CHAPTER 390: THE REAL AND FAKE FORMATION DISKS

Jiang Ye remembered, this white coat was called...

Zhao Dongliu.

A good name, and the person himself had quite the unflappable demeanor in the face of danger, steady and reserved.

Jiang Ye's gaze met his for a moment, then shifted back to Lin Jing as he asked:

"The claim that they realized they were just pawns and intended to resist Administrator 9999... was that proposed by that Zhao Dongliu?"

Lin Jing paused, also turned to look at Feng Cheng and the other three, then explained to Jiang Ye:

"My main negotiation partner was Feng Cheng, but that claim indeed might have been proposed by Zhao Dongliu."

As he spoke, he signaled Feng Cheng with his eyes to provide the answer himself.

Feng Cheng slightly furrowed his brows, hesitating, when he saw Jiang Ye's gaze fixed directly on Zhao Dongliu, voicing his doubts:

"Whether in the real world or this Doomsday Apartment, there are plenty of 'pawns' who have no control over their own fate..."

"You say you realized Administrator 9999 is just using you, and I deeply agree with that."

"But may I ask you all—"

"As pawns, where do you get the confidence to resist Administrator 9999?"

"Just because you're smart enough to realize you're pawns?"

"Or are the Administrators 9999 in your respective districts all useless, having only verbal constraints and no other means of control over the people they intend to use?"

As these words came out, it was indeed visible that Feng Cheng and the others, who had just exchanged thoughtful looks with Jiang Ye, stiffened for a moment.

However, a moment later, it was as if criminals finally receiving their sentence, a sense of finality and relief washed over them, bringing a relaxed feeling.

Of course, Zhao Dongliu, who hadn't stiffened earlier, now wore a deeply thoughtful expression, meeting Jiang Ye's gaze.

After pondering for a moment, he proactively stepped forward, adopting a stance of laying his cards on the table, and said frankly:

"Since you've guessed it, there's no need for us to continue hiding it—"

"Indeed, we are pawns, but we have no choice and are utterly powerless to resist."

"So the four of us gathering isn't to find our own way out, but because we must complete the tasks assigned by the Administrators 9999 of our respective districts."

"As for what those tasks are, you've probably guessed..."

Zhao Dongliu's gaze swept over all the A District players present.

Jiang Ye nodded and continued: "25 Administrators 9999 arranged for 25 pawns."

"These 25 pawns will obediently follow orders and act according to the arrangements of the 25 Administrators 9999."

"The only variable lies in the pawn from our A District."

"So, your task is to find the A District pawn."

This was also why, when they detected someone in this chess grid and only one person at that, their attitude remained polite.

And their so-called "negotiation" was actually an attempt to identify the A District pawn and complete the task jointly arranged by the Administrators 9999 of each district.

This wasn't difficult to deduce.

Thus, Jiang Ye's tone was almost certain.

And having been seen through, Zhao Dongliu's expression remained unchanged.

On the other hand, Feng Cheng and the others, their tense expressions relaxed further, as if breathing a sigh of relief.

Zhao Dongliu, meeting Jiang Ye's gaze, smiled again and said:

"Yes, we 25 cross-district players... or simply call us pawns. We 25 pawns have contact methods prepared for us by Administrator 9999 among ourselves."

"Only the A District pawn is in a 'disconnected' state."

"You've seen the map too. In this domain, 12 pawns are already in position."

"The 9 floating outside are also searching for possible A District pawn candidates."

"And the four of us are searching for possible A District pawns within the domain."

"Personally, I believe that hidden A District pawn should have received instructions from a powerful figure other than Administrator 9999."

"Then, he should also enter this black ice domain..."

At this point, Zhao Dongliu's gaze swept over all the A District players present.

Finally, he withdrew his line of sight, his gaze settling on Jiang Ye.

"First, we can rule out that you are probably not the A District pawn."

This guy's tone was just as certain as when Jiang Ye deduced they were acting according to Administrator 9999's arrangements earlier.

However, Jiang Ye didn't follow his topic to deduce anything about the A District pawn.

He raised an eyebrow, his demeanor quite arrogant:

"From what you're saying..."

"Do you think I will help you find the so-called A District pawn, and then assist you in jointly completing the tasks given to you by the Administrators 9999 of each district?"

This tone sounded unwilling to cooperate with Feng Cheng and the others.

Yet Zhao Dongliu wasn't flustered at all, even smiling slightly as he said, "Wouldn't you?"

