Chapter 114

Li Daoran rubbed his nose as he looked at the senior student on the screen. He was a sophomore, she a junior; they had known each other since the first day of his freshman year. Their relationship had always been at a distance—a few hidden feelings, perhaps, but never anything more.

"Hello, senior. Next."

The image flickered and vanished. Li Daoran dared not answer her questions. He understood his predicament: there was no longer any possibility for a future with her. In fact, until this unique synchronization effect was lifted, he could have no future with any woman on Water-Blue Star. He didn't want to say anything more, though he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of melancholy.

"Did you guys pick these people out beforehand? This is boring. David, what about the people who were supposed to stand up to me? I don't see a single one," Li Daoran said, turning to look at David.

"Heh," David chuckled. "After all, there aren't many people with backgrounds like Chen Ming's who are also a bit dim-witted. If you actually get ticked off, who can afford the consequences?"

"Tch, how dull." Li Daoran leaned back into the sofa and closed his eyes. "Was I being too much?"

"The pressure is so high; you're allowed to be willful once in a while. So, shall we consider this a reconciliation?" David asked.

Li Daoran shook his head. "I’ve caused everyone trouble. How are we handling the situation with Yuan Muye?"

"Yuan Muye’s current weakness is only because he lacks support. Once he returns to a stable environment, the power dynamic will shift, and he will become too great a threat to us. It would be best to kill him," Chen Ming stated.

"Stop with the 'kill, kill, kill.' It’s too much bloodlust," Natasha remarked. "Doing it ourselves isn't exactly ideal. There will be plenty of opportunities on the battlefield to ensure he doesn't come back. Why get our own hands dirty?"

"Using others to do the killing can lead to accidents; it’s safer to take care of it ourselves," Charles agreed with Chen Ming. "Anything can happen on the battlefield. It’s not uncommon for people to fail to kill their target and end up suffering a backlash instead. I don't want to take that risk."

"I still have a file to give him. You’re discussing killing him just like that? Still, we can give it to him before we kill him. Yuan Muye is somewhat useful, after all. Since we’re going to kill him, we might as well extract as much knowledge as possible first," David said, carefully opening a document.

"Hey, my live stream is still running. Isn't it a bit excessive to discuss murder so openly? Aren't you afraid of corrupting the children?" Li Daoran looked around. They used to be careful about such things during broadcasts, but today was different.

"Then why don't we put it to a vote? David," Chen Ming suggested.

"You got it." David immediately initiated the task, and two options—Kill or Do Not Kill—appeared on the screen.

Moments later, the same options appeared on the computers of everyone watching the live stream.

This was a test of human nature. First, the five of them laid out the stakes, and then they methodically opened the voting channel. Everything flowed naturally; it seemed as if this had happened because of Li Daoran's outburst, but in reality, it felt as though the entire thing had been rehearsed.

Li Daoran realized this now. He pursed his lips and scanned the room, observing the micro-expressions and gestures of everyone present.

David said, "It will take about ten minutes to tally. Don't worry, we aren't rigging this. We were prepared for this matter long ago. Even if you hadn't thrown a tantrum, this would have been pushed forward eventually. It’s just happening a bit early, so it’s a little unrefined."

"You never tell me anything you're doing," Li Daoran said.

"We have too much to do. Do you think you're the only one working hard?" Chen Ming replied.

Natasha covered her mouth and giggled. "Only a big oaf like Chen Ming dares to talk back to you like that, heh."

"I never thought of it that way."

"You didn't think, because your perspective is too narrow, too simple. You want us to treat you like an ordinary person, but you must understand that you are not one. Treating you as an ordinary person would be a disrespect to everyone else. Remember when we first met? I said that if you couldn't handle this pressure, we wouldn't bother struggling—sooner or later, it makes no difference. Since you’re bound to die anyway, I might as well be the one to end your suffering."

"But at the time, you replied that you would try your best and that you could handle it. What are you doing now? Making a joke out of us? This isn't something you can just walk away from whenever you feel like it. This is not the time for you to be willful."

"How much have we sacrificed? Even every single person on this planet is making sacrifices. Society is slowly returning to normal operation—that is everyone’s trust in you. Are you going to be angry and willful just because you’re a little unhappy, feeling that even though you’re trying and sacrificing, some people still don't understand you?"

"Can't you see all the people who support you and sacrifice for you? You can't be a child anymore; we don't need to coddle you every single day. You feel like you're the one taking the blame, getting hurt, and being wronged. Have I ever told you I felt wronged? All of this is just in your own head. Could we not be putting on a tragic act ourselves? You need to think about things on multiple levels." Chen Ming finished his long speech with great difficulty, his tone earnest and grave.

"So, it’s all my fault, then?" Li Daoran retorted.

Chen Ming shook his head. "I thank you, but in comparison, I am insignificant. The big picture comes first."

"Hou Liang, take him away," Li Daoran said, waving his hand in annoyance.

"Don't be so hasty, the results are in," David said.

David displayed the results: 82 percent voted to kill Yuan Muye, only 10 percent voted not to, and 8 percent failed to vote within the effective time, which was counted as an abstention.

"What do you think, Li Daoran?" David looked at him with an ambiguous smile.

Li Daoran remained silent; he could have imagined this result. But after a moment of contemplation, he gritted his teeth and squeezed out a single sentence through his clenched jaw: "Do not kill."

"Very well, then we shall not kill him," David nodded.

"Huh?" Li Daoran turned to look at David. It was that simple?

"Fine, then we won't kill him. Let's draft a plan. I want a strategy to minimize the risks within ten minutes," Hou Liang said directly. He knew that countless people were racking their brains as soon as they received the information and would provide a comprehensive plan in the shortest possible time.

Chen Ming hobbled toward the door with his crutches. His mission was complete, and he could go back to rest.

"Chen Ming," Li Daoran called out, stopping him. "I'll wait for you to come back. Without you, it’s too easy for me to make mistakes."

Chen Ming paused for a moment before slowly shuffling away.

"How touching. Tell me, if I ever get hurt, could you say that to me? It would make it all worth it," David said with a jealous tone.

Li Daoran shuddered. "It was fine until you said that; now I feel a bit nauseated."

"Are we really not going to kill him?" Li Daoran asked.

"You said not to kill him, so we won't," Charles nodded.

Tam walked out of the room, carrying a box filled with the smashed surveillance monitors and pieces of cement wall.