Mo Bai, Ding Xun, and Ye Pingjun had just finalized their plan when a pigeon, so fat it looked like a blobfish with wings, waddled and flew low as it hurried toward Mo Bai.

Mo Bai: “…”

She had seen Gu Tiandong writing her a letter an hour earlier, but the pigeon hadn’t arrived yet; she’d assumed Gu Tiandong hadn’t sent it. It turned out the pigeon was just that slow.

The fact that it hadn’t been caught by anyone along the way was, frankly, impressive.

After Gu Tiandong bought that card, he had the carrier pigeon record his and Mo Bai’s scents so he could contact her at any time. That was also why Mo Bai didn't rush to find him.

“That pigeon is pretty plump. Is it raised by the Count? It’d probably taste great if roasted,” Ding Xun said.

Mo Bai replied helplessly, “This is my pigeon.”

The pigeon seemed to understand human speech; it scrambled and rolled past Ding Xun and threw itself into Mo Bai’s arms.

Mo Bai took the note tied to the pigeon’s leg and opened it. Gu Tiandong had written: “No. 11 killed No. 9. ‘Shura Path’.”

Ding Xun and Ye Pingjun read the message too.

Ding Xun exclaimed, “Shura Path? That mysterious organization that takes pleasure in hunting players inside dungeons? They’re actually in this instance?!”

Ye Pingjun froze for a moment. “Two A-rank monsters, a B-rank dungeon at peak difficulty, and now members of ‘Shura Path.’ What disaster struck this dungeon to gather all these monsters together?”

“I’ve had so much to learn these days. My friend only said to avoid people from ‘Shura Path’ in dungeons since they hunt other players. He didn’t say much more. Can you explain it to me?” Mo Bai asked.

Ye Pingjun said, “It’s a secret organization that enjoys hunting players in dungeons. No one knows who around them might be a member. They hide in the crowd, join regular instance parties as ordinary players, then assassinate teammates inside the instance, taking all the items and reward points for themselves.

Also, because the organization has so many members, anyone in it could call for backup. They’d offer ‘I’ll kill a few players in this run’ as a condition to request the group’s support with items and information.”

Ding Xun added, “This instance is already so hard. A player died at the start, and so many mysteries remained unresolved, but he had already started killing players. Isn’t he afraid of dying in the instance himself?”

Ye Pingjun said, “People in these perverse groups all have antisocial personalities. They are inhuman, unreasonable, and give no hint of what they are thinking.”

Mo Bai held the note and thought a moment, then said, “People can act against social norms, but not against instinct. Even fools have a survival instinct. I’ve read a lot of serial-killer cases. Do you know what kind of victims those antisocial types usually pick?

“Mostly women, the elderly, and children. Rarely are big, strong men.

That shows that even antisocial personalities seek advantage and avoid danger. They prey on the weak. Before they strike, they make sure that their own safety is secured.

The fact that No. 11 dared to kill No. 9 now means either he already knew the dungeon’s completion method and was leisurely hunting players, or he thought that because No. 12 died at lunch, his turn would come at dinner. Furthermore, he might have a special card that enables others to die in his place, so he was choosing a substitute in advance.”

Mo Bai’s analysis made a lot of sense, so both teammates agreed. But Ye Pingjun still had one question: “Are you a detective in the real world? Your analysis is so sharp, and you’ve read so many case files.”

“I was just a shut-in who didn’t get into university, not a detective,” Mo Bai said, looking down at her legs with a bit of melancholy. “I learned this stuff because I was bored at home. I liked reading and letting my imagination run wild.”

Ye Pingjun noticed the way she looked at her legs and understood her pain, but he didn’t know how to comfort her. But Mo Bai wasn’t the type who needed comforting anyway. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Let’s get back to planning. No. 11 is a risk. I’m worried he’ll ruin our strategy.”

“He won’t be an obstacle; his existence actually makes our plan perfect,” Mo Bai said.

“You intend to...” Ye Pingjun guessed.

Mo Bai nodded. “Do you think I’m too cruel?”

