On the big screen, a new round of plot auction began.

[The developable plot in this round is: A7 nine-square grid.]

[Community 9 has already selected this nine-square grid as their 'priority development area,' therefore they will automatically obtain the '1st Developer' status.]

[Community 12 and Community 15 can obtain the '2nd Developer' status through bidding.]

[Bidding starts now. Time limit: 3 minutes.]

Zhang Shichao from Community 9 sighed silently. At this time, he could very much understand Jin Cheng's feelings.

These two communities of theirs seemed to be targeted everywhere in this game.

If the A1 and A7 nine-square grids could have been selected as developable status in the first phase, both of their communities could have obtained more plots.

At the same time, they were also the first two communities to have their crimes announced.

If it weren't for Community 17's help, Community 9 at this time should still only have 4 shelters, and all players within the community would have been jointly implicated.

In that case, it would be four players losing shelters and one player dying. They would also fall into a very bad situation like Community 7.

Now that judgment had ended, the nine-square grid they selected was finally opening.

Again, it was Community 12 and Community 15 beginning to bid for the '2nd Developer' status.

But clearly the situation was different from the last round. Community 12 came on strong.

Wang Weidong had already listed and sold 4 inferior shelters. At this time, the gold coins in hand were still fairly ample. However, Fan Zehui from Community 12 displayed a determined momentum. Clearly, they had also sold some shelters at the price of 16 gold coins.

In the end, both sides drove the price up to 50 gold coins. Wang Weidong chose to give up.

And this was also his last attempt at bidding for plots.

Because Wang Weidong clearly realized he was already powerless to contend with Community 12. Selling existing shelters at high prices as much as possible and cashing out to leave was the only correct choice.

Community 9 and Community 12 each selected plots, once again dividing up this nine-square grid in a 5:4 ratio.

...

After bidding on plots, Chen Guangming from Community 12 didn't leave. Instead, he found Wang Weidong from Community 15, Zhang Shichao from Community 9, and Jin Cheng from Community 7, gathering them together.

Chen Guangming's first sentence greatly surprised Zhang Shichao and Jin Cheng.

"Now, I can tell you my crime, and how 'against-conscience votes' should be used.

"At the same time, we can also roughly agree on the method to obtain maximum profits in this game."

If Zhang Shichao's crime hadn't been announced, then Chen Guangming's behavior might commit similar crimes and be jointly implicated.

So even though Chen Guangming had long had such a plan, he never said it.

At this time, since the crime had already been judged, this 'inciting price increases' behavior had become completely safe.

Zhang Shichao looked at Wang Weidong. The latter didn't have much expression, only listening seriously.

Chen Guangming continued, "First, everyone has definitely already realized that this game has now become a game of 'selling inferior shelters to the audience at high prices as much as possible.'

"Also realized that to maximize profits, only sell inferior shelters, and the selling price absolutely cannot be lower than 16 gold coins.

"The transaction price on the big screen is proof.

"I'm gratified by this. Since everyone has thought of this point, I can save a lot of words.

"But the price of 16 gold coins still isn't high enough.

"Because there are only 30 audience members total. Audience members who buy shelters very likely won't buy again. We still need to drive this price higher to have sufficient profits.

"Moreover, the price of 16 gold coins may not necessarily hold steady.

"Because the quantity of shelters is ultimately still more than the quantity of audience members. If we can't reach consensus, some communities might not hold out and sell shelters below 16 gold coins, which might trigger a run causing price collapse.

"I of course can't allow that situation to happen.

"So my proposal is, our four communities, that is, all except Community 17, work together to drive shelter prices to the highest and distribute profits according to a certain ratio.

"For each of our communities, this is the optimal solution."

Zhang Shichao frowned and asked, "You mean, have us drive up prices together?

"My crime is 'inciting price increases,' which has already been judged. But what if 'price gouging' and 'inciting price increases' are two different crimes?"

Chen Guangming shook his head, "Don't worry, because I can confirm that my crime is price gouging.

"In the game, selling any shelter at excessively high prices will very likely be considered a 'similar crime.'"

Jin Cheng was stunned, "Wait, doesn't that mean our three crimes are very similar?"

Chen Guangming explained, "Clearly, our three crimes each have different focal points.

"Jin Cheng, your crime is 'passing off inferior as superior.' Zhang Shichao's crime is 'inciting and instigating.' And my crime is 'price gouging.'

"Specifically in the game, our three crimes respectively focus on 'inferior shelters,' 'instigating other players,' and 'personally driving up prices.'

"The details can still be distinguished.

"However, this also shows that the God's Imitator who designed this game is indeed full of malice.

"Because players could indeed very likely trigger all three crimes simultaneously. For example, personally selling inferior shelters at extremely high prices while also instigating other players. Then they'd very likely be jointly implicated three times."

Everyone sighed with some emotion. Up until now, they hadn't seen particularly large-scale deaths. It had to be said this also counted as a kind of luck.

But Zhang Shichao was even more puzzled, "Wait, you're certain price gouging is a crime, yet you want us to gouge prices?

"You still have shelters, but we'd be dead for sure!"

Wang Weidong already understood Chen Guangming's intent, "You mean, have us use 'against-conscience votes.'"

Chen Guangming nodded, "Correct.

"According to game rules, players from the same community cannot cast against-conscience votes for criminals from their own community, so everyone's against-conscience votes should still be saved, right?

"Then think carefully, when is the most appropriate time to use against-conscience votes?

"I still can't confirm what exactly the other two criminals' crimes are, but I can confirm that my crime will inevitably be the one that maximizes profits for all of you.

"Now, there are two paths before you:

"First path, you can not cooperate with my plan, not drive up prices, always selling your shelters at prices roughly equal to cost, and also not use against-conscience votes for me.

"In that case, you have no profits, we get jointly implicated. Everyone has no good outcome.

"Second path, we drive up prices together and drain the audience's gold coins dry."