The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 311: First Round

He sighed. “I’m ashamed that I couldn’t protect all of you as the Chief of Security of the Qilin Guild.”

“White Tiger, any conversation unrelated to the game is strictly prohibited,” Chen Ying nervously reminded him, worried that Sir Zuo would eliminate them all if they violated the rules.

“Alright, I’ll stop.” White Tiger got back to the game. “I just heard Xia...Vermilion Bird and X make their case. I find both of them making some sense, and I don’t know who I should trust. To not make things even harder for everyone, I’ll quietly listen to all of you.”

To White Tiger’s right was Chen Ying, the moderator. She was skipped.

Then it was Green Tea.

Green Tea had played Werewolf before and was eager to speak up. He immediately said, “Just to be clear, I’ve played the game before. Although I’m no expert, I believe I’m far from a newbie either.”

“First, I’ll tell you my role. I’m a villager.”

“When I ran for sheriff, I was simply testing the water. Those who have played before should know what I meant.” Green Tea glanced at Wu Dahai, who nodded and gave him an understanding look.

“I pulled out when I heard Elder Vermilion Bird say that she had information. Then Electric Mouse continued to feel out the table by making false statements, which prompted X to claim the seer role. And Electric Mouse pulled out too.”

“At the time, I thought X was more likely to be the seer, so I voted him to be the sheriff.”

“After listening to Vermilion Bird’s speech, though, I agree with her more. This isn’t a game we’re playing, but everyone’s life. Were I the seer, I wouldn’t necessarily have the courage to make a stand. Although it may not be the most optimal move for winning the game, it makes sense in terms of human nature.”

Many of them nodded unconsciously while listening.

“So I began to suspect that X is a false seer, and I abstained from voting in the second round.”

Green Tea paused and said earnestly, “I’d like to take the chance to say something: if X isn’t the seer but a wolf making a claim of the role, I hope that the real seer will muster the courage to take a stand and not fear death.”

“As long as you do so and earn everyone’s trust, the guard will definitely protect you the following night, and you won’t die. If you don’t come out, and X is indeed a wolf spy, things will be bad for the good team. And when the good team loses, the seer will die as well.”

“Of course, if there’s no one else claiming to be the seer, then X must have been telling the truth. I’ll wait and see if X is trustworthy.”

“That is all.”

Green Tea’s statement was logically sound.

“Your turn, Joker,” Chen Ying said.

Joker had a half smile on his face as he scanned the table with a sharp but cold gaze. He uttered, “Pass.”

Gao Yang was taken aback. How does he dare to not say his piece at all?

Isn’t he worried that he’ll be considered a lurking wolf and get voted out? Then he’ll die! Isn’t he worried about that?

Wait, does that mean he’s got a special role on the good team, and that’s why he’s so carefree?

Qing Ling sat on Joker’s right.

She had been observing everyone’s expressions and reactions, trying and failing to find some clues.

“I’m on the good team. You better not kill me. Next.” Qing Ling’s statement was brief but concise.

Gao Yang felt a ray of light shining into his gloom-filled heart.

Qing Ling wasn’t a good liar. She wouldn’t react like that were she a wolf.

And ‘you better not kill me’?

The way she put it warranted some consideration.

Basically, she was insinuating that it would be unwise of them to vote her out. She was very likely to have gotten a special role for her to speak so assertively.

Gao Yang let out a sigh of relief knowing that Qing Ling was likely on the same side as him, and that they didn’t have to go against each other.

On her right was Wu Dahai.

Wu Dahai grumbled anxiously, “I’m a fucking villager without any info, fuck my luck! Whoever the four wolves are, I’m warning you! Don’t kill me, or I’ll haunt you to death even after I become a ghost! Next!”

Chen Ying turned to White Rabbit.

After a moment of consideration, White Rabbit looked at Gao Yang, then at X and Vermilion Bird.

It was obvious that she was most focused on the three of them.

