“Spy?” Qi Xia thought carefully, not understanding the meaning of this identity card.

If there was a spy among the four people, logically the identity should be kept secret. Yet Earth-Dog had everyone verify each other’s identities right from the start, and even allowed them to exchange identity cards—what kind of game was this supposed to be?

“Everyone, do you want to exchange identities?” Earth-Dog asked from the hotel’s front desk.

Qi Xia looked at the cards in everyone’s hands, feeling somewhat troubled.

Without even knowing what game would be played next, how could they determine which identity was most important?

If the “Spy” identity was meant to sabotage team cooperation, then giving this card to Old Lu was quite suitable.

He wasn’t particularly clever, so dealing with him wouldn’t be too difficult for Qi Xia.

But what were “Sender” and “Recipient” for?

“Qi Xia, let me exchange with you.” Lin Qin held out her “Recipient” card. “Although I don’t understand what these two identities mean, judging by the literal meaning, ‘Sender’ comes first and ‘Recipient’ comes after. If I take the first position and you’re the ‘Recipient,’ at least you’ll have room to maneuver.”

Qi Xia felt Lin Qin’s reasoning made sense.

He indeed needed to serve as the “backup plan.”

“Alright, let’s exchange.”

The two exchanged cards. Lin Qin became the “Sender,” and Qi Xia the “Recipient.”

“Um…” Old Lu held his card helplessly. “I… this one of mine…”

Qi Xia patted his shoulder and said, “Old Lu, no matter what the ‘Spy’s’ mission objective is, just do your job properly. Remember, we’re a team. Think more when necessary.”

Old Lu nodded with seeming understanding. Qi Xia turned to look at Zhang Chenze.

She was currently staring blankly at her “Hostage” card. Her body was soaking wet, and Qi Xia could imagine that kind of cold.

“Lawyer Zhang, are you alright?” Qi Xia asked.

“This ‘Hostage’…” Zhang Chenze’s lips moved slightly. “Could it be the kind of hostage ‘tied up in a fish tank’?”

Qi Xia seriously considered this question and nodded. “That’s quite possible. Do you need me to exchange with you?”

“No need…” Zhang Chenze shook her head, then smiled bitterly. “Perhaps none of you have as much experience as I do. I’m the best choice to be this ‘Hostage.'”

Seeing the forced strength on Zhang Chenze’s face, Qi Xia didn’t know how to persuade her and could only say indifferently, “Don’t worry, I’ll rescue you.”

“I’m not worried about my situation. I just hope you won’t break your own hand too.”

After Qi Xia’s group confirmed their identities, the opposing team had also finished exchanging cards.

Green Hair, Blond Hair, and Baldy’s identities were “Sender,” “Recipient,” and “Hostage” respectively. The only girl in their team was the “Spy.”

The girl didn’t seem satisfied with her identity—it appeared someone had exchanged with her.

“Once both sides have selected their identities, please line up.” Earth-Dog said with a smile.

Qi Xia was slightly startled. He noticed that when Earth-Dog smiled, his entire facial muscles moved, as if he wasn’t wearing a dog head mask but had grown an actual dog head.

“First, will the players who drew ‘Spy’ please step forward.” Earth-Dog extended his hand in a welcoming gesture.

After pondering for a moment, Old Lu and the girl stepped out.

“Please give them a round of applause!!” Earth-Dog began clapping by himself.

None of the others moved, quietly listening to his muffled applause echo by itself.

“First, I want to congratulate you two for drawing the identity with the highest survival rate in this game.”

“Highest survival rate?” Both frowned simultaneously.

“That’s right. Starting now, due to the special status of ‘Spy,’ you will operate within the opposing team.” Earth-Dog extended his hand, gesturing as he explained. “You have two ways to complete your mission. First, play a good ‘Spy’ and secure victory for your original team, allowing the entire team to survive. Second, you can also abandon your original team and win the game for your current team. As long as your current team is willing to accept you at the final moment, you can survive with a new identity.”

Old Lu processed these words himself, then asked, “So we’re not ‘Spies’ but ‘Double Agents’? As long as we secure victory for either team, we win?”

“Correct. As long as your new team is willing to accept you, you’ve won.” Earth-Dog nodded with a smile.

Qi Xia felt this rule had some loopholes and asked, “Then why have two spies? Wouldn’t one fence-sitter be enough?”

“Good question.” Earth-Dog nodded. “This is precisely the most interesting part of this game. If a new team wants to accept a ‘Spy,’ they must abandon the ‘Spy’ their own team sent out. In other words, a team can have at most four people—there’s no situation where both ‘Spies’ join the same camp.”

After hearing this explanation, Qi Xia’s expression looked somewhat unpleasant.

As expected, nothing that happened in this place would go according to plan.

So the “Spy” could defect?

Before Qi Xia could say anything, Old Lu turned around and asked, “Qi kid, you won’t abandon me, will you?!”

Qi Xia stared into Old Lu’s eyes silently for a moment, then asked back, “What about you?”

“What good would abandoning you do me?! I paid the four ‘Dao’ admission fee.” Old Lu said somewhat anxiously. “The winning team gets five ‘Dao’ per person, plus the spoils from the opponents, right? But you’re all broke—only that lawyer has a few ‘Dao’ on her. If I help the other side kill you, I’d get at most five ‘Dao’ in profit, which means after all my trouble, I’d only earn one ‘Dao.'”

Qi Xia nodded and said, “It’s best that you understand this logic. I won’t abandon you.”

“Then we’ve agreed.” Old Lu grabbed Qi Xia’s hand. “I’ll try to mess up the other side as much as possible and win the game for you all.”

“Wait a moment.” Qi Xia pulled Old Lu in front of him and said in a low voice, “There are a few things I need to explain to you.”

…

On the other side, the girl who was also a “Spy” found herself in a difficult position after hearing the rules. She came to her boyfriend Green Hair’s side and said reluctantly, “What’s going on? I have to go to the opposing team?”

“Don’t worry, babe.” Green Hair reached out to wrap his arm around the woman’s waist. “You’re just going through the motions. How could those old, weak, sick, and disabled possibly beat you?”

“You won’t take the opportunity to dump me, will you?” the woman asked.

“What are you saying? Not want you, and want that old man instead?” Green Hair pulled the woman closer until their faces were almost touching. “In some ways, you’re much more important than him.”

“How shameless…”

After speaking, the two embraced and began kissing without regard for the setting.