Kai was now seventy percent sure about the identity of Wu Lingyi—Player 001.
The name sounded made up on the spot.
This guy might even be the Black Mask Captain himself.
Even though his voice was distorted, his height and walking posture didn't lie.
The organization's pulling tricks again. Figures—it's never easy with them.
If the next round was a team game, Kai had already made up his mind: he would definitely team up with Wu Lingyi.
No way the Triangle Guards would dare shoot their own captain. Of course, he'd have to be careful around him too.
Earlier that night, Wu Lingyi had stepped in to stop two blond players from fighting during dinner.
The way he moved—quick, precise, and trained—made it obvious he'd been in the military or police. Even with a year of free combat training under his belt, Kai knew he'd lose in a one-on-one fight.
If anything happened, he'd have to make his move first.
But Kai kept his suspicions to himself, not even telling Li Eun-hui. If 001's real identity as an organizer ever leaked and he snapped—ordering the guards to kill every player—it'd be catastrophic.
During his recovery on the island last year, Kai had observed the Triangle Guards and their firepower up close.
There were only about forty of them, but each carried a semi-automatic submachine gun and moved with military precision.
For unarmed players to challenge them would be suicide.
Only an idiot would try to lead a revolt.
Kai wasn't an idiot.
The next morning, the announcement came.
"This is a team game. Within ten minutes, please form groups of five. Repeat—this is a team game. Within ten minutes, please form groups of five."
Kai smirked to himself.
"As expected. They've switched things up this year. If it followed last year's order exactly, I'd have cleared it too easily."
Naturally, he grouped up with Wu Lingyi and Li Eun-hui. They still needed two more players.
But Eun-hui quickly noticed something. "Wait—there are 179 players left. You can't divide that evenly into groups of five!"
Kai frowned. "What, are they going to pull the same trick again—let one person advance by default?"
Right on cue, the broadcast chimed again.
"Considering one player is missing, a special guest has been added."
Across the arena, a small metal door opened.
And from it walked someone Kai never expected to see again.
That familiar teal tracksuit. The number 67.
"Kang Sae-byeok… you're alive!?"
She stopped in front of him, smirking faintly. "What? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Kai stared at her in disbelief. "I can accept that you somehow survived, but why come back? Why enter the Game again?"
Kang Sae-byeok hesitated, memories flickering behind her eyes.
She had woken up from her coma a month ago.
But the Black Mask Captain had told her something shocking—Kai had rejoined the new Squid Game to save her life.
And then she was given two choices:
Leave quietly and live a peaceful life, or
Re-enter the Game from the second round to repay that debt.
She'd missed Red Light, Green Light because the Captain claimed her muscles had atrophied from the coma—it "wouldn't have been fair."
The truth was simpler: if Kai saw her alive too early, he might have refused to play. The Captain couldn't risk that.
So Kang Sae-byeok chose the second option. If Kai had risked everything for her, then she would do the same for him.
She crossed her arms. "I could've walked away with 15.2 billion won and lived comfortably. So listen, Kai—you're not allowed to die this year. Otherwise, I came back for nothing."
Kai chuckled. "Don't worry about that. I've already deposited your 15.2 billion in the bank. Monthly transfers go straight to your little brother. So technically, it's still being spent on you."
Li Eun-hui's eyes widened. "Wait—you two? You're last year's winners!? No wonder you're loaded! Were there only three survivors last time?"
Wu Lingyi smiled faintly. "Looks like I've joined the right group. Two champions—guess I'll cling to your coattails."
Kai gave him a sharp, knowing glance but kept his expression cool.
Keep pretending. You're the one we should be clinging to, aren't you, Captain?
Out loud, he simply said, "Don't worry, 001. Stick with me, and we'll reach the end together."
They were one short of a full team now.
Wu Lingyi looked around. "We already have two women. Let's find a guy for the last spot."
Just as they were about to split up, a soft voice called out from behind.
"Um… can I join your team?"
They turned. A woman approached slowly, her hand resting on her rounded belly. Her tracksuit read 222.
Kai blinked. "You've got to be kidding me. You're pregnant?"
The woman nodded slightly.
"Look, ma'am," Kai said, rubbing his forehead.
"I can tolerate having a woman on the team, but a pregnant one? That's pushing it. Last year, we had old folks and kids in tug-of-war. Now this? You're at least six months along, aren't you?"
Player 222's voice was calm. "I'm in good health. I won't hold anyone back."
Kai shook his head. "That's not the point. A woman willing to drag her unborn child into this hell… that's not courage—that's irresponsibility.
To yourself and your baby. I'm sorry, but I won't let someone that reckless join my team. It's a matter of responsibility—to all of us."
Kang Sae-byeok frowned. "But with her condition, she'll have no chance in another group. If she's eliminated, that's two lives gone. Maybe—"
Kai cut her off sharply. "Kang Sae-byeok, what happened to you? You sound like Seong Gi-hun now—bleeding heart and all. How can you be sure she won't get us killed instead?
Imagine the headlines—two of last year's champions eliminated in round two because we took pity on a pregnant woman."
Kang Sae-byeok bit her lip, speechless.
Wu Lingyi just shrugged. "No opinion here. You guys decide."
But Li Eun-hui, like Kang Sae-byeok, looked at the woman with sympathy. "Still… she deserves a chance. Maybe we should let her join us."
...
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