The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 312: First Round 2

The others turned to Vermilion Bird, their expressions shifting into one of doubt.

“I’ll go through my reasoning.”

Vermilion Bird did her best to speak without emotions. “First, there are three people who have been supporting me throughout: Ronnie, Scarlet Fox, and Electric Mouse. White Rabbit is giving me tentative support. The four of them may be on the good team, or they may be wolves putting on an act. Given they’re willing to follow the good team, though, I’ll put them aside for now.”

She then turned to X. “You’re the most controversial player at this table. You claimed to be the seer and made a passable statement, but the others are unwilling to place their trust in you.”

“Considering the factors outside the game, it’s natural for the table to dislike you. Still, I believe in intuition, and thus I have a healthy dose of suspicion of you. If you can provide us more information to prove that you’re the seer after the second night, I’ll consider trusting you. Also, I suggest you not check my role if you are the seer; it’s only going to be a waste.”

“Now, Seven Shadow.” Vermilion Bird turned to Gao Yang. “X gave you gold water. Whether he’s the real seer or a false one, the fact that he’s trying to win your support means that you should be a member of the good team.”

“Still, I have to remind you that your statement earlier is a dangerous one. You urge me to reveal my role in order to quicken the game, thus showing your aggression. Although you may simply be eager to win the game and minimize casualties, your action would’ve made me suspect you as a wolf if not for the gold water given to you.”

Gao Yang’s heart jumped. He didn’t agree with Vermilion Bird’s judgment, but her warning did ring true.

It would be unwise for him to be too aggressive. This wasn’t a game of newbies, neither was it a game of expert players. Instead, it was a gamble that would determine their survival. Principles that applied to a game didn’t necessarily apply when human nature was involved. He would be attracting danger if he got too impatient.

“Green Snake, Joker, and White Tiger have revealed too little. I can’t judge them yet.”

“Can, Green Tea.” Vermilion Bird met their eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m leaning toward eliminating one of you.”

Green Tea and Can still looked shocked, confused, and wronged.

As for if they were showing their genuine feelings or putting on an act, Gao Yang wasn’t sure.

“The reasons...” Vermilion Bird paused. “First, it is because the two of you changed your votes. Green Tea went from voting X to giving up, while Can went from not voting to voting for me.”

“It’s more likely for wolves to waver. They adjust their tactics according to the current situation.”

“Green Tea, although you’ve offered an explanation for your change in stance, you’ve been way too eager to be a villager. You even urged the true seer to take a stand if X wasn’t the real deal. It sounds like you were trying to identify the seer for your fellow wolves.”

“You’re no newbie, so you should know how important the seer is for the good team. That’s why I suspect you more.”

“Now, Can.” Vermilion Bird sighed softly. “You didn’t make any logical deduction, Can. You simply said that you felt like Seven Shadow and I are good.”

“That’s irresponsible. I can only interpret that as you being a wolf who isn’t good at lying. That’s why you just said whatever to get by.”

“Therefore, I suspect you of being a wolf too.”

After the analysis, Vermilion Bird turned to Green Tea and Can and repeated, “I’m sorry.”

Can paled, her eyes reddening and her lips pursed.

She knew how cruel a game of life and death would be, but she didn’t expect Elder Vermilion Bird to turn against her.

“Everyone.” Vermilion Bird scanned the table. “I’ve shared my thoughts without bringing in any prejudice from outside the game. Your lives are your own. Please make a judgment for yourselves.”

After a moment of silence, Chen Ying stood up and announced, “To make the voting process easier, I’ll give you each a number. Gao Yang is number 1. Then from left to right, Can is number 2, Ronnie, 3, Scarlet Fox, 4, Vermilion Bird, 5, White Tiger, 6, Green Tea, 7, Joker, 8, Green Snake, 9, Electric Mouse, 10, White Rabbit, 11, and X, 12.”

“The sheriff’s statement is merely a reference. You may choose whoever you want to vote out, including yourself.”

“Please raise your hand at the same time and indicate the number you’re voting for.”