"Don't you want to explore the secrets of this black ice domain?"

"Aren't you afraid of being trapped to death in this black ice domain?"

His confident tone seemed certain of Jiang Ye's decision.

And Jiang Ye, just as he wished, nodded slightly and said, "Indeed..."

However, after this cooperative nod, his eyes suddenly sharpened, and his tone abruptly shifted:

"However..."

"I remember I already stated my position before this negotiation began—"

"I don't have the time or energy to deal with your eight hundred schemes!"

Accompanying these words, four flames from Wu Wang directly enveloped Feng Cheng, Li Peng, and Zhao Dongliu.

The sole fish that slipped through the net, Liu Re, was so startled his pupils constricted violently, about to take action...

The black cloth attached to his hand suddenly tore away!

The pain of Lightburn instantly swept through his entire body!

Extreme pain seeping into his soul left him instantly combatless, letting out a pig-slaughter-like wail!

And the three frozen within the flames were also instantly frozen solid!

Then immediately after, when the freezing effect lifted...

All three of them, including Zhao Dongliu who had just seemed unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, were now similarly contorted in pain and struggling.

However, amidst the same painful struggle, Jiang Ye carefully noticed—

This Zhao Dongliu...

Seemed to be trying hard to restrain something.

He must have a trump card that he was restraining himself from using.

In this state of howling like ghosts and wolves, communication was naturally difficult.

So Jiang Ye casually tossed four more pieces of black cloth, one for each person.

After they recovered from the shock of extreme pain, Jiang Ye leisurely continued:

"Before the negotiation, I gave you a chance."

"Yet you still had to hide things about what you told Lin Jing, forcing me to investigate again, wasting my time..."

As he spoke, he shook his head slightly, his gaze falling on Zhao Dongliu's darkened face.

Then, picking up the previous topic:

"You're right—I will cooperate with you to complete the tasks assigned to you by your Administrators 9999."

"But next time, I hope you speak directly and stop playing mind games with me, wasting my time."

After saying this, his gaze swept over all the A District players present, continuing coldly and solemnly: "And all of you..."

"Whoever is the A District pawn, step forward yourselves."

"Stop wasting everyone's time, otherwise, I won't mind killing the chicken to warn the monkeys."

For a moment, the entire chess grid space fell into complete silence.

Nearly 30 living people, yet almost not a single breath could be heard...

A faint sense of death permeated the air.

The atmosphere was stiff and stagnant.

At this moment, Jiang Ye could particularly understand Jiang Wenxing.

When one's strength is sufficiently powerful, wouldn't it be a waste not to be a bit arrogant?

Simultaneously, he couldn't help but think...

Jiang Wenxing, Jiang Yue...

Star? Moon?

This Reincarnator, and this female version clone...

Between these two... there shouldn't be any connection, right?

But without pondering deeply, when three seconds passed after his words landed and no one stepped forward, he let out another light hum, his meaning unclear:

"Not afraid of Lightburn infection? Could it be a Defender?"

It seemed as if he didn't know who the A District pawn was, his gaze sweeping over all the A District players present again.

When his gaze landed on Ouyang, Ouyang's entire body stiffened, trembling as he stepped forward.

He practically strained his neck, his voice stiff as he said:

"I, I, probably, eighty percent, maybe... should be the A District pawn..."

As he spoke, seemingly afraid Jiang Ye would also attack him, he immediately explained:

"I didn't mean to waste time! I just... wasn't very sure!"

Saying this, not daring to look at Jiang Ye again, he abruptly turned to Feng Cheng and the others, hurriedly asking:

"Is the task assigned to you to go to a fixed chess grid and bury an Array Disk?"

"I have an Array Disk given by Lin Ling! But I really don't know if I'm the A District pawn you're looking for!"

This time, having just been dealt with by Jiang Ye, Zhao Dongliu immediately took out an Array Disk and directly answered:

"Yes! The task for our 25 people is also to bury Array Disks!"

After speaking, he signaled Feng Cheng and the others.

Thus, the other three also each revealed their respective Array Disks.

The so-called Array Disk looked like a palm-sized disc.

Distributed on it were some finger-sized small round holes, seemingly movable, offering some room for operation.

Ouyang hurriedly took out his Array Disk too, which appeared similar in style to those of the three.

Only the arrangement of holes on the disc was different.

