God's Imitator

In different cultural contexts, the owl symbolizes two completely contrasting meanings.

One is wisdom, reason, and fairness, the other is death, doom, and darkness.

No matter which one, for Lin Sizhi, it's a decent omen.

He didn't put on the Oxygen Mask first because the game hadn't officially started yet and he could enjoy the oxygen-rich environment in the lounge for a while longer.

Lin Sizhi walked over to the coffee table and picked up the wooden box with a countdown on it.

Judging from the countdown, this wooden box will probably open when entering the second stage.

By then, he can earn chips equivalent to 10% of the total visa time.

This is definitely good news for players with long visa times.

If a player has a total visa time of 200,000, they can receive 20,000 chips, even without playing a single game, they can pay off debts and ensure safety.

But if one only has 20,000 visa time, they can only earn 2,000 chips.

With a maximum of 20,000 chips exchanged per hour, this batch of chips will further widen the chip disparity between players and play a crucial role.

But after contemplating for a moment, Lin Sizhi raised his hand and with a "bang," threw the wooden box to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

...

Meanwhile, in another lounge.

In Community 4, Han Mengying had just chosen 'Rabbit' as her mask.

Choosing such a mask was not due to its cuteness, but rather a consideration of the game rules.

Players need to wear an Oxygen Mask and dress appropriately during the entire 3-hour game, which means the image of the mask is the player's face, directly determining the first impression you give others.

Among these animals, there are some that look mighty and imposing but have dangerous images.

For example, crocodiles, foxes, tigers, etc.

They may appear formidable or beautiful, but actually give others an instinctive 'cunning and dangerous' first impression, thereby severely decreasing the willingness to play together.

In fact, it might put the wearer at a disadvantage in the game.

Han Mengying carefully placed the wooden box on the coffee table without breaking it.

She still has tens of thousands of visa time left, 10% is about more than ten thousand chips, so she certainly couldn't waste it.

Then, Han Mengying also didn't put on the Oxygen Mask immediately, attempting to utilize the last oxygen-rich environment of the lounge for thinking as much as possible.

"The rules of the first phase of the game are quite clear.

"Although it is just a practice period, winning a round can net 2,000 chips, which is no small amount.

"This means the first phase is likely a key period to directly widen the chip disparity between players, laying a foundation for the more complex rules of the second phase.

"The gameplay isn't complicated; as the game progresses, everyone will surely become more adept at it.

"To utilize specific methods to earn more chips, you must seize the earliest window of opportunity.

"Besides, the 'Wise Identity' is an advantageous identity in the game, allowing continued use of the 'Wise Man Card Set' and offering some extra privileges, which must be strived for.

"This time, all the players from Community 4 entering the game are smart people, which should give us some advantage. As long as four or more get the 'Wise Identity,' the game in the second phase should be half won."

Han Mengying carefully recalled the specific battle rules of the 'Fool's Game' once again.

"Is the game called 'Fool's Game' because the rules are simple and clear, making it easier to understand for 'Foolish Players'?

"But did the Imitator designing this game think this would bridge the gap between 'Wise Players' and 'Foolish Players'?

"Such an idea is quite naive.

"It's still an unbalanced game, and I can already think of several strategies targeting Foolish Players.

"Perhaps as I initially suspected when entering the game, this is not a game welcoming foolish players, but rather a trap.

"The Imitator intentionally designed rules that look simple, lulling Foolish Players into participating, but actually giving smart people more room to maneuver.

"The simpler the rules, the more misleading they are, allowing for greater disparity."

From the surface, Rock-Paper-Scissors is well-known and simple, with little room for strategy use, relying significantly on luck.

Those Foolish Players who are usually outsmarted in other strategy games might also obtain good returns here with some good luck.

The Battle Stage ensures fairness as much as possible in this game mode.

But Han Mengying thinks otherwise, believing she can still maximize benefits under these rules.

Having initially thought out her strategy, Han Mengying went to the Chips Exchange Machine and fetched the initial 10,000 chips, then extra exchanged for 20,000 chips.

Each worth at least 1,000, totaling 30, placed safely in her pocket.

Although no extra stakes can be placed during the first phase battles, the extra chip exchange limit per hour is 20,000, making it wise to exchange as much as possible as missed opportunities can't be regained, setting up for the second phase.

After all, in such games, more chips are better, which is common sense.

The lounge has only one door leading to the outside world, with a countdown to the start of the game.

As the countdown neared its end, a device next to the door popped out five cards with a "snap" sound.

These cards are thick and hard, with characters and images made using 3D relief to prevent certain players from cheating using methods like flipping cards.

Han Mengying picked up the five cards and checked them out, it was a 'Fool's Card Set,' having three Fool cards, one The Wise Man card, and one The Thief card.

It wasn't a Wise Man Card Set, which disappointed Han Mengying, but the Fool's Card Set can also have corresponding strategies.

The countdown only had ten seconds left.

Han Mengying took a deep breath, utilizing the lounge's rich oxygen environment in the last bit of time and then put on the rabbit mask, opening the lounge door to head to the first battle room.

As the game officially started, the countdown numbers on the box started jumping, unlocking after an hour.

...

At the same time, in another lounge, He Xiaojun also put on the 'Gray Wolf' mask and picked up his 'Fool's Card Set.'

He merely grasped the rules broadly and did not think as deeply as Han Mengying.

From the game's rules, the Battle Stage can ensure the fairness of battles and the game's outcome mainly depends on luck.

Moreover, the rules stated that the more you think, the more oxygen is consumed.

Once the game starts, all thinking requires extra chips expenditure, and blind thinking is a luxury.

Especially for players like He Xiaojun with not much visa time left.

Therefore, he neither considered many strategies nor was willing to extra exchange chips, just took the initial 10,000.

Turning to glance at the red wooden box on the coffee table, confirming no risk of it falling, He Xiaojun opened the door and stepped into the battle room.