Player 148's corpse was placed into a coffin gift box, and the masked guards closed the lid.
Lim Sang-hwan and the others walked down the elevator, with Sang-hwan leading the group. Player 353 patted Yi Dieok-nyeong on the shoulder and asked, "What's your name?"
Dieok-nyeong forced out a slight smile and said, "I'm not in the mood to tell you right now."
Player 353 followed behind her and said, "So cold."
Choi Jeo-rim's group arrived at the bridge and had iron chains fastened onto them. Kim Chae-eun stood at the very back. She looked at the position she was standing in, then glanced ahead, and the whole person froze in a daze.
With a loud shout from Jeo-rim, Player 415 and the others behind him rushed forward one after another.
Park Chae-ho walked over to Sang-hwan, who was sitting on the bed blankly staring into space. He sat beside him and asked, "Are you okay?"
Sang-hwan turned to look at Chae-ho and smiled as he asked, "Why are all of you so worried about me?"
Chae-ho rubbed his back and said, "About Player 148…"
Sang-hwan forced a smile and said, "I'm fine."
Chae-ho nodded with a smile and said, "If we have to split into groups tomorrow, you can't be in the same group as me."
Sang-hwan looked at him in confusion and asked, "Why?"
After thinking for a while, Chae-ho said, "I had a nightmare last night."
Sang-hwan nodded as if he half understood.
Song Zhengli sat quietly on his bed, staring at the money inside the giant piggy bank. The small door opened, and Jeo-rim's group walked in. Player 93 said in confusion, "A team actually won after all this time."
Zhengli lowered his head in disappointment. The player count on the screen began decreasing, and more prize money poured into the piggy bank. The number stopped at "39," while the prize money rose to "41.7 billion."
Player 79 and Player 160 walked past Player 353 when 353 suddenly stopped them and asked, "Are you two gay?"
Player 79 and Player 160 looked at each other with disgust. Player 79 shook his head and said, "No, we're just good friends. Friends who've grown up together since childhood."
Player 353 suddenly understood and said, "Ah, childhood friends."
Player 160 looked at Player 79, then turned to Player 353 and said, "Even if I were gay, I still wouldn't like him."
After saying that, he ran off, and Player 79 angrily chased after him. Player 353 smiled while watching them fool around, while Dieok-nyeong sat beside Player 353.
Meanwhile, Chae-eun stared blankly ahead before walking out. Player 415 looked at her in confusion and asked, "Grandma, where are you going?"
Without turning around, Chae-eun answered, "I'm going to find… my grandson."
Player 415 was just about to stop her when Jeo-rim grabbed him and said, "Don't bother with her. She's probably gone senile."
Dieok-nyeong looked at Player 353 and asked, "Why did you come here?"
Player 353 raised his head and said, "Tell me your name first."
Dieok-nyeong smiled and said, "My name is Yi Dieok-nyeong."
Player 353 smiled in satisfaction and said, "Yi Dieok-nyeong. Such a beautiful name."
Player 353 turned to look at her and said, "Why did I come here? Hmm… I don't really know either. Everything happened so suddenly, without any warning."
Dieok-nyeong lowered her head and said, "That explanation changes nothing."
Player 353 smiled while tears rolled down his face, but Dieok-nyeong didn't notice because her head was lowered.
Not long after, the dormitory lights went out. Sang-hwan sat on his bed without sleeping. From the bed beside him, Dieok-nyeong asked, "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
Sang-hwan shook his head and said, "I'm not tired yet."
Dieok-nyeong lay down and said, "Go to sleep early. We still have to play games tomorrow."
Sang-hwan softly responded with an "Mm," before looking toward Chae-eun in the distance. Chae-eun was asking people one by one whether they had seen her grandson, while Jeo-rim watched her from afar. Player 415 walked over beside Jeo-rim and asked, "Boss, are you sure we shouldn't do something about her?"
Jeo-rim waved his hand dismissively and said, "Go to sleep."
