Chapter 1713: Chapter 56: The Eleventh Trial - Russian Roulette
"The specific rules will be explained by myself," Heidi Doya smiled, pointing to the exquisite silver-paint handgun on the table, "the revolver on the table has six chambers. Only one is loaded with a bullet—no one knows exactly which one."
...Russian roulette.
When Su Ming’an chose the game, the icon was a circle of numbers. He didn’t expect it to be Russian roulette, a game purely based on luck. Noel loved playing it, often seen playing with the Crows... except they shot candies instead of bullets.
Now, the gun chamber held a real bullet.
"Please pay attention to the hammer," Heidi Doya pointed at the gun body, "the hammer is currently pointing to the first chamber. It’s public information, and you can check it anytime."
Su Ming’an looked at the handgun, and sure enough, the silver hammer was aimed at the number "1" etched on the chamber.
"Rounds will proceed in a fixed order, first being Miss Chang Yue," Heidi Doya nodded at the girl, "then Mr. Alger, and finally Mr. Su Ming’an. Each round, the person must do two things—"
"First, publicly declare your target: to shoot yourself or another player."
"Second, secretly decide whether to spin the chamber. Make a hand gesture behind your back, thumbs up for ’spin’, thumbs down for ’don’t spin’, and others cannot see your gesture. The system will automatically execute it. Be aware, once decided, it cannot be changed."
Heidi Doya brought the teddy bear to his face, gently like coaxing a child: "If you spin the chamber, the hammer will randomly point to one of the six positions, and after firing, it will automatically move to the next. If you don’t spin, the hammer will stay in place and automatically move to the next position after firing."
"After firing, if the chamber pointed by the hammer contains a bullet, the target player dies immediately, and the game is lost."
"If the chamber pointed by the hammer is empty, it’s a blank shot, and the target player is safe. Then the next person takes their turn."
"The game continues until only one player survives. Then, this sole survivor is the victor and can leave here to continue onward."
Heidi Doya lowered the teddy bear, the thin gauze of azure blue flowed like water: "The rules are simple, luck, courage, wisdom... please, begin the game."
Su Ming’an lowered his eyes in thought... six chambers, the initial position of the hammer is 1. Spinning resets probability, while not spinning moves according to the sequence 1-2-3-4-5-6-1... This is a novel Russian roulette, not entirely based on luck; strategy and wisdom play a significant role.
"Then," Heidi Doya gently clapped, "the game begins. First round, please make your choice, young lady."
All eyes focused on the girl.
Chang Yue suddenly raised her head, her face pale, lips trembling: "I... I... Su Ming’an!"
Su Ming’an was startled by her sudden loud voice, turning his head to look at the girl whose face was flushed with tension.
"Could... could I get your autograph?" the girl shouted, seemingly using all her strength, even handing over a pen she carried with her.
"Hah." Alger chuckled, turning his head. Apparently, he realized the ridiculousness of the request; only one person could survive to the end, and the autograph couldn’t be taken out.
"Why didn’t you run away?" Su Ming’an said as he signed.
"Huh?" The girl was stunned.
"Earlier, Yuanyuan could have taken you all to escape... why didn’t you leave with the main group? Even if only your consciousness remains, without a body, you could survive," Su Ming’an said, "Do you think you can be one of the final thirteen winners?"
The answer was clearly negative.
The girl remained silent for a moment, gripping her sleeves tightly, speaking softly: "I haven’t seen Lü Shu the Great God."
"You know Lü Shu?"
"No... I have a friend who owns a pet store and knows Lü Shu the Great God. I’m a regular at her store. Sister Liangzi gave up the opportunity, feeling that a peaceful life was good enough."
"But I don’t. I know that following Yuanyuan might preserve the consciousness... but is that truly living? Just a mass of data, a thought... I don’t want it that way. Since I decided to come, I’ll see it through to the end."
"This world has changed, Points, instances, and life and death games... I don’t just want to adapt. Sister Liangzi chose her shop and a stable life. But I can’t... I close my eyes every night, and I see you all fighting on the screen... ordinary people like us, yet reaching such heights."
"I didn’t escape because I wanted... at least once, not looking through a screen at you, even if it’s just standing at the same table."
