The Price of Suspicion

The outcome was predictable, a truly sorrowful tale.

When the pair of extras returned to the outpost, they brought with them this grim news. It only deepened the already solemn atmosphere, making it feel as though a heavy weight pressed upon everyone’s hearts.

“So, Liang Qian is dead?”

After listening to their account, the blue-haired man tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, his head bowed in silence. Only after a long moment did he finally look up, turning his gaze towards the two.

The two extras standing before him were still visibly terrified, unable to recover from the harrowing scene they had witnessed. They could only nod repeatedly, incapable of uttering a single word.

“Enough.”

Liu Zhengxuan felt a surge of irritation. Another crucial combatant under his command had perished, effectively leaving him isolated and alone. Seeing his last two remaining subordinates in such a state only fueled a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration within him.

He no longer wished to pursue the matter; he simply felt utterly weary.

However, the blue-haired man’s disinterest did not mean others would follow suit. Gu Changqing stepped forward once more, speaking casually.

“Since even Liang Qian, a seasoned veteran, has died, how then did the two of you manage to escape?”

His tone was rather aggressive, pinpointing the most significant issue.

Undoubtedly, this was the very question everyone else wanted answered. Yet, no one had dared to voice it, instinctively avoiding a topic that would inevitably breed resentment.

The team could not endure another upheaval, so naturally, no one wished to court disaster. Moreover, acting in such a manner would only benefit those observing, while posing a risk to the one who spoke out. Even the blue-haired youth had refrained from such thankless work.

However, now that someone had brought it up, no one would oppose it. Several pairs of eyes simultaneously fixed on the two extras, making them break out in a cold sweat, as if expecting them to be dealt with on the spot if they couldn’t explain themselves.

This was precisely what Xiang Qi and Gu Changqing had discussed earlier: to somehow sow discord within the team and stir up conflict. They would artificially create a false target, while simultaneously testing everyone’s reactions to identify the hidden mole among them.

‘No matter what others say, just bear with it,’ Xiang Qi had thought. ‘If there’s no conflict, create it. Anything to force the mole to reveal their true colors is worth it.’

“Haven’t you already guessed who the mole is?”

Gu Changqing’s brow furrowed, instinctively feeling that this approach might not be ideal. He wanted to dissuade her from this line of thought.

“Guessing is one thing, but it never hurts to have a backup plan,” Xiang Qi retorted, rolling her eyes dismissively. She swayed as she stood up. “Anyway, the game should end tonight, so this won’t have much of an impact. The more certainty we have, the better. Otherwise, if I guess wrong, it would be quite embarrassing, wouldn’t it?”

The matter of death was merely ’embarrassing’ in Xiang Qi’s words. Seeing her utter lack of pretense, Gu Changqing finally trusted her judgment.

Gu Changqing was not a complete newcomer. Having experienced one game, he understood that death was a common occurrence in this world.

Employing any means necessary for victory was not shameful. If Xiang Qi had shied away from discussing it, he would have doubted her competence.

“Alright, I accept. So, I just need to pick fights, right?”

“Exactly.” The young woman patted her skirt and walked out first. As if remembering something, she turned back at the door, adding, “You’re responsible for finding fault, and I’ll be observing. Clear division of labor. Let’s aim to be home for breakfast before the sun rises tomorrow.”

Watching the girl’s retreating figure, Gu Changqing smiled, then shook his head and followed her.

The existence of a mole might not be easily considered until it’s mentioned. But once someone brings it up, it inevitably sparks suspicion.

He had even wondered if the girl herself was crying ‘thief’ to confuse everyone and conceal her true identity.

However, he was now finally certain, dismissing any suspicion of Xiang Qi.

No matter how strong, a Hunter would have their stats enhanced tenfold by the system. How could they possibly appear as weak as this girl?

Watching her figure, almost stumbling as she walked, Gu Changqing sighed. If a Hunter truly possessed such meager strength, they could probably be knocked flat with a single slap and be unable to get up.

Returning to the present, the two extras, deliberately targeted, found themselves in a grave predicament. What could have been easily explained in a few words to clear their names began to warp into something sinister as their silence stretched on.

‘Could there really be a problem?’ Xiang Qi’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did I guess wrong again?’

‘No, that’s not right. This time, I can’t be wrong,’ Xiang Qi’s gaze solidified. ‘The system’s hidden elements on the map most likely imply unstated rules; that’s enough to seal the deal.’

She then recalled that these two had reacted the same way when suspected that morning, stammering and failing to articulate things clearly. This brought her a sense of relief.

‘Alas, whose fault is it if they’re tongue-tied?’

Unconsciously glancing at the blue-haired youth, Xiang Qi was somewhat surprised to see a thoughtful expression on his face.

‘He’s putting on quite a show,’ she mused. ‘Losing his own teammates after a trip out – even the driver uncle wouldn’t believe him if he hadn’t found something. Putting on this act now can only fool naive kids like Ji Hua.’

Xiang Qi pursed her lips, retracting her gaze. Now was not the time to act; everything would wait until nightfall.

While the two extras who lost their teammates faced scrutiny and interrogation, the blue-haired youth remained untouched. One couldn’t help but marvel at the disparity between people.

Young Miss Xiang had already forgotten who had subjected them to such treatment. It couldn’t possibly be her, could it?

At this point, the two extras were in a perilous situation. If they couldn’t explain themselves clearly, they might not even make it until nightfall before being ‘dealt with’ by the others.

Xiang Qi wasn’t the only one who suspected a mole in the team; she was certain Xiang Ke had long harbored similar suspicions, though for some reason, they had remained unspoken.

‘Never treat others as fools, lest the very fools you underestimate overturn your plans.’

The truth was, these two extras genuinely couldn’t be blamed. They truly didn’t know how to explain themselves in a way that wouldn’t invite suspicion.

‘Brother Liang had his head blown off by a bullet that came from nowhere while he was examining a corpse. I froze in terror right then and there. Who the hell knows why the sneak attacker didn’t target me!’

The first extra felt deeply wronged.