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

Chapter 217: Patching Lin Yu’s Weaknesses

If he wanted everyone to ”immediately” discover the illusion that ”Xia Yue wasnʼt dead,” Lin Yu could have made the disappearance of Xia Yueʼs corpse much more sensational.

An explosion... or intentionally using [False Face] to leave footage of ”Xia Yue” stumbling out of the police station on surveillance cameras - these would have been enough to make ”Xia Yueʼs resurrection” solid evidence.

But Lin Yu didnʼt do that.

Because what he wanted wasnʼt ”Xia Yueʼs resurrection,” but rather to make everyone believe that ”Xia Yue wasnʼt dead”!

Since Orderʼs investigation wasnʼt thorough enough, there remained some ambiguity about the truth at that time.

Under circumstances where ordinary people were investigating players while enduring the Death Gameʼs interference with normal thinking, it was entirely possible for a ”player” to use some props to disguise their own corpse and achieve feigned death.

There had even been precedents for such methods.

But here emerged the first loophole regarding Xia Yue - ”time.”

Xia Yue was killed by ”Fluoxetine” in the afternoon, and her body was discovered before midnight.

The fact that she died in the afternoon hadnʼt been ”erased.”
If Xia Yue truly was a promising newcomer, then either she passed the first dungeon, directly reversing and eliminating the ”death” fact.

Or she didnʼt pass the first round, and the death fact remained.

According to Fluoxetine and Psychological Societyʼs judgment, Xia Yue wasnʼt a player during the ”afternoon.”

”Players” indeed possessed many miraculous means and could use some magical props to deceive the police, making them mistake fake corpses for real ones.

And ”players” had sufficient motivation to do so - especially when killed by another player, concealing the fact that they were still alive could save their lives.

But how could someone who wasnʼt a player accomplish this, and what reason would they have to do so?

Fortunately, Lin Yu had already filled this loophole in advance.

He parked his bicycle at a shopping mall entrance, entered the fire escape through an unnoticed surveillance blind spot, changed into pre-prepared clothes, and quickly activated [False Face] and [Counterfeit].

Afterward, Lin Yu wandered around the mall for a while before pulling out another brand new phone, taking a ride-share to Jiangchengʼs downtown commercial district.

Today, besides visiting Xia Yue and disposing of her body, he had another appointment to keep.

He got out of the ride-share car and arrived at an elegant café, walking directly to the counter and taking a seat.

Beside her already sat an excessively young girl wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, sipping on a fruity coffee drink topped with foamy whipped cream.

”Yo, A Nian, you made quite a stir the other day.”

Li Nian, crossing her legs, lowered her sunglasses and glanced at ”Zhu Ming” wearing a floral blouse and jeans before speaking.

”Seems your information is indeed very well-informed, but letʼs not talk about that first...”

”You previously said you killed a player with over 500,000 bounty from Huntersʼ Association - weʼve verified it, and itʼs indeed correct. Maraudersʼ Red Fuji has been confirmed dead, the time and location match what you said, and the photo evidence you submitted is sufficient for confirmation.”

”Although there are rumors saying it was done by some hot new newcomer Doctor... but being able to make him voluntarily give you the credit is also proof of your capability and strength.”

”Anyway congratulations, youʼve completed one of the three conditions. Next you just need to complete one more condition and youʼre OK.”

As Li Nian spoke, Lin Yu nodded.

”Good, I understand.”

”So which one do you choose - playing one game with us, or joining another organization?” Li Nian flipped out a black card. ”If you choose the former... this is a [Team Card].”

”Weʼve already discussed and decided on personnel - it will be me and Mountaineer conducting this dungeon assessment.”

Li Nian spoke as if quite certain Lin Yu would choose the ”former.”

After all, when this ”Miss Zhu Ming” first came looking, she had made it very clear.

She had offended both Marauders and Psychological Society, and didnʼt like Order either.

Although it was still unknown how this individual had offended Psychological Society, but anyway regarding that incident on the river ferry before, she definitely had major beef with Marauders.

Even Red Fuji, who completed the first task, was a core member of Marauders.

Although from recent contact with that guy called May May, she seemed to have some connection with that rising star about to join Order...

But considering Zhu Mingʼs operations and temperament, Li Nian was quite confident she wouldnʼt join, and couldnʼt join Order either.

So...

This individual couldnʼt possibly join Psychological Society, right?

But unexpectedly, Lin Yu gently picked up the [Team Card], played with it for a moment in his hand, then stuffed it back into Li Nianʼs jacket pocket.

”I choose option two... when we truly become ʼcompanionsʼ in the future, there will still be time for us to cooperate in dungeons together.”

Lin Yu said gently, looking at the stunned Li Nian.

”Sorry, Iʼm just a bit paranoid.”

Li Nian came back to her senses and shook her head: ”No problem, this choice is interesting - but, if convenient to disclose, which organization are you planning to join?”

”Psychological Society.”

Lin Yu said without hesitation.

”Huh? Those psychos? Donʼt you have beef with them?”

Li Nian asked reflexively.

Lin Yu smiled and said: ”Yes, but recently discovered... seems like it was just some misunderstanding.”

He looked at Li Nian and said softly: ”Do you think Psychological Society people can make mistakes in their assessments?”

Li Nian paused for a moment, then nodded: ”Probably, like those Bʼs apparently only gave Grandmaster a C, and gave me an A too... how could I possibly only be an A? Achieving promotion in just six dungeons should be at least A+!”

Li Nian said while stroking her chin.

Lin Yu smiled faintly: ”Itʼs not that they made a mistake about my potential, itʼs just that Psychological Society pulls promising non-players into the game through assassination methods, right?... This is what created some misunderstanding between me and them.”

”What do you mean by that?”

Li Nianʼs eyebrows furrowed tighter.

Lin Yu didnʼt directly answer this question, but instead pointed at his own face.

”You know, A Nian, during the first dungeon, I realized the importance of disguising myself, so in every dungeon, I cover my face as much as possible and leave no survivors whenever possible.”

”But later, I obtained a prop that can slightly adjust my appearance.”

Lin Yu gently peeled off a thin film from his face.

This film had no real existence - it was transformed by [Counterfeit].

While peeling off the film created by [Counterfeit], Lin Yu perfectly timed the activation of [False Face].

”Anyway, since Iʼve already confirmed joining you all, and after several contacts... seems like showing you my real face isnʼt such a big deal anymore.”

Lin Yuʼs face underwent some subtle changes, his appearance becoming closer to the original prototype of the ”Zhu Ming” character.

Looking at the somewhat stunned Li Nian, Lin Yu spoke with a smile.

”Consider this my ʼassessmentʼ for you... using my current face and what I just said, try to figure out why I suddenly changed my mind and why Iʼm confident I can join Psychological Society.”

”Let me give you one more hint.”

”The code name ʼZhu Mingʼ comes from ʼHuainanzi·Astronomical Trainingʼ.”

With that, Lin Yu stood up and walked toward the café entrance.

Admittedly, according to Psychological Societyʼs judgment, when Fluoxetine killed Xia Yue, she was just an ordinary person with high potential who hadnʼt entered the Death Game.

But...

What if Psychological Society was wrong?

At this moment, Lin Yuʼs profile was reflected in the glass storefront.

Exactly identical to the girl from the corpse and black-and-white memorial photo he had seen just hours before...