Chapter 7: Upping the Ante

The atmosphere became cold again as we faced the choices of the unknown.

But I had made my decision. Even if I wasted my chance of saving someone because of my indifferent att.i.tude, under the circ.u.mstances of not having an definite ally, I made survival my first priority.

As for whether or not I could bring along other people to survive with me, it all depended on their decisions.

People always said that I didn’t know how to compete, and on the outside I looked easygoing, but actually I planned everything inside of my mind.

But when real benefits and survival problems are in front of me, I will be a steady lone wolf. The wolf stares at the lamb, and as soon as it finds a chance, it will pounce and attack it, and never let go!

“Hmph.”

Xia Ling’s smile grew a little, and it even had a devilish charm.

But this didn’t keep me from adding her into my list of good people. My instincts told me, this woman might be able to bring us a sliver of hope.

But at the same time, my instincts also told me, if I put all my hopes on her, I would die as miserably as the official and the woman from before, and people wouldn’t even remember my name.

Stepping one step at a time into the abyss of death, in this unfamiliar sky of high alt.i.tudes, playing this scary Mafia game.

The fear of no one remembering our existences and names, and dying just like that; those fears even exceeded the fear of death itself.

“If you wanna say it, just say it. If you say they’re the good guys, then it’ll prove that the little girl’s really the captain, right? Then why not hurry up and investigate me next round? Do you guys even know how to play? If you want to live you need to keep a player like me alive.”

Qian Duoduo’s patience seemed to have run out, like a firecracker that was lit in the air, crackling loudly, but in reality, just putting on airs. I understood that the aggression inside this person’s heart was caused only by fear.

Since I had studied a little bit of psychology, I decided to remain observing the game, and stuck to the strategy of indifference and protect myself.

“Um, we should let the captain make her own decision, and the next voting hasn’t started yet, so to talk about it now seems to be too…”

Liu Nian did seem like an experienced player who had played a lot of these types of games, he did have an unique point of view.

Even the young forensic scientist nodded her head, but unfortunately I still underestimated Liu Nian’s guts, as well as Qian Duoduo’s stupidity.

“Get out! When was it your turn to speak… you’re only a poor student pretending to be an experienced player. The games that you poor people play don’t even mean anything. The money you earn for your year probably wouldn’t even make up my spending money for one month, isn’t that right?”

“What… what is the big deal about having money!”

The two of them got in an argument immediately, but it was still within my expectations.

It was just that there were fewer people who were trying to break up the argument than I thought there would be. Only Pin Chuanxia made a half-hearted effort to stop them, while most of the people were more concerned with the next chance Guan Ling had to investigate.

“Alright, now everyone’s time is precious, and you two should have had enough fights and yelling, so now we should talk about something serious, right?”

Shang Zhiyuan finally started speaking. There didn’t seem to be any weak points with his calm att.i.tude.

It was almost the next ‘night time,’ which was when the Howlers got to take action. Everyone’s cells were subconsciously driven, and started to use their own ways to push the game in a certain direction and get the answer they wanted.

“Looks like this fellow knows how to pay attention to the whole situation. It is better to accept deferentially than to decline courteously. Let’s just discuss our opinions, and don’t take things too personally.

Xia Ling didn’t wear gla.s.ses, but she seemed to be smarter than Liu Nian, this four-eyed teenager.

After all that trouble, she didn’t even ask for everyone’s opinion and she decided on her own to a.s.sist us by way of her reasoning.

Just like how I a.n.a.lyzed, this girl wasn’t here to provide help, she just wanted to fulfill her guilty pleasure.

Just like an experienced player who’s above normal players.

They would go after more complicated methods, or more exciting tactics, even if it would lose them the game. They wanted to enjoy feeling above everyone else.

“If you’re gonna say it, just say it. Stop being so long-winded. If you’re gonna do this, then why ask us to choose? I have never seen a woman as stupid as you before!”

The man from the family of three didn’t have much better manners than his wife. His sketchy Mandarin was filled with disdain. From what they were wearing, they seemed to be a pretty well-off, middle-cla.s.s family.

“Hehe. When I’m talking, it’s best not to interrupt, or else…”

The expression from Xia Ling at that split second, stunned those of us who were in conversation, even the old man. Because this type of eye expression was so domineering it was hard to explain with words.

