As soon as 1868âs voice sounded, the entire venue fell silent.
Things were moving in a direction people hadnât anticipated.
Some audience members even suspected they had misheard and asked those beside them, "What did he just say? Isnât it withdrawal?"
Even the Upper Class Person holding Li San froze, turning his head in confusion to look at 1868 at the very back, whose face brimming with happiness. Taking the opportunity, Nicholas Li San escaped from his grasp and ran back to the bottom of the stage.
Gu Mian and Mr. Green were positioned at the base of the Pyramid, standing nearby when Li San returned.
Gu Mian naturally heard the name shouted by the Upper Class Person.
Li San? The same series as the names on the identity cards of Chu Changge and the others. Gu Mian looked at Li San not far away, brushing off his clothes. Why is this show so interesting to many, with so many sneaking in using identity cards?
Who exactly is this Li San anyway?
Some Upper Class People in the audience continued their discussion, but most had already started cheering, eagerly anticipating the next performance by 0175. They didnât care why 1868 suddenly changed his mind; they only knew that the show was finally something of interest to them.
The Upper Class Person next to 007 did not cheer along with the majority.
After 1868âs words fell, the Upper Class Person audience next to 007 suddenly leaned closer, "What is his choice?"
The sudden proximity startled 007. After calming down, she carefully regarded the person, feeling that his tone was somewhat peculiar.
"He chose...steel pierce roller coaster." 007 repeated the name of the project 1868 selected for 0175, then looked up at the sky.
The roller coaster tracks were not far from the audience seats, and she saw circular rings welded with sharp steel rods standing on the tracks.
At that moment, the roller coaster swooshed through one of the steel rings, leaving several deep scratches on its bodyâmarks left by the sharp steels.
The unmanned roller coaster had already run several laps on the track, its seats scarred by the protruding steel rods, making it hard to imagine what fate would befall anyone riding it.
Upon hearing 007âs answer, the adjacent Upper Class Person nodded thoughtfully, "Oh, didnât adhere to the previous withdrawal agreement. The people on stage originally hoped they could advance, only to turn into despair in the blink of an eye."
How odd.
Once again, 007 felt a strange sense of dissonance from the person next to her.
But upon further thought, she couldnât pinpoint where the dissonance lay; his attitude and tone were entirely normal...
No, thatâs it!
suddenly realized it was precisely because this person was too normal that she felt the dissonance.
The Upper Class People in this world mostly talk to others using a condescending manner, often portraying an all-knowing, high and mighty attitude.
Even when speaking with fellow Upper Class People, their expressions remained exceptionally arrogant.
Yet the person talking beside her was frighteningly normal in his speech.
cautiously edged her body back a few inches, warily observing the man in front of her.
Chu Changge, seated on 007âs other side, also noticed their conversation and turned his head around.
But neither of the three spoke, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The man did not continue speaking with 007; he turned his head toward the front, where the stage was, and 0175âs terrified voice emanated from above.
"I chose withdrawal! We all chose withdrawal! He must have made a mistake, a mistake..."
The staff member named Nicholas Li San again went on stage, this time to take 0175 for a roller coaster ride.
"Speak up! Wasnât it a withdrawal?" The staff had already grabbed 0175, and he began to tremble in fear, screaming toward 1868 in the audience.
But the person in the championâs seat didnât respond to him at all, merely glancing at him disdainfully before averting his gaze like he was looking at something dirty.
Seeing this, 0175 finally understood he wouldnât hear the word "withdrawal" from his mouth.
A surge of intense regret flooded his heart. He hated 1868âs treachery and cold indifference and also regretted his own past decision.
If he had directly let 1868 participate in the project, 1868 wouldnât have survived, and the one seated in the championâs position now should have been him.
grew increasingly remorseful, eventually shouting loudly on stage, "Iâm not withdrawing! Iâm not withdrawing! Let him participate in the project!"
His eyes reddened as he reached out to point at 1868, wanting to retract his withdrawal statement and try again.
"You are already withdrawn; you cannot retract." Teacher Slaughterâs icy words made him come to terms with reality.
"Now, please have the staff escort this contestant to sit on the roller coaster. The roller coaster has stopped, just waiting for this contestant to board." Teacher Slaughter spoke with a tone of amusement.
Originally feeling hopeless about this second phase, he hadnât anticipated 1868âs sudden change of choice, which sent 0175âthe one helping him advanceâto his execution.
Brilliant, simply brilliant.
He should have foreseen that the organizers wouldnât set up useless arrangements without cause; the person who conceived the withdrawal advancement rule had long anticipated the thoughts of these foolish lower-class people, knowing that such people would flip their stance at the slightest hint of power.
didnât want to go to the roller coaster.
His feet seemed nailed to the stage, refusing to budge regardless of how Li San pulled him.
The audience, eager for a spectacle, grew impatient, "Hurry up. Get him to the roller coaster!"
Teacher Slaughter had no choice but to call more staff from below the stage to assist.
The newly arrived staff were not as gentle as Li San; they looked at 0175 with disdain, not wanting to touch him, just pulling out a prepared rope to loop around 0175âs neck, tightening it, and leading him like a dog off the stage.
"Better wash hands later." Even without direct contact with 0175, the Upper Class person leading the rope felt their hands dirty, muttering about needing to wash their hands later.
Initially, 0175 attempted to resist the rope looped around his neck. He dared not act against the Upper Class staff, using all his strength to try to stay put on stage, dreading the terrifying roller coaster.
However, as the staff exerted force, the rope around his neck tightened further. After a while, 0175 found it difficult to breathe, resisting wildly for a moment until his eyes protruded slightly from lack of oxygen.
Eventually, he lost all strength, his brain lost consciousness due to oxygen deprivation, resembling a dead dog as he collapsed, dragged down the steps by the staff.
He was dragged along, passing by groups of contestants. With each layer of steps he descended, he emitted a muffled groan of pain.
Soon, he was dragged from the towerâs peak to the bottom layer, with Li San following him all the while.
Upon being entirely removed from the stage, 0175 regained a modicum of consciousness; the rope around his neck tightened, turning his face red, almost suffocating him. He reached a hand to loosen the rope, yet lacking strength, unable to resist the staff dragging him slowly toward the roller coasterâs starting point.
He shifted his eyes, struggling to gaze regretfully at 1868 sitting on the luxurious championâs seat.
That seat shouldâve been his originally, but now waiting for him was another seat, one that would claim his life.
"Itâs here, you can put him on." Finally reaching the trackâs starting point, the staff ahead tossed the rope to the ground, rotating his wrist to look at Nicholas Li San, trailing behind.
Li San said nothing, silently extending his hand to lift 1868 from the ground, carrying him over to the roller coasterâs seat, already tattered and torn.