After receiving the safety helmet, Tian Tian held it close to her eyes and examined it carefully.
The lamp was indeed specially made—no larger than a grain of rice. Before it lit up, its color was completely undetectable.
The expressions of the group were grim. They exchanged glances, wanting to communicate but bound by the rules that forbade speech.
“Listen up, everyone,” the Human Monkey sneered. “I’m about to announce the final rule, which might just help you keep your ‘tickets.'”
The uneasy crowd turned their attention to him, unsure what else he would say.
The Human Monkey pulled a stopwatch from his pocket and shone a flashlight on it.
“When I shout ‘start,’ you’ll have twenty seconds to discuss your strategy.” Though his face was masked, his eyes gleamed with amusement. “This will be your last chance to communicate before the game begins.”
Unease spread across the group—twenty seconds?
How many words could they even say in that time?
There wasn’t even enough time for all eleven people to speak a single sentence each.
“Get ready…” The Human Monkey grinned. “Start.”
The moment the word “start” left his lips, the room erupted like thunder. Over a dozen voices clamored at once, creating utter chaos.
But none of the speakers had any real strategy—they merely wasted precious seconds expressing confusion or shouting at the Human Monkey. The small building now resembled the busiest morning market, filled with noise but not a single coherent sentence.
“I have a plan!!” Zheng Yingxiong shouted. “Everyone, listen to me!!”
But the din was too overwhelming—no one heard him.
“Everyone!!” Xiao Cheng, unable to ask Zheng Yingxiong for details, quickly shouted on his behalf. “Quiet down! Don’t waste time! This kid has a plan!!”
He knew Zheng Yingxiong had preserved memories for a long time—perhaps even participated in a similar game before. There was a real chance he had a solution.
“What can a kid possibly do?!” An elderly man near Xiao Cheng snapped back immediately. “We should just agree on a signal now—find a way to warn each other later!”
“Yeah, that’s right!” The old man’s suggestion instantly gained traction. The crowd nodded eagerly. “Stomp your feet! If you see a blue light, stomp once! Red, twice!”
Xiao Cheng’s heart sank. These people truly were the type to chase petty gains—they hadn’t even fully grasped the rules before jumping to absurd tactics. Would this really work?
By the rules, they couldn’t see each other’s lights, much less relay signals. Yet here they were, concocting ridiculous plans.
But now most of their time was wasted. With only seconds left, how could they possibly agree on a strategy?
Thoughts raced through Xiao Cheng’s mind. This game was blatantly unfair—no wonder the Human Monkey had said “the more, the better.” The real challenge was these twenty seconds of discussion. With just a few people, they might have devised a plan, but eleven panicked individuals?
The more players, the higher the Human Monkey’s odds of winning. So how could they possibly triumph?
Unprepared for the sudden discussion period, Xiao Cheng’s mind was in turmoil. It wasn’t that he wasn’t smart—it was that the Human Monkey had masterfully deployed psychological warfare. The rule “one foul, all eliminated” was a classic mind game.
In this deafening chaos, under crushing pressure, no one could possibly stay calm enough to devise a strategy and convince ten others in seconds.
Xiao Cheng mentally counted down—time was nearly up. Maybe three, five seconds left. What could they do now?!
“Cut in line!!!” Zheng Yingxiong screamed from the back, his voice raw with desperation. “If you want to win, you *have* to cut in line!!!”
The moment his words faded, the Human Monkey clicked the stopwatch and sneered. “Time’s up. Discussion over.”
The room plunged into silence, voices cut short—only heavy breathing remained.
In the sudden quiet, Zheng Yingxiong’s final words echoed in everyone’s ears.
*Cut in line?*
In a game called *No Cutting in Line*, they had to *cut in line*?
With no way to communicate now, the group naturally began reflecting on his words.
“The game begins now,” the Human Monkey announced. “I’ll approach each of you in turn. When I tap your shoulder, step onto the stairs and stand in the rectangular area on the second floor.”
Xiao Cheng noticed something—the Human Monkey’s voice had changed.
He didn’t sound as confident as before.
Why…?
Was it because of Zheng Yingxiong’s words?
The Human Monkey moved to a middle-aged woman and tapped her shoulder. Under the flashlight’s beam, her expression visibly relaxed.
She nodded and hurried upstairs.
For everyone, the first person had it easiest—no matter where she stood, the game wouldn’t be lost yet. The rest would base their positions on her light.
All eyes followed her to the second floor. The moment she arrived, a red light flashed on the back of her helmet.
Everyone on the first floor saw it—but what did it mean?
They could only see *others’* light colors. The true challenge was deducing their own.
Next, the Human Monkey tapped Tian Tian’s shoulder.
She stiffened, then nodded. Throwing an uneasy glance at Xiao Cheng, she ascended the stairs.
Xiao Cheng watched intently—when she reached the second floor, a blue light lit up on her helmet.
He knew her position was still flexible. She could stand to the left or right of the first woman—either way, their colors differed.
Now came the real test.
The others had to deduce their own light color and choose which side to stand on.
Starting with the third person, a single wrong move could doom everyone.
If the sequence became *red-blue-red* or *blue-red-blue*, the game was already lost—no need to continue.
Whether by design or coincidence, the Human Monkey chose Xiao Cheng next.
His brow furrowed under the crushing weight of the decision.
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