Chapter 13: The Crazy Hypothesis! Who's the Real Outsider?! |
Since Lin Yu didn't reveal any investigation results, everyone tacitly agreed not to hold any vote today. The first day's meeting ended inconclusively in silence.
According to the letter's instructions, they had to spend the night in the conference room. The conference room was absolutely safe—werewolves couldn't commit murders here. So they didn't need to worry about being attacked by werewolves while sleeping. Several sofas in the conference room provided ample space for rest.
However, even so, no one truly slept—everyone was clearly filled with anxiety. Some sat while others lay down, but each chose to keep their distance from others.
Yu Longguo leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, meditating—it was unclear if he was actually asleep. Bao Liu half-closed his eyes, his pupils occasionally darting around as he observed others. Chen Zhuo didn't sit but kept pacing around the conference room, appearing deep in thought.
"Could you stop walking?" Xu Xiumei whispered. Though Chen Zhuo's footsteps weren't loud, they still disturbed others in the quiet night.
"Uh, okay," Chen Zhuo sighed and found a seat.
Xia Yue lay sideways on a sofa, seemingly the only one asleep. Yao Zhengye curled up in a corner sofa, lost in thought. Lin Yu casually leaned against a sofa without sleeping, repeatedly checking the wall clock.
He was waiting—waiting for midnight. At the meeting's conclusion, Lin Yu had formed a "crazy" hypothesis. Yet this very hypothesis could explain all the strange "incidents" he'd noticed.
Soon...
The heavy bell announced midnight. Lin Yu's [Detective] ability refreshed! He gained another chance to uncover someone's secret!
Lin Yu exhaled and immediately activated his ability. "I want to investigate Yu Longguo's secret!" he silently recited, visualizing Yu Longguo's face.
That mysterious sensation returned. Lin Yu seized the moment and whispered: "Investigate Yu Longguo's hidden identity in this game!"
A scene of Yu Longguo opening his envelope appeared. Unlike Bao Liu, Yu Longguo immediately noticed the identity card, casually glanced at it, and put it away—so fast Lin Yu almost missed it.
But he still saw it. The card read "Werewolf"!
Another werewolf!
With this, Lin Yu had identified two werewolves—by previous reasoning, the game should be over! Yet Lin Yu showed no reaction. He exhaled, feeling his "crazy" hypothesis gaining confirmation. But for now, it remained just a "hypothesis."
Lin Yu closed his eyes. "Tomorrow will verify whether my hypothesis is correct." Regardless of the outcome... whether the hypothesis was right or wrong... this game would reach its "conclusion"!
Of course, he might die during the "verification" process—after all, the verification method could be dangerous. With these thoughts, Lin Yu gradually fell asleep.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day, the grand bell rang again, startling the light sleepers awake.
"Dong—!"
Lin Yu got up from the sofa. Soldier Yu Longguo was already at the schedule board. "Today's tasks are refreshed... let's continue with yesterday's groupings!" No one objected.
Bao Liu grumbled as he dragged Yao Zhengye over. Chen Zhuo and Xu Xiumei already stood together... Xia Yue yawned and approached Lin Yu.
"Morning, Detective Bro."
"Morning, Vet Girl."
Lin Yu smiled. Though nervous last night, he now felt completely relaxed. Xia Yue pouted. "'Vet Girl' sounds awful..."
"How's it different from 'Detective Bro'?"
"Of course it's different..." Their whispered banter drew Yu Longguo's disapproval.
"Enough private chatting. Let's assign tasks—same areas as yesterday for familiarity." Yu Longguo continued, "Tasks are evenly distributed with some repeats."
Lin Yu and Xia Yue stepped forward to receive their assignments. Everyone then filed out toward their designated areas.
Lin Yu and Xia Yue ascended the central staircase again. Morning mist shrouded the castle windows. Fewer crows perched on the withered trees now, but the remaining ones still faced the castle as if watching something.
As others' footsteps faded, Lin Yu suddenly stopped and looked down at Xia Yue.
"What's wrong, Detective Bro?" Xia Yue tilted her head.
Lin Yu studied Xia Yue intently—really looking at her for the first time. She was prettier than he'd imagined. Though makeup-free, her skin was flawless. Her watery eyes had subtle double eyelids. Her thick hair made this college student envious. And as a veterinarian, she must love animals...
"Sorry," Lin Yu thought, then spoke solemnly after a long pause: "Xia Yue." He used her real name instead of her "profession," surprising her.
"Huh? Why so formal—"
"I actually identified a werewolf yesterday," Lin Yu interrupted.
Xia Yue froze, then looked shocked. "Really? Then why didn't you say anything last night? We could've voted them out!"
Lin Yu sighed, his expression pained. "Xia Yue... it's because the werewolf I identified was you." His trembling voice suggested inner turmoil.
Xia Yue stood stunned. "You must be mistaken, Detective Bro..." When Lin Yu didn't respond, just kept staring, she eventually sighed sadly. "What a shame... I actually liked you... And I'm not ready to kill anyone."
Despite her words, Xia Yue lifted her white coat and drew a dagger from her waistband. "When did you suspect me? And why?" she asked softly.
Lin Yu remained expressionless. "Probably because your acting was terrible, Vet Girl."
Even facing the dagger, Lin Yu appeared calm—though this was just his excellent acting skills. Watching the glinting blade and Xia Yue's murderous eyes, his scalp tingled.
That "crazy hypothesis" had been confirmed!
The werewolves were Bao Liu, Yu Longguo...
And Xia Yue!
The werewolf count wasn't two...
But...
FIVE!!!
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