Ye Pingjun smiled. “Self-preservation isn’t cruelty.”

“My plan looks solid so far, but it needs a bit of luck. Could you lend me your luck?” Mo Bai asked.

Her words had two layers: she was asking whether Ye Pingjun’s ability could boost someone else’s luck, and whether he was willing to spend his hard-earned luck for survival on her.

Ye Pingjun looked at Mo Bai’s calm face, then suddenly laughed, “You guessed right again. I can give my luck to others. Good luck or bad luck. How did you know?”

“Because when we met, you introduced your ability too quickly,” Mo Bai said. “You’re a lone type, polite but distant. You’re not Ding Xun, so you wouldn’t reveal everything to two strangers at once. If you suddenly explained things in detail, I’d suspect you are actually holding back the most important part.”

“As you said, I planned to save that luck to protect myself if your plan failed, but I trust your strategy now. I believe you can get us through this dungeon. Use it,” Ye Pingjun said. He half-squatted, took Mo Bai’s hands, and gripped them.

Mo Bai felt an indescribable sensation. She had the strange certainty that if she bought a lottery ticket now, she’d win the top prize.

“All right.” Ye Pingjun said, “Show me what you can do.”

By now it was nearly five o’clock. Mo Bai quickly and succinctly wrote down the key points of the plan and sent the pigeon back to Gu Tiandong. The pigeon could only carry so much information, and Gu Tiandong wasn’t very combat-capable, so Mo Bai didn’t write the entire plan. Just what Gu Tiandong needed to do.

They prepared. Before returning to their rooms at five, Mo Bai took out the card Ironhide Skin, materialized it, and draped it over herself like a human-skin-like blanket.

By the time the three reached their room doors, the other players were also returning one after another.

No. 11 reeked of blood and carried No. 9’s head, staring at Gu Tiandong with murderous intent.

Apparently, No. 11 knew Gu Tiandong had witnessed the murder and might have had a dispute with him, but he hadn’t been able to kill Gu Tiandong, hence the hatred.

No. 3 and No. 8 were shocked at the sight of No. 11 with the head. They instantly realized that he was from ‘Shura Path’ and were terrified.

No. 1 and No. 2 returned in unison. When they saw the head No. 11 carried, their expressions didn’t change. They acted as if they’d seen nothing and returned to their room.

Behind them, No. 6, the Panthom Butterfly, swayed back gracefully and immediately locked its gaze on Mo Bai. Seeing the Ironhide Skin covering her wheelchair, its pupils narrowed like a cat’s vertical slit, then relaxed back to normal.

It approached Mo Bai and purred, “Little girl, that gadget looks nice. It must have a strong defense, huh?”

Mo Bai didn’t answer and asked instead, “We don’t seem familiar, do we?”

“We'll get to know each other later.” The Panthom Butterfly gave a mysterious smile and went back to its room.

Everyone returned to their rooms and waited quietly for dinner.

At 5:50 p.m., the maids knocked on every door. With heavy hearts, everyone followed them to the dining hall. No. 11 still carried No. 9’s head the whole way.

That gesture convinced Mo Bai that No. 11 could definitely use No. 9 as a sacrifice to avoid the night’s threat.

Too bad Mo Bai had never planned to let any player die at the dinner table.

As everyone entered the dining hall, Mo Bai tapped her wheelchair with her left hand to give Ding Xun the signal. Ding Xun pushed hard, accurately sending Mo Bai sliding toward No. 1 and No. 2 as they marched together.

Ding Xun moved so fast that the maids didn’t react in time. Mo Bai used the wheelchair’s momentum to glide behind No. 1 and No. 2.

Mo Bai reached out from the Ironhide Skin while her fingers wore the long and sharp Corrosive Claws. She quickly slashed through No. 1 and No. 2’s clothing.

Seeing that Mo Bai succeeded, Ding Xun leapt forward, catching Mo Bai as she was about to crash into the wall and theatrically shouted, “Oh, sorry! My hand slipped!”

No. 1 and No. 2 froze in place. They had no brains and didn’t think. If they were stunned, it meant the Count controlling them was also stunned.

