Volume One, Chapter Nine: Equilibrium

Upon hearing these words, the disputes among the group quieted down considerably.

At a moment like this, rather than clinging together for warmth, it was better to strike out alone. The trust within the team was hanging by a thread, and Qin Shang deliberately sought to foster this division.

After all, only by separating from these people could he hope to uncover clues in carriage number two.

Moreover, the information from his assistant mentioned a leader. Perhaps the real leader would reveal a flaw upon hearing this news—one could never be sure!

He was almost certain that the one who abandoned the sheriff during the hand-holding phase, known as “If You Touch Me, You’re Green,” had her own source of information and a reason for doing so.

That reason was undoubtedly connected to carriage number two…

In any case, there were still over thirty hours left; he didn’t need to rush his exploration.

The most important thing now was to identify the traitor within the group.

Otherwise, continuing with this crowd would be like a headless fly blindly crashing about. Who knew if the next person to die in the tunnel would be himself?

“I am a passenger…”

“A passenger…”

“I am a passenger too.”

“Passenger.”

After a brief moment of eye contact, the few of them disclosed their identities.

A mocking smile flickered across Qin Shang’s face.

These people… truly each harbored their own hidden motives.

Before him were four passengers?

Then who were the god-slayer and the accomplice? Could it be me?

As his mind raced, Qin Shang observed everyone’s expressions.

Unfortunately, all wore calm faces. Everyone now knew that at least three people in the group were lying.

The leader, the god-slayer, and the accomplice must still be hidden among them.

In other words, when Qin Shang suggested revealing their identities, at least three lied.

The fragile trust within the group was utterly shattered.

“The god-slayer and accomplice hide their identities for self-preservation; anyone with sense wouldn’t admit it.”

“But the leader’s refusal to admit is intriguing—could it be fear of being stabbed?”

“Or perhaps fear of the trickster’s profession?”

“What’s unknown is whether there’s a fourth liar besides these three.”

“That person is the most terrifying—could be an accomplice, a passenger, or the assistant.”

Both righteous and wicked…

“Enough, ‘Cockroach Jade Foot,’ stop sowing more distrust among us!”

At that moment, the sheriff—who had always played the leader—frowned and said.

Qin Shang curled his lips.

“I am honest with you all, yet you all conceal things. The trust among this group no longer exists.”

“If everyone’s playing like this, then I see no need to follow the main group anymore. You all go ahead.”

Having said that, Qin Shang plopped down onto the floor.

“What are you doing? Exploration is the main task. If you don’t complete it, you’ll be erased!”

“Complete it? Do you think that’s possible in this state? Better to be erased by the game than to be killed by teammates who have barely known each other and each harbor their own schemes.”

“I don’t want to die mysteriously halfway through.”

“With a god-slayer, a trickster, and an accomplice among us, who knows who’s truly good or worthy of trust?”

Qin Shang spoke with righteous indignation, seemingly lamenting the two dead, while also mentioning the trickster.

Subtly, he cleared himself of suspicion as the trickster.

Then he pointed at the deceased noblewoman and young ruffian, anger in his voice.

“Didn’t they trust everyone?”

“When you told them to hold hands, they did; when you told them to count off, they did. And what happened?”

“I thought the sheriff, an old player, would have a solution. Yet he still died inside the dungeon!”

He was like a startled bird, betraying no hint of his inner turmoil.

Indeed, seven people entered the dungeon together, and in less than half an hour, two were dead.

Their bodies were still warm…

This young man named “Fierce Licking Cockroach Jade Foot,” an ordinary person with poor psychological resilience, losing control was understandable to the others.

Next, Qin Shang said coldly:

“Anyway, my mind is made up. You all can go on with your damn exploration. I’ll stay in this carriage and won’t budge; no one can change that!”

Hearing this, the sheriff’s expression darkened as he glanced at him.

The elder priest raised his brow.

“If that’s the case, maybe soon you’ll be begging us for trust. Until we leave carriage number two, we likely won’t receive new background hints. Heaven knows what else lies in this carriage…”

Qin Shang said nothing more, resolute to remain in carriage two.