“Although I can’t tell much just yet, I’m leaning toward trusting Vermilion Bird. Call that a hunch.” After a pause, she continued, “I didn’t vote for Vermilion Bird, but going forward, I’ll tentatively take her side. I’d like to hear her out first. Next.”

Then it was X’s turn.

“Everyone!” X pointed at his own head, sounding frustrated. “Think about it with your little brains. Aren’t things clear enough now? Does it make sense for me, the true seer, to have no support at all?”

“As for Vermilion Bird, I do think she’s on the good team. However, the four wolves among us have been muddling the water, putting up an act in order to turn members of the good team against each other. How insidious of them!”

“Again, I’m urging the guard to protect me tonight, or I’ll be killed for sure. If I survive, I’ll check Vermilion Bird tonight to see what role the sheriff plays. Then the good team can work together without reservation, and the four wolves will soon show their hands. We’ll be able to quickly finish the game.”

“If I die, the good team collapses. And none of you will survive without my support. Get it?”

“As for Vermilion Bird, the sheriff, I don’t think she’ll get killed tonight. Even if she does, the witch can save her with the healing potion. I suggest the guard protect me and the witch save Vermilion Bird. Remember, newbies, the guard and the witch must not try to save the same person, or that will kill the person instead. Understand?”

The witch saved me. They don’t have a healing potion.

Gao Yang sighed inwardly. Still, the wolves don’t know if I was protected by the guard or saved by the witch—neither does the good team, of course, save for the witch and me.

“Our brains are valuable assets. Please do use yours.” X crossed his arms. “That’s all I have.”

Gao Yang was on his right.

Seeing Chen Ying nodding at him, Gao Yang said, “I didn’t vote during the sheriff election because I couldn’t make a judgment. Now, I’ll share my opinions for your reference.”

“First, X claimed that he’s the seer, and that I’m on the good team, giving me gold water.”

He considered X for two seconds. “I’ll accept the gold water since I am on the good team. His claim as the seer, though, I don’t fully trust.”

“The wolves know that I must be on the good team. If X is a wolf making a false claim, it makes sense for him to give me gold water to win my support.”

“Vermilion Bird is likely a special role. Since she’s not the seer, she’s more likely to be the witch or the guard. She must have saved or protected the right person, thus giving her information.”

“I hope that Sheriff Vermilion Bird will talk about who she saved later. Even though it may expose her role, as long as she’s telling the truth, I believe the player she saved, the silver water, will support her. Then we can further narrow down the suspected wolves, which will benefit the good team.”

Gao Yang was trying to confirm what Vermilion Bird was. If she said that she had saved Gao Yang, it would more or less prove her to be the witch.

If she said she saved someone else, she would be lying.

“That’s it for me.”

Next up was Can. She had listened to everyone talk carefully, but the more she heard, the more confused she was.

“Everyone is making sense to me. I’m just a villager, and I know nothing. Still, I have a feeling that Elder Vermilion Bird and Captain Seven Shadow are the good guys. I don’t know about everyone else.”

“I, I’m done.” Can lowered her head.

Then it was Ronnie.

“I’m just a, villager. I don’t have, information. The one I trust most now, are Elder Vermilion Bird.” Ronnie then glanced at Scarlet Fox.

Scarlet Fox cleared his throat, his voice soft and high-pitched. “I’m a villager too, and I’m not good at deduction. I don’t see any problem with everyone’s statements at the moment. Still, my instinct told me that Elder Vermilion Bird is on the good team, so I support her.”

He turned to Vermilion Bird.

She met his eyes and held it. Both were trying to read the other.

Finally, it was the sheriff’s turn. She thought for a moment with her head lowered, going through everyone’s words and making analysis in her head.

After a good while, she slowly looked up with a flash of guilt in her eyes. She announced in a serious tone, “I’ll give you the conclusion first. Today, I plan to vote for either Can or Green Tea.”