Rule Four in each player’s room indicated that 'The Count disliked waste. Cherish the clothing the Count gave you; if clothing is damaged, the Count will be angry.'

That rule constrained the 'guests' who came to the castle, not only the players.

Notably, the Count’s 'hidden hobby' wasn’t known to the maids and butler, so they didn’t know that No. 1 and No. 2 were toys controlled by the Count.

Upon seeing their torn clothes, the butler angrily declared, “How rude! How could you be so ungrateful for the clothing the Count gave you? Such disrespectful guests cannot appear at the dining table! Take them away and punish them. If their clothes are torn, their bodies must be torn too.”

The two maids responsible for them rushed in and dragged No. 1 and No. 2 away.

Witnessing that cruel scene, the oblivious No.3 and No.8 glared at Mo Bai in hatred. How could such a pretty girl do something so evil?

Mo Bai, pretending to be smug while touching the Ironhide Skin, said, “Oh, so the clothes are that important. I must be careful not to ruin them. Luckily, I have this Ironhide Skin to protect me. Being wrapped up tightly, no one can damage my clothes.”

Hearing the name Ironhide Skin, No. 6 almost couldn’t hide the hatred in its eyes.

After No. 1 and No. 2 were dragged away, No. 11 initially showed a flicker of fear, then greed filled his eyes as he stared hungrily at Mo Bai’s Ironhide Skin.

In a dungeon where damaged clothes brought equal damage to the wearer, the Ironhide Skin was an incredibly useful item.

After the incident, everyone fell silent and obediently sat in their seats.

Before the four of them sat down, Mo Bai checked the mark she had made under the table earlier. She only sat after confirming the marks hadn't changed.

It seemed that the Count hadn’t moved the table yet.

Soon, the Count descended from upstairs with the same imposing aura and took his seat.

Mo Bai noticed that he looked at her with hatred.

Good. So far, the Count, the Phantom Butterfly, and No. 11, those three troublesome enemies, all had their hatred focused on her.

Everything was going according to plan.

Dinner proceeded silently. No. 1, No. 2, No. 9, and No. 12 were gone, but their meals were still served.

Mo Bai naturally ate the food from No.1 and No.2’s plates. Ding Xun, No. 7, sat between No. 5 Gu Tiandong and No.9’s head, so she helped herself to both Gu Tiandong’s leftovers and No. 9’s meal.

Ye Pingjun, No. 10, disdainfully ate No. 12’s food.

After dinner, No. 3, No. 8, and No. 11 all looked grave. They didn’t know if food-wasting would recur or whether the Count would kill again.

The butler smiled and said, “It seems tonight’s dinner was good. No guest wasted any food. The maids will escort everyone back to their rooms. I hope you all have pleasant dreams.”

Hearing that no one had wasted food, No. 3, No. 8, and No. 11 all glanced at Mo Bai with expressions of realization dawning on them.

No. 3 and No. 8 secretly gave Mo Bai a thumbs-up, while No. 11 licked his lips with a face full of greed.

Mo Bai pondered. The rules mentioned a talent show after dinner, so why had the meal ended without a performance?

She recalled the Count’s look at her and guessed that the talent show was actually the Count selecting whose room he would visit tonight. Since she’d attacked No. 1 and No. 2, the Count had chosen her and no longer needed to waste time watching performances.

It could also be interpreted that attacking No.1 and No.2 was her display of talent.

Satisfied, Mo Bai spun her wheelchair and left the dining hall.

On the way back, she deliberately draped the Ironhide Skin around herself and turned once in front of No. 11. She saw his hand reach toward the Ironhide Skin, then restrain himself.

Just as they were about to enter, Ye Pingjun, across from No. 11’s door, whispered to him, “Do you know the instance’s completion method? I’ll trade you a piece of information for it.”

No. 11 also whispered back, “What information?”

Ye Pingjun murmured in a voice only the two could hear, “I’ll trade you a method that allows players to leave their rooms at night and go to other people’s rooms. Deal?”

No. 11’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Mo Bai, “Deal!”