Rizky clenched his teeth, his frustration mounting as he tried to persuade his twin sister, Rizka, to leave. He was adamant about not befriending some wealthy individual who might have ulterior motives.
"But, brother," Rizka began, attempting to voice her concerns.
"No 'buts,' you need to listen to me," Rizky insisted, his protective instincts kicking in. "Sooner or later, that guy will eat you."
"Eat?" Rizka asked, puzzled by her brother's choice of words.
Just as the argument between the twins was escalating, a striking figure emerged from the shadows. It was Amelia, the enigmatic girl who had remained silent until now. She looked at the stubborn Rizky and said with an air of detachment.
"I don't know why Alex wants to save your, and frankly, I don't care. But I made an agreement with him to ensure your safety. And you know what? I still don't care. But your abilities will undoubtedly bring suffering to both of you." She explained with a disdain look.
Rizky turned his gaze toward the beautiful but mysterious girl, his initial resistance melting away. "How do you know, Girl?" he asked, intrigued by her cryptic statement.
Rizky, still warily resisting the idea of joining forces with Alex and Amelia, asserted, "I don't need your help." His protective instincts were solely focused on his beloved sister's safety.
Amelia, maintaining her air of nonchalance, retorted, "But your sister would."
Perplexed, Rizky asked for an explanation.
"Why's that?"
Amelia continued, "Well, first of all, consider the game itself. The maze is a perilous zone, and within it, there's no doubt the clown has some tricks up his sleeve, a trap, a monsters, whatever, One wrong step, and you're sister is dead."
Rizky's expression shifted from defiance to realization. He understood the dangers that lay ahead, dangers that he was prepared to face himself. However, the thought of his sister, a fragile young girl, braving those perils was an entirely different matter.
"I don't mind if I die," Rizky admitted, his voice filled with determination. "But I will not let my sister die." His hesitation slowly began to fade as he weighed the options before him, "But why did I choose you instead of others?".
"Well, don't overestimate your value, boy. Take a look around."
Rizky and Rizka followed her gaze, scanning the surroundings of the gathering. His eyes fell upon several level 1 guests who were struggling to find a suitable club or team. They appeared desperate, seeking level 2 or level 3 members for their teams. On the flip side, there were also level 2 individuals trying to recruit level 3 members.
----
Lucas, from before, A well-dressed level 2 man with slicked-back hair and an air of entitlement approached a group of level 1 contestants. His voice dripped with condescension as he said
"You level 1s wouldn't last a minute without us level 2s. Lucky for you, I might consider taking you under my wing—for a price, of course."
Nearby, a level 1 contestant, a young woman with disheveled hair and dirt-smudged clothes, tried her best to befriend a group of level 3 participants. She spoke with a hopeful tone
"Hey, I heard you level 3s have connections and resources. Mind if I join your group? I promise I'll pull my weight."
A level 3 gentleman in his forties, dressed in a tailored suit and wearing expensive-looking glasses, surveyed the crowd with a calculated gaze. He leaned towards another level 3 contestant and whispered
"These level 1s are like lambs to the slaughter. We could use them as pawns to secure our victory in this game. Let's find some desperate ones to join us."
---
Amelia continued her explanation, her tone revealing a hint of condescension
"Your status as a level 1 guest—what kind of friend do you think you'd attract? Another level 1? There's a reason level 2 and level 3 guests exist."
Perplexed, Rizky questioned, "And what's that reason?"
"A means," Amelia clarified.
"A means?"
"Yes, a means to survive. A key item, a talisman, a drug, anything—something that can give you an edge. Remember what the clown said? In society, there are the poor and the rich. He also mentioned the scarcity of food we'll face. Level 2 and level 3 guests have more resources to defend themselves. and this game is designed to highlight that gap between the poor and the rich. The clown wants to prove whether level 2 and level 3 guests are 'good guys' by saving people like you, or if they'll prioritize their own survival."
She continued, her words reflecting her deep understanding of the situation
Amelia's insightful explanation left Alex silently impressed with her analytical abilities. She had grasped the basics of the game from just a few hints and words.
"You should be grateful that this 'bad boy' named Alex has give you a favor by offered you a chance to join. He's a level 3 guest, one of the most sought-after team members. I'm sure," Amelia paused to cast a meaningful glance at Alex, "a level 3 guest like him has a wealth of resources and talismans that can help protect all of us."
She continued, her tone serious
"Remember, our ultimate goal is to survive. Alone, I'm sorry to be blunt, but you two would be easy prey as soon as the games start. And from what I've observed and my intuition tells me, you need all the help you can get, and at the very least, if you decide to leave alex, you need to make sure that you take advantage of him, I don't mind whatever, it's not the part of the agreement "
Amelia's words initially boosted Alex's mood, knowing that she was acknowledging his value. However, her final remark about taking advantage of him before leaving struck a chord. He shot her a fierce look, a mix of frustration and disbelief, but Amelia simply shook her head, as if to say that her observation was a practical truth they couldn't deny.
Alex couldn't help but mull over Amelia's words. Indeed, as she had pointed out, survival in this game required guarantees, and a team with higher-level guests was more likely to endure its challenges. He couldn't deny that Amelia was right.
'She also right, I got what she told before, a mean, a mean to save all of use, a knowledge about the games, etc.'
Despite feeling a bit shameless about his approach, he couldn't ignore the wisdom in her words. He knew that having higher-level teammates could provide them with crucial knowledge about the games and a better chance at surviving the trials ahead. It was a tough decision, but Alex was beginning to see the necessity of forming a strong team.
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"I..I still Refuse" Rizky try to become tough.
Rizka's reluctance was palpable as she stared warily at Amelia, who seemed undeterred by the skepticism. She was determined to get her point across.
Amelia smile and responded to Rizka's hesitation with a blunt reality check.
"Stupid boy, who will get your sister killed, or you being killed instead" she stated plainly, highlighting the dire consequences they faced.
However, Amelia wasn't finished. She wanted them to understand the gravity of their situation.
"Hear me out for the last time. If you still choose to go on alone, I will not hinder you, and neither will Alex," she explained. she then look at alex and give him a final warning to not hinder them to leave the team, which he nodded as he also agree.
"Why does the clown insist on teams of five?", Amelia Ask
"Why"
Amelia didn't hesitate to provide a chilling explanation.
"Because that number is the minimum requirement to survive," she began.
"In this game, our greatest fears will manifest randomly, in various horrifying forms. The clown didn't specify how—illusions, grotesque creatures, or who knows what else. The point is, when one of you starts losing control due to fear, the others need to hold them together. Five people is the minimum for that safety net. There might even be groups larger than five in the next round I don't know, each with their own advantages or disadvantages, but five is the baseline."
With Amelia's words echoing in their ears, Alex couldn't help but admit to himself that she was right again. in his memories Five was indeed the safest number, ensuring a better chance of survival. He observed several level 1 guests who were still without a group, desperately seeking allies.
One of these level 1 guests approached Rizka and Rizky. He was a lanky young man with a disheveled appearance, trying to form a group of his own.
"Hey, boys, care to join us? We're a group of three level 1s," he offered, extending an invitation.
Rizky looked at the stranger boy that come to him and he pondered a moment
Amelia concluded her explanation with a smirk and took a seat nearby, her face radiating confidence.
Alex, watching Amelia's calculated manipulation, couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and unease.
'sigh a manipulator, indeed'
She was indeed a master manipulator, and their survival depended on making the right choices in this twisted game.