Chae-eun walked to the small door and knocked on it. When the masked guard saw it was her, he assumed she wanted to use the restroom again, so he opened the door. Upon seeing the masked guard, Chae-eun asked, "Have you seen my grandson?"
The masked guard replied, "If you do not need to use the restroom, please return to the dormitory and sleep."
Chae-eun glanced downward and noticed the gun in the guard's hand. Shocked, she said, "Why are you holding a gun? Children shouldn't hold guns. Put it down quickly."
The masked guard impatiently said, "Please go back now."
Chae-eun punched the masked guard directly in the throat. The guard immediately struggled to breathe and collapsed onto the floor. Chae-eun revealed a sinister grin and said, "Do you know what kind of children I love catching the most? Naughty children like you."
At that moment, two other masked guards rushed over and pointed their guns at her. Frightened, she quickly ran back into the dormitory.
Lee Taek-gyeol walked over to Zhengli's bed. Zhengli opened his eyes and looked at him before asking, "What's wrong?"
Taek-gyeol said pitifully, "I… can't sleep. I'm scared that I'll die."
Zhengli patted his head gently and said, "Little dummy, as long as you're in the same group as me, you'll never die."
Taek-gyeol looked up and asked, "Really?"
Zhengli smiled and nodded. Taek-gyeol then asked, "Then can I sleep together with you?"
Zhengli frowned slightly and said, "That's probably not a good idea."
Taek-gyeol lowered his head and walked back to his bed. "Okay then."
Zhengli watched him lie back down on his own bed. After thinking for a long time, he walked toward Taek-gyeol's bed. Just as he was about to wake him up, he realized Taek-gyeol was completely covered by the blanket, secretly fiddling with something underneath it. Zhengli awkwardly scratched his head with a smile before returning to his own bed.
The lights suddenly turned on, and music began playing again. Everyone woke up groggily.
Player 93 complained, "That old grandma kept asking me all night whether I'd seen her grandson. I barely slept."
After hearing Player 93's complaint, Player 200 laughed softly.
Zhengli looked at the half-awake Taek-gyeol and said, "You're already grown up, and you still do that kind of thing."
Taek-gyeol awkwardly laughed and asked, "Y-You saw it?"
Zhengli waved his hand in front of his nose.
Chae-ho sat up and looked at Sang-hwan, whose eyes were wide open. "Did you stay awake the entire night?"
Sang-hwan casually replied, "I did… sleep a little."
At the same time, at the headquarters, the Front Man stood before the control panel. At that moment, a masked guard wearing a square mask walked over and asked, "What about the game?"
The Front Man remained silent for a while before saying, "Continue the game."
The announcement echoed through the speakers:
"The fourth game will begin shortly. All participants, please move according to the staff's instructions."
They walked up the staircase leading toward the game arena. Jeo-rim grabbed Player 415 and whispered, "Block me from her view. Don't let her see me."
Player 415 turned around and looked toward Chae-eun in the distance.
Soon, they arrived inside a massive dark blue and black room. The announcement sounded again:
"Welcome to the fourth game. This game will be played in teams of two. Find someone you wish to play the game with. Once both participants agree, shake hands to become partners. Repeating once more, this game will be played in teams of two. Find someone you wish to play the game with. Once both participants agree, shake hands to become partners. Starting now, you have ten minutes to form teams of two."
The ten-minute countdown began.
Sang-hwan looked toward Chae-ho. Chae-ho extended his hand toward Player 93 and said, "Let's team up."
Player 93 shook his hand.
Sang-hwan then looked toward Zhengli. Zhengli glanced at Sang-hwan before extending his hand toward Taek-gyeol.
"Little dummy, did you wash your hands properly?"
Taek-gyeol glared at him with an angry yet embarrassed expression before shaking his hand.
Player 6 walked away. Sang-hwan looked at Player 200 before shaking hands with him.
Player 353 said to Dieok-nyeong, "Team up with me."
Dieok-nyeong asked in confusion, "Why should I team up with you?"
