“Old Qi… even you…” Chen Junnan stared at him in disbelief.
“I can’t think of a better way,” Qi Xia replied. “Right now, the most important thing is to split up and lead the members of ‘Cat’ to participate in ‘Earth-level’ games. If the timing is right, I’ll directly challenge the opponent to a life-or-death gamble.”
“You…” Qian Wu blinked. “Even at such a critical moment, you’re still thinking about your plan?”
“Yes. ‘Tianma’ is just the immediate problem, but we have far more than just her to deal with—we still have the ‘Final Challenge,'” Qi Xia said. “This is the perfect opportunity. Qian Wu and I will split up, each leading a team into the games. We’ll push ‘Cat’ to its limits in desperate situations.”
Qian Wu nodded. “I originally planned to handle this alone, but if Qi Xia is willing to help, that’s even better…”
He turned to face Qi Xia with a serious expression. “But ‘Echoes’ can fail. Just the two of us leading teams isn’t enough. I suggest Da Wa and Er Wa each lead a team as well. I’ll share the triggers for each person’s ‘Echo’ with you… Adapt on the spot and make your own decisions.”
“*Baaah?!*”
“What the hell?!”
Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan froze simultaneously, their expressions stiff.
Chen Junnan cleared his throat. “Listen, little money bean… are you mistaken about my identity? With Old Qi here, what kind of leader would I be? Do you even know what I’m made of?”
Qiao Jiajin chuckled dryly. “Hey… shape-shifter, you’re overestimating me. I only know how to fight. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be working with a liar like him.”
“I know you both,” Qian Wu said. “If we only let Qi Xia lead, it’ll be hard to push the team members into true desperation.”
Chen Junnan nodded, then quickly realized something was off. “Wait a damn second… are you ruining our reputations here? Are you saying we’d drive people into despair as leaders? You better rephrase that.”
“That’s just the reality,” Qian Wu replied earnestly. “Da Wa, I’ll give you a balanced team—smart and capable, but they’re veteran ‘Cats’ with little game experience. You’ll lead them.”
Chen Junnan wanted to argue, but after considering it, the team didn’t sound bad. He reluctantly nodded.
Qian Wu then turned to Qiao Jiajin. “Er Wa, I’ll give you a team of intellectuals—sharp minds but weak fighters. You’ll lead them into ‘combat’ and ‘physical’ games. In critical moments, they can advise you, but to win, you’ll still have to put in serious effort.”
“Oh… got it,” Qiao Jiajin said, nodding. “So even though I lack a ‘brain,’ you’re giving me a team of ‘little brains’…”
“Pretty much,” Qian Wu confirmed. “As for me, I’ll take the weakest members of ‘Cat’ into the games. They’re best suited for me.”
“Then what about me…?” Qi Xia frowned. “Does that mean you’re giving me a whole team of reckless fighters?”
“No.” Qian Wu shook his head. “‘Cat’ doesn’t have reckless fighters—but your responsibility is still heavy.”
“Oh?”
“I’m assigning you ‘Cat’s’ infamous ‘problem members.’ They’re all strong but stubborn, each with their own difficult personalities. I want you to not only trigger their ‘Echoes’ today but also show them your charisma. We’ll be working together soon, and if they don’t respect you, it’ll be trouble.”
“Charisma…” Qi Xia smirked coldly. “Do I even have that?”
“You do,” Qian Wu confirmed. “The question is whether they’ll see it.”
Officer Li, who had been listening in confusion, finally spoke up. “What about… me?”
“You’re with me,” Qian Wu said. “I’ll trigger your ‘Echo’ today.”
At those words, Qi Xia’s expression darkened. If he remembered correctly, Officer Li’s ‘Echo trigger’ was ‘near-death.’
Did Qian Wu have a way to bring someone back from the brink…?
Once the final strategy was set, Nineteen lifted ‘Silence.’
Qian Wu gathered everyone for team assignments. After organizing the groups in the prison yard, he wrote down three notes—each detailing a person’s ‘Echo trigger’—and handed them to the three leaders (excluding himself).
Qiao Jiajin took his note and scanned his team, feeling a headache coming on. Three men, three women—all sharp-eyed but frail, including the exhausted Nineteen, who had been using his ‘Echo’ nonstop.
“Sending a team of intellectuals into ‘physical’ and ‘combat’ games…?” Qiao Jiajin sighed. “Why not pick a game that suits them?”
Meanwhile, Chen Junnan grinned upon seeing his team. Even without looking at the other five, just having Song Qi—a capable fighter with sharp wits and an already-activated ‘Echo’—was a huge advantage.
“Little Song!” Chen Junnan cheerfully slung an arm over Song Qi’s shoulder. “Never thought you’d end up with me. Fate, huh?”
Song Qi had no choice but to humor him. “Yeah… never thought you’d be my leader.”
But the most troubled of all was Qi Xia.
The first to approach him was the disdainful Zhou Liu, a metal baseball bat at her waist, chewing gum lazily. When their eyes met, it was less a greeting and more an eyeroll.
Behind her was another familiar face—Luo Shiyi, ‘Forget Sorrow.’
“Damn it…” Luo Shiyi muttered. “Nobody told me I’d have to *play games* when I got here…”
According to Qiao Jiajin, this man fought ruthlessly, trading lives without hesitation. Used well, he’d be a powerful asset.
Further back were two others: one around 175 cm tall, with an androgynous face and figure, and a short, pudgy man who looked perpetually aggrieved.
“Hey! You the leader?” the androgynous person asked.
“Yes,” Qi Xia said. “And you are…?”
“Qiu Shiliu,” they replied. “What makes *you* qualified to lead me?”
“Tch!” Zhou Liu cut in. “Sixteen, why waste words? Whether he’s a man or a dog, Fifth Brother assigned him. Are you gonna defy Fifth Brother?”
Luo Shiliu nodded. “Yeah, damn it. Fifth Brother’s orders. Even if this guy gets us all killed, we can’t blame Fifth Brother.”
Qi Xia smiled faintly at the four of them. “Interesting.”
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