Chapter 93

Chapter 93

"Replica?"

The audience watching the live stream didn't know the specifics of the mission, but they heard the rule supplement and picked up on the key term 'replica' and the critical information that 'replicas have replaced the originals as students.'

Most importantly, they had already seen two waves of people that looked like mirror images.

"Am I in Hai Ge's live stream? Who is that other Hai Ge?"

"Is the commenter new? This is Hai Ge, and over there is Hai Ge's replica. It looks like a mirror replication."

The viewers were only momentarily confused at the beginning; they quickly accepted the premise of the original and the replica. However, accepting this premise did not mean they fully understood the current situation.

"So, is this a war between the original and the replica?"

"Not necessarily." The director looked at the two faces that mirrored each other.

"At least the official students come to the Hungry Academy with a mission. When it comes to their own interests versus national interests, the replicas might choose the latter, which means sacrificing themselves. Of course, this assumes the replicas haven't been implanted with something that triggers their selfish desires."

In the three years since the Hungry Academy appeared, there were many novels and games online that touched on the theme of original versus replica battles. Thus, the Command Unit had studied this topic in detail.

Looking at the composition of the students, it was clear that the brutal fights depicted in those novels were unlikely to happen. The official students entered the game with the resolve to die, whether they were the original or the replica.

It was the random students who were unpredictable.

Random students?

The director's gaze sharpened: "Could its target be Student Ji Xinghai?"

Ji Xinghai had an official configuration but a random core, and he was someone with a particularly strong sense of self. If it was his replica...

"Magnify the image of Ji Xinghai's replica. What expression does he have?"

They quickly zoomed in on the video and adjusted the resolution. Ji Xinghai's replica's face appeared clearly on the screen, detailed enough to count the number of eyebrow hairs.

Thus, his lip movements while speaking were also visible.

A lip-reading expert immediately went to work.

"Hiss, this is bad." The lip-reading expert sucked in a breath upon deciphering what he was saying.

"What's wrong? What is he saying?"

"He's saying that no one cares if the person accompanying them in the second half is the Monkey King or the Six-Eared Macaque, as long as they can obtain the true scriptures."

"Hiss." Everyone sucked in a breath.

It was obvious that Ji Xinghai's replica was planning something. He clearly had no intention of yielding for the collective benefit but instead wanted to compete for the final victory.

So, did the Hungry Academy's plan succeed?

"Hold on, let me look again."

Inside the copy, two minutes ago.

"We are replicas? Don't talk nonsense." The students from the White Chess faction stirred, unable to accept such a thing.

In human concepts, replicas are distinct from 'humans.' No one wants to be a tool created for some purpose.

If they were replicas, would their stance still be 'human'? Would their efforts still hold any meaning?

'Ji Xinghai' did not answer these questions. These people were not fools; they knew they were not 'students' after careful thought. They were pretending to be ignorant because they did not want to accept the truth.

He immediately accepted the situation and recalled the exact time he gained consciousness.

Theoretically, students enter the game at 5:30, neither a second more nor less. But now, even if he checked his watch right away, the second hand would already be at 30.

Thus, they appeared here half a minute after the students entered the game. That half-minute was the time the Hungry Academy took to replicate them.

Replicating students was not a simple task, especially someone like Ji Xinghai. So, did the original really know nothing?

If he did know and allowed it, why?

Various pieces of information flashed through his mind. 'Ji Xinghai' suddenly looked at the original, who was still in the corner, having finished his sandwich but holding a bottle of warm milk, looking harmless.

"Want some milk?" Sensing 'Ji Xinghai's' gaze, he cupped his hands around his mouth, mimicking a megaphone, though he made no sound, just smiling brightly with his eyes curved.

'Ji Xinghai's' gaze shifted from the warm milk back to the scene. There were steaming breakfasts over there, but here, only resentment filled the air.

Why couldn't replicas possess replicated items?

Looking around at the 'students' surrounding him, all of whom were official, their goal was never to 'win the game' but to secure benefits for their country after winning.

Despite their goals and resolve, the resentment remained, as survival was a basic instinct, especially when they held an advantage.

Taking advantage of the heated discussion, 'Ji Xinghai' spoke, comparing himself to the Monkey King and the Six-Eared Macaque. Some focused on the 'true and false Monkey Kings,' while others focused on 'obtaining the true scriptures.'

The determined 'students' immediately straightened up, suppressing their resentment: "As long as we obtain the true scriptures, who cares who does it?" Considering national interests, the original should survive.

Those who valued themselves also steeled their resolve: "Who indeed doesn't matter." Either the original or I could do it.

"There's no need to rush to conclusions about this copy..." With that, 'Ji Xinghai' stopped talking. This only raised suspicions among the other replicas.

