“…D, then?” He stared at the handle in his grip.

Just a gentle twist would reveal the answer.

B, or D?

He tightened his grip, his palm already soaked through with sweat.

Last round, his teammate had died choosing B. He really couldn’t bring himself to choose B again…

Go with D. Stop hesitating. Open the door. Even if it means elimination, it isn’t a loss—as long as the King advances, they’re still winners!

He rallied himself internally, and his hand moved at the same time. He pulled open the door marked D—

A wall of crimson filled his vision.

In confusion, he looked down—only to see more blood gushing out. Then the world spun, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground.

…

Silence settled over the room.

No one spoke.

Bai Youwei covered her nose slightly. The smell of blood was overwhelming…

“Oh dear~!” The Clown pedaled its unicycle in a circle around the body, wheels squeaking. “What a pity! Two more eliminated—can’t anyone pick correctly?”

Of the five players who’d entered, two were now dead. Three chances to question remained.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

It seemed like another long stretch of silence was about to set in—but to everyone’s surprise, the young man at Hans’s side spoke up on his own. “I’ll go this time.”

Bai Youwei looked at him with mild surprise.

Hans was caught off guard too. “Morlin—have you thought this through?”

“Yes.” The man Hans had once praised as the bravest of them all gave a single nod, his expression calm as he looked toward the doors. “I already know what I want to ask.”

Hans asked, “What are you planning to ask?”

Morlin pressed his lips together, was quiet for a moment, then replied, “Ask and you’ll find out.”

With that, he didn’t hesitate another second. He walked straight to the computer.

The Clown craned its neck curiously to peer over his shoulder.

Morlin typed his question:

【What fruit does Morlin like to eat?】

Hans’s expression changed dramatically. “Morlin?! You’re asking that?! Are you trying to get everyone killed?! What are you thinking?!”

“What am I thinking? …Hans, I’m thinking about protecting your path to advancing.” Morlin’s expression was somber, his eyes cast down as he explained quietly, “Dim and Breil are still inside. If it’s Breil—he definitely knows what fruit I love…”

“But what if it’s not Breil?! What if it’s Dim?!” Hans snapped, losing control. “You’ll be indirectly sending Dim to his death!”

Morlin’s voice remained steady. “Our deaths aren’t in vain. If the one who dies is Dim, then the next one is likely to be Breil. Hans—at that point, all you’d need is to ask something only Breil would know, and your path to advancing is guaranteed.”

Hans froze, staring at him.

As the two spoke, the two minutes elapsed.

Five answers appeared on the five doors:

【A: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.】

【B: Oranges and bananas are both fine—I can’t quite remember which I prefer most.】

【C: Morlin loves mangoes most, but he’s allergic and can’t eat too many.】

【D: Morlin likes strawberries—who doesn’t love strawberries?!】

【E: Not sure—something like honeydew, maybe.】

Morlin’s eyes turned red immediately.

“C!” He stepped forward without hesitation, nearly at a run, and flung the door open. “Breil!”

He was incredibly lucky. As the door swung open, the man inside was indeed Breil.

Morlin embraced him with fierce emotion. The two held each other tight—and then kissed.

Bai Youwei’s eyes went wide. She never would have guessed—the two of them were actually…?

Hans let out a long breath and walked over, patting both of their backs gently. “You’re safe. As long as I ask one more question, Zone A will be over.”

“Dim’s still inside—what are you planning to ask?” Morlin asked him.

Hans was quiet for a moment, then looked over at Bai Youwei. “Let her go first,” he said calmly.

—