Chapter 854: The Decision
"A 'Participant of Absolute Safety'…"
White Sheep pondered for a moment before saying, "That's a bit more abstract. After I become a 'Ground-tier,' this 'Participant' will become my direct contact. I'll share all the insider information I know with him, share resources, and ensure his survival. In theory, he has the potential to become the person who knows the most truths about the entire 'Land of Finality.' But he also has to work for me. It's that simple."
After saying this, he looked at us again, raised both hands, and extended one finger on each, saying, "Two paths, each suited to a different direction… Of course, you can also refuse. I'll continue searching for other suitable candidates."
Seeing that Zhang Qiang and I remained silent, he fixed his gaze on Zhang Qiang and added, "Oh, and by the way. The 'Zodiac' who becomes the 'Interviewer' will permanently gain 'Brute Force.'"
"Permanently…?" Zhang Qiang blinked, seeming a bit tempted, but he didn't say anything further.
The two paths White Sheep had laid out indeed led to two different directions.
If one chose to become a 'Zodiac,' there would be no need to worry about 'striving' at all. All that was required was to wait. No matter how many years it took—just waiting until White Sheep became the 'Dominator.' Then they would be liberated.
Furthermore, because 'Zodiacs' have a high probability of dying each cycle, time moves fast forward for them. In each cycle, they only retain the memories of a single day.
No matter how many years White Sheep needed, the time the person who chose to become a 'Zodiac' had to wait was only one-tenth of the time the person who chose to become a 'Participant' would have to wait.
If one chose to become a 'Participant,' they would need to be constantly on the move, perpetually busy, continuously absorbing the newest knowledge in order to become a stronger person. At the same time, this person would have to face various unknown dangers from the outside world, dangers that could come from other 'Zodiacs' or from other 'Participants.'
Although White Sheep had offered two choices, the end point of these two paths was paradoxically the same: 'Eternal Safety.' Given that, who would choose the more troublesome path?
Yes, of course, I would.
If there was no way to 'Escape' from here, then I would have to adopt the same life goal I had in the real world: to become stronger.
Staying in the interview room forever, living a monotonous life, was simply not an option. I wouldn't be able to grow stronger. I would stagnate.
So if Zhang Qiang and I agreed to White Sheep's request, I would unhesitatingly choose to become the 'Eternally Safe Participant.'
This was a choice that left plenty of room for a backup plan.
Considering it from two angles: if White Sheep succeeded in his rebellion as he claimed, transforming into the 'Dominator' of this place, then I would be incredibly powerful by that time, strong enough to be considered one of his 'founding members,' and capable of handling all affairs for him. Because I would know many truths and be a truly powerful individual, there was a high probability he would entrust me with important roles, giving me even better opportunities.
Looking at it from the other side: if White Sheep failed, I wouldn't lose anything. I would still be a 'Participant,' just as I am now, but I would be stronger. By then, knowing many of this place's truths, I would be better equipped to handle more problems. If White Sheep fell, I could pledge allegiance to the next strong team, combining strength with strength, and turn this place upside down.
So, no matter how I looked at it, agreeing to him was a good choice.
"I agree to cooperate," I said decisively. "Let's do this together."
"Oh?" White Sheep's face instantly lit up with delight. "Are you sure?"
"Sure." I nodded. "I want to become the 'Eternally Safe Participant.' Tell me what I need to do."
"What… Zhi Chun, you…" Zhang Qiang turned his head to look at me. I could see from the look in his eyes that he didn't want to agree to White Sheep's cooperation request.
"Qiang Ge," I said, "I think if we keep hesitating, we'll only be wasting our own time."
"But you're being too rash. This is a decision that almost determines the course of our lives from now on. Don't you need time to think about it?"
"I've already thought about it for ten days," I said, looking him in the eye. "I started thinking about it the last time White Sheep mentioned 'cooperation.'"
"You…" Zhang Qiang pondered for a moment. "I still feel like this isn't the right time… I'm not good at dealing with people. I'm better off alone."
"But you don't have any other choice," I said to Zhang Qiang. "Qiang Ge, once I leave this place, you'll be trapped here forever."
After hearing this, he lowered his head deeply, seemingly realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Qiang Ge, even if you can survive the 'Liar' game, it won't be enough. After all, 'Bamboo Shoots After Rain' can't stop harpoons coming from all directions with just one person," I sighed. "I'm here now. At critical moments, I can at least control other 'Zodiacs' to form four-direction 'Shoots' with us. But what will you do when you're the only one left? Will those 'Zodiacs' help you?"
"That's why I said… you should have thought it over more…" Zhang Qiang looked at me anxiously. "We've only met this White Sheep a few times… What if he's tricking us?"
"You should be able to feel that White Sheep is taking a huge risk too," I tried to explain to Zhang Qiang. "What reason does he have to come specifically to this room to trick the two of us? What do we even have that he could trick us out of?"
"Well…"
After hearing my words, he fell into hesitation again.
"Whether you agree or not, I've made up my mind," I said. "I'm going to become the 'Eternally Safe Participant.' It will save me a lot of time exploring."
Upon hearing this, White Sheep looked at Zhang Qiang and, using his masterful psychological tactics, said, "There's no need to feel pressured. Someone else's choice has nothing to do with you. You just need to follow your own heart. After all, I've already achieved half of my goal. Even if I have to start over in a different room, the work I need to do has been cut in half."
I then mentally translated the subtext of White Sheep's words, trying to analyze the aggressiveness of his statement.
The meaning of this sentence was: 'The other person has already made their choice. My time is limited. If you don't agree, I'll leave now.'
"I know not everyone can trust me, and I have no way of trusting someone who hesitates. You are perfectly free to decline. I won't force you. When this day ends, you can still go back to doing whatever you want, just like before."
The meaning of this sentence was: 'If you keep hesitating, even if you agree now, you'll have lost my trust. You'll only be able to go back to your old life, drifting like a headless fly.'
White Sheep was indeed interesting. He wrapped his highly aggressive words in seemingly ordinary conversation, constantly chipping away at the other person's psychological defenses.
At this point, I decided to give him a hand. As long as I chose to join White Sheep, Zhang Qiang would have no way to retreat, forced into the dilemma of 'either cooperate or die.'
"Alright… Since Zhi Chun agreed… then I'll agree too…"