Indeed, this copy contained elements of JiuZhou. Could 'Ji Xinghai,' a JiuZhou student, have a deeper understanding of the mission? Moreover, he was the champion of the previous three copies, so his abilities were unquestionable.

"Does Ji have any insights?"

"Just a guess, hard to believe, so I won't say it."

The more it didn't want to speak, the more others cared. They stopped arguing and all turned to look at it: "Just say what you have to say. Even if we make a mistake, it's because of our own shortcomings."

Seeing their enthusiasm, 'Ji Xinghai' began to speak.

"The first point of suspicion: Are we simply in a black-and-white opposition with the other side?

"In JiuZhou culture, there is a saying that 'a single yin cannot give birth, and a single yang cannot grow.' Only when yin and yang are balanced can things last. If the original body dies, does it have no impact on us? And if we die, what does it mean for the original body?"

Seeing the puzzled expressions on these foreign faces, 'Ji Xinghai' continued with the second point.

"One of the later-added rules states: When other opponents are present, students cannot choose the 'replica' as their opponent first.

"Look closely at this rule. It seems that the Hungry Academy is trying to avoid a direct confrontation between the original and the replica. This doesn't align with the Hungry Academy's usual style; they love stirring up trouble. What would happen if the original and the replica met?"

Everyone pondered this, and those who were willing to sacrifice themselves hesitated, while those planning to go all-in paused their extreme thoughts.

'The students' were not well-versed in JiuZhou culture and held an investigative attitude toward the concept of yin and yang. However, they understood the Hungry Academy well. It loved hiding key information in the task descriptions, inciting everyone to fight each other.

"At the same time, I'm curious about the boundaries of the right to 'decide the content of the game.' Can we only play with the original body? Can't we involve the Hungry Academy? If we must follow the Hungry Academy's steps, it feels like we lose regardless of the outcome. Lastly, the task description mentions 'elimination' if the game fails. Does elimination mean death? Does the one who fails get eliminated, while the successful one gains no advantage? And what if it's a draw?"

The White Faction started arguing again, but this time it was about the hidden information in the task.

'Ji Xinghai' looked across and saw that the Black Faction had also gathered around Ji Xinghai. Those who were among the top ten in the previous scenario and others he had interacted with were in that corner. The young man with the straw seemed to sense something and turned to look over, then smiled slightly.

"I don't like being arranged."

"Coincidentally, neither do I."

Their eyes conveyed this sentiment.

Outside the field.

"Just giving information and then leaving them to it?"

Given Ji Xinghai's current influence, becoming a leader among the crowd would be easy. But whether it was the Black Faction or the White Faction, he chose to stir the waters and watch the changes unfold.

Deep down, he was still a lone wolf.

"This is normal," said the minister. Getting him to develop some goodwill towards JiuZhou and make concessions for its benefit was already a mutual achievement.

But what did he care about other countries? He would help if he saw someone in need, but wouldn't take on responsibilities that weren't his if he didn't see them.

If he took everything upon himself, they would find it strange.

"All the points of suspicion have been raised. Now it's about verifying them." But this verification process would inevitably lead to deaths, and every death inside meant a group outside would perish too.

The first person to step forward and challenge would bear significant pressure.

"Huh? Brother Hai is stepping out."

At 6:15, fifteen minutes into the formal exam, the students were observing, hesitating about being the first to step onto the stage.

Even the one who craved attention dared not show up at this moment.

The rules were vague, there were no examples to follow, and the advantage wasn't with the original body. The first student to step forward had a higher chance of failure.

But Ji Xinghai stepped out.

He had finished his breakfast, a sandwich and a bottle of warm milk, feeling great—so he thought.

So Ji Xinghai walked briskly to a stone table and picked up a black piece, weighing it in his hand: "So many options. Anyone want to challenge me? You decide the game content; the success rate is quite high."

The White Faction was silent for a few seconds, followed by whispers of 'It's Ji Xinghai,' but no one responded.

Ji Xinghai's gaze swept over the White Faction. The piece in his hand picked up and dropped, making a crisp sound: "Perhaps you know me, so, besides this opportunity, it won't be easy to kill me another time."

Yet the White Faction resisted the urge to act. 'Ji Xinghai' had established a presence through repeated victories, deterring even the most ordinary from challenging him, despite the significant advantage. Those with past grievances struggled, wanting to step forward but sensing a trap.

"Huh, I was actually interested in the rules of this exam and wanted to be the first to try. If no one volunteers, then I suppose..."

"I'll do it." A young man with an Eastern face stepped out from the White Faction. He walked to the stone table, staring at Ji Xinghai.

"During the first exam, you killed me?"