Nighttime, 11:50 PM.

After climbing into the freezer and closing its heavy door, Lin Yu soon felt a slight chill creeping through his body. 

Having seen the dungeon's entry requirements earlier, he had specifically visited the drama club before going to the library that afternoon to borrow a thick coat. 

Now with the additional face mask, Lin Yu's outfit was indeed sufficient to withstand Jiangcheng's "harsh winter."

Even so, Lin Yu's exposed skin still prickled with mild stinging pain.

"After all, it's a freezer. The cooling effect is really impressive."

Lin Yu exhaled and tried opening the freezer door in the complete darkness.

No issues...it could definitely be opened from inside.

However, Lin Yu still didn't cancel the timed message set on his phone outside.

It could be opened now, but what if something went wrong?

If he exited safely, he could always manually cancel the freezer's alert message.

Therefore, Lin Yu remained calm.

As time passed minute by minute inside the freezer, Lin Yu gradually began shivering from the cold, showing symptoms of hypothermia.

His consciousness started fading.

Then...

Just as Lin Yu felt himself about to lose consciousness.

Blood-red text appeared!

[Entering game soon—]

[Game Name: Frostpeak Mountains]

[Clear Condition: Survive seven days]

[Current game player count: 13]

...

[Detected that you will undertake a 'Promotion Trial' in this game. Loading special tasks now.]

[Promotion Task 1: During this game, tell each participating player a different lie that completely contradicts all others, then activate your 'Fraudster' class ability to make them 'come true.' Ensure none of these lies are exposed or seen through until game ends.]

[Promotion Task 2: Find the hidden 'Fraudster' in this game and expose their deception.]

[Complete both tasks to pass this Promotion Trial.]

[Tasks are not mandatory.]

Significantly more blood-red text than before squirmed into view.

Lin Yu's consciousness gradually cleared.

"So this is the Promotion Trial? It's indeed highly relevant to the 'Fraudster' class!"

Lin Yu understood immediately.

The first task required lying to each person with different, mutually contradictory lies.

In other words, he needed to tell twelve lies, make all twelve come true, and avoid detection.

The second task...was rather puzzling.

Find the 'Fraudster' and expose their deception.

'Fraudster' was clearly a specific reference, but to what?

Lin Yu knew the 'Death Game' did have a class called 'Fraudster.'

Not extremely rare, but relatively common.

Though it sounded similar to 'Fraudster,' their abilities were completely different.

The 'Fraudster' class was typical Rule Type, able to randomly create a "false rule" beneficial to themselves that lasted for a duration based on the dungeon's length.

It sounded similar to the Fraudster's 'Make True,' but 'Fraudsters' couldn't control what rules they created.

Conversely, 'Fraudsters' didn't need others to believe them or even require a "target."

They just needed to activate their ability for it to work.

Lin Yu initially wondered if among the thirteen players, another had the 'Fraudster' class.

But upon reflection, that possibility seemed unlikely.

Unlike 'Fraudsters,' 'Fraudsters' had no reason to hide their class.

This "Frostpeak Mountains" dungeon was clearly survival-type, likely requiring teamwork.

Thus, players would probably "cooperate" and share their classes.

Even if the 'Fraudster' had a terrible personality and loved lying—like the 'Thief' A Nian he'd met before—

It would still be hard to conceal!

After all, rules created by 'Fraudster' abilities were known to all players.

Hiding their class wouldn't be easy.

Having considered this, Lin Yu currently had no leads on the second task.

"Need to wait for the game to progress and gather more information before further analysis."

Lin Yu quickly formulated his strategy.

"First work on Task One while ensuring my safety, simultaneously collecting clues about the 'Fraudster.'"

As Lin Yu reached this conclusion, he fully regained consciousness.

His senses sharpened abruptly—howling winds roared past his ears, icy snowflakes stinging his face.

Opening his eyes, he saw nothing but white. He lay on a simple wooden bed in the last intact corner of a snow-collapsed cabin.

A burly middle-aged man wearing a fur hat and old coat sat at the entrance.

Hearing Lin Yu stir, the man turned around, his frost-reddened face showing surprise.

"Oh! You're awake! I thought you'd frozen to death!"

Studying the man, Lin Yu sat up from the bed with growing suspicion.

His appearance and words suggested a "game NPC"!

Lin Yu quickly verified using methods taught on the "forum."

He tried discussing the 'Death Game,' but like with ordinary people in reality...

He couldn't utter any information about the 'Death Game'!

This was one quick way to identify "players" versus "NPCs."

Though some "game NPCs" could recognize they were in a 'game.'

Like the "Crow-Man" from last game—after all, it was literally a deity's avatar.

But most "game NPCs" in 'Death Game' dungeons didn't know they were serving as NPCs or that players from other worlds had invaded their lives.

They'd explain rules and guide players through "reasonable" means—like the "letter" Lin Yu saw in his first dungeon.

Though he never met the writer, that person was a classic NPC.

Of course, some might be hostile or even enemies players needed to fight.

However...

Looking at this rugged man, Lin Yu guessed:

"This is probably a friendly NPC!"

Keeping his composure, Lin Yu gripped the pistol hidden in his coat and asked:

"Who are you?"