Pain Immunity: Worried the Villains Aren’t Twisted Enough

Chapter 687: An Empty Promise, Perfect Life's Decision

Perfect Life's body stiffened slightly. He slowly raised his head, looking at the sphere floating in the air.

He knew that this time, his probing had perhaps gone a bit too far.

"Hah... this game seems a bit interesting."

【Of course!】 The Arbitrator's voice sounded impassioned as he said, 【A game that I personally oversee and adjudicate, how could it possibly be bad?】

Perfect Life: ...

"So, what you said earlier is guaranteed to be true, right?"

"The Arbitrator is the most impartial existence in the world, someone who keeps his word, correct!"

【That goes without saying!】 The Arbitrator immediately replied. Then, the sphere in the air turned, pointing towards the previously agreed-upon reef.

Out on the sea, that reef instantly lit up with a piercing golden light, capturing everyone's attention.

【Alright, everyone, Player Perfect Life has discovered this game's hidden mechanic.】【Colliding with this reef, although the game will ultimately be judged as a failure, there will be a special reward~】

Perfect Life: ...

He fell silent. He knew this rule was most likely just established, but pointing that out wouldn't mean much.

In any case, on these minor issues, the Arbitrator seemed to be acting with complete impunity...

The others also felt something was off. Each of them could sense that the exchange between Perfect Life and this Arbitrator carried a strange, almost eerie air.

Even Sun imperceptibly furrowed his brows.

Was that reef different from the others from the start? He hadn't sensed anything.

"Why wasn't such a crucial rule announced at the beginning?" Xie Antong took the initiative to ask.

"This completely affects the direction of the game, doesn't it? Is it something players are supposed to discover on their own at a time like this?"

【Affect the game's direction? I don't think so. It's just a little easter egg I prepared for everyone.】

【Just to enhance the game's playability a bit. You're overstating things, Ms. Blank. That statement isn't very Pleasure-like.】

Xie Antong ignored Him, merely smiling thoughtfully.

Did the Arbitrator believe that this suddenly announced rule wouldn't affect the final outcome of the game?

【Wait a minute!】

Seeing Xie Antong smile, the Arbitrator instantly realized something was amiss and said with some annoyance.

【Tsk, did you trick me? Deliberately fishing for information, were you?】

No one paid Him any mind. Xie Antong just noticed that this fellow's tone of speech seemed to be changing a bit, starting to shift towards something more like Pleasure.

"Everyone, hear me out."

At that moment, Perfect Life suddenly spoke, pulling everyone's attention back to the "Raging Sea, Lost Voyage" before them.

"Since this Arbitrator has gone to such great lengths to add some extra playability for us."

"Then I think it would be a shame to waste it, wouldn't you?"

"For this round, let's just fail directly."

"What did you say?!" Tu Shan suddenly seemed agitated, looking up in disbelief.

Is that something you can just say out loud?

Isn't that clearly the kind of talk a Troublemaker should be spouting?

But under normal circumstances, the Troublemaker should try to act like a good person during the day. Yet, these people, one after another, why do they all seem so much like it?

"Hold on, it seems the Arbitrator hasn't even said what the so-called possible benefit is yet."

"You don't even know what it is, and you're already rushing headlong into it?"

It must be said, Tu Shan's skepticism was reasonable.

Without mentioning any reward, it was as if the Arbitrator had simply provided an excuse for game failure, and Perfect Life immediately jumped at it eagerly.

"Moreover, if the victory condition requires six or seven wins, losing this one means there's absolutely no room for error left."

At the same time, Dark Clown also spoke up from the side.

"This is probably the game's scheme, heh. Lulling people into a false sense of security in the first two games, constantly saying how easy it is to clear them."

"All to set the stage for what comes later."

Dark Clown's eyes were hidden behind his hands, his voice carrying a chill.

"After all, this game changing its rules on a whim, mixing deceit with bloody methods, isn't a new thing. You, as the world's number two, shouldn't be unaware of that."

【Hehe, it seems veteran players still hold quite a few prejudices against our game.】

The Arbitrator's voice said with a chuckle.

"So, what exactly is this so-called reward?" Xie Antong spoke, asking what was arguably the most critical question.

【That's still something I can't say~】

In the end, the Arbitrator said nothing, essentially handing out an empty promise.

Perfect Life felt that before deciding to add this rule, the Arbitrator likely hadn't even thought of what the reward could be himself.

But...

Turning his head towards Dark Clown, he said with a serious tone:

"What you said, I know all of it."

"Deceit, coldness, cruelty—I don't believe there is any true fairness to be found in this game."

"But right now, I still feel the need to do this!"

As he spoke, he slammed a palm on the table, placing his bet in this game.

—Ten steps!

He chose the same course as Sun, directly expending all of his remaining steps. The ship on the sea once again shot like an arrow towards the golden reef.

Dark Clown crossed his arms, blocking his expression, and merely snorted coldly, offering no further opinion.

Finally, the ship stopped just two steps away from the reef.

He passed the final choice to the next person.

"Haha! Should've done that from the start. What's the point of wasting time? Use them up and be done with it."

Sun laughed from the side, thoroughly approving of such an action.

Perfect Life sat down without another word. He had made his choice.

What happened next depended entirely on the next person.

【Ah, what a pity. Just two steps short.】

【Alright, next.】

The Arbitrator's voice went through the motions indifferently, and it was the next person's turn.

Now, only three people hadn't had their turn yet.

The light flashed and finally settled on Chiyo Eine.

However, the light remained on her for a full minute, and she took no action whatsoever, as if she were simply spacing out there.