These two recordings captured the true inner thoughts of both Kings — and spread rapidly throughout the entire city.

Bai Youwei had no idea how Fu Miaoxue might feel about it, but as for her own feelings… it was like being stripped of her clothes and standing exposed in front of a crowd.

When people are fighting to survive in desperate circumstances, there’s no room for excess tolerance. Bai Youwei and Fu Miaoxue swiftly became the two most widely reviled figures of all.

People had rallied behind them because the Kings offered a path to survival. But now — one of them had no interest in the final decisive battle, and the other had openly stated she didn’t want the game to end.

What kind of future would Kings like these bring to the world?… Perhaps people had simply set their hopes too high, treating the two of them as saviors. But in reality, they were only looking out for themselves.

When Zhu Shu heard about this, she was furious. She sought out Chu Huaijin and accused him of taking things out of context.

The conversation between her and Bai Youwei had covered so much ground! Plucking out just this one sentence was clearly designed to mislead people!

“Even if Weiwei was the one who said those words, what exactly does that prove? Does Professor Song really not understand the complexity of human nature? Even the most compassionate person may have fleeting dark thoughts. The fact that Weiwei said that in that moment doesn’t mean she thinks that way all the time!” Zhu Shu was fuming, shouting at Chu Huaijin over the heads of several bodyguards. “Professor Song may have clouded judgment because he’s ill — but what about you?! Do you think so too?!”

Chu Huaijin waved a hand to have the bodyguards step back, and sighed. “You and Bai Youwei are friends — of course it’s natural for you to speak up for her. But I hope you can also think about how many people have died in this game. How many families have been destroyed because of it. How many people in this headquarters have sacrificed themselves for it. And… how did Professor Song’s son die?

Everyone has poured everything they have into supporting a King for one reason — to make all of this stop! And yet she says she doesn’t want the game to end. How am I supposed to keep supporting her after that?!”

“That still doesn’t justify releasing a recording like this!” Zhu Shu said angrily.

“Zhu Shu.” A voice called from a distance.

Zhu Shu turned around. It was Yan Qingwen, with Su Man and Lu Yuwen approaching.

She bit her lip and walked over to stand before Yan Qingwen. “What Professor Song did is going too far. Installing listening devices in a King’s room, and then playing the recordings publicly — if this keeps up, Weiwei won’t be able to recruit any subjects at all! What exactly does he want? For the only two remaining Kings at the base to be eliminated? What benefit does he get from that?!”

Yan Qingwen glanced briefly at Chu Huaijin in the distance, his voice perfectly calm: “Indeed — having a King eliminated due to insufficient subjects… what benefit would that bring him? It’s the kind of logic any sensible person could work out. So why doesn’t Professor Song seem to understand it?”

Zhu Shu froze slightly. She had the distinct sense that Yan Qingwen’s words were implying something more.

She looked back at Chu Huaijin, who simply offered an apologetic smile and then walked away with his bodyguards.

“What they’re doing is so irresponsible…” Zhu Shu watched Chu Huaijin’s retreating figure, deeply unsatisfied. “Everyone says things wrong sometimes. Releasing that recording has essentially erased every bit of effort Weiwei has ever made. No one will ever feel grateful to her again!”

“Bai Youwei never joined the labyrinth war in order to earn people’s gratitude,” Yan Qingwen said.

Zhu Shu looked at him in astonishment. “Are you saying you don’t believe in Weiwei either? She may have said those words, but there’s absolutely no way she would actually act on them! She cares deeply about her friends!”

Yan Qingwen smiled faintly. “I believe in her. But you should also understand — fortunately, the person by her side is Shen Mo. Without him… whether the Bai Youwei of today would truly think the way she did in that recording, and not want the game to end — no one can say for certain.”

“That’s understandable, actually,” Lu Yuwen chimed in, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. “If there were no game, the two of us — one with a bad leg, one with a limp — would still be just that. Developing a dependence on the game… that’s hardly surprising.”

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