Chapter 73 Spy "Spy?" Qi Xia thought carefully for a moment, not understanding the meaning of this Identity Card. If there was a Spy among the four of them, logically speaking, their identity should be kept a secret.
But Earth Dog had everyone check each other's identities right at the start, and even allowed them to exchange Identity Cards. What kind of game were they going to play?
"Everyone, do you want to exchange identities?"
Earth Dog asked while standing at the inn's front desk. Qi Xia looked at the cards in everyone's hands and felt a bit troubled. They didn't even know what the upcoming game was, so how could they know which identity was the most important one?
If the identity of Spy was meant to sabotage team cooperation, then this card was very suitable for Old Lu. He wasn't considered smart, so it wouldn't be too difficult for Qi Xia to deal with him. But what did Sender and Receiver do?
"Qi Xia, let me trade with you," Lin Qin said as she handed over her Receiver card.
"Although I don't understand what these two identities mean, looking at the literal meaning, Sender comes first and Receiver comes after. Let me be the first one. If you act as the Receiver, at least there will be some room to maneuver."
Qi Xia felt that what Lin Qin said made sense. He really did need to act as the backup.
"Alright, let's trade."
The two exchanged their cards. Lin Qin became the Sender, and Qi Xia was the Receiver.
"Um..."
Old Lu held the card in his hand, at a loss for what to do.
"I, mine..."
Qi Xia patted his shoulder and said, "Old Lu, no matter what the objective of the Spy is, just do your part well. Remember that we are a team, and think more when necessary." Old Lu nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Qi Xia then turned to look at Zhang Chenze. She was currently staring blankly at a Hostage card. Her body was soaking wet, and Qi Xia could imagine the cold she felt.
"Lawyer Zhang, are you okay?"
Qi Xia asked.
"This Hostage..."
Zhang Chenze's lips moved slightly.
"Could it be the kind of hostage that is tied up in a fish tank?"
Qi Xia seriously considered this question and nodded.
"It's indeed possible. Do you need me to trade with you?"
"No need..."
Zhang Chenze shook her head and gave a bitter smile.
"Maybe none of you are as experienced as I am. It's best if I act as this Hostage."
Seeing the pretend-strong expression on Zhang Chenze's face, Qi Xia didn't know how to persuade her. He could only say calmly, "Don't worry, I will save you."
"I'm not worried about my situation, I just hope you don't break your own hand too."
Qi Xia and the others confirmed their identities. On the other hand, the opposing team had also finished exchanging their cards. The identities of the green-haired man, the blonde man, and the bald man were Sender, Receiver, and Hostage, respectively.
The only girl in their team was the Spy. The girl didn't seem satisfied with her identity; it looked like someone had traded with her.
"Since both sides have chosen their identities, please line up and stand ready," Earth Dog said with a smile.
Qi Xia was slightly taken aback. He noticed that when Earth Dog smiled, all of his facial muscles moved, as if he wasn't wearing a dog mask, but rather had a real dog's head.
"First, would the players who drew the Spy please step forward."
Earth Dog reached out his hand in a welcoming gesture. Old Lu and the girl pondered for a moment before stepping out.
"Please give them a round of applause!!"
Earth Dog started clapping his hands on his own. No one else moved. They quietly listened to the muffled sound of his applause echoing by itself.
"First, I want to congratulate you two. In this game, you have drawn the identity with the highest survival rate."
"The highest survival rate?"
The two frowned at the same time.
"That's right. From now on, due to your special identity as a Spy, you will act within the opposing team."
Earth Dog reached out a hand, gesturing as he explained, "You have two ways to complete your mission. The first is to act as a good Spy and help your original team win, thereby allowing your entire team to survive. The second is that you can abandon your original team and win the match for your current team.
As long as your current team is willing to accept you at the very end, you can survive under a new identity." Old Lu processed these words himself, then asked, "So you're saying we aren't Spies, but rather double agents? No matter which team we help to win, it counts as our victory?"
"Exactly. As long as the new team is willing to accept you, you win."
Earth Dog smiled and nodded. Qi Xia felt there was a loophole in this rule and asked, "Then why are there two Spies? If it's just about being a turncoat, wouldn't one be enough?"
"Good question."
Earth Dog nodded.
"This is also the most interesting part of this game. If the new team wants to accept the Spy, they must abandon the Spy their own team sent out. In other words, a team can have at most four people. There is no situation where both Spies join the same factions."
After hearing these words, Qi Xia's expression looked a bit grim. As expected, nothing that happened in this place would go according to plan. So a Spy could actually defect?
Before Qi Xia could say anything, Old Lu turned around and asked, "Kid Qi, you guys won't abandon me, right?!" Qi Xia stared into Old Lu's eyes in silence for a moment, then asked in return, "What about you?"
"What good would come to me if I abandoned you?! I paid the ticket of four Dao."
Old Lu said somewhat anxiously.
"The winning team gets five Dao per person, plus the loot on the opposing side, right? But you guys are poor as dirt, and only that lawyer has a few Dao on her. If I help the other side kill you, I would at most get five Dao in profit, which means after all this work, 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 have a deal."
Old Lu grabbed Qi Xia's hand.
"I will do my best to make a mess of the other side and win the match for you."
"Wait a second."
Qi Xia pulled Old Lu over and whispered, "There are a few things I need to brief you on." ... On the other side, the girl who was also a Spy was in a tough spot after hearing the rules. She walked over to her boyfriend, the green-haired man, and said with a reluctant face, "What is this?
I have to go to the opposing team?"
"Don't worry, baby."
The green-haired man wrapped his arm around the woman's waist.
"It's just going through the motions. How could those old, weak, sick, and disabled people ever beat you?"
"You aren't going to use this chance to abandon me, are you?" the woman asked.
"What kind of talk is that? I'd abandon you for that old man?"
The green-haired man pulled the woman closer, their faces almost touching.
"In certain aspects, you are much more important than him."
"So shameless..."
After the two finished speaking, they embraced and started kissing each other regardless of the setting.