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

Chapter 384: The Truth

When the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ was first established, its hope was to provide a place where orderly players who didnʼt want to join local or other major organizations could also enjoy the conveniences of ”information exchange” and ”item swapping” that large organizations bring.

This organization, much like its founder Radish, carried a simple, kind-hearted aura.

The organizationʼs basic function was written right in its name—mutual aid.

If you wanted to join the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ, all you needed to do was make a post on the forum or find a member of the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ, download and install an app... then you were considered a member.

It didnʼt even require you to be its sole member.

Joining the organization came with no obligations, it merely hoped that all members would uphold the principle of ”all for one, and one for all”.

Sharing dungeon information, exchanging and handling unused items, and players hoping to form teams could communicate with each other.

If you wanted to take a step further and serve as ”management personnel” within, you could also directly apply to become a ”volunteer”, assisting in managing the organization and holding regular activities like mutual aid Q&A sessions, item appraisals, and ability training.

They even went so far as to provide consolation to the families of members who died in dungeons.

In the beginning, when the numbers were small, relying on the information shared by a few early members and the founder, along with actively contributing a large number of items to encourage others to do the same, the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ was practically heaven.
It was more like a ”forum” that didnʼt require points, was friendlier, and even had very active high-level players.

However, as time passed and a large influx of players joined, the organization gradually began to stray from its path.

Many players who took advantage of othersʼ kindness appeared on the platform... but back then, while the several founders of the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ were still around, everything was still under control.

But...

After that dungeon that nearly wiped out all the vital forces of the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ at the time, Radish, who survived, had no choice but to change some strategies.

He raised the entry threshold for the ʼPlayer Mutual Aid Associationʼ and streamlined the number of volunteers.

He also cut the consolation payments.

Simultaneously, it was no longer an organization that accepted overlapping membership with other organizations, and many of its benefits were now only provided to already-joined members.

After these reforms, the organization did improve for a while, but soon... the relatively closed organizational structure caused the power of the ”volunteers” to begin growing.

This led to the emergence of factions and hierarchies within, just like other organizations—something Radish originally did not want to see.

But he was powerless to stop it, and even he himself was gradually being sidelined by those new factions.

More and more people, swayed by interests, leaned towards those new factions. There were simply too many conveniences to be gained from attaining a leadership position in a large, well-known organization.

Radish was powerless to stop all this.

”I just didnʼt expect... that Cassia Seed had been by Old Mr. Radishʼs side all along,” Lotus sighed. ”He would actually do such a thing. I thought he was also someone who wouldnʼt be swayed by profit.”

Lin Yu shook his head.

”First, donʼt overestimate human nature. The inevitable end of any ʼpublic welfareʼ organization is corruption.”

”Second, the reason your organization ʼtransformedʼ so quickly isnʼt just internal corruption. You need to look for causes outside too.”

Lin Yu said calmly. Lotus looked up.

”You mean, other organizations?”

”ʼOrderʼ and ʼNight Watchmenʼ might not need to, but what about other local organizations? And what about those three organizations that were delisted from the forum?”

Lin Yu said softly. Lotusʼs expression changed slightly.

”So... you mean...”

”At the very least, Cassia Seedʼs death likely has the handiwork of the ʼPsychological Societyʼ, or someone with similar hypnotic abilities,” Fu Luo said calmly. ”It wasnʼt a complete suicide in the true sense.”

”Just like you falling asleep abnormally that day, he was induced by someoneʼs suggestion—he wasnʼt even the one who killed Radish.”

Lin Yu looked at the shocked and doubtful Lotus. ”So... rather than wallowing in self-pity, Iʼd recommend you choose ʼhatredʼ.”

”You didnʼt do anything wrong, and you still have unfinished business to settle.”

Lotusʼs expression shifted again. After a long while, he nodded.

”I understand. Thank you.”

”But, if the murderer isnʼt Cassia Seed... then who is it?”

”Who do I take revenge on?”

Just as Fu Luo was about to speak, Lin Yu raised his hand.

”Weʼll announce that later—this is the kind of moment best shared with everyone present.”

Lotus nodded.

”I understand... Iʼll call everyone over.”

This ʼEnforcerʼ turned and hurried out.

Watching Lotusʼs receding figure, Fu Luo couldnʼt help but sigh with emotion. ”Youʼre actually pretty nice, huh? Caring about his mental health, giving him guidance.”

”If I didnʼt stabilize him, I was afraid he might lose control later,” Lin Yu said nonchalantly. ”Besides, his willingness to tell us about the organizationʼs internal affairs was a huge help in itself.”

Good Night, who had been standing by listening for a long time, yawned.

”So, whatʼs the truth of the matter, exactly?”

”Who committed these two murders... you and Li Hua have to give us a spoiler, right? So we know who to catch or who to watch later. At least give us a clue.”

Lin Yu shrugged.

”Itʼs not impossible...”

This time, it was Fu Luo who interrupted Lin Yu.

”Of course we canʼt tell you directly, but we can give you a hint.”

”Do you like reading detective novels?”

Good Night was surprised. ”Not bad... Iʼve only read a few famous ones. Then I read Keigo Higashinoʼs new books every year. Why? What about it?”

”Damn, what a bandwagoner.”

Fu Luo said subconsciously.

”Hey, you bastard, canʼt you speak properly!”

Good Night rolled up his sleeves. Fu Luo instantly backed down.

”Bro, my mouth moved faster than my brain, donʼt take it personally!”

He then quickly continued, ”Anyway, regarding the situation of this case... forget Cassia Seed for now. The circumstances of Old Mr. Radishʼs case are actually very similar to a very famous detective novel.”

”Created by my second favorite novelist, the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.”

As Fu Luo spoke, Good Night was stunned.

”Agatha Christie... damn, *The Murder of Roger Ackroyd*?!”

”The murderer is the doctorʼs assistant whoʼs been helping the detective solve the case all along?! Damn, thatʼs impossible! ʼMay Mayʼ only arrived today!”

”Itʼd be more plausible if you said he killed Cassia Seed... after all, him suddenly going back to sleep was damn suspicious—and he just went to the bathroom too.”

The more Good Night spoke, the more he felt something was off. He started sizing up Lin Yu up and down, his eyes filled with wariness.

A vein throbbed on Lin Yuʼs temple. Forgetting that Good Night was his superior, he cursed directly.

”Did your concussion not heal yet, Captain Good Night?”

”I went back to sleep precisely to keep my mind clear and avoid saying idiotic things like you—what Furbollo obviously meant was *Murder on the Orient Express*!”