God's Imitator

Huang Shengjie saw it all clearly now, ”That’s why Zhou Xiaoying proposed that we each go off and do our own thing.

”If I had agreed, I would have stayed in the right half of the field.

”She could have completed her first smuggling run, then gone back to coordinate with Peng Xinyuan, and the two of them could have worked the left half together.”

He paused for a moment, then summed it up with a look of genuine surprise, ”In short, we are not dealing with some disorganised community of rookies with a resource mismatch.

”In Round One, we were completely outplayed, and we didn’t even notice.

”Thank goodness the rest periods in this game are long. We only caught on because we were able to regroup. If this had continued for two more rounds without us realising, we would have ended up losing without even understanding why.”

Geng Yuxia was visibly rattled. She spoke haltingly, ”But... does it have to be that? Is it really that much of a coincidence?

”Did the players inside and outside the prison really coordinate a plan this complex through nothing but a shared understanding?

”What if we’re overthinking it?

”Maybe Peng Xinyuan’s leg really is hurt. Maybe he made an operational mistake when running the train, pressed something wrong, and only ten units got sent through by accident?”Zhou Wanlin shook her head and said firmly, ”Auntie, when people encounter something difficult to accept, the first instinct is to reject and deny it, and to convince yourself that the reality is something safer and simpler.

”But this is the Gallery. Every game here touches on life and death.

”Even in a distribution-type game, the visa time at stake is enormous, and this game does carry a risk of death.

”We have to assume the worst and most difficult scenario.

”There may be a very small chance that we’re wrong. But even so, we need to prepare for the worst case now.”

Huang Shengjie nodded, ”So what do we do?

”Community 23 effectively has two Patrollers.

”If I go to block Peng Xinyuan, Zhou Xiaoying can smuggle Contraband from the other side.

”Unless we do the same thing they’re doing.”

Zhou Wanlin nodded, ”Yes. I think that’s the only option.

”Give me the Inspector Armband. I’ll go and keep watch on Zhou Xiaoying.

”I’m not a fast runner, but if I’m carrying nothing at all, blocking her shouldn’t be a problem.

”You go and keep watch on Peng Xinyuan.

”But the biggest problem is that you’ll need to take the medication, and that...”

Huang Shengjie waved it off, ”There’s no other way around it. No matter what, this is something only I can do.

”Even without carrying any materials, neither of you could keep up with him.”

Huang Shengjie’s feelings were complicated. He knew he had worked hard to make real progress on the withdrawal, barely getting through the worst of the early stage, and now taking even a single tablet might undo all of that immediately.

But he genuinely had no other choice.

He picked up a unit of ’Medications’ raw material and pulled hard at the packaging.

The outer wrapping was still sturdy and didn’t tear.

But this confirmed his suspicion. He wiped the sweat from his hands on his clothing, gripped the packaging near the weak point by the handle, and pulled hard again.

This time there was a sharp crack. The packaging split open to reveal two black counterweights inside.

At the same moment, Huang Shengjie felt his entire body go numb and rigid, completely unable to move.

Zhou Wanlin and Geng Yuxia rushed over, but Huang Shengjie was unharmed, and after a short while the paralysis lifted automatically.

His Worker Badge gave a faint vibration, and a notification appeared on the back.

[You have triggered one ’Minor Violation.’]

According to the game rules, triggering a Minor Violation resulted in Full Body Paralysis, which was the only effect beyond the violation count itself.

Huang Shengjie let out a long breath. He looked at the open packaging and found two flat black counterweights inside, with a line of small text printed on them: [Once packaging is opened, this material can no longer be used in production.]

In the narrow space between the two counterweights sat a small, smooth white pill bottle containing five white tablets.

The bottle had no label. Huang Shengjie tipped one tablet out and brought it close to examine.

The light in the room was dim, and he had to strain his eyes for some time before he could just about make out the small text printed on it.

’C17N03.’

”C17N03, what medication is that?” Huang Shengjie recalled it being discussed during the Pain Game debrief, but he couldn’t remember the details.

Zhou Wanlin worked at her memory, ”I believe it’s a Class M medication. The others were things like C13, C18, C22, so this one stands out to me.”

Huang Shengjie let out a slow breath, ”Class M medication.

”So this Imitator isn’t entirely without mercy. They actually provided us with this kind.

”Among the special medications, this is the safest class. A small amount shouldn’t cause too much trouble.”

Huang Shengjie held one tablet in his hand and put the rest in his pocket.

Every package that was opened triggered a violation, which made each one extremely valuable.

In Community 2’s cell block.

Yao Yuan had also arrived at his conclusion.

”In the last round, Li Mao entered the Medical Room later than I did. That wasn’t because they were slow to think. It was deliberate.

”Community 23’s other Prisoner waited two minutes before grabbing Li Mao’s arm and slamming it against the machine. So Li Mao injured himself and went to the Medical Room, while the other player committed a Minor Violation and was sent to Solitary Confinement.

”That put him in exactly the right position to receive the Contraband delivered to Solitary Confinement.”

He Qinyun’s brow furrowed, ”So Li Mao’s performance held up the whole time. He chatted with you at length without letting anything slip.

”If the rest period in this game weren’t so long, we would have caught on much later, and that would have been a serious problem.”

Yao Yuan nodded, ”Li Mao spent the whole time talking to me about Community 23’s internal dynamics. That may well have been to keep my attention occupied.

”Either way, the most urgent thing now is for me to get into Solitary Confinement.

”Because they’re very likely going to rotate. Li Mao has already used his one Medical Room entry and can’t go back, so this round it will probably be Li Mao going to Solitary Confinement and the other Prisoner going to the Medical Room.”

He Qinyun thought for a moment, ”I’ll handle the Medical Room.

”But if you’re going to commit a violation, I’d suggest opening this unit of raw material to do it.

”I’ve been curious about what’s inside these things anyway.”

Yao Yuan glanced at the one unit of ’Miscellaneous Goods’ sitting in the corner, the one He Qinyun had deliberately set aside from the last round.

”Alright. Let’s do that.”

Yao Yuan took one last look at the time, ”We don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening outside yet, so we can’t completely rule out the possibility that the players out there might try to deliver Contraband through the Medical Room window.

”Once you’re inside, even if you find no one there, don’t be in a rush to leave. Wait a while, and come out a few minutes before the round ends to receive materials.

”I’ll stay in Solitary Confinement and try to get more information out of Li Mao, then assess whether to go outside and provide support.

”If you come out and find I’m not here, don’t worry about it. Just stay in the cell block and keep earning Gold Pounds.”