Chapter 435: The Road to Victory
"Whether it's the 'Earth Dragon' or the 'Heavenly Dragon,' they are both my most revered leaders." Dishu said expressionlessly.
Qi Xia knew that if Dishu was truly surviving under the pressure of the "Earth Dragon," he must have some leverage held against him. Until the "Earth Dragon" was dealt with, his stance would not change in any way.
"Let's leave it at that, then." Qi Xia said. "Proceed according to the plan. Qiu Shiliu comes back with me. Luo Shiyi stays here."
He paid no more attention to Dishu or Luo Shiyi, gave Qiu Shiliu a signal with his eyes, and walked out the door. He then went straight to the "Rat House." According to the rules, this "rescue" operation had already succeeded.
As soon as the two entered the room, Qi Xia heard a voice in his ear.
"Tsk, how's it going on your end?" Zhou Liu asked. "The bell just rang. Is Shiliu still alive?"
"Alive." Qi Xia replied. "I've brought the person back."
"But... tsk, I'll be blunt—things aren't looking good here." Zhou Liu cursed. "My room's light is red."
"The 'Mousetrap'?" Qi Xia nodded after hearing that. "Ask how Wang Ba is doing."
"I already asked. Tsk, he's fine." Zhou Liu said reluctantly. "Looks like I'm the most dangerous one right now..."
"No." Qi Xia shook his head. "Being caught by the 'Mousetrap' isn't dangerous. I observed earlier—from the outside, there's no way to tell if a rat has actually been caught in this room."
"Tsk, so what are you saying...?"
"Dishu said we need to simulate the real effect of a 'Mousetrap,'" Qi Xia explained. "Considering it from that angle, not only can the 'Rat' not tell there's a mousetrap in the room, but even the 'Cat' would have to personally check before knowing whether a 'Rat' has been caught."
"Tsk, I still don't get it." Zhou Liu said. "Even if the 'Cat' has to check, so what? I'm still trapped, aren't I?"
"But your probability of being caught remains the same." Qi Xia said. "Because the 'Cat' doesn't know if the 'Mousetrap' worked, so he's unlikely to waste a 'Search' chance opening a room with a 'Mousetrap.'"
"I think I'm starting to understand..."
"Exactly." Qi Xia nodded. "The biggest function of the 'Mousetrap' isn't to catch a rat, but to waste one of the rat's turns. In a game with a total of six turns, wasting one turn is already extremely valuable for the cat."
"Tsk, but if that's the case... doesn't that mean I'm screwed?" Zhou Liu asked doubtfully. "Now that I'm caught, I've already wasted a turn. If someone else comes to rescue me, won't that waste another turn?"
"No, no, no..." Qi Xia shook his head. "I don't know if you've noticed, but those five rooms we need to 'Search' don't even have a 'Rescue' button?"
"You mean..."
"I think as long as the door can be opened, you can escape." Qi Xia said. "All it takes is for another rat to 'Search' your room, and you can slip out when the door opens."
Hearing this, Zhou Liu gradually relaxed. "So that's it... I understand. Next turn, there should be plenty of people. If the 'Cat' doesn't come for me, you guys can let me out."
"No... next turn there will be fewer people." Qi Xia said. "Whether the rest goes according to my script... mainly depends on what the 'Cat' does this turn."
"Fewer people next turn?"
"Correct. This time Luo Shiyi stayed in the Rat House, and you were caught. We've lost two people."
Zhou Liu knew Qi Xia's thoughts ran deeper than his own, so he had no choice but to fall silent and stay in his room, quietly waiting for the "Cat's" move.
"Zhou Liu..." Qi Xia looked at the identical peaches on the table. "Help me with one thing."
"Tsk, what is it?"
"I forgot to check earlier." Qi Xia said. "The plate on the altar... is there anything unusual about it?"
"Plate?" Zhou Liu was slightly stunned. "Tsk, you mean... that plate holding the fruit?"
"Yes." Qi Xia nodded. "Is it..."
Qi Xia lowered his head and mimicked the feeling with his hands, unsure how to express it.
"Tsk, it looks like a very ordinary plate to me." Zhou Liu said. "What do you suspect is wrong...?"
"I..." Qi Xia thought for a few more seconds, organizing his words before finally coming up with the term. "Does its pressure feel off?"
"Pressure?"
"Does that plate work like an electronic scale?" Qi Xia confirmed. "Is there a spring at the bottom, or... can it be pressed down?"
Zhou Liu felt that Qi Xia had indeed raised a question she had never considered. She shifted the last remaining dragon fruit on the plate and gently pressed down on it.
"Tsk..." Zhou Liu's brow instantly furrowed. "It's subtle, but the plate can indeed be pressed down."
"Then I understand." Qi Xia smiled. "This Dishu is smarter than I thought. This game is even more complex than I imagined."
"What do you mean...?" Zhou Liu asked. "Tsk, the more I hear, the more confused I get. What does the plate being pressable indicate?"
"It means we can not only take fruit away, but also place fruit on it." Qi Xia stood in the "Rat House" gazing at the colors of the five doors outside, then thought back to the fruits the others had taken last turn. He felt he had indeed found the answer.
But which path did this "answer" lead to?
The first room had a dark green door, with a dragon fruit placed in front.
The second room had a deep yellow door, with peaches placed in front.
The third room had a deep blue door, the fruit unknown.
The fourth room had a deep red door, with pomegranates placed in front.
The fifth room had a brown door, with small oranges placed in front.
Now the problem should lie in the "small oranges." The fruits on the table were all of excellent appearance, round and bright yellow... how could they be called "small oranges"?
*Click.*
Before Qi Xia could figure it out, the door of the "Rat House" had already closed.
It seemed the "Night" part of the second round was over. Next came the "Cat's" daytime moment.
"Zhou Liu!" Qi Xia called out. "We absolutely cannot lose Wang Ba this round, or else only Qiu Shiliu and I will be left in the 'Rat House.' The odds of winning would be far too slim."
"Are we... going to lose Wang Ba?" Zhou Liu asked. "Tsk, the 'Cat's' chances of finding Wang Ba are one in five... probably..."
"No..." Qi Xia's eyes turned cold. "One in five is far too optimistic. I suspect the 'Cat' set a 'Mousetrap' in Room One. He knows I'm no ordinary person, so he probably guessed I'd figure that out. That means he predicted I wouldn't send anyone into both Room One and Room Two at the same time. Now Room Three is uncharted territory, so I still won't send anyone there... That leaves only Room Four and Room Five. The 'Cat' has never used 'Patrol' before. If he patrols between Room Four and Room Five this round, Wang Ba will be caught with a one hundred percent probability."