Chapter 851 - 815: Nicholas Li San!

Just as Teacher Slaughter was roaring inwardly, the two staff members who had originally been standing under the Pyramid walked up.

"What the hell are you doing?" Seeing staff come up, Teacher Slaughter hurriedly asked them in a low voice; these staff members were clearly in the know.

"We’re taking the first place to the champion’s seat." The staff member also spoke in a voice so low only the two of them could hear.

Many follow-cams hovered around the two of them, nosily edging closer, wanting to hear what secrets the pair were whispering.

"But that’s not in my hosting rundown!" Teacher Slaughter was a bit anxious; as a host, the last thing you want is something unexpected.

The rundown he received certainly included the ranking seats, but those seats were all under the Pyramid; once someone obtained the corresponding rank, the seat would rise from beneath the Pyramid, just like the nine-grid that had just risen—this Pyramid under their feet was hollow, with quite a bit of space inside.

The higher the rank, the closer the seat was to the tip of the tower; in theory, the first-place seat was on the level right next to the tip, the very level where 0175 and 1868 had just been standing and waiting.

But instead of the expected seat rising up, one popped up over in the audience section.

And judging from the looks of it, that ranking seat in the audience section was probably not the only one. Were they really going to let these lowly lower-class people sit together with the noble audience?

What’s more, the ranking seat that rose in the audience section was far more luxurious than the ones that had long been prepared under the Pyramid, even more luxurious than the audience’s own seats.

Teacher Slaughter frowned; a lower-class person’s seat being better than an Upper Class Person’s, this was simply...

He didn’t even know what to say.

By now, one staff member had already led 1868 toward that luxurious seat in the audience section, while the other, having fallen a few steps behind because he’d been answering Teacher Slaughter, said, "This is something the organizers added temporarily this morning, so it never made it into your hosting rundown."

Having said that, he turned around as well and left together with the other staff member and 1868.

was completely in the dark, not knowing what was going on. In that instant his mind raced through countless possibilities; he even thought maybe the Judge’s forfeiture really had been a trap and he was being taken away for execution—he had no idea what that raised seat in the audience was for.

Not knowing what was about to happen, 1868 was terrified, so he walked very slowly, trying to stretch out the time on the way as much as possible.

The tall, skinny staff member beside him saw he was moving far too slowly and grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the seat.

That hand had the Upper Class People’s distinctive skin tone, deathly pale, and against 1868’s filthy sleeve it stood out even more.

was flattered and overwhelmed as he stared at the hand gripping his arm.

Upper Class People never touched them directly, because they lower-class were cheap and filthy; most of the time Upper Class People weren’t even willing to stand too close to them.

Even back in the first stage of the show, the Upper Class cameramen hadn’t gotten too close, filming from as far away as possible.

But now this Upper Class Person was actually grabbing his arm!

In an instant 1868 forgot the fear he’d felt just moments ago. He stared unblinkingly at the hand gripping him, his face showing a kind of honored expression, like a kid who can’t suppress his joy after being praised by a teacher.

The audience members on the seats also stared in surprise at 1868 and the staff member, their expressions strange.

In their eyes, having physical contact with a lower-class person was no different from stepping in a pile of shit on the street.

The contestants still on stage were stirred up as well; they craned their necks to look at the arm 1868 had been grabbed by, faces tinged with longing.

"They’re heading for that especially pretty seat—are they going to let 1868 sit there?"

"That seat has a 1 on it, it should be the champion’s seat. He’s the first to advance, so he really is the champion."

"Then he’ll be sitting together with the Upper Class People. Weren’t they saying only the champion of the final third stage would have their identity changed to become an Upper Class Person? How come he’s already sitting with them now!"

Mr. Green had shuffled right up next to Gu Mian, also watching 1868 walking toward the champion’s seat: "I thought there’d be some kind of trap. Looks like if one side gives up, the other really does advance directly. I don’t know what the people who designed this were going for. Back when I was a host, I designed a ton of levels that looked easy to clear but were actually traps..."

