Qin Wei Yi was in the middle of questioning an NPC when he noticed Jian Fan approaching. He took a step back, leaving the matter to Zheng Jueming, and turned to chat with Jian Fan.
“How’s it going on your side?” Qin Wei Yi asked.
Jian Fan raised an eyebrow. “You’re not my teammate.”
“Temporary teammates, how about that?” Qin Wei Yi suggested, tilting his head.
Jian Fan didn’t immediately agree. “After I’m sure you’re not the murderer.”
Qin Wei Yi nodded. “I shouldn’t be foolish enough to make myself the murderer.”
Jian Fan wasn’t surprised.
This world was actually simpler than the previous movie script world. But this simplicity applied to experienced players like them who had enough intelligence.
In the movie world, death had little to do with intelligence and was more about luck. However, in this world, both he and Qin Wei Yi had a vague understanding of the underlying rules.
The murderer wasn’t determined when the identity cards were drawn; rather, it was formed through their actions during the game.
The rules of the murder mystery required players to identify the murderer. According to this logic, the player who drew the murderer’s card would either kill the other eleven players or die themselves. But that didn’t align with the rules of this death scenario—no game world could require the sacrifice of a player to win.
Jian Fan didn’t reveal all his speculations to Qin Nan.
There were two key points in this world.
First, the murderer wasn’t initially determined, which he hinted to Qin Nan; second, he didn’t voice it out loud. The murderer might not even be a player.
Whether someone became a murderer depended on their choices during the game. If they made the right choices, they could potentially avoid becoming the murderer. If none of the players killed the deceased, then to keep the script logical, the murderer would likely emerge from the NPCs.
Of course, not all players would grasp this layer of understanding like he and Qin Wei Yi did.
To gather as many clues as possible, they would inevitably take actions that could increase the likelihood of them being labeled as the murderer.
“I haven’t gathered much information yet,” Jian Fan replied, thinking for a moment to show his sincerity. “I’ll ensure my teammates are trustworthy.”
Qin Wei Yi glanced at Qin Nan and Mu Xin’s direction. “One or two?”
Jian Fan smirked, revealing a rare smile. “Two, as an apology for my earlier suspicion of you.”
“Okay, I’ll guarantee my teammates as well.” Qin Wei Yi extended his hand toward Jian Fan.
Understanding the gesture, Jian Fan shook his hand.
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Their hands briefly touched in the air before they let go, marking their mutual agreement to cooperate. Jian Fan hadn’t expected to team up with a kid like Qin Wei Yi. If only he had met him earlier…
No, Jian Fan quickly dismissed that thought.
Qin Wei Yi wouldn’t willingly follow his lead, and he wouldn’t be eager to let Qin Wei Yi control the team’s voice before him.
They were destined not to be teammates, much like two tigers couldn’t coexist on the same mountain.
Zheng Jueming was in charge of questioning, while Lin Junru was keenly observing the conversation between the two. However, despite listening, she couldn’t quite grasp what kind of deal they had just made with their handshake.
Perplexed, she finally spoke up with a teasing tone, “Are you two secretly making plans behind our backs? You’re not the murderer and the accomplice, are you?”
Jian Fan glanced at Lin Junru.
She might be naive, but her ability to reach this point wasn’t solely due to Mu Xin’s manipulation; Lin Junru had her own strengths, evident in moments like this.
However, he had no interest in engaging with her.
Qin Wei Yi tilted his head and, with a childlike innocence, said, “What are you talking about, sister? I just think my brother is really impressive and I’m asking him to take care of me.”
Jian Fan forced a smile, feeling rather complicated.
Lin Junru might be able to extract a few words from others, but against Jian Fan and Qin Wei Yi, she ultimately came up empty-handed.
One hour later, the butler reappeared, taking away all the servants while the eleven players headed to the main hall, where they would discuss and analyze the situation.
In that short walk, the group dynamics became clear.
Xia Zeqin was at the front with his two male teammates, followed closely by Xu Tian, who walked alone, her expression unreadable and seemingly uninterested in teaming up with anyone. Next were Qin Wei Yi and Lu Jing, with Qin Wei Yi explaining something to Lu Jing, who nodded frequently.
Following them was Mu Xin’s trio. Zheng Jueming and Lin Junru were at the front, with Mu Xin trailing behind them while maintaining some distance.
After her came Jian Fan and Qin Nan, with Mu Xin not far behind.
“Qin Wei Yi and Lu Jing can be temporarily ruled out as suspects,” Jian Fan said to Qin Nan.
Qin Nan looked surprised. “Did you find a clue?”
Jian Fan shook his head. “I reached a temporary agreement with him.”
“Can you be sure he’s not the murderer?” Qin Nan asked, astonished. As Jian Fan turned to look at him with a strange expression, Qin Nan quickly raised his hand. “Alright, you don’t need to explain. I get it.”
Jian Fan paused, considering how to explain the possibility that all players might not be the murderer. Since Qin Nan didn’t want to hear it, he wasn’t particularly keen on elaborating.
“Qin Wei Yi and Lu Jing, you, and I make four. From what we know so far, it’s highly likely that Xia Zeqin can also be ruled out as a suspect,” Qin Nan said, recounting the results of his NPC inquiries, adding, “If what the NPC said is true.”
Jian Fan didn’t doubt it. “It is true.”
“Are you sure?” Qin Nan asked, curious.
Jian Fan nodded. “The study door was open, and people passed by, so it was visible. Plus, it was after the deceased had summoned him. I can be certain he did that to prove his innocence.”
“That doesn’t prove he’s completely innocent, though. Have you seen mystery dramas? People can fake alibis,” Qin Nan countered.
Jian Fan looked at him and asked, “What benefit would it bring him to become the murderer?”
“Is that a choice he can make?” Qin Nan retorted.
Jian Fan paused, then asked, “Did you go to the deceased’s courtyard yesterday?”
Qin Nan suddenly understood Jian Fan’s implication. “You didn’t go?”
Jian Fan replied with a simple “yes.”
“Okay. I was foolish,” Qin Nan said, not wanting to continue the topic.
He realized Jian Fan’s point: Xia Zeqin hadn’t intended to get involved, so he indeed had an alibi. He couldn’t be the murderer. Similarly, Jian Fan hadn’t gone to the deceased’s courtyard either, so if they speculated further, he thought Qin Wei Yi probably hadn’t been there either.
So, it was his foolishness.
But—
“If no one went, then who is the murderer?” Qin Nan asked.
“The world will automatically rationalize itself. It could end, or the NPC might have killed the deceased,” Jian Fan replied. This was also what he had wanted to tell Qin Nan earlier.
Qin Nan stopped in his tracks, his tone strange. “You figured this out from the beginning?”
Jian Fan fell silent, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.