At this moment, the timeline within the instance had reached the scene where the young man chose to leave the team and act alone.
"...Contestant Xu Xi's actions are always quite unexpected." Jiang Jin's tone was full of surprise. "But it doesn't seem to be without reason."
Lin Miao nodded. "If we pay attention to his previous instances, we can see he's not the type who is particularly obsessed with going solo."
"It's just that his currently far-beyond-ordinary insight has focused all the players' attention on him. Staying within the group, his every move would be infinitely magnified and analyzed."
"Going solo, while concentrating the risks, also means he doesn't have to constantly worry about others' reactions and the potential group effects it might trigger. He can more freely use his abilities for exploration and verification."
Upon hearing this, Yao Han appropriately expressed her concern. "But this way, Contestant Xu Xi also loses the risk-sharing from teammates. Especially in a high-difficulty instance like this, once a judgment is wrong or an unexpected situation occurs, he might not even have a chance to recover."
Luo Zongyun gently chimed in. "You're right. Normally, I wouldn't recommend going solo either. But here, we need to pay attention to Xu Xi's action pattern—he's not blindly charging around."
"From the moment he entered the camp, he has been consciously collecting information, building models, and testing the boundaries of the instance's rules."
"Every step he takes, even seemingly casual wandering, has a clear purpose. And going solo is the choice that maximizes the advantage of this 'information warfare'."
"As for risk, any decision made inside the instance carries risk. It just depends on whether the risk is controllable. Simply put, as long as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, it's fine."
[But why do I feel the master just doesn't want to drag people along?]
[The person above isn't wrong. Actually, that's exactly what these two mean, they're just more eloquent about it.]
[Not obsessed with going solo = can lead a team; Attention focused = discovered to be a bit awesome; Free exploration = but too lazy to lead; Risk controllable = won't be dragged down]
[So that's how it is, I get it. So Master Xu Xi is going solo to reduce the team debuff, hahaha.]
[248: I'm safer alone anyway.]
[Laughing my head off, this is the art of language.]
[Translation bro, thank you for having you.]
Next, everyone's gaze was firmly locked on the large screen, following the young man as he searched for the so-called red skull symbol.
Just like players such as Winifred, they were first attracted by the three challenges that sounded more exciting, believing the red skull symbol was a secondary challenge to be completed incidentally during the challenges. They didn't understand why he would choose to specifically look for the symbol.
They could deduce the logic and reasoning behind his actions from his words and deeds, but they couldn't peek into his true motives and purposes.
They couldn't figure out the young man's train of thought and ideas, so they could only stare intently at the figure moving alone through the dim passageways on the big screen, trying to piece together his thought process from his seemingly scattered, unrelated actions.
In fact, it's normal not to be able to piece it together.
Because Xu Xi himself wasn't sure what he would do next.
What having the ability to lead people but being too lazy to, what ditching the team to avoid being dragged down... he simply observed from a god's-eye view once and felt that apart from being suicidal, those three challenges were utterly useless.
*
Inside the instance.
Xu Xi didn't know that his current aimless wandering still appeared deeply meaningful in the eyes of the outside world.
As for where to find that red skull symbol, he was completely clueless.
He wandered around like a headless fly for a long time, the Fruit Knife in his pocket gripped and released, released and gripped.
He really wanted to reload, go back, grab the slovenly man by the collar, and ask him where the symbol was hidden.
Hold on. Xu Xi tried hard to persuade himself in his heart.
He still had a conjecture he hadn't verified.
If the conjecture was correct, he could die without using the Fruit Knife.
After wandering a bit more, just as Xu Xi was considering whether to simply go to the dungeon now and wait for his target, a familiar bluish-green figure once again blocked his path.
『Leave』
Xu Xi's slightly tense body unconsciously relaxed upon seeing the bloody characters appearing on the ground.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked tentatively, "You want me to leave the camp?"
The Blue Monster opposite him didn't respond, obviously acquiescing.
"Why?"
The Blue Monster continued its silence, the color of the "Leave" character on the ground becoming even more vivid.
Looking at this silent expulsion, Xu Xi thought for a moment and said, "If you can help me find that red skull symbol, I'll leave this place."
*
Live stream.
Countless netizens gasped in shock upon seeing this scene.
They had seen supernatural beings making demands of players, but they had never seen a player making demands of a supernatural being.
[Is the Hua Nation player crazy? The supernatural being tells him to leave the camp, does he need to be begged? (ip Kimchi Nation)]
[Unfair. Why does the supernatural being only communicate with the Hua Nation player? It doesn't attack him, but attacks our contestants. (ip Maple Nation)]
[What exactly is the Hua Nation player doing? Every one of his actions is unpredictable to me. (ip Rice Nation)]
[He's going to be torn apart, right... (ip Kangaroo Nation)]
However, the next moment, to the astonishment of netizens from various nations, that Blue Monster actually started leading the way for the young man!
*
Hua Nation, Central Television.
"Indeed, a very important point in this instance is 'identity'. 'Identity' often signifies different permissions and boundaries of behavior." Luo Zongyun leaned forward slightly, actively explaining. "At the beginning of the instance, that show director introduced that the camp on this island was once renovated into an exhibition hall."
"Therefore, Contestant Xu Xi intentionally bound himself to a 'tourist' identity. This identity might not completely exempt him from danger, but it can change his interaction pattern with the bluish-green supernatural beings."
"For the bluish-green supernatural beings, Xu Xi changed from an invader, a target that needs to be expelled, into a target that can be guided, even contacted."
Lin Miao continued along his line of thought. "So when Xu Xi indicated he was only 'visiting' and would 'leave', those supernatural beings confirmed his 'identity' and 'intention'. That's why they chose to accept his request."
Jiang Jin and Yao Han both had a sudden realization.
Jiang Jin: "So Contestant Xu Xi actually planned to use the supernatural beings to help find the symbol from the start? His seemingly wandering actions were also to fit the 'tourist' identity?"
Luo Zongyun nodded, affirming Jiang Jin's thought. "I think so."
Yao Han also had a point of confusion. "But how does Contestant Xu Xi ensure the supernatural beings will come looking for him again?"
Lin Miao explained for Yao Han. "Since those supernatural beings want to expel the players, and Xu Xi is the only one who has communicated with them and clearly promised to leave after visiting, the supernatural beings will naturally continue to seek him out. He just needs to wait for them to appear, like he did just now."
[Got it. In the eyes of those supernatural beings, Master Xu Xi is a tourist who can be amicably expelled, while the other players are invaders who need to be violently expelled.]
[Xu Xi: I'm a tourist. Want me to leave the camp? Fine, help me find something first.]
[I can't take it. Suddenly realized, to those supernatural beings, isn't the tourist like God?]
[Don't say it, but really, don't say it. Translating what Master Xu Xi said in front of the dungeon earlier, it basically means: Is there any place my esteemed tourist cannot visit?]
[Look at you, all grown up. Even getting to boss around supernatural beings now.]
*
Inside the instance.
Xu Xi didn't expect that his offhand remark would actually make the other party willing to lead him to find the red skull symbol.
