Chapter 197

197. Chapter 197: Three Quotas

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Protagonist:

Jiang Xuan

Before they regained their strength, they indeed had no desire to leave the courtyard; although enjoying a good life, they constantly forced themselves not to forget the nature of the game.

But after regaining their strength, as no new prompts appeared, they increasingly let down their guard against the hidden dangers of this world, sinking into a true land of gentle indulgence.

And with this expansion of gentleness came integration, curiosity, greed!

Everyone was imprisoned within this courtyard, yet as time passed, they imagined the world beyond the courtyard!

Perhaps this is another real world created by a god?

Not to mention they only saw the courtyard in the sky, but that was more likely just a shielding effect created by a god; such things are not uncommon in other games.

The silence in the courtyard continued; Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged in the air, quietly observing like a god.

He hated this feeling of being a god, and hated manipulating others' fate even more, because it made him feel as if his own fate was being controlled by an invisible pair of great hands, making him feel at all times that everything he did was merely an arranged result, rather than the fruit of his own effort.

This kind of self-doubt, if prolonged, would eventually drive a person mad or into decadence.

But he had no choice but to act as the chess player manipulating these people's fates, because just as they struggled desperately, he too needed strength to face the enemy.

Seeing everyone in the courtyard tense but still standing in place, Jiang Xuan stepped down and appeared in the pavilion where the eight had originally met; vines surrounded this place like a treehouse, carrying a mysterious hue.

"Hello everyone! I am here to notify you all! Our game starts at eight o'clock this evening; there are only two days left! Please cherish your final happy moments!" Jiang Xuan's voice broke the silence of the courtyard, and everyone's gaze turned toward him.

Jiang Xuan turned to step away, but then thought of something and reminded them: "Almost forgot! I haven't announced the ranking rewards for this game yet!"

"Apart from the necessary Boundary Stone Scroll rewards, the top three combined can obtain a total of three quotas to take lives out of this courtyard! Of course, players cannot be taken!"

Jiang Xuan stepped out again into the sky, his gaze falling on a small, bright, translucent bottle above the Void, equal in width top and bottom, with markings on its surface, looking exactly like a sealed test tube.

When the knife-wielding youth died, he noticed this test tube had appeared in the world he had built; the fear, soul, and energy carried by the body produced at the moment of death all entered this test tube, forming a pale golden liquid, but only filling the bottom.

Jiang Xuan guessed this must be what the person who built this plane wanted to obtain!

Emotions? Souls?

If it were just to constitute fear emotions, there are far too many methods! If it were just for souls, no need to say more—just kill everyone in this plane; there's no need to go to such trouble.

And if they only needed souls or emotions, the profit calculation method explained when building the game world wouldn't say that the more people die, the lower the score!

Jiang Xuan shook his head; although the world was built by him, most regions of this world were no longer under his control now, and he could only watch from this layer, unable to interfere with the sky a few meters above him.

Looking down at the courtyard, all the silence was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Jiang Xuan, and it also caused a huge change in their relationships.

It could be said Jiang Xuan had not issued new rules, because he only stated the game's end time and the rewards after it ended; but at the same time, it was like issuing new rules, because the end rewards made everyone's heart stir!

Originally, one person had already died, and everyone was deadlocked in the courtyard, nothing more than hoping to find the killer and solve it, then continue negotiating to peacefully get through this game.

Even someone had already begun planning to sacrifice everyone's parents in exchange for a fair chance to go out into the world, so everyone could go out and see, enjoying the world outside the courtyard without fighting!

But the game's final reward made such thoughts dissipate like ashes!

Each of the top three could take one person with them, who could be parents or anyone found from outside, allowing them not to endure that lonely spatial world alone; having someone to talk to is also good!

After hearing the news sent down by the "god," Ayala's whole body began to tremble; he didn't even know how he returned home and closed the door.

From the "god's" words, he heard this round's reward: "A total of three quotas!"

The top three have a total of three quotas; if only two people are left in this game? If only one person is left?