Mr. Green had started reminiscing again.

Unfortunately, he was no longer a host; his role had flipped from host to show participant.

When they reached the champion’s seat, 1868 finally understood; he looked nervously at the seat in front of him and stammered as he asked the staff member beside him, "This is... mine? I’m supposed to sit here?"

"Yes." The staff member nodded without much expression. "This is the champion’s seat. It’s yours."

looked at the seat in disbelief, then at the audience in front, and asked again, uncertain, "It’s mine? But... but I’m just a lower-class person, and here... it’s all Upper Class People..."

The more he spoke, the softer his voice became. He saw the Upper Class People in the audience seats ahead looking at him with eyes full of disgust. Fortunately the champion’s seat was in the very back, a separate row all by itself, so he didn’t have to endure strange looks from his left and right.

"You already successfully advanced to the top ten in the second stage; you’re now a Candidate Upper-class, completely different from those lower-class people still on stage. The third stage has no danger at all—just get first place and you can become an Upper Class Person." As the staff member spoke, he guided 1868 to the seat and had him sit down.

His tone barely fluctuated, like an actor with bad skills reciting lines, face blank.

Hearing this, 1868 dazedly sat down. The feeling of being in the audience section really was different; the view was so clear and open that with one glance he could take in the entire stage.

Even those amusement facilities that had looked so terrifying before now appeared friendly to him, because he no longer had to go through them. He could even sit in the audience and leisurely watch others struggle on the verge of death up there.

I’m already a Candidate Upper-class. The third stage has no danger; as long as I get first place I can become a real Upper Class Person!

I’m no longer the same as those people on stage! I’m sitting in the noble audience section now!

Thinking of this, he straightened his back and imitated the smug expressions of those Upper Class People, but his imitation was clumsy.

The Upper Class People in the audience felt nauseated just seeing that expression on his face.

At this moment, the staff member who had seated 1868 in the champion’s seat was walking back. An audience member suddenly grabbed him and shouted in anger, "What the hell is your show doing, letting a lower-class person sit with us? Look at that expression of his, it’s disgusting."

The staffer ignored him, merely pulling his clothes free and continuing back.

The audience member who had grabbed him was a bit annoyed: "Hey, did you hear me talking to you?"

He reached out again to grab the staff member’s clothes and yanked him back; this time he used a lot of strength and pulled the man back in one go.

"What’s with that attitude? I’m going to file a complaint against you." As he spoke, he looked down at the staff badge on the man’s chest, which had their names on it.

"What’s your name? Let me see your badge... Nicholas Li San?"

Who?

Their argument was loud enough that 007 and Chu Changge, not far away, heard it too.

The moment she heard the name, 007 straightened up and instinctively felt for the Upper Class identity card in her pocket.

That staff member’s name was Nicholas Li San?

What a coincidence. The name on her identity card was King Nicholas Wang Er, while Chu Changge’s was King Nicholas Zhao Si, and Mingliang’s identity card name was King Nicholas Zhang Yi.

When they first got those identity cards, she’d even silently mocked them as some sort of Nicholas family, and now another Nicholas Li San had appeared.

She stared at the quarreling pair for a while, but couldn’t see anything off, so she looked to Chu Changge beside her: "Did you hear that guy’s name?"

Chu Changge nodded.

was puzzled: "It’s too much of a coincidence. His name is way too similar to the ones on our identity cards. Could he also be using an identity card to pose as an Upper Class Person..."

But that shouldn’t be. That Li San was a staff member on the show. It would be one thing for a member of the audience, but you don’t just become staff on this show because you feel like it; they definitely conduct identity checks.

And if this Li Si was someone else in disguise, who would it be?

Lower-class people couldn’t possibly get identity cards, and this wasn’t an instance, so no players would be coming in.

That would only leave NPCs.

But what NPC would be so bored they’d pose as an Upper Class Person just to come here and work staff!