Chapter 74:

“Earth Dog, what about the remaining rules?” Qi Xia asked. “What exactly is this game about?”

“Please follow me, and I’ll explain as we go.”

Earth Dog led the group into a corridor of the hotel and said, “This hotel has two parallel corridors, both identically arranged. Each team will occupy one corridor to begin the game. The first team to complete the task wins.”

With that, he pushed open the first door in the corridor, which was labeled “Sender.”

“This is the Sender’s room,” Earth Dog explained. “Once the game starts, the two ‘Senders’ must remain in their respective rooms and cannot leave. Your task is to deliver a letter containing a password.”

The empty room had only a table, with its contents clearly visible: a letter, a metal box, a golden key, and a golden lock.

Lin Qin thought for a moment and asked, “If we can’t leave this room, how are we supposed to deliver the ‘letter’?”

“Simple—give it to the ‘Spy,'” Earth Dog replied. “Please come with me.”

He led the group out of the room and back into the corridor.

“The corridor is the activity zone for all ‘Spies.’ You’ll move around your assigned corridor, responsible for delivering the letter.”

“Have the ‘Spy’ deliver it?!” The group was stunned.

“Have any of you watched spy dramas?” Earth Dog chuckled. “Sometimes, even if you know the messenger is a spy, you still have no choice but to send the letter.”

No one knew how to respond. Most of them were young—how many had studied spy dramas?

“What’s this?” Lin Qin noticed a small machine in the corridor.

It looked like a space heater, with a palm-sized opening at the top.

“That’s a shredder,” Earth Dog said. “‘Spies’ can throw anything they want into it—letters, keys, locks. But keep in mind, due to size restrictions, the ‘metal box’ can’t be shredded.”

“So we can have the ‘Spy’ deliver anything?!” Lin Qin asked. “Even just a key?”

“Correct. If you want, the Spy can make multiple trips down the corridor.”

The group began to sense that this game wasn’t simple, and the unfolding events would be unpredictable.

“That’s enough for the first half of the rules,” Earth Dog said with a smile. “Please, ‘Senders,’ return to your rooms. The next part doesn’t involve you.”

Lin Qin glanced at Qi Xia before slowly walking back to the room. The opposing team’s blond member also headed to the other corridor and entered their room.

Qi Xia looked at the shredder in the hallway and suddenly felt a pang of regret. It seemed the “Spy” was the most unpredictable role in this game.

“Listen, ‘Spies,'” Earth Dog said, pointing to the digital clock in the corridor, which displayed a three-minute countdown. “No matter what you receive, you must deliver it within three minutes—unless you destroy it. If time runs out and the item hasn’t been dealt with, there will be consequences.”

Old Lü and the girl exchanged uneasy glances. “I thought our roles were the safest?”

“Of course, you’ll be safe as long as you deliver or destroy the item,” Earth Dog said with a grin. “This rule prevents anyone from stalling.”

Seeing no further objections, Earth Dog continued, “Spies, stay here. The rest, follow me.”

Old Lü and the girl remained while Earth Dog led the others forward.

Now, only the “Recipients” and “Hostages” remained on both teams.

At the end of the corridor was another room labeled “Recipient.”

Earth Dog opened the door to reveal another table, this time holding only a silver key and a silver lock. In the corner stood a large device resembling a refrigerator.

“This is the ‘Recipient’s’ space,” Earth Dog said. “Aside from the ‘Spy,’ you can’t communicate with anyone else.”

He then walked to the large device and added, “This cabinet is where the ‘Hostage’ will stay. Once the game starts, you’ll be locked inside.”

Qi Xia stepped forward to inspect it. The cabinet door had an electronic display currently reading “Unlocked.” The interior was oddly structured—metallic walls with numerous holes, almost like…

“It’s a custom-built industrial microwave,” Earth Dog said. “If no one opens the door within half an hour, the person inside will be cooked.”

The bald man from the opposing team gasped—he was their “Hostage.”

“A microwave?! What the hell?!” he shouted, backing away. “I’m not going in there!”

“Hey!” The blond man grabbed him. “Don’t freak out. If you back out now, Ah Mu will kill you when we get out.”

The threat visibly shook the bald man.

“But… I can’t just climb into a microwave…”

“Relax, these people are no match for Ah Mu,” the blond man reassured him, gripping his shoulders. “Trust his methods.”

After a moment of hesitation, the bald man nodded reluctantly.

“As for the ‘Recipients,’ your rules are similar to the ‘Senders,'” Earth Dog continued. “The only difference is, if you successfully receive the letter, open it immediately and decode the password to free your teammate. The first team to rescue their hostage wins.”

Noticing Zhang Chenze’s silence, Qi Xia asked quietly, “Do you trust me?”

Zhang Chenze hesitated before answering, “Qi Xia, I do trust you, but this game has too many variables. In this room, you can’t communicate with anyone or strategize. Even if I trust you, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll save me.”

“I…” Qi Xia faltered.

Earth Dog, ever the opportunist, stepped in with a smile. “Even now, if you want to switch roles, I won’t object.”

Qi Xia froze, then pulled out his “Recipient” card and stared at it.

Zhang Chenze had just escaped the fish tank—was it too cruel to put her in a microwave next?

“Lawyer Zhang, logically, I *should* switch with you…” Qi Xia said uncomfortably. “Making you the hostage twice in a row is just…”

“It’s fine,” Zhang Chenze replied. “From a strategic standpoint, you *should* be the ‘Recipient.’ Being in the middle of the game gives you better control. And compared to the others, I trust you more to unlock the door.”

“You don’t think it’s too cruel for you?” Qi Xia asked.

“Cruel?” Zhang Chenze forced a smile. “If it’s the right move, we should do it without question. Besides, my clothes are still wet—might as well dry them in there.”