Seeing Jiang Ye examining the disc, Zhao Dongliu immediately explained further:

"All 26 of us need to jointly operate 26 Array Disks."

"And because the 26 people aren't operating in the same space, we need to join a group chat to maintain contact."

"The other 25 people, connected by the 25 Administrators 9999, have already established contact."

"Only this A District one... we need him to join the group chat..."

"Of course, we must ensure he truly is the A District pawn. Because we only have 1 chance to operate the Array Disks."

"If even one among the 26 has different intentions... then all our efforts will be in vain."

Zhao Dongliu didn't explicitly state it, but the meaning was clear—

Their 25 people are pawns determined by the 25 Administrators together.

So these 25 people cannot possibly have different intentions.

Only the A District pawn could potentially be impersonated, turned, or cause some other trouble.

So they must find the genuine A District pawn to ensure the task arranged by the Administrators can be completed successfully in one attempt!

So this also meant they wanted Jiang Ye to determine...

Whether this Ouyang is the real A District pawn.

However...

Before Jiang Ye could determine it.

Suddenly, a figure tremblingly stepped forward from his team of 18 old classmates.

It was none other than...

Bai Ruowan, who had previously hid at the service base station discussing Lin Ling, attracting Lin Ling's attention.

Back then, after being caught, Bai Ruowan shrunk into a ball, trying to lower her presence.

And Wang Lingling, as the leader among the classmates, shouldered everything for her...

In later actions, Bai Ruowan remained silent and withdrawn, trying to lower her presence while not daring to speak out of turn again.

One could even say, from the time she secretly discussed Lin Ling and harmed Wang Lingling until now, she had hardly spoken another word.

Yet now...

She tremblingly stepped forward, her voice stiff as she said:

"I, I... I also have an Array Disk like this on me..."

As she spoke, she also took out an Array Disk.

It looked similar to the Array Disks of Feng Cheng and the others.

And it was identical to Ouyang's Array Disk!

This result directly shocked many people present!

Good heavens!

This...

How come their A District has two pawns?

However, while these people were still astonished.

They saw Lu Fang, Lu Shen's cousin, also stiffly step forward:

"I also have one of these Array Disks in my possession..."

After speaking, he hurriedly added, "I absolutely didn't mean to hide anything!"

"I just truly didn't know that having this Array Disk means being the A District pawn..."

As he spoke, he swallowed, gathering courage to analyze:

"From the looks of it now, all three of us have Array Disks... but the three Array Disks should have genuine and fake ones among them, right?"

"I can state first, my Array Disk was obtained earlier when I first arrived at the 0000 Apartment, after confronting a player who tried to assassinate me, and I killed him in return!"

"This point, my brother Shen and this He Yuliang can both vouch for me!"

Saying this, he looked at Bai Ruowan and Ouyang: "You two should quickly explain how you obtained your Array Disks?"

Bai Ruowan and Ouyang were clearly terrified of Jiang Ye's methods.

The two practically scrambled to speak, Bai Ruowan nearly scared out of her wits, reacting a bit slower.

Ouyang had just started, about to explain.

But they saw Jiang Ye casually wave his hand, not even listening to his explanation.

Jiang Ye's gaze fixed directly on Lin Jing, bluntly stating:

"Do you want to see if I will really kill the chicken to warn the monkeys?"

And immediately following this statement, another flame enveloped Lin Jing.

Since Wu Wang was being so cooperative, Jiang Ye naturally didn't hold back either.

However, after a bout of freezing, to his surprise...

Lin Jing actually wasn't infected with Lightburn!

However, Jiang Ye was only surprised, not overly shocked.

In fact, he even chuckled lightly and said:

"Just as I said... not afraid of Lightburn infection?"

"Is this a trump card given to you by the mysterious existence from the graveyard area of the 4444 Apartment?"

"Then, is the Array Disk on you given by the mysterious existence, or from Lin Ling?"

He asked this way.

But Jiang Ye's tone was exceptionally certain.

As if he was one hundred percent sure—

Lin Jing was their A District pawn!

Because there was no Lightburn infection, Wu Wang didn't remove the flames surrounding Lin Jing.

Wu Wang's expression looking at Lin Jing also held some surprise.

And within those deep blue semi-transparent flames, Lin Jing's expression was profound.

He pressed his lips tightly together, his whole body somewhat tense.

But soon he spoke to Jiang Ye: "Why suspect... no, why determine it's me?"