Her voice began to tremble,
"I know I’m weak and not smart enough. Since I chose to sit here, I won’t wait to be chosen by Destiny’s bullet. Mr. Su Ming’an, Mr. Alger, I will try to think, like you do."
She displayed a shallow, clean smile, gradually shedding her panic.
Su Ming’an fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "Even at the cost of life?"
"Youngsters are always impulsive. I have no worries. I have nothing left, so I dared to take the gamble," Chang Yue said, "Reaching this step, even I am surprised. It turns out I don’t have to be an ordinary worker, it turns out I can make it this far..."
Heidi Doya clapped, the teddy bear in her arms emitting a slight rustling sound.
"A truly captivating monologue, Miss Chang Yue," he smiled, "Please announce your choice: who will you shoot? Will you spin the chamber?"
The girl’s gaze wandered between Su Ming’an and Alger, fingers tightly twisting the cuffs of her sweater, her knuckles white.
"I..." She took a deep breath, "I will shoot at Mr. Alger."
Alger’s gaze turned suddenly cold.
"Then," the girl closed her eyes, "I choose... to spin the chamber."
She didn’t secretly gesture but directly gave the answer.
Heidi Doya nodded with a smile. Suddenly, the revolver on the table emitted a soft "click" sound—the chamber began to spin at high speed, and after a few seconds, it slowly stopped. The target pointed by the hammer blurred for a moment, finally settling on...
The number was blocked, seen only by Chang Yue, the shooter.
Heidi Doya announced, "Please execute the shooting command."
The girl trembled as she reached out, grabbing the gun’s handle. Her hand was too small to hold it steadily. She turned the gun’s muzzle toward Alger, closed her eyes tightly, and pulled the trigger—
"Click."
The crisp mechanical sound was particularly piercing in the silence.
A blank shot.
Chang Yue collapsed onto the chair, gasping for air. Alger’s tense shoulders slightly relaxed.
"Safe," Heidi Doya said, "Mr. Alger, please make your choice."
Alger stared at the gun on the table. He saw the hammer had moved to position 5, so Chang Yue had already confirmed 4 as empty.
With the hammer currently in position 5, if Alger doesn’t spin, then shooting someone has a 20% probability of a bullet in position 5; if he spins, the probability resets to 16.66%, and the hammer will randomly point to a new position.
"I’ll shoot her," Alger said without hesitation, pointing at the girl, a cruel smile forming at the corner of his mouth, "As for whether to spin... heh." He made a gesture behind his back.
Su Ming’an’s heart skipped a beat.
"Confirm," Heidi Doya said, "Mr. Alger will shoot the young lady."
Alger picked up the gun. His actions were smooth and practiced, clearly not his first time handling a gun. He aimed the muzzle at the girl’s forehead.
"Sorry, little girl," he said.
Chang Yue opened her eyes wide, tears welling up but bit her lip, not begging for mercy.
Alger pulled the trigger.
"Click."
Another empty shot.
Chang Yue’s body swayed, nearly fainting. Alger clicked his tongue and put the gun back on the table.
Heidi Doya tilted her head: "Mr. Su Ming’an, it’s your turn."
Su Ming’an picked up the silver-painted handgun, feeling its cold touch. The hammer was now at position 6. He could judge that Alger validated position 5 as empty, but since it was unclear whether Alger rotated the cylinder, he couldn’t determine if Chang Yue had also validated position 4 as empty.
Su Ming’an looked at the two people. Alger stared at him, the girl lowered her head, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.
As the final actor among the three, every decision Su Ming’an made could be based on the latest information. If he could accurately calculate the possible position of the bullet, he could manipulate the hammer movement, letting it point to a high-risk position during the opponents’ turn.
"I shoot Alger." Su Ming’an said calmly, gesturing a thumbs down behind him, signifying not to rotate the cylinder.
"Confirmed." Heidi Doya’s voice carried a hint of amusement, "Mr. Su Ming’an shoots Mr. Alger."
Su Ming’an grasped the gun. The handle was cold, the weight heavy.
He pulled the trigger.
"Click."
Empty shot.
