneuver was complete, he was no longer bound by any Future Lies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible for Cao Xiu to have reserved too much capital on his books, which was also evident from his shareholding percentage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Meili's shares: 13.5%\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu's shares: 14.5%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This defies all logic. After purchasing shares in Zhou Chen's company, you were no longer bound by the Future Lie. By all rights, it is impossible for you to have left too much capital on your books. How could your shareholding in Company No. 6 be only one percent higher than mine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It suddenly occurred to me that during the previous harvests by Company No. 5 and Company No. 8, I never intervened to purchase shares in either of their companies. You must have been harvested heavily by them, which resulted in your shareholding being only one percent higher than mine, even when I kept a reserve of 1.5 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Company No. 8 initiating the Shareholders' Meeting also indirectly confirmed my speculation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, he is very well aware of who exactly he managed to scam so miserably.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Company No. 8 initiating the Shareholders' Meeting was likely a reminder to me that your company does not have much capital left on its books.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, Cao Xiu's face turned deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He subconsciously glanced at the remaining capital on his company's books...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>510,000!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had previously laid off all the employees in his company, equipment maintenance alone would cost 310,000 per round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would not even last two rounds before his company went bankrupt due to the inability to pay the maintenance fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, if he initiated a Shareholders' Meeting in the next round and shareholders holding over 51% of the shares voted against issuing dividends, he would undoubtedly die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bullet he had fired earlier had now struck him right between the eyes. Instead of harming others, he had dug his own grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing himself to calm down, Cao Xiu tremblingly pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to know why.\" His tone was eerily calm, as if he had anticipated this day would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you really think the rich man would just stand by and watch me die?\" Zhang Meili retorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu fell silent. Zhang Meili's Company No. 5 was the protective umbrella for the rich man's Company No. 5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Zhang Meili survived and passed this hurdle, the rich man would heavily invest in her company's shares after expanding his own production. This would allow her company to expand production as well, thereby using the two Company No. 5s to confuse everyone's judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was exactly why eliminating the rich man required eliminating Zhang Meili first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, so that is how it is. One careless move truly ruins the entire game. To be honest, before I met all of you, I genuinely thought I was the main character. The number of people I scammed to death was in the triple digits. It felt as easy as eating and drinking...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But after meeting you guys, I finally realized that I just had not encountered deadlier geniuses. You are all the protagonists of your own mental worlds. Every one of you possesses your own thoughts, unlike those people I killed, who were practically just mindless NPCs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am almost certain that this is not a virtual world, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems it is a bit too late for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said his piece, he drew his Liar-Slayer, pointed the gun at the ceiling, and glanced around at the crowd with a curling smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you all wondering why I am saying so much right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why don't you guess whether or not I told a lie in what I just said?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone merely watched him in silence. They knew perfectly well that Cao Xiu had likely hidden a lie within his previous words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, no one dared to take that gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he used his skill, no one would risk subjecting him to a Judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know why I have managed to survive for so long despite being stuck at Two-Star?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xiu looked at the crowd, his gaze ultimately landing on Chen Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In a moment, you had better think carefully about whether or not you should use Eternal Kingdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those parting words, he declared in a deep voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liar-Slayer, Reset to Zero!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1791,"2026-06-02T12:08:03.809Z",1,"novelbin.me","21b1808994a11a760768216c74316b01fdce52527a9f93fdd4757b6c7b0788fe","the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-chapter-577","the-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-chapter-576",621,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-eighteen-levels-of-hell-lying-is-forbidden-h-cover.jpg"]