Chapter 103

Chapter 103

The young man was dead.

Both his original and replica vanished from the game, but the storm had only just begun to form.

Chaos had erupted outside. After two years, another contestant had emerged, willing to risk everything to retaliate against their home country. Stabbing oneself with a pen in the throat was a painful act, yet they did it without hesitation.

JiuZhou acted swiftly. From receiving the data transmitted by Ji Mu to devising a plan for public opinion and implementing it, they took less than ten minutes.

Simultaneously, the official declarations censured the nation for its dereliction of duty, which precipitated the plight of the students within the replica.

The topic stirred up by the young man was quickly diverted to Western forums and his own country.

"Discuss their dirty business on their own turf; don't dirty our students' live streams," said members of the Black Tower.

"This is why the higher-ups take the mental health of students so seriously, including random selections." Passing the game might not be easy, but seeking death certainly was.

"Anything can happen in the game. But wouldn't he fear endangering his loved ones by self-destructing?"

"What loved ones? His family has long been destroyed, and he has been struggling with a broken body for years. Who knew he would be chosen by the Hungry Academy?"

His body remained intact, but his soul had been utterly shattered.

It was precisely because everything that could be destroyed had been destroyed, leaving no attachments, that he made this desperate move.

But even if he sought revenge, he shouldn't drag other countries into it.

"Pitiable yet hateful."

After a few words, their attention returned to the game.

There was no one left at the replica's location, but the score of the Black Faction remained fixed at 99.

"If this score doesn't change, will the committee declare them all failures?"

This question stuck in their throats like a chicken bone, causing unbearable discomfort.

Inside the copy, the students of the Black Faction were also sitting there pondering this issue. They remained calm, none losing control, maintaining their composure.

However, no matter how calm they were, the fact remained that their opponent was gone. Where could they find another person to reach the full score?

"I have a special ability that can reverse the time of an object back to a certain point in the past, returning to normal after five minutes. Could we reverse the time of a sleeping replica and try again?" a student raised their hand, revealing their special ability.

"But reversing the time of a sleeping replica might invalidate the previous results."

"That's right, the previous scores would be nullified," the Balance reminded them, indicating this path was not viable.

The students fell silent once more.

Among the quiet students, some seated and others standing, Ji Xinghai stood up: "Guli, please come here." He randomly called out a familiar student.

"Me?" Guli immediately stood up upon hearing Ji Xinghai call her name and followed him.

He was the leader who had led them to success in the previous instance.

Ji Xinghai walked to the square, sat down on the white side, and asked Guli to sit down as well.

Hmm? Black, white...

The students on the platform stood up, gathering fragmented information that had previously escaped notice. Suddenly, an incredible conclusion emerged.

By then, Guli had already nervously sat down opposite Ji Xinghai, in the black position.

The lines on the stone table immediately lit up.

"Ah!" Guli hadn't even settled when she jumped up, interrupting the light and stopping the match.

She wasn't stupid; even if she were, she should understand now.

"Ji, are you crazy?"

One black piece was still missing, and he wanted to be the sacrificial black piece?

"You're the most likely to win the championship!"

Indeed, the students realized that the mission description didn't specify who would be black or white; they had assumed it themselves.

Some students had considered this but had doubts. If both their original and replica became part of the white side and were eliminated, would they be eliminated too?

The students dared not take the risk. Ji Xinghai, however, dared: "Sit down, I'll be fine."

"But Ji, what if..."

Guli's heart was laden with worry. She was determined not to be the one to end Ji Xinghai's winning streak; to do so would make her a sinner for all time. With resolve, she declared, "I will take on the role; I shall be the white piece."

She was scared too, but lesser of two evils. And JiuZhou always acted reasonably; if she were eliminated, they might help her country, perhaps even granting amnesty!

"There won't be any problem." Ji Xinghai pressed her down onto the black stone bench, sat down himself, and the golden lines on the stone table lit up.

Guli was panicking, not wanting to be the one to break Ji Xinghai's winning streak.

"Calm down, listen to me. We are one step away from a hundred victories. Someone must take this step. I have absolute confidence; I'll be fine, and everything will end." He looked into her frightened eyes, speaking calmly and firmly, soothing her, "Trust me."

For some reason, she suddenly felt reassured: "Okay, I trust you. What do we do?"

Ji Xinghai smiled slightly: "Nothing."

The stone table was enveloped in golden light, and the figures of the two players gradually disappeared. The students shielded their eyes slightly from the glare.

When the light dimmed slightly and the students had just lowered their hands, the stone table lit up again, and two figures reappeared in the faint glow.

As soon as Ji Xinghai appeared, he lay there, seemingly entering a deep sleep, while Guli looked confused.

"Congratulations to The Black Faction for winning one hundred games. The game is over." With a tick, 99 jumped forward by one number, and the judge's voice sounded.

The result was valid.

Ji Xinghai, lying there, opened his eyes, clear and alert.

"So fast? What did you compete in?" a student asked in surprise. Wasn't it less than a minute?