What if someone wants all three quotas?

This made his heart, full of anticipation for the sunny days just minutes ago, plunge directly into the endless dark abyss; the suffocating feeling of drowning was like a brick striking his head, making it hard for him to focus and continue thinking.

On the other side, Geng Fan appeared much calmer, but his trembling hands typing revealed the unrest in his inner heart.

On the phone was a chat box; the avatar on the other side was a sunny, gorgeous beach girl, and upon close inspection, one could tell the chat background and that avatar were the same person!

The girl sent the latest message: "A-Fan? Since you're unwilling to come find me, tomorrow I'll go to your family courtyard to see you!"

"Don't come..." Geng Fan typed a few words, but quickly deleted them, scratched his already messy hair; the complex emotions in his eyes were more than anyone else in the courtyard.

"Three quotas?" A low murmur came from within the room.

The sun had already set behind the tall courtyard walls; the woman who had cried and run out, along with her husband, opened the door and entered the courtyard; several medical staff and police officers swarmed in, quickly cleaned up the entire scene and left, leaving only the couple, who also disappeared from the spot.

Night fell, and the game entered the first night of the countdown.

Martin opened the door and, by the moonlight, groped toward the gate.

Just as he approached the gate, a cold female voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Martin! Where do you want to go so late at night?"

Turning his head, in the night, Fang Wenya, wearing shaping clothes, stared dead at Martin, emitting a gloomy black light.

A Western sword instantly appeared in Martin's hand, and at lightning speed, he thrust toward the eyes in the darkness.

Fang Wenya's body was like a green snake, dodging the Western sword at an unbelievably soft angle, quickly closing in on Martin, and dodging the attack direction of the Western sword at close range.

"Body Strengthening?" Martin raised an eyebrow, his left hand quickly caressing the Earth Yellow Ring on his middle finger; a pale yellow light turned into a shield blocking the two of them.

Fang Wenya's body paused; she did not attempt to attack this pale yellow elemental shield again, but instead retreated several meters, hiding once more in the darkness.

Just as Martin was puzzled, a large, burly figure with a stern expression walked over; he was bare-chested, but his dense chest hair covered the front half of his body, not much different from wearing a sweater.

"Why are you two fighting at the door? Let me guess who struck first and killed someone?"

Martin waved his hand: "I just wanted to come see who killed someone; I didn't expect to be attacked by that damned crazy old woman as soon as I got here!"

Fang Wenya walked out from the darkness, vigilantly looking at Taser, without explaining to him that it was actually Martin who struck first.

"Great! I think so too! It seems we've briefly reached an agreement!" Taser gave a light laugh.

At this moment, three more figures appeared in the darkness; the two blonde sisters and Geng Fan also appeared at the gate.

Geng Fan scanned everyone present at the scene; he was not surprised by anyone's appearance.

Their respective parents would return in less than ten minutes, and the ranking evaluation was based on the quantity of family population!

Even without considering that they already regard themselves as their parents' children, sharing deep affection, just to compete for ranking, they would not allow their parents to meet with any mishap.

Even if they were not curious about who acted first, they must come here tonight to protect their parents.

It seems no one is a fool……

Huh?

One person missing!

Geng Fan scanned again, fixing his gaze on Fang Wenya's direction to confirm that only Fang Wenya herself was in the darkness.

"Didn't the new bean sprouts come?"

Others clearly saw who was absent from this tacit "meeting," and all turned their eyes toward Ayala's room, only to see white light shining inside.

"Did he go out?" Geng Fan turned back and looked sternly at everyone.

Fang Wenya shook her head: "Ever since the god announced the rules, I've been staying here!"

"Confirmed! Every game has its fool!" Geng Fan shook his head and ignored the other person.

The standoff among everyone didn't last long; the courtyard gate opened, and couples walked down from the big bus one after another—these were their parents. Although the time setting was rigid and regular, their personalities and emotions were very rich.

