As Kirk continued speaking, Lu Ce still didn’t say a word. The expression on his mask kept rapidly changing, like playing with Sichuan opera face-changing, making people’s eyes go blurry.

The red light in the hallway behind them started flashing faster and faster, and now the entire corridor had turned a blood-red color, even losing its flicker, with the light blending into one oppressive, suffocating atmosphere!

Kirk didn’t speak anymore, his eagle-like eyes locked onto the red mask in front of him, waiting for Lu Ce’s reaction and the next move.

"Heh... heh..." A low, hoarse laugh came from beneath the red mask, like the friction of rotting wood against a saw.

"It seems I wasn’t wrong..."

"The red light has been flashing for five minutes..."

Finally, Lu Ce spoke, but what he said was completely irrelevant to Kirk's accusation!

It didn’t even address Kirk’s claim!

【: "Think?" It’s hard to believe that verb came from him.】

【: If it’s Masked Guy, then why can we still see the livestream from Masked Guy's perspective? Isn’t that a player’s livestream?】

【: Ugh, this is troublesome. My brain can’t process it, and what’s with those players locked in there for years? Is that true?】

【: Every time I think about trying the game, the difficulty of Hell Mode immediately makes me rethink it.】

Lu Ce’s words didn’t spark any real discussion. The crowd was used to the mumbling of a madman.

No one intended to analyze anything from the ramblings of a crazy person.

【Blank: I suggest you all pay close attention now.】

【Blank: Last time during the game, when everyone thought this big shot had gone crazy, he was actually the most clear-headed.】

【Blank: I’m looking forward to his next move.】

【: Hmm? Blank, why are you so late this time...】

No matter how the spectators judged it, Jiu Tian, who had spent an entire day with Lu Ce, could clearly feel something was wrong now.

There’s something mysterious about people, called aura, presence.

For example, when you stand next to certain people, you can’t help but feel some fear because their aura crushes you, putting you in a disadvantaged position.

Lu Ce’s aura right now was the most chaotic and unstable it had been since entering the game, with a powerful oppressive feeling, like a child facing a heavyweight boxing champion.

But the words coming out of his mouth seemed to be the clearest and most rational since entering the game.

It seemed the spirit beneath the red mask had become somewhat lucid...

"What are you thinking?" Jiu Tian took the initiative to ask Lu Ce. Up until now, he didn’t agree with Kirk’s assumptions.

Although logically it didn’t seem too unreasonable, but Lu Ce had a name card!

When the game started, he clearly saw Lu Ce pull out that golden name card from his pants, this was his own brother!

Could this really be a conspiracy? That doesn’t seem likely...

"I’m thinking..." Lu Ce said, then burped, as if having eaten too much. "I’m thinking, what’s the punishment?"

This left everyone stunned, not knowing what he was getting at.

"What punishment? Didn’t the game say that when the red light flashes, if you don’t enter the hospital room, something bad will happen?"

"But... nothing’s happened, hahaha."

A hoarse laugh came from beneath Lu Ce’s red mask, and his expression finally twisted into a perverted smile as he looked at Tom, the robot, who had been standing there motionless.

"What do you think? Why hasn’t there been any punishment?"

Tom: ?

【...】

Tom’s mechanical body seemed to stiffen a little more, but he didn’t say anything.

Kirk continued:

"You’ve already become the final target. What’s there to punish?"

"Whether you’re really insane or just faking it, it’s over..."

Just as he was about to continue, Lu Ce suddenly turned his mask toward him for the first time, laughing as he said:

"Hehe, bro, you smell so good."

"I agree with your judgment and your analysis of this game, you’re right about everything."

"At times like this, thinking of possibilities that no previous players considered, that’s fine."

"Darkness under the lamp, also no problem."

"This game’s mystery has always been on the surface, that’s fine..."

"But, you keep talking about thinking outside the box, yet you’re still bound by the rules."

"Who made you think... he!"

As he spoke, Lu Ce slowly raised his hand and pointed at Tom, the iron-skinned robot, who had been silently standing in the corner.

"Who told you he is the host of this game?"

Lu Ce’s crazy, delirious voice fell, and Jiu Tian felt as if a heavy hammer had just struck his mind.

Jiu Tian wasn’t the sharpest person, lacking quick wit, but he wasn’t stubborn, and often caught on quickly.

His steps subtly shifted a bit backward.

Kirk frowned and suddenly laughed, then spoke:

"You’re really out of your mind. He’s the host of this game, that’s what the game said from the start."

"Oh? Is that so?" Lu Ce smiled. "Why don’t you think again, who said that?"

Kirk’s face was filled with a confident smile. For key issues, his memory was absolutely flawless!

He could remember every detail of the game, every single...

Thinking back, Kirk’s smile froze on his face. He remembered...

At the start of the game, an iron-skinned robot had entered the room and said to everyone...

— "I am your host for this game, you can call me the Great Tom."

This! Was! HIM! HIMSELF!

Kirk swallowed hard, his eyes darkening. Suddenly, he felt things were developing in a way that went beyond his judgment.

Looking at the crazy person in front of him who had been out of his mind for two days, he spoke:

"Stop talking nonsense. If the host didn’t say it, then who could have?"

"Besides, the rules, the background, how to play, wasn’t all provided by him?"

Lu Ce’s smile grew wider as he retorted, "Is it?"

Kirk: ...

Damn, his amazing memory was messing with his mind right now!

As soon as he said it, he realized!

The game rules weren’t from Tom, they were from a mechanical voice with no known origin!

The text... appeared on the walls of the initial room...

Kirk swallowed again. Before him, the face of the mask-wearing person was bathed in blood-red light, wearing an eerie, twisted smile.

By his side stood the silent, grim-faced iron-skinned robot, Tom.

Cold sweat poured down Kirk’s face...