Death Game: Starting as a Trickster, Pretending to Be a God

”First, the [Lead-filled Dice] was an item I didn’t choose when reaching second tier... This thing indeed randomly selects one item you didn’t choose as the dessert’s form and prototype, hiding a mechanism that interacts with your original ability while giving you a hint about ’cards’.”

”Although it’s called [dessert], just like the [aperitif] segment, this challenge is built upon the ’shadows’ in your heart.”

”If I’m not mistaken, during the [aperitif] segment, everyone probably saw the most sorrowful events from ’reality’, just like I did.”

”And this [dessert] challenge... forces you to recall your most humiliating experience in a ’dungeon’.”

”In any case, while three samples aren’t statistically reliable, we can temporarily use this pattern to analyze the difficulties you encounter.”

Li Hua spoke methodically. After finishing, he resumed eating the dice on his plate. Having consumed all the dice, he looked up at Ka the Octopus and revealed his card. Official source is NoveI~Fire.net

”Chef, I’ve obtained the [Scissors Card]... except the scissors on mine are red. What does this mean?”

Hearing Li Hua’s words, Ka the Octopus smiled and explained:

”Your card can also cut any two ropes between two people... except the two people are randomly selected.”

Li Hua’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

”Completely random... That’s not good,” he murmured.

Beside him, Old Man Radish also showed concern.

”This... what should we do?”

Lin Yu perfectly understood why someone with three ropes and an apparently good relationship with Robin would worry. Because they were good people.

If kindness could be quantified, both Li Hua from [Order] and Old Man Radish from the [Player Mutual Aid Association] would undoubtedly score over 90 on the kindness scale!

[Order] needs no introduction - it’s practically the most reliable and upright organization, true to its name in punishing evil and promoting good. Li Hua, who became a city Game Master, embodies proper values through and through.

Although the [Player Mutual Aid Association] leans neutral, it has always been an extremely friendly organization. This cheerful Old Man Radish had already demonstrated through actions that he genuinely wished others well.

While most players in the ”Death Game” entered driven by strong survival instincts and developed a layer of madness that made them view others’ lives as worthless in this survival game...

Old Man Radish was different from most players. Lin Yu strongly suspected this old man’s reason for not wanting to die when entering the ”Death Game” was... probably not some selfish motive.

Of course, perhaps this was all an act - Lin Yu wasn’t above suspecting the worst of people. But if it were an act, his performance was too convincing. Moreover...

What difference is there between someone who pretends to be good their whole life and someone who truly is good?

Thus, Lin Yu understood Li Hua and Radish’s instinctive reactions. They were genuinely weighing the ”total number of ropes”, trying to minimize ”casualties” in this segment. Though the two might still have differences.

Radish probably sincerely wished for everyone present to survive. But... when push came to shove, Li Hua might be willing to sacrifice a few ”deserving” individuals. Like key members from the [Free Alliance], [Marauders], and [Psychological Society].

Thinking this, Lin Yu suddenly felt stiff. He was among them too! Although he had four ropes, it wasn’t completely safe!

This realization gave Lin Yu a headache. ”Although it’s indeed a simple round... for me, it seems to be getting increasingly dangerous!”

Even the pattern Li Hua deduced wasn’t much help to Lin Yu. After all... he didn’t know which dungeon was [Fluoxetine]’s most humiliating experience.

”But looking at it now, it’s not completely without gains...”

”If absolutely necessary... I’ll gamble with that newly acquired ’buff’...”

Lin Yu pondered internally.

After Li Hua... Old Man Radish volunteered to go next. Clearly, the old man hoped to quickly draw a ”Knot Card” to ease the current situation.

Ka the Octopus accordingly served the old man a dessert. ”The dessert prepared for you is called [Harvest Season].”

”May your grand wish come true, noble and diligent farmer.”

It was a golden wheat ear with a sealed cover. Following Li Hua’s deduction, Old Man Radish activated his ability on the wheat ear...

One realistic-looking wheat grain disappeared from the ear - there was actually a real wheat grain mixed into this dessert’s imitation wheat. The grain transformed into a fragrant cream bun with words printed on top:

”The most delicious food.”

Old Man Radish stared blankly at these six characters, sighed deeply after a long pause. ”Li Hua, the pattern you mentioned... holds true for me too.”

He slowly stroked the wheat ear, found another real wheat grain hidden in the imitation wheat, and activated his ability again. A brown sugar dumpling appeared in Radish’s hand. He put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, then soon spat out a card - the dumpling had hidden this card inside.

Radish smiled bitterly: ”I used to love dumplings... After that dungeon where no one but me survived, I never ate them again.”

Robin seemed to understand: ”Was that when the [Player Mutual Aid Association] suffered heavy losses?”

Hearing this, Radish paused, then shook his head with a smile. ”Snowy Owl really treats you as a successor, telling you even this...”

”Yes, that time, three veteran members took five younger ones to play a game together...”

”And then... total wipeout.”

Radish said leisurely, placing the card on the table and exhaling heavily.

”Enough, no point elaborating...”

”The card I got seems decent, at least it’s not scissors.”

He tapped the card. ”Octopus host, what does this ’gray rope’ mean?”

Ka the Octopus examined the card’s content and laughed. ”Oh—congratulations, it’s an [Iron Rope Card]!”

”After use, one of your ropes and one random rope on the field will be replaced with ’iron ropes’ that can withstand being cut once!”

As Ka the Octopus explained, Old Man Radish nodded. He unhurriedly finished the dumpling and bun, then slowly ate the entire wheat ear dessert. After Ka the Octopus took away the plate and Radish confirmed completing this challenge...

”I’ll use this [Iron Rope Card] right now!” Radish declared resolutely.