CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 107: GAME! BIZARRE TRAIN OF THOUGHT

"Question: Xiaohua was born in the summer, but why does she celebrate her birthday in the winter?"

After Belia posed the question, her gaze turned sharp, landing on the first combat team member to her left.

The man caught in her stare looked utterly dejected, like a plant wilted by frost. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he muttered to himself, "Born in the summer but has a winter birthday... why?"

His expression was so comical it was hard not to laugh. As the first person to answer under such pressure, it was impossible not to be consumed by panic. And so...

CRACK!

The first man was eliminated.

"Next!" Belia’s gaze swept to the next person. "Your turn. Go ahead."

With the first man’s fumbling buying him some time, the second law enforcement officer suddenly thought of a possibility.

"Hahahaha... I’ve got it!" he declared, looking utterly confident. "Where they’re from, six months counts as a full year. So, born in summer, birthday in winter. Am I right?"

CRACK! The second man was eliminated.

When his turn came, the third man had assumed the previous answer was correct and that he’d get a new question. But his comrade had been wrong. The sudden turn of events caught him completely off guard; his mind went blank, his thoughts freezing on the spot.

CRACK!

"You’re all so stupid! Do you have pig brains for heads?" Even as she mocked them, she was secretly thrilled. After all, even I couldn’t have solved these riddles. Of course, a secret like that would never pass my lips.

Belia turned her head toward Chen Pingchuan, giving him a knowing look.

He could only manage a bitter smile. Brain teasers are just fun intellectual games. The questions are designed to break conventional thinking by coming at a problem from a unique, unexpected angle, with an answer that’s both surprising and logical. For the ordinary people of this world, breaking free of their rigid mindsets is incredibly difficult.

Belia probably never intended to let any of these people live by playing this game. As her companion, Chen Pingchuan had no choice but to solemnly provide the answer. "Because Xiaohua’s mother is named Summer. That’s why she can celebrate her birthday in the winter."

"Exactly! Can’t you use your brains? At this rate, your stupidity will get you all killed." Belia held her head high with pride. The Chen Pingchuan in the simulation had never told her the answers, so she didn’t actually know them herself. She only knew the second man’s answer was wrong because she had given the exact same one earlier, only to be met with Chen Pingchuan’s mercilessly mocking gaze. And now, the tables have turned. It’s my turn to mock someone else. This feels amazing!

A smug smile curled Belia’s lips, and her bright eyes twinkled with a cunning light.

Hearing Chen Pingchuan’s answer, Captain Pig Head and the remaining team members thought it made perfect sense. They silently cursed themselves for not figuring out such a simple solution.

Luckily, they hadn’t been in the first round. Now that they’d heard an answer, they felt they understood how the game worked. The few who were left exchanged glances, the fear of death on their faces replaced by intense concentration as they prepared for the next question.

"Second question. Listen carefully," Belia announced. "Two people are trapped in a sealed room by a group of ferocious and terrifying Black Demons. The one who died is called a dead man. What is the living one called?" She pointed. "Your turn."

The designated team member felt a rush of relief. Unlike the last brain-twister, this one seemed easy. "He’s called a living man."

CRACK! The fourth man was eliminated.

"He’s called... uh... called..."

CRACK! The fifth man was eliminated.

The sixth man didn’t know the answer either, but he had to make a desperate guess. "He’s called a living dead man!"

CRACK! And with that, every law enforcement team member except for Captain Pig Head had been wiped out.

Belia looked back at Chen Pingchuan again, waiting for the answer.

Chen Pingchuan rubbed his head and answered quickly this time. I see now. I didn’t tell her the answers in the simulation, so the little brat must be curious. She’s just using these men as an excuse to pry the answers out of me.

"He’s shouting for help!"

"Hee hee hee... Big brother, aren’t they just too dumb? They don’t know anything!"

Chen Pingchuan could only show a helpless expression and shrug, not knowing how to respond. Belia didn’t mind his reaction; she was already delighted to have the answer.

"Only you left, Pig Head."

Captain Pig Head’s face was pale. He realized the chances of surviving by answering correctly were almost zero. The questions seemed simple once you heard the answer, but when trying to figure them out, your own mind would lead you astray.

"Lord Bei, my lady, my venerable ancestor! Can’t I just not guess? I don’t want to die!"

"Nope!" Belia chirped.

"Listen to the third question. If you put a chicken and a pig into a freezer at forty degrees below zero, and the next day the chicken has frozen to death, why is the pig still alive?"

Hearing this question, Captain Pig Head’s face lit up. His battle pet was a wild boar; he was an absolute authority on this subject! He thought for a moment before giving an answer he felt was quite satisfactory.

"Because this pig is a genetically modified Wild Boar King battle pet! It can survive not only at forty degrees below zero, but it wouldn’t even die the next day if it were ten degrees colder!"

Captain Pig Head finished and looked at Chen Pingchuan expectantly. Based on my observations, it’s possible these ridiculous questions weren’t even thought up by this twisted City Lord. Given how Belia keeps looking to Chen Pingchuan for confirmation... the real source is obvious. It’s that guy standing over there, trying to act all cool and aloof. This man is truly vile. How does anyone even come up with questions like these?

Chen Pingchuan, of course, had no idea what the Captain was thinking. If he had, he would have cried foul. It’s not my fault! I didn’t create the questions; I’m just the one who delivers them.

Belia glanced at Chen Pingchuan again, her expression complicated. I also think Captain Pig Head’s answer is correct... but if it is, then I don’t have a reason to kill him.

Chen Pingchuan didn’t bother trying to guess what Belia was thinking. He just shook his head slightly, about to tell her to stop playing these pointless games. Just then, however, an unfamiliar woman’s voice cut through the air, sounding from nearby.

"Well, well, I was wondering who would dare trespass on the Holy Spirit Sect’s stronghold. If it isn’t our esteemed Spirit God Lord himself. So, you finally crawl out after hiding in the city for a year, only to slaughter your own men without batting an eye? And with your little lover in tow, no less.

"How impressive. So very manly. Wouldn’t you agree, my master?"