# Chapter 73: The Spy
"Spy?" Qi Xia thought carefully for a moment, not understanding what this identity card meant.
If there was a spy among four people, logically their identity should be kept secret. But Earth Dog had everyone check each other's identities right from the start, even allowing them to exchange identity cards. What kind of game was this supposed to be?
"Everyone, would you like to exchange identities?" Earth Dog asked from the front desk of the hotel.
Qi Xia looked at the cards in everyone's hands and felt troubled.
Without even knowing what game they were about to play next, how could he possibly figure out which identity was the most important?
If the "Spy" identity was meant to disrupt teamwork, then giving that card to Old Lyu would be very fitting.
He wasn't particularly clever, and Qi Xia wouldn't have too much trouble dealing with him.
But what were the "Sender" and "Receiver" supposed to do?
"Qi Xia, let me exchange with you." Lin Qin held out her "Receiver" card. "Although I don't fully understand what these two identities mean, just looking at the literal terms, 'Sender' comes first and 'Receiver' comes after. Let me be the first one. If you're the 'Receiver,' at least you'll have some room to maneuver."
Qi Xia thought what Lin Qin said made some sense.
He really did need to be the "backup."
"Alright, let's exchange."
The two swapped cards. Lin Qin became the "Sender," and Qi Xia became the "Receiver."
"Um..." Old Lyu looked helplessly at the card in his hand. "I... I'm this..."
Qi Xia patted him on the shoulder and said, "Old Lyu, no matter what the Spy's mission objective is, just focus on doing your part. Remember, we're a team. When necessary, think things through more carefully."
Old Lyu nodded with a confused look. Qi Xia turned back to look at Zhang Chenze.
She was staring blankly at a "Hostage" card in her hand. Her clothes were soaked through, and Qi Xia could imagine how cold she must be.
"Lawyer Zhang, are you okay?" Qi Xia asked.
"This 'Hostage'..." Zhang Chenze's lips trembled slightly. "Could it be the kind of hostage 'tied up in a fish tank'?"
Qi Xia seriously considered this question and nodded. "It's possible. Do you want me to exchange with you?"
"No need..." Zhang Chenze shook her head and forced a bitter smile. "Maybe none of you have as much experience as I do. It's best for me to be this 'Hostage.'"
Seeing the feigned strength on Zhang Chenze's face, Qi Xia didn't know how to persuade her. He could only say calmly, "Don't worry, I'll save you."
"I'm not worried about my situation. I just hope you won't break your own hand again."
After Qi Xia's team confirmed their identities, the opposing team had also finished exchanging cards.
Green Hair, Blonde Hair, and Bald Head's identities were "Sender," "Receiver," and "Hostage" respectively. The only girl on their team was the "Spy."
The girl didn't seem happy with her identity, as if someone had exchanged it with her.
"Now that both sides have chosen their identities, please line up." Earth Dog said with a grin.
Qi Xia was slightly startled. He noticed that when Earth Dog smiled, every muscle on his face moved, as if he wasn't wearing a dog-head mask but had grown a real dog's head.
"First, the players who drew the 'Spy' card, please step forward." Earth Dog made a "please" gesture.
Old Lyu and the girl stepped out after a moment of hesitation.
"Everyone, give them a round of applause!!" Earth Dog clapped his hands enthusiastically.
None of the others moved. They listened quietly to the muffled sound of his clapping echoing in the room.
"First, let me congratulate you two. In this game, you have drawn the identity with the highest survival rate."
"Highest survival rate?" Both furrowed their brows.
"That's right. From now on, because of the special identity of 'Spy,' you will operate within the opposing team." Earth Dog gestured as he explained. "You have two ways to complete the mission. First, be a good 'Spy,' help your original team win, and your whole team survives. Second, you can also abandon your original team, help your current team win the match, and as long as your new team is willing to accept you at the critical moment, you may survive with a new identity."
Old Lyu processed these words and then asked, "So you're saying we're not 'Spies' but 'double agents'? As long as we help either team win, we count as winners?"
"Exactly. As long as the new team is willing to accept you, you win." Earth Dog nodded with a smile.
Qi Xia felt there was a loophole in this rule and asked, "Then why are there two spies? Wouldn't one fence-sitter be enough?"
"Good question." Earth Dog nodded. "That's exactly what makes this game interesting. If a new team wants to accept a 'Spy,' they must abandon the 'Spy' they originally sent out. In other words, a team can have at most four members. It's impossible for both 'Spies' to join the same camp."
After hearing this, Qi Xia's expression turned grim.
Sure enough, nothing that happened in this place ever went according to plan.
So the "Spy" could actually defect?
Before Qi Xia could say anything, Old Lyu turned back and asked, "Kid Qi, you guys aren't going to abandon me, are you?!"
Qi Xia stared into Old Lyu's eyes for a moment, then asked in return, "What about you?"
"What good would it do me to abandon you?! I paid the entry fee of four 'Dao' myself." Old Lyu said anxiously. "The winning team each gets five 'Dao' plus the spoils from the opponents, right? But you guys are all broke except for that lawyer who has a few 'Dao.' If I help them kill you, I'd only gain five 'Dao' in total. That means after all my trouble, I'd only earn one 'Dao.'"
Qi Xia nodded. "It's best that you understand that. I won't abandon you either."
"Then it's settled." Old Lyu grabbed Qi Xia's hand. "I'll do my best to mess things up on the other side and help you win the match."
"Hold on." Qi Xia pulled Old Lyu closer and whispered, "There are a few things I need to tell you."
…
On the other side, the girl who was also a "Spy" was troubled after hearing the rules. She went to her boyfriend, Green Hair, and said reluctantly, "What's this? I have to go to the other team?"
"Don't worry, babe." Green Hair put his arm around the girl's waist. "It's just a formality. How could those old, weak, and disabled guys ever beat you?"
"You're not going to take this chance to get rid of me, are you?" the girl asked.
"What kind of talk is that? Get rid of you to be with that old man?" Green Hair pulled her closer until their faces almost touched. "In some ways, you're much more important than him."
"How shameless..."
The two then embraced and started kissing right there, regardless of the occasion.