Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 10: Lava [Complete]

1211: There Is No Other Way

At that moment, the utility room fell into silence, with only the sound of breathing remaining.

Admittedly, Gardenia had indeed met this NPC—not just any NPC, but the one who had his legs amputated, the one who knew who the gamer was. Bohemia was right; the reason this NPC knew who the gamer was indicated that they must have met before. Therefore, anyone who hadn't met him before tonight couldn't possibly be the gamer.

Gardenia's logic was self-consistent and reasonable. However, Lin Sanjiu still looked at the remaining two people with a glimmer of hope.

"What about you?" she asked. "Have you two met this NPC before?"

Both of them seemed to have stiffened their necks. Even under her intense gaze, they couldn't bring themselves to nod. Red Face stared at Gardenia's profile, while the former security guard fixated on his own hands. It was evident that both of them knew they hadn't met this NPC before.

"If they lied and claimed they had met him, the NPC wouldn't cooperate. Of course, they wouldn't have anything to say," Gardenia said, relieved. She walked towards Lin Sanjiu and continued, "I told you, I know I've wronged you before—"

"Wait a moment!" Red Face interrupted softly, a hint of panic in his voice. From beneath the faded red paint, he showed signs of unease. "I don't understand why this is happening. I am indeed the gamer, but I really haven't met him. Why is this? How do you know that I am the gamer?" He directed his last question at the NPC.

The NPC only shook its head and remained silent.

"Same here," the former security guard added hurriedly. "That's what I wanted to say!"

Gardenia shook her head. "Is that all? No other way but to play dumb?"

As both parties were about to argue, Lin Sanjiu raised her hand and said sharply, "Shut up!"

Once again, silence filled the utility room.

Lin Sanjiu frowned; she felt that she might have missed something. After pondering for a few seconds, she suddenly looked up and addressed the NPC, "I have a question to ask you."

"Hmm?"

"The reason you know that someone is the gamer," she asked carefully, "is it because you have met that person?"

Gardenia had tried to pull a trick. She had only proven that she had met the NPC—confirming that point didn't make any sense if the NPC had learned about the identity of the gamer through other means.

However, the NPC's answer disappointed her. "Yes, I found out that person was a gamer because we met before."

He had met them, and at this moment, it was apparent that only one person among the three had met the NPC—no matter how Lin Sanjiu thought about it, she couldn't figure out how the gamer could be someone else. However, being forced to accept Gardenia and cooperating with her felt too suffocating. Still, she couldn't give up and asked, "So, is this woman the gamer?"

"I cannot answer that question," the NPC replied with the same expression. "You know this. You'll have to make your judgment. The truth will only be revealed when you truly need to obtain points."

"I... I also have evidence!" The former security guard suddenly stood up, almost bumping into Red Face. "I forgot, I also have this. Look!"

He reached into his collar and took out a thin chain with a small glass cube hanging from it. "I don't know if this counts as a Special Item, as it doesn't serve much of a purpose... It's just a souvenir I got after joining the Gamers Club. Many people have souvenirs, I heard."

Like a crystal ball in a magical story, the small glass cube projected images that did not belong to this time and place: several unfamiliar men and women stood in a space about the same size as the utility room. Judging from the buttons and screens on the side, this should be the interior of an elevator. The perspective of the small glass cube seemed to be projected from a camera, with the heads of the men and women occasionally getting closer and then separating, discussing something that Lin Sanjiu couldn't see clearly. However, no one seemed to be getting out of the elevator.