Chapter 80: Hopeless Sea (Part 4) Deceit

“We’re here, it’s just ahead.” Yuna gestured to the players, then turned and entered the wooden house.

Qi Si followed the other players and walked in behind Yuna.

The inn, built of wood, looked small from the outside but was quite spacious inside, furnished with over a dozen tables of various sizes, arranged like a restaurant.

The walls, seasoned by the sea breeze, persistently gave off a salty, fishy odor, and the wooden furnishings were dotted with tooth-mark-like wormholes.

Wet fish heads lay strewn across the slippery floor, and mottled fish blood mixed with shattered internal organs formed foul, feces-like stains.

Qi Si lowered his eyes and carefully chose clean spots to walk, finally finding a place to stand next to a wooden table that resembled a counter.

Yuna glanced at him with a smile, brushed past his shoulder, and went behind the counter, dragging a wooden board out of the shadows and placing it on the countertop.

All the players could see the bizarre pictographs carved onto the wooden board:

【Rooms are on the second floor, 300 Yuan per room per night】

“Three hundred a night? Do you think this is a five-star hotel?”

A rugged-looking man carrying a large backpack shouted loudly, “One hundred fifty a night, no more than that!”

This guy was impeccable in his expression and demeanor; he must have been a skilled haggler in real life.

Daring to haggle in the Eerie Game either means having some serious skills or possessing commendable bravery.

Yuna smiled as she stared straight ahead, her clear eyes reflecting no one.

She lifted the wooden board in her hand and shook her head slightly.

The Backpacker was persistent. He took a few steps back towards the door, muttering, “I don’t believe there are no other inns here. I’d rather sleep on the beach than stay at your place…”

No one stopped him; the players were eager for him to verify the death point of this instance.

Yuna, however, seemed to have flipped a switch. Her fair hands quickly began to gesture: “There is only one inn on the island. Sleeping on the beach will get you wet.”

Get wet? Could that word be used to describe a person?

The Backpacker felt a strange sensation in his heart, but in the end, he didn’t dare to actually spend the night on the beach. He sheepishly returned to the counter and said, feigning ease, “Fine, whatever you say. I’m already here, and I’m too lazy to go anywhere else.”

His little scene was not without gain; at least two viable options had been eliminated.

Lu Li touched his glasses frame and offered a polite smile: “Yuna, as you know, we suffered a shipwreck and are now penniless. I’m afraid we’ll be sleeping rough in three days…”

Qi Si noticed that when Lu Li said the words “three days,” a few players’ eyes flashed with confusion.

One thousand initial funds was indeed only enough for three days at the inn, but clearly, the players’ starting funds were not the same.

Since the Merchant identity effect was “spend less money to get the same service,” it wasn’t surprising that another faction had the identity effect of “receive more initial funds.”

According to Yuna, the money players received matched their own value. So, which identity would be considered more valuable?

Yuna turned her face toward Lu Li, her eyes still clear and empty. Being stared at by such a gaze easily created the panic one felt facing a ghost.

Lu Li carefully asked, “Are there any ways to earn money on the island? If so, could you tell us?”

“I don’t know.” Yuna tilted her head, her smile looking even purer. “In my memory, all money is granted by Our Lord, and the amount is measured by the price each person is willing to pay.”

“What price?”

“Health, integrity, life, conscience… anything you perceive as being able to exchange for money can serve as the price.”

What was that saying? You can earn more money if you lose it, but if you lose your conscience, you earn even more.

Lu Li smiled bitterly: “It seems we need to be frugal with the money we have… Yuna, may we share a room with multiple people?”

“Yes, but a maximum of three people can stay in each room.”

“The denominations of the money we have are too large, and it might be inconvenient to split the cost if we share. Can you break the money for us?”

“I don’t have any form of money here, so I’m afraid I cannot give you change.”

It was undoubtedly excellent that a veteran player took the initiative to ask questions, bearing the risk of attracting special attention from the NPC and other players.

Between the questions and answers, the inn’s mechanism gradually became clear.

【Rules Refreshed】

【7. The inn allows shared occupancy, but each room can accommodate a maximum of three people, no more】

【8. Island residents do not possess any form of money and cannot give change to players】

Lu Li looked around at the people behind him, his voice calm: “Although we don’t know what this money signifies, based on the first rule, we should be frugal with our spending, lest we run out later and become passive.

“I suggest we share rooms in groups of three. This way, each person only needs to spend one hundred yuan per day.”

“What kind of joke are you playing? This is a faction instance!” A white man with a stubbly face spoke unkindly. “Three players in one room—who knows if someone will seize the opportunity to strike? Are we supposed to stay awake all night, staring wide-eyed to guard against others?”

