Chapter 21 – Seer: I Shall Shelter Every Werewolf
'Besides that, among the remaining six cards, finding the three Werewolves should be easy, right?'
Old Chu smiled faintly.
He carried himself with scholarly grace, like an easy-going, gentle big brother who still had his own bottom line.
'As the previous players said, although Player 9 voted for Player 3, we can actually let him go; there's no need to eliminate him this round.'
'Because today's focus has already shifted away from Player 9 to the trio of 5, 6, and 7. We only need to vote one out and check one. I suggest we eliminate 5 and verify 6, but the exact badge flow is for you to decide. Even though I'm your Golden Water, I can't dictate your badge flow.'
Old Chu rubbed his chin, looking as though he wanted to say more.
Finally, as if steeling himself, he spoke: 'Forget it, the Good Guys are ahead, so I'll just come out. After all, I've taken Golden Water; tonight I might get knifed. If I don't jump, and a Werewolf in the outer positions steals my clothes, the game's unwinnable. If you don't verify him, he can sit with you until the final day.'
'The Hunter just needs to stay hidden. I'm the Guardian; I guarded no one last night. Tonight I'll guard you. You hold the sheriff badge—so long as your checks for these two days are valid, it doesn't matter if I fall tonight.'
'That's about it. Player 3 claimed on the podium that I'm Player 10's Wolf Teammate; from my perspective that's impossible, because I'm the Guardian card. So Player 9, if you're a Good Guy, there's no need to push the idea that 10 and I are double Werewolves.'
'If I were a Werewolf, I'd have no reason to jump as Guardian in the last speaking position. Since I've jumped, I can only be the Guardian. If you don't believe me, just watch whether any votes land on me in the voting phase.'
'Sure, Werewolves can Forceful Jump against me, but after a full circle of speeches, everyone besides you has chosen to side with Player 10 as the Seer.'
'If I weren't the Guardian, and Player 10 were my Wolf Teammate, I'd have even less reason to jump now, leaving the real Guardian as the only one on that side. So you understand: Player 10 can only be the Seer, and I can only be the Guardian who received Golden Water. If you're a Good Guy, turn around and listen to whom Player 10 wants out.'
'Of course, if you're a Werewolf, treat what I just said as hot air. I'm done.'
Player 11, Old Chu, sniffed and calmly declared, 'Pass.'
After hearing his speech, Wang Changsheng nodded inwardly.
Worthy of being recognized by the Seer.
The man really had something up his sleeve.
He understood exactly what Player 11 jumping as Guardian in this position meant.
First of all, he himself was a Villager Card; the Guardian was Player 8 beside him.
But when Player 11, as Golden Water, jumped in the last speaking slot, in everyone else's eyes he had to be the Guardian.
After all, exactly as he'd said, if he weren't the Guardian, he'd have no reason to jump now.
Of course, that was the viewpoint of the outer-position players.
Player 11 himself had several purposes for jumping.
First.
He believed that with the Witch already gone, the field held three Gods and four Villagers against three Werewolves.
Holding a Villager Card, he jumped as Guardian.
First, all players sided with the Seer.
By doing this, he wasn't afraid the Guardian might think Number 3 was the real Seer and eliminate him.
This could shield the Guardian from the knife.
Second.
He was also covertly assigning work to the Guardian.
At night the Werewolves would most likely strike his Golden Water self.
Rather than that, he might as well jump straight as Guardian, pretending to fear being knifed and having his clothes stolen.
That would hugely increase his Guardian face in the Werewolves' minds.
So even if he died, it didn't matter; tonight the Guardian only needed to guard Player 10 without fearing the wolf blade would land on him.
He would take a slash for the Guardian.
And if the Werewolves really did knife him away,
Then three Gods and three Villagers would remain.
As long as they didn't mis-vote today,
The Good Guys' round would surge further ahead.
The sheriff's push would loom large.
The Werewolves would practically have to surrender.
Even if they wrongly voted out a Villager, it didn't matter.
In the Werewolves' eyes, two Gods and one Villager would be gone.
In reality, it would be one God and two Villagers.
Thus the Guardian could dress as a Villager,
And at night there might even be a Peaceful Night.
Old Chu really couldn't see how this game could be lost.
He leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
Though his reasoning was solid and the outcome mostly correct,
There were no longer three Werewolf Cards on the field.
So in Wang Changsheng's eyes, this move wasn't particularly impressive.
With or without his Guardian jump, the Good Guys' round was ahead.
'Forget it, jump if you want. Such a flashy Guardian jump won't really fool the Werewolves, but from their perspective the Witch is still alive. If Number 11 pulls this stunt, they might even think he's a Villager pretending to be the first Guardian, actually a Witch trying to shield from the knife.'
That way, the Werewolves might really sink their blade into Number 11 at night.
Everyone's perspective differs,
So the conclusions differ too.
Number 11 believed three Gods and four Villagers remained.
But in fact, all four Gods were still alive!
His maneuver might accidentally achieve the exact opposite.
The Werewolves knife him at night,
The Guardian chooses to protect Player 10,
Wang Changsheng flips out an antidote and drags Player 11 back.
'How the hell do we lose this? Jiejiejiejie!'
Wang Changsheng couldn't help cackling inwardly.
'Ahem—wait, why am I copying Sister Cockroach's laugh…'
He quickly stopped himself.
'But… Gun Shoots Like a Dragon? More like a bug! Heh, down you go! 48-to-24 has nothing to do with you!'
Thinking of all the pre-game provocations from Player 3,
Wang Changsheng let out a contemptuous mental snort.
What card is Player 3?
Wolf King?
No!
Clown!
'Player 10, please speak.'
It was the Seer's turn.
He first carefully weighed the depth of thought of his Golden Water.
Then the very first line of his speech laid out his badge flow.
'My badge flow will be 7 then 4, checking them in order; today we eliminate 9…'
The moment Player 10 said this,
Whether it was Player 11, who thought he could really shield the Guardian,
Or Wang Changsheng, who looked forward to reviving Player 11 tonight,
Even Players 2, 4, and 12,
All were stunned in place.
The glee in Wang Changsheng and Old Chu's hearts screeched to a halt.
???
Wait.
The earlier players had laid it all out,
Even your Golden Water suggested eliminating from 5 or 6,
Checking 5 or 6.
How the heck did you swing the spotlight straight back onto Player 9?!
Wang Changsheng was dumbfounded.
What are you doing,
Giving every Werewolf a cozy shelter???