Chen Ying took a deep breath. “Three, two, one. Please vote.”

Gao Yang abstained, along with X, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger.

He was a little surprised that Vermilion Bird would abstain when she had shared with everyone the players she suspected. It seemed that she didn’t want to influence the votes, or perhaps she was waiting to see which bandwagon the wolves would hop on.

Those who voted for Green Tea, number 7, were Wu Dahai, Ronnie, White Rabbit, and Can.

And those who voted for Can, number 2, were Scarlet Fox, Joker, Qing Ling, and Green tea.

No other player had received a vote.

Gao Yang memorized who had voted for whom.

“A tie.” Chen Ying’s voice sounded grave. “Next, I’d like to ask the two of you to make your final defense. Please decide the order, Sheriff.”

“Green Tea, you go first,” said Vermilion Bird.

It seemed that Green Tea had been holding back for quite a while. He shot to his feet with great intensity. “First! I don’t wanna die! If I’m going to die, I’ll be killed on the battlefield! Here? I refuse! Fuck!”

“Green Tea, please calm down.” Chen Ying found it hard to look at him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry... I’ll calm down...” Green Tea placed his hands on the table, trembling all over. He took a deep breath before turning to Vermilion Bird. “Elder Vermilion Bird—no, Sheriff Vermilion Bird, I’m now at your mercy. You can sentence me to death with a single word.”

“I’m begging you to think carefully: when X claimed the seer role, no one supported him. Does that make sense? If X were a wolf, and I his ally, where were the other wolves? Why didn’t they vote for him to make him the sheriff? Why would I support him on my own like an idiot and then flip side? Wouldn’t I be digging my own grave by doing that?”

“The wolves must have discussed their strategy during the first night. It’s clear that they are all disguising themselves as the good guys to stir up trouble. Because everyone fears death! If anyone dares make a move, they’ll get poisoned or shot!”

Green Tea did his best to maintain his composure and licked his lips. “Everyone, it’s fine to consider Vermilion Bird a good sheriff based on what we know at the moment, but more will be revealed the second day. Many things can change.”

“I’m one of the few at this table who know how to play the game. If you vote me out, have you considered what you’re going to do on the off chance—and I do mean the off chance—that Elder Vermilion Bird turns out to be a wolf? The good team will fall apart at once! You shouldn’t vote me out for that alone if nothing else!”

“As for Can, while I don’t know if she’s a wolf or a villager, she’s never given us any valuable information throughout the game. If I may speak the cold truth, her death will do you less harm than mine, and the risk will be lower. If she’s a wolf, we benefit greatly. If she’s a villager, we can still carry on with the game.”

He cast Can a guilty look. “I’m sorry, Can. I don’t want to die, and I don’t want more people to die. You’re the only choice.”

“That’s it for me.”

Green Tea fell back onto his seat like he had lost all his strength, looking resigned and dejected.

X gave them a pointed look with a lopsided smile, as if he was saying, See, this is what you get for not electing the seer as the sheriff.

“It’s your turn now, Can,” said Chen Ying.

Face pale, Can said in a trembling voice, her fear and helplessness on full display, “I, I can’t talk as well as Green Tea do. I don’t often go for brainy stuff, so I rarely play Werewolf. It’s true that I can’t really defend myself properly. Still, I really am not a wolf. I, I don’t wanna die either...”

She turned to Gao Yang imploringly. “I meant it when I said I trust Sheriff Vermilion Bird and Elder Seven Shadow. The sheriff herself said that intuition is important. I don’t wanna die either, Green Tea. I can only vote for you. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry!”

“That’s, that’s it for me.”

She lowered her head.

Amid the thickening tension, Chen Ying forgot her duty as the moderator for a moment.

“The game continues,” Sir Zuo urged.

Chen Ying broke out of her thoughts and took a deep breath, speaking with difficulty, “Please vote again, everyone. This time, you may only vote between Green Tea and Can. This will determine the one eliminated. Please think carefully before making the decision.”