“Can’t players from the same faction just live together?” A long-haired youth dressed with an artistic flair spoke up for Lu Li. “Why do you have such an attitude? Can you suggest a better method?”

The white man sneered, “Easier said than done! Who knows what faction the other person belongs to? Does anyone dare to reveal themselves first?”

That made perfect sense and was impossible to refute.

The players who had initially been tempted by the idea of sharing rooms hesitated.

Lu Li shook his head helplessly: “I apologize, I didn’t think this through, and I cannot propose a better solution. Everything I’ve said is merely a suggestion for your reference; there’s no need to follow it completely.

“However, in my view, there is absolutely no need for us to be hostile and wary of each other. This is not strictly a confrontational instance. The main quest is mandatory, while side quests are optional.

“And completing the main quest is not easy; every step requires our concerted effort.”

Lu Li was born refined and scholarly, with a highly approachable appearance.

He scanned everyone and stated loudly: “I know many people here have adopted zero-sum thinking and are unwilling to grant their companions more trust. But I must say, we are all human beings, drawn into this game filled with malice and fear. The Eerie and the ghosts are our greatest enemies.

“We should unite, not be divided by the Eerie Game, not lose ourselves in internal conflicts where no one wins, and not wait until the day someone clears the final instance and destroys the Eerie Game, only to look back and see ourselves having become neither human nor ghost…”

This was the first time Qi Si had heard this “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” rhetoric, first advocated by the Jiuzhou Guild, outside of the forums, and his eyelid twitched slightly.

Sure enough, the next second, Lu Li pulled out a badge-like object from his pocket and flashed it before the players: “As you can see, I am from the Jiuzhou Guild. I hope that in this instance, at least, we can put aside our prejudices and cooperate for a mutual win.”

The moment the players saw the badge, they all dropped the playful expressions on their faces, replacing them with a cautious demeanor.

No matter how the trends of the player community changed, the Jiuzhou Guild was the undisputed “Lighthouse” in the players’ hearts.

Even during the years of the most severe internal player conflicts, the Jiuzhou Guild upheld righteousness, called for unity, and required all members to actively rescue other players.

Should any member be found neglecting to save others or even secretly harming them, they would be punished internally according to the severity of the circumstances, or even expelled from the Guild.

Under such strict guild rules, the name “Jiuzhou” itself signified integrity, kindness, and trustworthiness.

Of course, more importantly, given the current distribution of guild power, no one dared to claim they could walk away unscathed after offending Jiuzhou.

Lu Li put the badge away and spoke with conviction: “I can tell you all that my identity is Merchant, my side quest is to kill all Scholars, and one of my identity effects is ‘all murderous intent towards Nobles cannot be converted into action.’ I do not intend to kill the Scholars, and I hope the Nobles will not try to kill me.”

The green-haired girl was the first to agree: “The Big Boss is right! The only reason to do side quests is to gain more points, and accumulating points is for survival. Cooperation is more conducive to survival; we almost put the cart before the horse before.”

She then smiled regretfully: “Alas, it’s a shame I’m a woman. I probably can’t share a room with Big Boss Lu Li. By the way, my name is Angela. Are any sisters willing to share a room with me?”

After Angela spoke, she appropriately glanced at Liu Yuhan, who was holding a notebook, and the long-haired girl who was reapplying makeup, showing an inquiring and expectant attitude.

Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention.

Qi Si looked at Lu Li and said lukewarmly, “To achieve game equilibrium, the three factions must form a closed loop: Merchants kill Scholars, Scholars kill Nobles, and Nobles kill Merchants… Knowing just this, anyone could use your rhetoric to impersonate any identity.”

He paused, revealing a perfectly measured hint of suspicion: “I’m very curious, are you really a Merchant? I am also a Merchant. Why don’t you mention your other identity effect and see if it matches mine?”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” Lu Li adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled wryly. “Although I advocate for unity, I cannot guarantee that everyone is willing to cooperate. If I reveal my identity effect, it will put my faction at a disadvantage. You must know that in a game, the accumulation of even a slight information gap can be extremely deadly.

“Moreover, even if I revealed my identity effect, I couldn’t prove myself. A real Merchant wouldn’t step forward to confirm or refute, as that would expose their identity and put them in danger; similarly, they wouldn’t dare tell anyone the truth privately, because they couldn’t be sure if the other person was a comrade or an enemy.”

His words inadvertently described the chain of suspicion that existed among players: in a game of incomplete information, no one could easily trust anyone else.

—After all, your life is your own, and you only have one.

