The LCD screen lit up, then displayed an extremely aged face.

Professor Song lay in the hospital bed, his complexion pale and gaunt, an oxygen mask covering his face, surrounded by IV bottles and various medical instruments — he looked as though he might pass away at any moment.

The people in the dining hall erupted into commotion.

Many had never seen Professor Song before. They only knew that the base had an old professor somewhere, but had never imagined he was so weak that he couldn’t even rise from his sickbed.

Chu Huaijin let out a sigh and said: “The truth is, we did manage to acquire therapeutic-type items that could help ease the professor’s pain, but he refused them. He will only accept medical treatment developed by humanity itself.

The professor is still recuperating. This video was recorded in advance. We hope everyone can patiently listen to what the professor has to say…”

Without any prompting, everyone fell silent. All the whispered conversations ceased, and every person in the dining hall focused their attention on the elderly man in the video.

Professor Song slowly began to speak:

“The game… is a selection process, and also a conspiracy. Only by achieving final victory can one truly… truly reach the center of the diamond — and you, the Kings… you are… the last hope.”

His voice was hoarse, slow, and feeble.

After several pauses, he continued: “The data from our research indicates… the game very likely has not descended upon Earth for the first time. As for what became of the previous Labyrinth War, and where the Kings who won ultimately went — none of it is known…

Perhaps, in the previous Labyrinth War, no one won in the end; perhaps, whoever won went to another world. If you want to know the answer, you must keep winning all the way… win until the very end, and then… bring all of this to a close.

My time is running short… After deliberation in our meetings, we have now decided to make all research materials publicly available for viewing. Any King may enter headquarters’ reading room to borrow and review the materials. The efforts I am capable of making have reached their limit as well… I hope to live to see the day you bring all of this to an end.”

Having said this, the elderly man in the hospital bed suddenly opened his eyes wide, stared directly into the camera, and asked:

“Will you bring all of this to an end?… Will you? Maintain steadfast resolve, do not let the game dictate who you are, keep winning until the very last moment — can you… do that?”

The video froze on that second.

Chu Huaijin let out a heavy sigh, closed the video, then turned to face the assembled crowd.

“Professor Song’s physical condition being this way… is not because of illness, but because of irreversible aging — a side effect of game items. We can only use medication to ease his pain as best we can. Beyond that, there is nothing else we can do.

If the world were to return to its original state, there might be other remedies, but the world’s rules have already been supplanted by the game’s rules. So, for now, we can only place our hopes in each of you Kings — hoping that you will… find the final answer, and find humanity’s final way out.”

Having said these words, Chu Huaijin bowed deeply to the assembled crowd.

The dining hall fell completely silent.

This kind of subject matter was clearly a heavy one.

…

In the time that followed, the atmosphere in the dining hall grew considerably more oppressive. People conversed in hushed tones with one another, discussing what Chu Huaijin and Professor Song had just said.

Bai Youwei idly picked at the food on her plate, turning the meaning of those words over in her mind.

First: one had to win all the way to the end in order to enter the depths of the diamond and figure out what all of this was actually about.

Second: the game had very likely existed before — so what had caused it to disappear?

Finally: Professor Song’s body could no longer sustain him in continuing his research, so he had made all the research materials public to allow information sharing and inspire more people.

And also…

The fork in Bai Youwei’s hand went still. Professor Song’s final words echoed in her mind —

*”Will you bring all of this to an end? Will you?”*

Not far away, Shen Mo was walking toward her, carrying a glass of wine.

Bai Youwei quietly watched him — that handsome and elegant figure of his — and thought to herself: *I really don’t want it to end…*

—