Chapter 10: Fair and just games

“…”

“Please, I beg you, pick someone else! Pick him—he looks weak, you can beat him.”

The woman clutched the man, nearly pleading.

“Once chosen, no changes. As a player, face the game’s challenges bravely!”

The man she called weak stood upright, immediately refuting her words.

Fck, how dare you try to get me killed? You btch deserve to die!

The weak-looking man cursed viciously in his heart, wishing he could make her drop dead on the spot.

“Come on, both players, take the stage. My patience is limited.”

Augustus was displeased; he didn’t like dawdlers.

The muscular man quickly ran to the center, but the woman hesitated to step forward.

Her face was streaked with tears, her terrified expression making her words incoherent.

Augustus had no patience for this.

“A player avoiding the game is unacceptable. Since you won’t come up, I’ll help you.”

Augustus snapped his pocket watch shut, drew a small wooden stick from his chest, and pointed it at the woman.

Her body stiffened, moving uncontrollably to the center.

“No! I don’t want to play! I don’t want to!”

She screamed, but it wasn’t up to her.

Manipulated, she reached the center, and the game began under her despair.

“Are you both ready?” Augustus looked at them.

“Sir, I’m ready.” The man was already on the ground, prepared.

“No, I don’t want… sob, please, I beg you!”

Augustus ignored her pleas and announced the start.

“Game… begin!”

At his command, the man completed over a dozen push-ups in five seconds at breakneck speed.

His pace was jaw-dropping.

A mere hundred push-ups? He’d finish in a minute!

“Whoa!”

“So fast? What’s with her?”

“No… no idea…”

The crowd buzzed, momentarily forgetting their fear, forgetting the guillotine over their necks.

They looked at the woman in astonishment—she was fast!

In thirty seconds, she completed a hundred push-ups!

Under Augustus’s control, she broke her physical limits, surpassing the man to win the game.

“I’m done!”

A minute passed, and the man stood happily, his face flushed.

Unaware he’d lost, he looked at the woman apologetically.

“Sorry, I just didn’t want to die.”

He looked up at Augustus, awaiting the results.

“Well done. You’ve won this game. You may leave now.”

“Thank you.”

The man thanked him, turning to leave.

The next second, the tiger entity lunged forward, grabbed him, and tossed him into its mouth.

The man didn’t even have time to scream.

The tiger chewed, savoring the taste with relish.

The woman lay on the ground, her consciousness fuzzy, barely able to move.

Driven by a fierce will to survive, she began crawling toward the amusement park’s gate.

Her pace was agonizingly slow, but she finally escaped, alive.

“Sir, I’ll go next!”

“Sir, me, me!”

“Let me go first, I’m a woman—ladies first!”

After the muscular man’s example, players realized the proactive one could choose their opponent, and enthusiasm surged.

Though there was a risk of Augustus controlling their opponent, leading to a loss.

They’d rather pick their opponent than be picked.

Holding the initiative gave them a better shot at survival!

“I’m delighted by your enthusiasm.”

“For the second game, I’ll choose the players myself. Please, stay calm.”

Augustus’s words silenced the crowd, their anxiety returning, praying not to be chosen.

“Let’s see, who should play the second game?”

Augustus looked down from above, noticing two women moving in the crowd.

Many were moving, trying to hide.

But these two moved with purpose.

“I’ve decided on the second game’s players. Please come to the center.”

As Augustus spoke, a girl who looked like a student suddenly stepped out from the crowd.

Behind her followed a tall man.

They were the second game’s players.

Bai Yao saw the girl step out and went frantic.

“Feifei, no!”

Bai Yao shouted, desperately trying to push through the crowd.

Not only did she fail, but she also drew their ire.

“Stop yelling! If you upset the sir, will you take responsibility?”

“Women, always making a fuss over nothing.”

“Next game, if it’s like the first, I’m picking her.”

Bai Yao ignored their words, her eyes fixed on Bai Feifei.

Bai Feifei was terrified; her body was out of her control.

She’d been heading toward her sister—how did she end up here?

The two new players reached the center, Bai Feifei trembling.

The man beside her, seeing his opponent was a girl, felt more at ease.

But it wasn’t enough.

To survive, he needed to minimize all risks!

He took a deep breath, boldly addressing Augustus.

“Sir, before the game starts, forgive my presumption, but I have a question.”

“Ask away. I like polite players.”

Augustus was in a good mood, allowing the question.

“Thank you, sir. I’d like to know if you’ll control the players’ bodies in this game as well?”

“Sir, I mean no disrespect. I just think winning through your power instead of our own strength is like cheating.”

“It’s unfair to the game. I sincerely beg you, sir, please don’t interfere in this game. Let us compete fairly!”

The man spoke eloquently, a glint of appreciation flashing in Augustus’s eyes.

“You’re right. Cheating in a game is a serious matter.”

“I apologize for the first game. I assure you, the next games will be fair and just. I won’t interfere. Compete with confidence.”

With Augustus’s assurance, the man was relieved—he was sure to win.

“Are you both ready?”

“Sir, I’m ready.”

Augustus didn’t ask Bai Feifei, declaring the start.

“Game… begin!”

The man immediately threw himself into push-ups, while Bai Feifei hadn’t recovered from her fear.

She’d die! How could she beat a man!

“Feifei, move!”

“Feifei, do the push-ups! Aren’t you the class sports rep?”

“A hundred push-ups are nothing to fear, move!”

Bai Yao screamed with all her might, and Bai Feifei stirred.