Chapter 435: The Path to Victory

“Whether it’s the ‘Earth Dragon’ or the ‘Sky Dragon,’ they are both my most respected leaders,” the mole said expressionlessly.

Qi Xia knew that if the mole had truly survived under the “Earth Dragon’s” pressure, there must be leverage involved. Until the “Earth Dragon” was dealt with, his stance wouldn’t change in the slightest.

“Let’s leave it at that for now,” Qi Xia said. “Proceed as planned. Qiu Shiliu comes back with me, and Luo Shiyi stays here.”

Without another glance at the mole or Luo Shiyi, he signaled to Qiu Shiliu and walked straight out the door, heading directly to the “Mouse Room.” According to the rules, this “rescue” mission was already a success.

The moment they stepped inside, Qi Xia heard a voice in his ear.

“Tsk, how’s it going over there?” Saturday asked. “The bell just rang—is Sixteen still alive?”

“Alive,” Qi Xia replied. “Brought her back with me.”

“But… tsk, I’ll just say it straight—my situation’s not great,” Saturday cursed. “My room’s lit up red.”

“‘Mousetrap’?” Qi Xia nodded. “Check on Turtle’s status.”

“Already did. Tsk, he’s fine,” Saturday said, sounding frustrated. “Looks like I’m the one in the most danger right now…”

“No,” Qi Xia shook his head. “Getting caught in a ‘mousetrap’ isn’t dangerous. I observed earlier—there’s no way to tell from the outside whether a room has trapped a mouse.”

“Tsk, so what’s your point…?”

“The mole said the ‘mousetrap’ is meant to simulate the real thing,” Qi Xia explained. “From that angle, not only can ‘mice’ not tell if a room has a trap, even the ‘cat’ wouldn’t know unless they check it themselves.”

“Tsk, I still don’t get it,” Saturday said. “Even if the ‘cat’ has to confirm it, so what? I’m still trapped, aren’t I?”

“But the probability of you getting caught remains the same,” Qi Xia countered. “Since the ‘cat’ doesn’t know if the ‘mousetrap’ is triggered, they’re unlikely to waste a ‘search’ opportunity just to verify a trapped room.”

“I think I’m starting to understand…”

“Exactly,” Qi Xia nodded. “The main purpose of the ‘mousetrap’ isn’t to catch mice—it’s to waste one of their turns. In a game with only six rounds, wasting even one turn is incredibly valuable for the ‘cat.’”

“Tsk, but if that’s the case… doesn’t that mean I’m screwed?” Saturday frowned. “I’m already wasting a turn being caught. If someone comes to rescue me, won’t that waste another turn?”

“No, no, no…” Qi Xia shook his head. “Have you noticed that none of the five ‘search’ rooms have a ‘rescue’ button?”

“You mean…?”

“I think as long as the door can be opened, you can escape,” Qi Xia said. “All it takes is another mouse ‘searching’ your room—you can slip out when the door opens.”

Saturday let out a relieved sigh. “Got it… Alright, next round there’ll be more of us. If the ‘cat’ doesn’t come for me, just let me out.”

“No… next round, there’ll be even fewer of us,” Qi Xia corrected. “Whether the plan works depends entirely on the ‘cat’s’ move this turn.”

“Fewer next round?”

“Right. Luo Shiyi stayed in the ‘cat’s room,’ and you’re trapped now. That’s two fewer.”

Knowing Qi Xia had thought further ahead, Saturday fell silent, waiting quietly in the room for the ‘cat’s’ next move.

“Saturday…” Qi Xia stared at the identical peaches on the table. “Do me a favor.”

“Tsk, what is it?”

“I forgot to check earlier,” Qi Xia said. “The plate on the altar… is there anything strange about it?”

“Plate?” Saturday paused. “Tsk, you mean… the one with the fruit?”

“Yeah,” Qi Xia nodded. “Is it…?”

He gestured with his hands, struggling to find the right words.

“Tsk, looks like a perfectly normal plate to me,” Saturday said. “What are you suspecting…?”

“I…” Qi Xia thought for a few more seconds before finally landing on the term. “Does it have pressure sensitivity?”

“Pressure?”

“Could the plate be like a digital scale?” Qi Xia pressed. “Is there a spring underneath, or… can it be pressed?”

Saturday realized Qi Xia had raised a point she’d never considered. She moved the lone dragon fruit left on the plate and pressed down lightly.

“Tsk…” Her brow furrowed instantly. “It’s subtle, but the plate does give a little when pressed.”

“Then I understand,” Qi Xia smiled. “That mole is smarter than I thought. This game just got a lot more unpredictable.”

“What do you mean…?” Saturday frowned. “Tsk, the more you explain, the more confused I get. What does the plate being pressable prove?”

“It means we can not only take fruit—we can also place fruit.” Qi Xia glanced at the five colored doors outside the “Mouse Room,” then recalled the fruits everyone had picked last round. He was sure he’d found the answer.

But where did this “answer” lead?

The first room had a dark green door, with a dragon fruit inside.

The second room had a deep yellow door, with peaches.

The third room had a dark blue door—fruit unknown.

The fourth room had a deep red door, with pomegranates.

The fifth room had a brown door, with small oranges.

The issue likely lay with the “small oranges.” These flawless, perfectly round, golden fruits on the table—how could they be called “small oranges”?

*Click.*

Before Qi Xia could figure it out, the “Mouse Room” door slammed shut.

The second round’s “night” phase had ended. Now, it was the ‘cat’s’ turn to move.

“Saturday!” Qi Xia called out. “We absolutely cannot lose Turtle this round. If the ‘Mouse Room’ is left with just me and Qiu Shiliu, our odds of losing skyrocket.”

“Will we… lose Turtle?” Saturday asked. “Tsk, the ‘cat’ only has a one-in-five chance of finding him, right…?”

“No…” Qi Xia’s eyes darkened. “One-in-five is way too optimistic. I suspect the ‘cat’ set a ‘mousetrap’ in Room One. He knows I’m not an easy opponent—he probably guessed I’d avoid sending anyone into Rooms One and Two simultaneously. Room Three is still uncharted territory, so I wouldn’t send anyone there either. That leaves Rooms Four and Five… The ‘cat’ hasn’t used ‘patrol’ yet. If he uses it this round to cover both rooms, Turtle’s chance of being caught is 100%.”