Player 353 replied, "Then why did you come looking for me back then?"
Dieok-nyeong lowered her head and laughed softly. "You really know how to talk."
The two of them shook hands.
Player 415 found Jeo-rim and said, "Boss, let's team up."
Jeo-rim pushed him away and said, "Don't you know a boss should never team up with the subordinate he trusts most?"
Player 415 nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll go find someone else."
Jeo-rim shook hands with Player 146, while Player 415 teamed up with Player 342.
A beep echoed through the room.
"The time for selecting teammates has ended. Participants, please move to the game arena together with your partners."
Chae-eun looked around at all the pairs and asked in confusion, "Why is everyone in pairs? Why am I the only one alone? Why?"
The masked guards walked out and dragged Chae-eun away. She struggled and shouted, "Don't drag me away! I can team up with my grandson! Let me go!"
Player 146 watched Chae-eun being dragged away and turned to Jeo-rim, asking, "Why is there one extra person?"
Jeo-rim explained to Player 146, "During yesterday's game, ten people were supposed to die together, but he unlocked the chain and fell down by himself."
Listening as Chae-eun's voice gradually faded away, Jeo-rim sighed and said, "Finally, I don't have to see that damned old hag anymore."
One by one, masked guards approached each team carrying a vest and a map. All participants accepted the white vest and map. One masked guard spoke:
"Please choose one person from your team to wear the white vest."
Sang-hwan looked at Player 200. Player 200 said, "You wear it."
Sang-hwan put on the vest. Looking around, he noticed Chae-ho, Zhengli, and Dieok-nyeong had also put on their vests. After seeing Jeo-rim wear his vest, Player 415 quickly wore one as well.
The masked guard continued:
"The next game is Treasure Hunt."
Upon hearing this, Taek-gyeol smiled and said, "Treasure Hunt? I love games like this."
Zhengli also smiled.
The masked guard continued:
"Those not wearing vests will be the Hiders. The Hiders must use the map to hide their treasure within ten minutes. If the treasure remains undiscovered until the end of the game, the Hider wins."
Everyone froze and stared at their teammates beside them.
Sang-hwan looked at Player 200 in disbelief.
Chae-ho looked toward Player 93.
Taek-gyeol stared directly into Zhengli's eyes, while Zhengli avoided eye contact.
Player 353 smiled helplessly while Dieok-nyeong quietly watched him. Jeo-rim sneered at Player 146. Player 160 and Player 79 stared silently at each other.
At that moment, someone asked, "Then what about the ones wearing the vests?"
The masked guard replied:
"Those wearing the vests are the Seekers. The Seekers must find one treasure within thirty minutes in order to win. A reminder: Seekers are not allowed to carry maps. Participants may not leave the boundaries of the game arena during the game. Once a Seeker obtains a treasure, they are not allowed to open it. Doing so will result in immediate elimination."
After recovering from the shock, Zhengli looked at Taek-gyeol and said, "Taek-gyeol, didn't I tell you that as long as you team up with me, you won't die?"
With tears welling in his eyes, Taek-gyeol said, "But things are different now."
Zhengli wiped away Taek-gyeol's tears and said, "I have an idea. After you hide your treasure, tell me where you hid it. I'll guard it for you. Then I'll go search for someone else's treasure. That way, both of us can win together. Okay?"
Taek-gyeol suddenly understood and nodded. "That's a good idea."
The masked guards handed small treasure boxes to the Hiders.
"Each treasure box contains your corresponding player number."
Player 79 opened his box and saw a strip labeled with his own number inside.
The masked guard announced:
"All Hiders, please enter the game arena now."
Taek-gyeol carried the treasure box and map as he followed the group inside. Player 353, Player 200, Player 93, and the others followed closely behind.
Player 415 sighed and said to Jeo-rim, "In the end, it's still the two of us together."
Jeo-rim patted him on the shoulder and said, "You brat."
Sang-hwan found Zhengli, Dieok-nyeong, and Chae-ho. They all looked at one another in silence.