Qi Si added with a smile, “Even if someone dared to publicly vouch for you, it wouldn’t resolve the issue—that person might be a player from the same faction whom you arranged with.

“The reverse is also true. Just as we cannot judge the veracity of your words, we cannot publicly judge the truthfulness of anyone’s words. And private judgment plays a very small, almost negligible, role.”

By including the premise that he was not a “real Merchant” in his logical statement, what other players interpreted from it was up to them.

Since Lu Li wanted to play the good guy, Qi Si could use this opportunity to distance himself. As for the remaining three “Merchant” teammates, he didn’t care if they lived or died.

Qi Si mused vaguely that perhaps in the future, he could cultivate a completely obedient tool to use Lu Li’s rhetoric in such instances, attracting others’ attention and providing cover for him.

Lu Li showed self-reproach: “I apologize, I was inconsiderate. I don’t intend to force any decisions on you all. The suggestion to abandon the side quests was merely my personal, unilateral proposal.”

Angela quickly said, “Big Boss Lu Li, don’t say that! Wasn’t it right? Cooperating to complete the main quest is the serious business; side quests are for whoever wants to do them!”

Hearing this, the white man sneered dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Angela’s attempt to flatter.

Angela glared at him: “What do you mean? Do you have an opinion? Could you be a Slaughter-path players from the Sera Guild?”

Yuna ignored the friction between the players, picked up a crumpled register, and handed it over: “Hurry up and book your rooms so I can prepare dinner. You won’t be able to book after dinner time.”

Qi Si asked, “When is dinner time usually?”

Yuna gestured in reply: “When the bell tolls the ninth time.”

Time was running out. The players reluctantly pulled out three banknotes each and handed them to Yuna, receiving keys from her in return.

The moment the banknotes fell into Yuna’s hand, they vanished into thin air, leaving no trace, as if they had never existed.

It seemed the rule stating that “Island residents do not possess any form of money” was meant literally.

Qi Si stepped aside, watched Chang Xu pay, and then casually approached, suggesting quietly, “Brother Chang, how about we share a room?”

Chang Xu was slightly startled: “I thought you didn’t want to share a room with me, so I didn’t approach you.”

“Who said that? I just don’t want to share a room with players I can’t trust.” Qi Si smiled and shook his head. “It’s not too late to ask you now, is it, Brother Chang?

“Since we can’t get change anyway, how about you pay for one day’s rent, and I pay for the next? You’ve paid for today, so how about I pay tomorrow?”

“Why share a room with me? You can’t confirm my identity, and I don’t know yours.”

“Didn’t Lu Li say that identity doesn’t matter? As long as we abandon the side quests, this is a team instance.”

Qi Si’s smile was brilliant, showing no trace of calculation: “I think we’ve cooperated once, Brother Chang, so we know each other’s background. You don’t seem like the type to kill someone for a side quest. I am also willing to trust you, because if I can’t even trust you, I have no one else I can trust.”

Having said this, he lowered his voice mysteriously: “I said those things to Lu Li because I was afraid he might mislead other players, allowing some people to fish in troubled waters. I know you still doubt me, and I dare not ask for your trust, but in this instance, cooperation really is the best solution, isn’t it?”

Chang Xu silently looked down into Qi Si’s eyes, which were shining brightly, full of sincerity: “My identity is ‘Noble,’ and my first identity effect is ‘receive more initial funds.’ What about you, Brother Chang?”

Chang Xu was silent for two seconds, then said, “I am also a ‘Noble.'”

“That’s quite a coincidence; we truly have destiny on our side.”

Yuna collected a round of money, waited for a moment, and seeing no one else producing banknotes, she dragged her shimmering skirt back behind the counter, turning and disappearing into a partially concealed small door.

Qi Si watched this and teased with a smile, “Brother Chang, it’s probably too late for me to book a room now. You won’t kick me out tonight, will you?”

“No.” As Chang Xu spoke, he walked over to the table in the furthest corner and sat down.

He turned his face directly toward Qi Si and said in a volume only they could hear, “We each have 1,500 yuan. If we share, we can pay for ten days’ rent.”

The statement was abrupt, yet Qi Si understood Chang Xu’s psychology perfectly.

Qi Si had first revealed his “Noble” identity, demonstrating sufficient sincerity, which prompted Chang Xu to state his identity.

Since they happened to be in the same faction, from a God’s perspective, the later person to claim the identity had a high probability of lying.

Chang Xu clearly knew this too, and revealing more information about his identity was meant to demonstrate his sincerity for cooperation.

Qi Si pondered for a moment, then smiled with twinkling eyes: “So, Brother Chang, we have ten days.”