"What?"

This surprised everyone, because once confessing, it meant being unable to be protected by shelters.

Could someone really choose to avoid jointly implicating other players from the same community and choose suicide?

But 10 seconds passed, and Cao Haichuan still stood there perfectly fine, not dying like the previous player from Community 7.

Chen Guangming couldn't help but frown tightly, somewhat puzzled.

He looked at Fan Zehui, "In these game rules, besides shelters, there clearly are no other mechanisms that can offset instant death punishment.

"That is to say, the Gallery or communities have items that can offset instant death punishment?"

Fan Zehui also looked completely bewildered, "I don't know! Never heard of such a thing!"

Chen Guangming didn't ask further. Clearly, this item was rather special. Only some special communities would possess it.

Community 12 was originally a community composed of the weak. Everyone had very little visa time. It was impossible to accumulate large funds within the community, so naturally it was also impossible to activate items like 'get-out-of-death-free cards.'

But seeing Community 17's situation at this time, other communities could also guess that death-immunity type items must exist, and very likely came from community or Gallery rewards.

Cao Haichuan's confession meant this round's judgment didn't see more bloodshed. The plot auction continued.

[The developable plot in this round is: G1 nine-square grid.]

[Community 17 has already selected this nine-square grid as their 'priority development area,' therefore they will automatically obtain the '1st Developer' status.]

[Community 12 automatically obtains the '2nd Developer' status.]

The subsequent plot auction had already become routine. Because there were only two communities, Community 17 ultimately took 5 plots, while Community 12 took 4 plots.

...

Players from the four communities respectively changed their shelter listing prices to 24 gold coins, an increase of 1 gold coin.

After waiting a while longer, near the end of this round, a new broadcast came from the big screen.

[The latest listed transaction price for shelters is: 24 gold coins.]

Finally, an audience member couldn't hold out and still chose to purchase.

This was because they had waited a long time and discovered all listed shelters not only hadn't decreased in price, but had actually increased by 1 gold coin.

This conveyed a very clear signal: field players had already reached consensus, forming a solid interest alliance.

So shelter prices wouldn't drop anymore.

This price meant they could only bring back originally 30% of their visa time, but in any case, it was still better than having everything deducted.

Of course, there were still many audience members who completely couldn't accept such prices. There wasn't massive purchasing.

But sporadic transactions also meant the audience's psychological defense line was continuously crumbling.

...

The ninth round of the game began.

[Chen Guangming, male, 33 years old.]

[As a real estate development company executive, colluded with other developers to jointly drive up housing prices.]

[Judgment result: Not judged.]

[In the game, behavior committing similar crimes to the criminal is: 'Listing any shelter at prices higher than 20 gold coins.']

[You have 10 seconds to choose 'Confess' or 'Appeal.']

[Criminal chooses 'Appeal,' will have 1 minute for statement.]

Chen Guangming's face appeared on the big screen, but he didn't make any statement. Because before this, he had already made ample preparations, confirming he could obtain enough 'against-conscience votes' and wouldn't be judged.

Because enough players committed the same crime as him, these players were also forcibly bound together with him.

Everyone had earned gold coins by gouging shelter prices, so naturally they all used against-conscience votes to exonerate themselves.

[Voting result: Innocent.]

Fan Zehui and other players from Community 12 couldn't help but get excited. They had originally been somewhat worried about whether they'd be jointly implicated. Now they could be completely at ease.

From the game's start until now, this was the first case declared innocent.

But ironically, this innocence should all come from 'against-conscience votes.' If convicted according to players' true inner thoughts, it would absolutely be impossible to be innocent.

[The developable plot in this round is: D4 nine-square grid.]

The most central nine-square grid finally opened, but this bidding was no longer intense.

Because the four communities selling shelters had already completed profit distribution.

Community 7 and Community 9 directly forfeited. Community 12 and Community 15 chose to bid.

But their purpose clearly wasn't to drive up each other's prices, but to block Community 17 out together.

So Community 17 also didn't participate in bidding.

Community 15 took the 2nd Developer at base price, but Community 12 still offered 20 gold coins to bid.

And this also became the last expenditure for bidding on plots.

Although according to game rules, shelters built in the central nine-square grid could gain an additional 10% probability. Building normal shelters could make the probability reach 100%. But neither Community 12 nor Community 15 would choose to do that.

They fundamentally didn't plan to build any shelters here.

Because the quantity of shelters already built had exceeded demand. Even building more shelters wouldn't sell. It would be equivalent to wasting gold coins.

On the big screen, the broadcast sounded again.

[The latest listed transaction price for shelters is: 25 gold coins.]

...

The tenth round of the game, also the final round.

After this round ended, players could bring the gold coins in hand back to their communities and leave this dangerous game.

[Shao Xinying, male, 42 years old.]

[As a landlord, hoarded dozens of properties and rented them out after decorating with toxic materials, earning rental income.]

[Judgment result: Not judged.]

[In the game, behavior committing similar crimes to the criminal is: 'Once simultaneously owned 3 or more shelters under their name.']

[You have 10 seconds to choose 'Confess' or 'Appeal.']

[Criminal chooses 'Appeal,' will have 1 minute for statement.]

On the big screen appeared the face of one player from Community 15. Throughout the entire game, he had no presence and basically didn't commit any actions.

And at this time, he also said nothing. Because with most people having already used up their 'against-conscience votes,' sophistry alone couldn't possibly change the voting result.

As the last criminal, he still had shelters and could avoid death.

But seeing his crime, Fan Zehui's expression instantly became very ugly.

"Quick, cast against-conscience votes for him! Vote innocent!"

Previously, when Chen Guangming's crime was exposed, because they were players from the same community, Fan Zehui and the other four couldn't cast against-conscience votes. So that vote was saved.

At this time, noticing that the Community 15 player's crime might affect themselves, they hurriedly voted to save themselves.

However, just one community's against-conscience votes were clearly not enough.

[Voting result: Guilty.]

[In the game, behavior committing similar crimes to the criminal is: 'Once simultaneously owned 3 or more shelters under their name.']

[Players who committed similar crimes exceed 5 people, therefore, players who committed similar crimes will be 'jointly implicated.']

[The above players will suffer instant death punishment in 10 seconds.]