Su Ming’an slowly put down the gun.
"Safe." Heidi Doya said, "The first round ends, the second round begins now. The order remains unchanged, Miss Chang Yue, please start."
Su Ming’an lowered his eyelids.
According to his current information, the bullet is definitely not in positions 5 and 6. The hammer is now at position 1. If Chang Yue doesn’t rotate, and she shoots herself or others, the probability of the bullet being at position 1 is 25%.
From Alger’s perspective, he can confirm the status of positions 4 and 5. Since Su Ming’an didn’t openly disclose whether he rotated the cylinder, Alger can’t judge whether position 6 is empty.
From Chang Yue’s perspective, she is unaware of Alger and Su Ming’an’s rotation situation and can’t know that they have eliminated positions 5 and 6. In her eyes, she learned during the first shot that position 4 is empty, and this time the hammer is in her hand at position 1, knowing position 6 is definitely empty.
Whether the cylinder rotates or not, it causes differing information discrepancies among the three parties.
Chang Yue looked pale at the gun, her fingers tightly clutching her sweater, knuckles turning blue.
"I... I shoot Mr. Alger." She whispered, "I choose... to rotate."
Another rotation. This means the probability resets again, the chance of the bullet being at positions 1-6 is equal.
Heidi Doya nodded. The cylinder rotates.
The girl trembled and pulled the trigger.
"Click."
Empty shot.
She slumped in the chair, tears and sweat mingling together.
Heidi Doya turned to Alger: "Mr. Alger, please."
Alger suddenly laughed.
"I shoot Su Ming’an." He directly blurted out, "Rotate the cylinder."
Su Ming’an’s expression remained unchanged.
"Confirmed." Heidi Doya said.
Alger picked up the gun and aimed at Su Ming’an. His gaze was like that of a beast locking onto its prey.
"Let’s see how long your luck lasts, Number One Player." He said.
Pulled the trigger.
"Click."
Empty shot.
Alger’s expression froze for a moment, then returned to indifference, putting down the gun.
Alger had previously vowed to Su Ming’an... Alger would do everything to help Su Ming’an, while Su Ming’an would find a way to help Alger revive Gedoria and restore Alger’s soul.
But now, the two were at loggerheads, seemingly tacitly forgetting that vow, neither mentioning it, as if waiting for something.
Heidi Doya said: "Mr. Su Ming’an, please."
Su Ming’an glanced at the hammer which was at position 5, meaning Alger validated position 4 as empty, while Chang Yue’s validation information was unclear because both she and Alger rotated the cylinder.
I had already validated in the first round that the bullet wasn’t in positions 5 and 6.
Therefore, the bullet might be in positions 1, 2, or 3, with each having a probability of 33.3%.
The hammer is currently at position 5. If he doesn’t rotate and shoots now, it will definitely be empty. Next round the hammer moves to position 6, but position 6 is already eliminated for having a bullet, so if Chang Yue shoots at position 6 next round, it will be safe. But if he rotates, the probability resets to 16.6%.
"Mr. Su Ming’an?" Heidi Doya reminded, "Please make your choice."
Su Ming’an raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Alger and Chang Yue.
"I shoot myself." He said, simultaneously gesturing thumbs down behind him.
Alger furrowed his brows, apparently surprised by the choice. He stared at Su Ming’an, seemingly judging whether Su Ming’an rotated the cylinder.
Based on Alger’s information, he knows position 5 is definitely empty, and he also knows Su Ming’an knows this information. Su Ming’an dares to shoot himself, likely didn’t rotate the cylinder, knowing this shot couldn’t possibly hit a bullet, leading to Chang Yue at position 6.
But it could also be a psychological ploy, betting on an 83% chance not to randomly hit a bullet, guiding Alger into misjudging the status of position 6. After all, Alger has no information about position 6, and once he makes a mistaken judgment, he might be cornered by randomness.
Su Ming’an grasped the gun, pressing it against his temple.
He pulled the trigger.
"Click."
Empty shot.
Su Ming’an slowly put down the gun, breathing steadily.
"Safe." Heidi Doya’s voice was filled with praise, "Round three begins, Miss Chang Yue, please."