Guli was even more surprised: "I don't know. As soon as I went in, I heard Ji's voice. He said, 'End it quickly, don't delay things,' and then the game was over."

She had just made up her mind to bear all the consequences, and it ended like this?

The students exchanged glances. "Could it be a competition where whoever speaks first loses?"

How childish is that?

Regardless of how childish it is, as long as it works.

As soon as the game ended, the students who had been in a deep sleep woke up with yawns. They stretched and got up from the ground, scratching their heads as if they had really slept.

"Is the game over? Who won?"

"Isn't it obvious? We did."

The judge's voice appeared on time: "Now distributing rewards: all surviving members of The Black Faction will receive a Log Treasure Chest. Those who achieved three or more victories will receive an additional Brass Treasure Chest. The member with the most victories will receive an extra Silver Treasure Chest."

"Huh?"

Treasure chests glowing with different lights fell from the sky, landing precisely on each surprised student. The happiest one was the student who received all three types of treasure chests.

But this student wasn't Ji Xinghai.

He didn't even get a Log Treasure Chest.

"Wait, where is Ji Xinghai's treasure chest?"

When they noticed that Ji Xinghai had nothing beside him, questions arose, growing louder and louder. The students couldn't even enjoy their rewards, demanding answers.

If the person who contributed the most got nothing, how could they accept these rewards?

Even hidden in the shadows, the judge's tone weakened, unable to gloat, and hurriedly explained: "Ji Xinghai entered the game as part of the White Faction, so his position is questionable, and he cannot receive the treasure chest reward."

This is Hungry Academy's rule. Don't blame them; they're just employees. Don't make things difficult for fellow employees.

The students were unwilling to accept this explanation, but Ji Xinghai himself didn't care. He was here to play, and now the game was over. Whether he got a treasure chest or not didn't matter much to him.

"This game wasn't as fun as the previous ones. Three stars at most," he thought, rating the game.

He didn't mind splitting into replicas, but why should he only passively enter games set up by others?

A poor review!

"Why?"

The staff of Black Tower also felt unfair for Ji Xinghai. Their students had contributed the most, yet got nothing?

Their team leader suppressed these voices: "There are pros and cons. Although we didn't get the treasure chests this time, making so many students feel indebted and guilty is another kind of gain."

No matter whether the incoming students were good or bad, they were normal people. Normal people would feel a sense of compensation in such situations, which would make them subconsciously favor us in future game battles.

Even in the real world outside the game, their countries would have to consider public opinion.

She asked, "Which country got the Silver Treasure Chest?"

"It was Y Country."

One of the countries that had been friendly with JiuZhou for the past decade. JiuZhou had helped them rebuild after the war, and they sold their mineral resources to JiuZhou at low prices, a win-win situation.

The team leader nodded. "It seems we should contact them more often." The first Silver Treasure Chest should contain something good.

"By the way, what are people discussing online?"

"Mostly about our students missing out on the treasure chests, and some are discussing the students who committed suicide. After the news broke, the public surrounded the presidential palace, demanding an explanation. Some went to the neighborhood of the retired president but were stopped halfway."

Seeing his unusual expression, the team leader asked, "Anything else?"

"Some people left messages in our students' live streams, hoping Ji Xinghai could help persuade that person. Of course, these people were all rebuffed and didn't amount to much."

"We haven't settled accounts with them yet. It's like jumping high in a toilet, outrageous. When you see such comments in the live stream, just brush them aside."

This game ended even earlier than the previous one, before fourteen hours had passed. Representatives from various countries rushed into the virtual international meeting room, and JiuZhou's highest leader arrived at the designated room in the middle of the night, waiting for the final settlement.

Although Ji Xinghai didn't get a treasure chest, his contribution was indisputably the greatest. So once again, he appeared in the settlement room wearing a golden crown.

"Congratulations." The top ten contestants came forward to congratulate him, none of them doubting his achievement.

From being unknown at first to being unquestioned now, it took only four games. Ji Xinghai had won four times, completing one-third of the journey.

He had adapted to this life of playing games when they came and sleeping peacefully when they didn't.

With those anomalies providing energy to strengthen this fragile body, maybe he could live for ten years or even longer. Ji Xinghai thought optimistically.

Though living longer seemed to be just the same, not very interesting.

"Hmm? Should I follow the Hungry Academy out of here according to the contract requirements? Since it's exile anyway, where does it matter?"

Ji Xinghai suddenly had this thought, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt he should give it a try.

He had already found it difficult to adapt to a peaceful environment. If he were placed in a place with many rules and constraints, either he would go crazy first or that world would break down first.

Feeling suddenly wonderful, Ji Xinghai responded with a smile to the other trainees.

After exchanging pleasantries, the top ten gift pack finally arrived amid much anticipation, leading with the champion's replica token and exemption, followed by a dazzling golden gift pack.

All of JiuZhou's attention was fixed on it.

There was no treasure chest, but the gift pack still held some promise.