This revelation seemed to jolt everyone into realization, including Qi Xia himself.
Yes, the "Liar" had an overwhelming advantage.
Qi Xia's brow furrowed. Why did he have such a significant edge?
When lying to a group of strangers who neither knew him nor understood him, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to see through even a fabricated tale.
Could it be that using a false name truly had the power to doom eight lives?
Or perhaps...
Was the one who drew the "Liar" card chosen by fate, making this an inherently unfair game?
"No...," Qi Xia thought, "if survival was simply guaranteed by the draw, they could have just written 'Life' and 'Death' on the cards. That would achieve the same goal more efficiently. Otherwise, what's the point of a nearly hour-long game?"
A deep sense of incongruity spread through his mind.
Qi Xia replayed every word the goat-headed figure had said.
Could it be...
"Hey, it's your turn." Qiao Jiajin's voice, accompanied by a light pat on Qi Xia's shoulder, snapped him back to reality.
He looked around to find the others staring at him with curiosity and unease.
There was no time left to ponder further. Overthinking now would only make him look more suspicious.
Taking a steadying breath, Qi Xia restructured his thoughts.
The phrase "My name is Li Ming, from Shandong" echoed in his mind... but he knew that using this answer now would be catastrophic. To uncover the "solution" to this game, he had to take a risk.
Opening his eyes, Qi Xia announced to the group, "Everyone, my name is Qi Xia, from Shandong. I am a professional con artist."
"A con artist?"
The crowd gasped as soon as the first words left Qi Xia's lips. The term "con artist" resonated deeply, surfacing in many of their own stories, subtly connecting them all.
The irony was palpable—they now had to judge if a self-proclaimed "Liar" was telling the truth.
"Before I came here, I was trying to launder the 2 million yuan I had stolen."
"It took quite an effort," Qi Xia continued, "but eventually, I managed to keep 1.4 million. It was the most cost-effective method I could come up with."
"But on my way home with the money, an earthquake struck. I saw my house trembling violently."
"In such a situation, entering a building is reckless, as collapse is imminent. But worry for those inside drove me to rush in."
"Sure enough, the moment I stepped in, the porch caved in, trapping me and knocking me unconscious."
Qi Xia's voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he recounted the story. The others watched him warily, trying to read between the lines.
He knew he was taking a significant risk. But only this way could he confirm his hypothesis.
Just as he anticipated, the goat-headed figure stepped forward and addressed the group, "Good. Everyone has finished telling their stories. Now, you have twenty minutes for open discussion. After that, each of you must write a name on the paper in front of you."
"As expected!" Qi Xia's eyes widened. "So there really is a twenty-minute window!"
Suddenly, everything made sense.
The room grew tense as the realization that only twenty minutes stood between them and their fate set in.
Qiao Jiajin and Li Shangwu glared at each other, intent on casting their votes against the other, perhaps due to their competitive natures. Dr. Zhao began pressing the writer Han Yimo, whose story appeared unrelated to anyone else's.
Attorney Zhang and Xiao Ran seemed suspicious of Qi Xia, while Lin Qing, Han Yimo, and Tiantian hesitated.
By the apparent rules, the "Liar" seemed poised to win.
The rule was clear: only if everyone voted for the "Liar" could all eight survive.
Qi Xia chose not to participate in the chaotic discussions, closing his eyes as his mind raced through a labyrinth of clues.
The goat-headed figure had said, "Among the storytellers, there is only one Liar."
He had also said, "The rules are absolute."
And, "You have all been asleep for twelve hours."
Qi Xia opened his eyes. He was one crucial piece of information away from solving this puzzle.
But where was that piece?
Suddenly, a flash of insight burst into his mind. The crisscrossed lines on the walls and floor snapped into focus. He glanced at the clock on the table; it was almost 1 p.m.
"Of course..." Qi Xia's eyes widened with realization. "I might be a con artist, but you nearly tricked me."
The group noticed his sudden change in demeanor, but they were as lost as before about what he was thinking.
"Hey, can I get another sheet of paper?" Qi Xia asked the goat-headed figure.
The figure looked startled, pausing before asking cautiously, "You... need another sheet?"
"Yes," Qi Xia nodded, "I need some scratch paper."
After a long silence, the goat-headed figure reached into its suit pocket and handed Qi Xia a blank sheet.
Without hesitation, Qi Xia began making calculations.
He counted the large squares on the wall—nine in total—and the squares on the floor and ceiling, which numbered sixteen each.
"If I'm correct..." Qi Xia scribbled furiously, "Each square is one square meter. That means we're in a room three meters high and four meters wide and long..."
"Four by four by three... Forty-eight cubic meters."
His hand trembled slightly. "Not enough... it's not nearly enough."
The others stared at him, perplexed. It was a game about identifying the liar, yet he was doing math.
He wrote out more calculations, producing the figures "54.6" and "49.14."
Seeing those numbers, Qi Xia's face went pale as if bracing himself for an unimaginable reality.
His gaze was lost, darting as if seeking answers from thin air. The arguments around him gradually quieted.
Could it be that this man, silent and detached, really found the "solution"?
After what felt like an eternity, Qi Xia looked up at the group, his eyes flickering with fear, doubt, hesitation, and bewilderment.
"Everyone," Qi Xia cleared his throat and spoke softly, "I didn't intend to save you. But if you vote incorrectly, I'll die too. And I can't die here—someone is waiting for me outside. So, I have to give you the answer. Listen carefully."
"Hey, what do you mean by 'answer'?" Qiao Jiajin, the closest to him, frowned. "Do you know who the liar is?"
Qi Xia didn't reply. Instead, he picked up his identity card and slowly revealed it to everyone.
"This is the card I drew."
Everyone's eyes widened at the sight of the word "Liar" emblazoned across the card.