"Gemini and Cancer…" Elliot Hayes squinted, carefully contemplating everything.
At first, the one who claimed to be Basic Gemini wanted them to fight each other, but now this Basic Gemini seemed deeply concerned about their safety, saying that he couldn't just watch them die.
"Isn't that a lie…?"
Suddenly, a flash of realization struck Elliot Hayes.
Yes!
This is it!
Lies!
Everything was unfolding as Elliot Hayes had anticipated—"Gemini" and "Cancer" were not names of people, but types of "games!"
"Cancer" could represent protection, just like in the harpoon game earlier. If they hadn't worked together and protected each other, none of them would be alive now. So, could "Cancer" mean protection?
But why was the "Gemini" game about "lying"? Shouldn't Gemini represent intelligence? Could it be that Basic Gemini was originally the twin, but now it's just one? What had happened to change things? The personality flaw of Gemini is duality, with fluctuating emotions, sometimes unpredictable and hard to trust. Two became one, so… only the bad side remained?
Elliot Hayes picked up the harpoon again. He knew that Basic Gemini had hinted at the possibility of lying when explaining the rules.
But which part of what he said was a lie?
"If 'I can't just watch you die' is a lie…"
"Wait…" Elliot Hayes widened his eyes slowly. "That statement isn't the 'answer'; it's the trap that will get everyone killed."
"What are you talking about?" Vincent Moretti asked, confused.
"This whole statement is a lie!" Elliot Hayes declared decisively. "Standing by the wall means 'death,' standing under the hole means 'life'!"
Dr. Clarke and Officer Logan exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what Elliot Hayes was trying to convey.
"Remember, everyone—'Gemini' lies!" Elliot Hayes stood in the center of the room, trying to get everyone to gather around. "If we follow the rules he gave us, we'll end up dead. This is the difference between 'Gemini' and 'Cancer'!"
"But does this really make sense?" Emily Parker asked hesitantly. "There's only a hole above your head in the room. Wouldn't that be the most dangerous place?"
Elliot Hayes hadn't figured this part out either.
What could fall from the hole above to kill someone standing by the wall?
"Hmmm…" Elliot Hayes thought for a moment before adjusting his statement. "It doesn't matter. After this round, we have a very high chance of getting out. So, choose what you think is best."
"How do you know we'll get out?" Officer Logan asked warily.
"Because there's no 'preview' for the next game in the clue this time," Elliot Hayes answered. "This could either mean this is the last game, or the organizers are confident they can kill us all in this round."
The group fell silent, their faces heavy, but no one could refute this.
"In any case, I'll stand here," Elliot Hayes pointed to the spot under his feet. "As for you, it's up to you what you decide."
After hearing Elliot Hayes' words, Vincent Moretti slowly moved toward him and said, "I told you, I trust you."
"But I'm a liar," Elliot Hayes replied coldly.
"Doesn't matter."
Seraphina Grace thought for a moment, then covered her mouth and nose as she walked toward the center of the room.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Emily Parker shouted from the wall. "You really believe him?"
Seraphina Grace nodded slightly and said, "Yes. Think about it—who has kept us alive until now?"
Emily Parker froze, suddenly realizing the truth in Seraphina Grace's words. After a brief internal struggle, she followed suit.
Damien Reid, covering his shoulder wound with one hand, also walked over.
"You're… Elliot Hayes, right? I believe you too."
Sasha Venus and Vivian Hart followed.
At this point, only Dr. Clarke and Officer Logan remained standing against the wall.
"Hey, are you coming over?" Sasha Venus called out.
"I…" Dr. Clarke seemed hesitant, unsure of which choice to make.
"No need to force anyone," Elliot Hayes waved his hand. "This round doesn't require cooperation. Just focus on surviving."
The clock on the floor ticked closer to 1:28.
Officer Logan narrowed his eyes, watching Elliot Hayes carefully.
He didn't believe the liar would choose death, but why was he trying to get everyone to stand under the hole?
At this moment, Seraphina Grace read their thoughts and called out, "Elliot Hayes doesn't seem to be lying. Are you coming over?"
"You can tell?" Officer Logan whispered.
"Of course," Seraphina Grace nodded. "Because of my work, I can usually tell if someone is lying."
"In that case…" Officer Logan and Dr. Clarke exchanged a look and silently walked over. "If a professional says so, we'll trust you."
Even so, they still held the broken pieces of a table in their hands.
They positioned themselves under the hole, raising the table fragments above their heads as a precaution in case anything fell from the hole.
"You guys are clever," Vincent Moretti grumbled, also picking up a piece of the table from the floor.
Elliot Hayes glanced at the time and grabbed Vincent Moretti's arm.
"Don't bother. It's too late."
Just as he spoke, the clock reached 1:30, and the ceiling rattled with the sound of a chain. It was as though something invisible was being wound up.
"Is it really okay, liar?" Vincent Moretti asked nervously, looking up. He couldn't shake the feeling that the scene resembled a gamble, but this time, the stakes were high—nine lives.
Elliot Hayes shook his head. "I'm just guessing. Let's see if I'm right."
Suddenly, the entire room shook slightly, making all nine of them tense up.
Sasha Venus instinctively moved closer to Officer Logan and Dr. Clarke.
Elliot Hayes looked up, his eyes locked on the nine holes, as if trying to pierce the darkness and uncover the hidden secrets within.
The next moment, dark objects suddenly shot out from the nine holes, and everyone quickly closed their eyes in fear.
Only Elliot Hayes kept his eyes open and saw the true nature of the dark objects.
They were nine old, filthy ropes.
He reached out and caught one, gripping it tightly in his hand.
These ropes were about the thickness of two fingers, just the right size to hold securely.
"This is bad…" Elliot Hayes' face changed. "It's worse than I thought."
As everyone slowly opened their eyes, they saw the rotten, foul-smelling ropes.
"What's going on?"
Before anyone could fully process the situation, Elliot Hayes shouted, "Grab the ropes!!"
The quickest among them immediately reached out and grabbed the ropes, while the others followed suit.
Elliot Hayes looked around and saw that Damien Reid, with his shoulder wound, was weakly holding on to the rope with his left hand.
"No, you…"
Elliot Hayes was about to say something when the floor beneath them suddenly cracked with a deafening noise.
"Ah!"
"Shit!"
Cries of surprise rang out simultaneously.
All of them began to fall, but fortunately, they were holding onto the ropes, preventing them from plummeting straight down.
Damien Reid gritted his teeth, desperately clinging to the rope with his left hand. But he was already losing blood, and his strength was fading. Elliot Hayes watched helplessly as his left hand slowly loosened its grip.