"Oh my! Why is the sun coming out from the west today! You actually came to the door to pick us up!" Fang Wenya's mother stepped out first, and seeing her daughter, she happily came over and rubbed her head.

Fang Wenya uncomfortably lowered her head, but did not shake off the hand on her head, helplessly pulling her parents toward her own home.

Others all protected their own parents home, but only Ayala's parents had no son to pick them up, walking angrily toward their own home!

Martin walked behind with his parents, his eyes flickering as he watched Ayala's parents.

This was twenty-four hours!

Thinking of this, Martin's steps involuntarily quickened a bit, but Fang Wenya, who had first sent her parents home, had already pushed the door and walked out of the gate, looking at Martin's parents with an indifferent gaze, as if saying:

"You go kill those two in front, and I'll kill your parents!"

"Damn it!" Martin coldly shouted, no longer leading his parents to follow, and quickly walked toward his own home, while constantly turning back to glance at Fang Wenya, warning her not to act either.

Ayala's parents, seething with anger, rushed into the room and complained to Ayala nonstop.

Why did everyone else go to the gate to pick people up tonight, but only their own son didn't go.

Hearing his parents' complaints, Ayala was no fool and instantly understood why everyone went to pick up their parents tonight.

His parents didn't have his martial deterrence; being able to return safely was already like burning high incense!

He gripped the small dagger tightly in his hand, trembling as he swallowed two mint leaves obtained from the last game, only feeling his mind instantly clear, rationality finally overcoming fear, and he began to seriously think about the future.

Undoubtedly, his means were the fewest among these people; besides the hundred-percent-hit dagger and the provided invisibility ability, he had no other attack methods. If a real melee broke out, he would undoubtedly be that cannon fodder.

So the best method was to hide like in his previous games, waiting for the final game to end. Then, the most important thing in this game was to first protect his parents well!

"Can you two stay at the company tomorrow and the day after tomorrow without coming back?" Ayala looked at his parents.

His father shook his head: "The company has no place to stay, but you can take leave tomorrow and the day after tomorrow not to work! However, if you don't work, you must stay in the courtyard; that's the rule!"

Ayala nodded slightly. The rule his father spoke of was the setting of this game, something they could not change.

Just like the mother of the knife-wielding youth, since she got off work early today, she had to return to the courtyard early and could not wander around outside the courtyard.

However, he was the man who cleared two games by hiding. Ayala lifted the bed and the floor beneath it, revealing a dug-out basement, inside which food and water were all complete, like a shelter.

"You two will live down there for the next two days!" Ayala pointed to the space below and commanded.

Although most parents had independent consciousness, upon hearing the player's absolute command, they would unconditionally obey. This was also something Ayala had tried!

His parents directly drilled into the basement. There was a hidden vent under the cabinet. As long as the two were not found, living inside for two days was no problem at all.

Ayala tidied up the floor again, lay under the bed, and began to sleep.

He dared not lie on the bed anymore!

Unexpectedly, that night no one took action at all, and even their parents were all sent out to work early by them.

They also simultaneously discovered that Ayala still did not go out, and his parents did not go to work today either.

After sending off their parents, everyone did not return to their rooms but each found a place to sit. Some started scrolling on their phones, while others sized up the people around them.

Geng Fan clenched his fist, his palm sweating, his body even trembling slightly, with various emotions mixed in his heart, as if awaiting judgment.

Unknowingly, the gate was pushed open!

A sunny and beautiful girl walked out from outside, wearing a large round sun hat, her apple-like pale red cheeks, light makeup making her features look very exquisite. Just one look gave people a feeling of optimism and cheerfulness.

The girl looked around the courtyard and soon discovered Geng Fan, who was almost hiding his bright red face into his buttocks. She happily ran toward Geng Fan.

"Brother Fan! I've come to find you!"

Everyone not far away looked at this side with strange gazes, especially staring at this girl who suddenly appeared!

This meant Geng Fan might need three quotas! (Chapter End)