“Or else what? You think I’m afraid of you? I have connections. There’s tons of people above me!”

That man really didn’t fear death, he didn’t even realize the forensic woman took out a real weapon. When the silver reflection flashed, even Shang Zhiyuan took a small cold breath.

A surgery knife that was so small, it could almost be ignored, was right on the man’s throat.

I could feel that the man was obviously shaking. He was probably trying to hold himself together and not embarra.s.s himself in front of his family. If it weren’t for that, he probably would have wet himself already.

“Or else, I don’t mind dissecting you alive right now. After all, the rules merely said that we
can’t kill outside of the game, but they didn’t say I can’t take your body apart.”

Good thing that wasn’t the forensic woman’s ulterior motive. She smiled, and put away her shiny little knife. This skill and determined personality, on some level, was scarier than w.a.n.g Qiang.

And I clearly saw her smiling towards my direction. This was not a good sign; after all, I had just dodged Pin Chuanxia’s probing.

Considering the situation at hand, rather than needing a group, I wanted my image and my thoughts to be independent.

If I played the game independently, and didn’t speak out on my own, I wouldn’t be waiting helplessly for the end.

“You, you completely ignored the law! I can sue you, and destroy your family!”

That man’s response was incredibly stupid, but Xia Ling’s reaction was out of my expectations.

Sure enough, she wasn’t simply trying to help Guan Ling. Even I was starting to suspect whether she really wanted to help the pa.s.sengers head toward victory.

“Really. But I double-majored in law, do you want me to recommend a lawyer to you? Hm?”

Xia Ling’s outfit looked like that of an office lady. Of course her body wasn’t the most seductive type, but she was just the type of beauty that was a combination of knowledgeable and cold. But what frightened me most was that she was clearly excited when she saw the dead bodies on the ground.

“You, you’re in luck. But we have three votes on our side. Later, if you get on my bad side, I will vote you to death with my wife and son.”

In the end, the man with a slight slouch didn’t have much else to say. Rather than bluffing, it was more like comforting himself. It almost made me laugh out loud.

“No problem. I will wait for your votes. But now, let’s talk about you, little girl. I think your role might not be the captain. But don’t be nervous, I understand that some people will step up and try to pretend to be roles that they’re not. I know something about these tactics.”

Xia Ling patiently explained, and what she said caused many people to react.

Some frowned, and some seemed to be put at ease.

Those people may not really be suspects, or maybe they simply didn’t want to be suspected?

After all, the people who were in the eye of the storm were Guan Ling and the veteran.

The two of them were most likely to be killed first.

“What, what are you trying to say?”

w.a.n.g Qiang finally opened his mouth and said, staring at the forensic scientist, as he popped out his sentence. The two of them both had special occupations, and them just standing together filled the cabin with cold air.

“That’s right, the situation now is already messy enough, and we’re about to go to sleep. If what you said brought bad influence upon us, should I treat it as if you were a pa.s.senger giving up on the game, or your ident.i.ty as a Howler is on the verge of being exposed?”

Shang Zhiyuan finally said something fair, but as one of the most important suspects from the last round, what he said was seen as unpromising. It was no surprise that the forensic scientist ignored him, and he expressed an awkward look that was not commonly seen.

“Mm, as a retired veteran, your skills are not bad. Be at ease, I just wanted to make sure you have enough ability.”

“What, what are you doing bringing something like this onto the plane!”

The action of the young forensic scientist after that, made the man who was talking back stop having a temper.

She took out from her bag, a skull that was turning yellow, and I could still hear the cracking sound in her hands, not to mention the way she greedily looked at the other dead bodies.

I could almost be sure, that this person was a serious necrophiliac.

“Hm?”

w.a.n.g Qiang’s arms twitched, I could see that he was getting prepared. It seemed like it was not only because he felt sorry and protected the little girl, but the two flight attendants had already formed an alliance that was more solid than I could have imagined.

If Xia Ling said anything wrong after that, she could be attacked and stunned by him. Even if we cannot murder, an army man’s arm strength couldn’t be overlooked.

She didn’t disappoint my expectation. It seemed like something magical as she said with a raspy and mature voice,

“Don’t you think that if we just end the game like this, the game would be a little boring? If everyone wants to live, then let’s increase the difficulty of the game, and make this battle even more exciting.”

Translated by crushanapple

Edited by Niles