The elder priest sighed, offering a look of pity.

“God help you. I hope fate allows us to meet again someday.”

As the group turned to leave, the sheriff suddenly seemed to remember something and cast a deep gaze back at Qin Shang.

“If someone in our group of four gets harmed, then you, acting alone, might become the prime suspect.”

“After all, you are also a priest, possessing the ability to see in darkness. Meanwhile, the four of us hold hands in a cross pattern.”

“In such a formation, one letting go of hands stands out too clearly. With arms intertwined, even if the god-slayer and accomplice tried to work together, the other two would notice.”

“So, if anyone dies, the perpetrator definitely isn’t one of us four.”

“That means you are the killer…”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shang narrowed his eyes.

The sheriff was no fool!

He had assumed the group would continue to form a line, holding hands to pass the dungeon.

If they continued like that, the group would lose members with every tunnel entry.

But the sheriff was clever: four people standing at the corners, holding hands in a cross.

Their arms all touched one another.

For example, A’s hands held B and C, with palms resting on D and B’s hands; others did the same.

It was like drawing an X inside a square.

If one person let go, the other three would feel it immediately. Even if the god-slayer and accomplice covered for each other, any attempt to act would be noticed by the others.

Among those four, there was at least a leader and a passenger.

Qin Shang had realized this after inheriting “If You Touch Me, You’re Green” through the trickster’s hidden skill, “Inheritance.”

He began to understand certain things.

Professionally, the trickster, upon receiving clues from a deceased teammate, must also complete that teammate’s tasks.

This meant Qin Shang couldn’t simply betray the team and kill everyone to claim all the independent clues and clear the dungeon. Inheriting six people’s side quests always left some impossible to complete.

Just moments ago, a wild thought flashed through his mind.

What if…

If he murdered everyone, would the threats from the god-slayer and accomplice be eliminated?

If the god-slayer and accomplice were dead, who else could threaten his dungeon exploration?

In other words, then he could complete the dungeon perfectly!

That was why the trickster’s profession required inheriting side quests from deceased players.

Qin Shang also gradually understood why the sheriff, an experienced player, was terrified upon hearing about the trickster but not overly panicked.

The sheriff likely knew this as well.

So he understood that as long as the trickster wasn’t the accomplice, the trickster might not be the biggest threat!

From the sheriff’s ease in naming the priest’s and teacher’s skills, Qin Shang was certain.

Therefore, among those four, besides the leader, there was also a passenger.

“Buddha saves those with fate,” “Grandpa Ox in maid cosplay seducing Strong Mom,” “Confidante Sister,” “Justice Hawk”…

Among those four were a passenger, a leader, a god-slayer, and an accomplice!

The sheriff’s cross-hand method could pass the dungeon…

Qin Shang’s reasons for wanting to stay were threefold: first, to search for clues in carriage number two.

Second, to give them a chance to survive. Though, in truth, Qin Shang’s real thought was the opposite: every man for himself. His wife’s whereabouts were still unknown, and he did not want to die mysteriously.

He was neither god-slayer nor accomplice, so those people must be among those four. Acting alone could avoid all risks.

Third, he considered whether to inherit the ruffian’s clues and tasks, though that was undecided.

If he discovered any breakthrough clues, he naturally wouldn’t want to take on another side quest.

His reasons for wanting to be the lone wolf in the team were well-founded.

He only overlooked one thing: while he suspected others, they also suspected him.

Indeed, if someone else died next…

Then this priest acting alone would become the biggest suspect in everyone’s eyes…

But with the sheriff’s cross-hand method, there was no way to give the god-slayer and accomplice an opportunity to kill!

Any attempt would be immediately noticed.

The god-slayer was surely not foolish!

Therefore, if someone else dies, it would mean that “I,” outside those four, was the one who acted.

This reasoning was sound, but he would not act.

He was neither god-slayer nor accomplice; he had no reason to kill!

As long as those four stayed together, no more casualties should occur.