I really don't want to be famous, but the collapse is still chasing me

The ninth team?

It turned out to be the case.

The fireworks display's overly perfect coordination, the seemingly heartfelt cheers—all these anomalies found the most reasonable explanation.

She's acting.

It wasn't just a performance for the audience; it was also a performance for the ninth team hiding in the shadows.

Or is she a member of the ninth team?

Su Chen calmly put away his phone and looked around the lounge.

Wan Di was resting with his eyes closed on the sofa.

Fireworks, barefoot, hummed a tune and scrolled through short videos.

The director cleverly gave Hanabi's feet a close-up of the food.

He picked up his water glass and walked slowly toward the water dispenser, his movements as natural as if he were going to get some water.

As he passed by the little black tower, his wrist seemed to flick slightly, and a piece of paper folded into a small square silently slipped from his sleeve and landed precisely in the gap of the little black tower's seat.

After doing all this, he walked away without looking back, the whole process flowing smoothly and without attracting anyone's attention.

Xiao Heita's fingers, which were rapidly swiping across the tablet, paused slightly.

She didn't pick it up immediately, but continued to operate on the screen for a few more minutes, then stretched, as if she was a little tired after sitting for a long time.

"The signal isn't very good here," she said calmly, standing up with her tablet in hand and moving to a single sofa at the other end of the room.

The moment she sat down, her hand naturally fell to her sides, her fingertips reaching into the gap between the chair to slip the note between her fingers before hiding it in her palm.

She crossed her legs, placed the tablet on her lap, and used her body to block all possible prying eyes before slowly unfolding the note.

Only three words.

[Team Nine.]

Little Black Tower understood all of Su Chen's concerns.

So that's how it is... The variables in the game have existed from the very beginning.

She looked up, her gaze passing over the tablet, and met Su Chen's eyes not far away.

The two did not speak, but they had already reached a consensus.

This scene was also broadcast to all viewers via the room's cameras.

Especially the note that read "Ninth Team".

[Interesting, this is what makes it interesting.]

[Little Black Tower definitely understood!]

So who exactly is Team Nine? Why is this a separate concept?

After the laughs, it's time for a little quiz!

-

at the same time.

In a secluded fire escape of the Grand Theater, the Black Tower and That Summer stood side by side.

“Anaxxramas,” the Great Black Tower’s voice remained as steady as ever.

"According to my calculations, there is a fatal logical flaw in the competition format."

Xia nodded at that moment. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression serious: "You mean the possibility of a draw?"

“That’s right.” The Great Black Tower nodded.

"If multiple teams have the same points and a single winner cannot be determined in the final round, the entire competition will fall into a logical dead end. For a planner of Yao Guang's caliber, the probability of such a low-level mistake occurring is zero."

Xia agreed: "Moreover, many contestants' behavior is illogical. For example, as my student, I don't think Bai E would say such idiotic things. And Huang Quan's getting lost is too coincidental."

"Therefore, there is only one answer." The Great Black Tower's tone was completely calm, yet it uttered a revolutionary conclusion.

"To solve this problem of 'final decision', the competition introduced an external variable."

Xia's eyes narrowed at that moment, and she replied, "A team that has the final say, or rather, the ability to break the deadlock."

The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood each other's thoughts.

"The ninth team."

"Resurrection format".

Almost simultaneously, they voiced their respective speculations.

Daheita added, "The eliminated players are not truly out of the game. They may have entered another 'loser's bracket,' forming that mysterious ninth team. This also explains why Yao Guang dared to set up such a high-risk, high-reward rule as the 'champion'—she needed to quickly 'screen' enough people to fill that team."

“I see,” Xia suddenly realized. “From the very beginning, the competition was divided into two lines, one open and one covert. We were all fighting in the open, while those ‘losers’ who were eliminated were accumulating strength in the shadows, waiting to deliver the final fatal blow.”

Holy crap! Teacher Daheita is amazing! He figured it out purely through calculation?!

Is this a battle of top-tier intelligence? Su Chen relies on intelligence, while the Great Black Tower relies on calculation—different paths, but the result is the same!

[That Xia isn't bad either; she can keep up with the Black Tower's thinking. These two are practically invincible as a team.]

So, Silver Wolf and Sunday didn't leave? Do I have hope again?

Just then, an announcement suddenly blared from inside the passageway.

"Dear contestants, your half-hour break is over. Please return to your respective rest areas immediately. The next round of the competition is about to begin!"

Jimi's voice broke everyone's concentration.

Su Chen, Xiao Heita, Da Heita, Na Kexia... almost at the same time, everyone who had seen through the truth turned their attention to the big screen on the main stage.

The images on the screen changed rapidly before finally freezing.

Competition Event – ​​[Test of Teamwork]!

"A test of teamwork?" Wan Di asked, puzzled. "What's this for? Is it a competition to see who's on the best relationship with whom?"

Hanabi's eyes lit up instantly. She excitedly moved closer to Su Chen and affectionately took his arm: "Boss, boss! This is my specialty! Our teamwork is beyond question!"

Su Chen smiled slightly.

In some ways, Hanabi is indeed the person with whom I have the best rapport.

Whether it was at the Dream Hotel or during the MiHoYo riots, she was always his right-hand woman!

And it's a game that tests trust.

However, there happens to be one major element of distrust within his team.

On stage, Jimi began explaining the rules: "In this round of the competition, each team will send two participants to eight separate challenge platforms at the same time!"

"The competition is divided into two rounds. The first round is called 'Telepathy.' One contestant acts out the words based on the given words, while the other contestant guesses them. The team that guesses the most words correctly within one minute wins and gets the first choice."

"The second stage: 'A Fateful Choice'!" Jimi's voice suddenly rose, carrying a seductive quality. "Eight teams will face the same ultimate question. Two teammates must simultaneously make a 'yes' or 'no' choice while completely isolated. If they choose the same thing, they will be safe; if they choose differently..."

"Choosing a different team will deduct two health points from that team!"

The moment the rule was announced, the entire room fell silent.

Because this time, two health points will be deducted as well.

This means that even Su Chen's own team cannot have anyone continue to be on the field.

Su Chen's gaze finally landed on Hanabi.

She was facing him, smiling innocently and radiantly.

"Boss, shall we all go together?"