Chapter 278: Prisoner’s Dilemma

“Huh?” I shuddered in fright, unsure of what I had done wrong.

“Mouse, tell me the truth—is this the game you came up with after staying up all night?” Brother Goat asked sternly.

“I… I…” I lowered my head silently. “Brother Goat, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have lied…”

Grandma had told me that good children shouldn’t lie.

I thought apologizing would calm Brother Goat down, but he seemed even angrier.

“Why are you apologizing?” He stood up and walked over to me. “If you think ‘lying’ is wrong, how are you going to survive here? This is the first time you’ve admitted a mistake to me, and I don’t want there to be a next time.”

“Huh…?” His expression left me at a loss.

“Mouse, I wrote a game for you.” Brother Goat pulled a notebook from his pocket, filled with writing. “Today, you’ll follow this game.”

The three uncles behind me quickly gathered to take a look.

**Game Name: The Deceitful Warehouse.**

**Entry Fee: Two “Dao.”**

The first person enters and observes all items in the warehouse. The second person enters five minutes later and does the same.

Afterward, each takes one item. Upon a second observation, they must guess what the other took.

If both guess correctly, each earns one “Dao.” If both guess wrong, they get nothing.

If one is right and the other wrong, the wrong guesser earns four “Dao,” while the correct guesser gets no reward.

The three uncles pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.

“I see…” Uncle Black Sheep was the first to speak. “This is a classic ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma.’ These rules will tear human nature apart—and might even yield huge profits.”

“Though it’s a ‘Sheep’ game, its strength is its simplicity,” Brother Goat said. “Try following these rules today and report back to me tonight.”

I nodded vaguely and glanced at the uncles.

“Little Mouse, it’s your first day on the job—make sure you do well,” Uncle Tiger said, patting my head. “If you forget the rules, just check your notebook.”

“On the job…?”

Uncle Tiger nodded. “That’s right, Little Mouse. From now on, stick with us, earn ‘Dao,’ and eat well. We and Brother Goat will help you.”

Uncle Snake winked at me. “Be good, don’t learn from Money-Losing Tiger. Try not to lose today.”

“O-okay…”

I nodded, only to see the uncles straightening their outfits.

They adjusted their masks, smoothed out the wrinkles in their clothes, and headed out the door.

“Come on, Little Mouse,” Uncle Tiger called.

I tucked the notebook Brother Goat gave me into my pocket and hurried after them.

Uncle Snake and Uncle Tiger held my hands as the three of us followed Brother Goat and Uncle Black Sheep down the hallway.

I noticed doors on both sides of the corridor slowly opening, and people wearing all sorts of masks stepped out.

I had thought they were afraid of Uncle Tiger—always giving way when they saw him—but some masked men and women actually retreated back into their rooms when they spotted Brother Goat.

Was Brother Goat even scarier than Uncle Tiger?

As we walked forward, someone suddenly blocked our path.

His head was strange—neither a mask nor a furry animal. He looked like… a lizard?

“Earth Goat, what are you up to now?” The lizard man glanced at me.

“Work,” Brother Goat replied coldly. “Move.”

“You dare show your face here?” The lizard man stepped in front of Brother Goat. “Sky Dragon thought so highly of you, but your students keep failing one after another. Instead of fixing them, you bring in this runt—are you just giving up?”

“My students are my business,” Brother Goat growled. “Who the hell are you to interfere?”

“I’m the manager of all Earth-level ‘Zodiacs’!” the lizard man roared. “Why shouldn’t I control you?!”

“You’re only the manager because I don’t care to compete. Flaunt your power to your bootlickers, but don’t stand in my way,” Brother Goat said. “If you insist on pushing your luck, I don’t care if you’re Earth Dragon—I’ll humiliate you.”

Several people behind the lizard man stepped forward. One wearing a horse mask pointed at Brother Goat and snarled, “Earth Goat, don’t push it!”

“Dead Horse, who the hell do you think you’re talking to?!” Uncle Tiger bellowed, but after glancing at me, he quickly rephrased, “Little Horse, may I ask whom you’re addressing?”

The horse-masked man seemed frightened and hid behind the lizard man, shouting, “Man-Tiger, don’t think your brute strength lets you bully people! One day, I’ll sign a contract and come back to tear you apart!”

“Then I’ll fucking—then I’ll kindly ask you to never leave!”

The two were on the verge of fighting, and this time, Brother Goat didn’t stop them.

Uncle Tiger swiftly knocked the horse-masked man to the ground and reached for his mask. “Let me—let this humble one—see what you really look like!”

Seeing my fear, Uncle Snake pulled me behind him. “It’s okay, don’t worry.”

Just as the horse mask was about to be ripped off, the lizard man struck, throwing a punch at Uncle Tiger’s back. But in an instant, Brother Goat appeared, kicking the lizard man’s fist away.

I thought it was just a normal fight, but the impact of their blows sent a shockwave so strong I almost lost my balance.

“Earth Goat! You dare attack me?!” The lizard man seethed. “Have I been too lenient with you?!”

“No, I’ve been too lenient with you,” Brother Goat replied. “So lenient that you think you can touch my people.”

“You…” The lizard man clutched his wrist, his face twitching. “You’ll regret this…”

“I don’t need regret,” Brother Goat said. “Right now, I’m thinking of ways to kill you.”

“What?! You…” The lizard man gritted his teeth. “Kill me? Do you even care about Sky Dragon?!”

“If I kill you, I’ll personally beg for forgiveness,” Brother Goat said with a smirk. “If he executes me, he’ll lose two key players at once. For the sake of long-term plans, I’ll probably be pardoned.”

“What kind of lunatic are you?!” The lizard man’s tone faltered. “You’d scheme against Sky Dragon?”

“Too bad Sky Dragon loves my schemes,” Brother Goat said. “If you understand, then get lost. If you delay everyone’s work… you’ll compensate for all losses here today.”