Inside the space—
After tallying the final votes, even Valerius silently mourned for Robin.
That was truly tragic.
He stepped out of the small room.
"Final results: Yae Miko — 1 vote. Robin — 5 votes. Billy — 1 vote."
When Robin heard her number, her heart sank.
Five votes…
Even if she had convinced the last two players, it wouldn't have changed anything.
[Robin eliminated.]
A beam of light descended once more.
Robin's figure slowly faded away.
Valerius glanced at the remaining six.
"You each now receive 3 points. Anyone want to quit?"
Everyone shook their heads in unison.
"Good. On to the third round."
The platform descended again, bringing them into a new space.
At the center sat a large black box.
Valerius began explaining the rules:
"This round is still simple."
"Each of you will draw a card from this black box."
"You may give it to anyone—or keep it yourself."
"After everyone has a card, you'll reveal them."
"White card — you survive. Black card — you're eliminated."
"That's it. Line up."
Another pure luck game.
Aventurine didn't hesitate and stepped forward first.
"Let's begin."
Valerius gestured.
Aventurine slid his hand into the box.
Inside were countless cards—
But they all felt wrapped in cloth.
"So they're inside fabric pouches?"
Since every card was in a small bag, there was no way to distinguish them by touch.
He casually grabbed one and pulled it out.
A black cloth pouch.
Impossible to tell what color the card inside was.
"You may give it to anyone—or keep it."
After thinking briefly, Aventurine turned and handed it to Yae Miko.
"Here."
"You—who asked you to pick for me?"
"It's allowed by the rules. Take it."
Miko glared at him.
This guy definitely had bad intentions.
Trying to sabotage me?
Fine.
I'll return the favor.
She stepped up to the box.
After rummaging inside, she pulled out a pouch.
"Eh?"
Her expression shifted slightly.
The pouch in her hand—
Was white.
"The pouches come in different colors?" she asked.
"Of course."
"How many colors?"
"Two."
That answer made Miko's expression worse.
Aventurine had given her a black pouch.
She had drawn a white one.
Black eliminates. White survives.
Could it really be that obvious?
…No, that would be too simple.
She turned and handed the white pouch to Zhu Yuan.
"This one's white. Take it."
"I'm not trying to harm you."
"Uh… thank you?"
Zhu Yuan blinked in confusion.
This fox was being nice?
"Don't get your hopes up," Miko added.
"The pouch color probably doesn't mean anything."
"Mm."
Zhu Yuan nodded.
She didn't believe the pouch color meant much either.
But still—white felt safer than black.
Next was Sparkle.
She shoved her hand into the box and began rummaging around.
And rummaging.
And rummaging.
Without pulling anything out.
"Miss Sparkle, please hurry."
Valerius rolled his eyes.
"The pouches cannot be opened or damaged until everyone has one."
Seriously.
She had been trying to secretly tear one open.
"Tch. This game is boring."
No room for chaos.
All luck.
Unhappy, she pulled out a black pouch.
"Little peacock~ Here."
"Sure."
Aventurine accepted it calmly.
Luck was on his side anyway.
Next: Shenhe.
She stepped forward without hesitation and drew—
A black pouch.
She returned to her place silently.
"You're not giving it to anyone else?" Valerius asked.
"No."
Shenhe shook her head.
"Master said: rely on yourself in all matters."
In the livestream:
[Xianyun: See? See? That's my Shenhe. Completely different from the rest.]
Very proud.
[Keqing: Exactly. If you harbor no ill intent, you won't be eliminated.]
[Yun Jin: Heaven blesses the kind-hearted.]
[Yelan: Well said.]
[Herta: Didn't she just say she'd kill everyone to win? That's kind-hearted?]
[Ningguang: ...…]
[Xiangling: ...…]
…Good point.
After Shenhe came Billy.
"Please let it be white!"
He shoved his hand inside and grabbed one.
Black pouch.
"Nooooo! It's black?!"
He turned and handed it to Sparkle.
"Here, take it."
"Gladly~"
Sparkle smiled sweetly.
No sign of anger at all.
Now only Billy remained without a card.
He looked desperately at Zhu Yuan.
"Please, Officer Zhu Yuan! Get me a white one!"
If he survived, he'd earn points.
If he earned points, they could draw rewards.
If they got rewards—
The Cunning Hares might finally pay off debts!
Maybe even buy gun oil for his beloved weapons.
Zhu Yuan sighed.
"I'll try."
She stepped up to the box and rummaged.
After a moment—
She pulled out a white pouch.
"Yessss!!!"
Billy jumped in excitement.
White pouch!
Even if others said the pouch color meant nothing—
He believed it was a hint.
Why else bother using two colors?
He gratefully accepted it.
Hope filled his mechanical heart.
"Alright," Valerius announced.
"Everyone has a card. You may now open your pouches."
"Stay or leave—it's up to fate."
The drawstrings loosened automatically.
Just a gentle pull would reveal the result.
"Watch this!"
Billy was the first to open his.
He dramatically yanked it open and raised the card high.
A card glowing pitch black shone under the light.
"Oh? Black~"
Sparkle burst out laughing.
You really thought white pouch meant white card?
"Black?"
Zhu Yuan's expression changed.
She had drawn a white pouch too.
Everyone else had black pouches.
Only she and Billy had white ones.
Could it be—
That the card color was opposite the pouch color?
If so—
"I'm finished…"
Her heart dropped.
Was she about to be eliminated too?
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