– Isn’t that unfair?
– How is it unfair? Mandy won fair and square.
– It’s only fair if they have an even number of contestants.
– Of course, the group of four people is going to lose.
– But that’s the benefit of the first place.
– You’re right.
Mandy smirked as she watched the other contestants try to get onto her good side.
– Do we know the values of the other contestants?
– No, we only know that of Mandy. They didn’t show some of the riddles that the others answered. Zeno answered the ten-point one, though, but it looks like he stopped in the middle.
– I don’t think he’s going to be chosen.
– Why do I have a feeling that his value is actually pretty high?
Minjae threw Mandy a look, smirking in confidence and trying to hide that he couldn’t answer some of the riddles due to his fear.
“How many did you answer?” Minjae asked Annie.
“Seven,” Annie answered, surprising everyone. However, some of them felt she was lying. There was no way a woman who appeared like a bunny went through that many questions.
“I think Bacon PD gathered the most points,” Jenny said. They all turned to the old man, but his expression didn’t give anything away.
“I’ve made my decision,” Mandy said after a while.
The other contestants stiffened.
– How many points does Mandy have in total?
– 45 + 7 = 52.
– I’m so curious.
“First,” Mandy started off. “Bacon PD.”
The others sighed in disappointment. Zeno kept his cool, merely looking around like a fool.
“Why doesn’t he look concerned at all?” Minji exclaimed at the screen.
Doha and Eli were also a bundle of nerves. Maxie was relaxed, though.
“I’m even more nervous for him,” Eli muttered. “He answered really quickly, but they didn’t show the end. I wonder how many points he has.”
“He should have a decent amount, right?” Doha asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere but ultimately failing.
“I’ll also take Minjae,” Mandy continued, causing Minjae to rise from his seat with a shout.
“You made the right decision,” he smirked and stood next to her.
“Jenny,” Mandy called the third person’s name.
“What the—” Minsu started off. “I also have a lot of points!” he exclaimed, but it sounded too humorous.
– Is Mandy making the right decision?
– I honestly don’t know.
– Jenny didn’t do well, though.
– Did Minjae answer a lot?
Zeno observed the remaining contestants. Everyone had hopeful looks. Of course, they wanted to stay in the game.
However, Zeno already knew who was going to be chosen.
It ended exactly as he had planned.
“Billy,” Zeno muttered, causing the same-aged man to turn to him.
At that moment, Mandy called for his name too.
“And Billy,” Mandy smirked, glancing at her roster.
– This is cruel.
– This feels like bullying.
– If they can’t handle this, then they shouldn’t have signed up for the show.
With that, the teams had been decided. Mandy’s group stood, looking down at Zeno and the others.
Annie. Ari. Zeno. Minsu.
The four that supposedly ranked low.
Minsu pursed his lips and wrapped one arm around Zeno. “I would have loved to talk to you more,” he muttered, assuming that Zeno had the least points among them.
“The values will finally be revealed,” Lucy said, her voice sounding louder than before.
“Please go back to the Death Area.”
They were silent as they walked to the Death Area. The production crew had cleared out the props and flickering effects, leaving behind only the ominous corridor and two white circles painted on the concrete floor.
One circle was to the left.
The other, to the right.
“Choose a circle,” Lucy instructed. Mandy’s team went to the one on the right, smirking as the others trudged to the circle next to them.
A digital timer above ticked down from 00:30
Lucy’s voice rang out again. “In thirty seconds, the results would be revealed. Who will be eliminated? Mandy or the one with the lowest value?”
Minsu began tearing up comedically. “This is cruel! I should have been in that group!”
“Zeno, if you die here, I’ll keep the title of being the most handsome in the house,” he added.
Zeno merely smirked while the others brushed his comments off.
– Wouldn’t it be crazy if Mandy suddenly loses?
– How could that be, though?
– Wasn’t Bacon PD very scared? I think he only scored a single point.
Ari and Annie shared a glance. They both stood close to Zeno, who remained oddly calm. The quietness in his face wasn’t the cool, confident kind. It was the kind that scared people.
Annie was the first to look away, her fingers fidgeting. Ari just swallowed hard and stared at the ground.
Neither of them said it out loud, but they were worried for him.
– Is Zeno okay?
– He hasn’t said anything.
– He’s probably panicking inside.
– No, I think he knows something.
From the other circle, Mandy and her chosen team looked relaxed.
“Do we win something?” Minjae asked, cocky as ever. “Or do we just laugh at them while the loser walks out?”
“You’re so mean,” Jenny teased, nudging him with her shoulder.
Mandy didn’t speak. She was looking straight at Zeno.
“Five seconds,” Lucy’s voice counted down.
“Four.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
The room blacked out.
Someone gasped.
Silence. Heavy and suffocating.
Then—
The spotlight on the left circle lit up.
Zeno.
Ari.
Annie.
Minsu.
There was a long, painful pause before people realized what had just happened.
– Oh my goodness—
– No way—
– Wait, what?!
– They won?!
– That can’t be right. That can’t be right.
– Zeno’s team?! How could they do that with only four members?
Minsu screamed in delight. “WE’RE ALIVE! OH MY GOD, WE’RE ALIVE!” He dropped to his knees and hugged Annie’s waist.
Annie blinked in shock.
Ari’s mouth was slightly open, her hand instinctively reaching for Zeno.
Zeno, on the other hand, just smiled—quiet and knowing.
Like he had seen this all along.
Meanwhile, across the room, Mandy’s smile dropped.
The spotlight never came.
Her circle remained in the dark.
And Lucy’s voice returned, “Player Mandy has been eliminated.”