Chapter 12: Hidden Rules

Lin Sizhi arrived at the second floor, where rooms numbered 1 through 12 were located.

The entrance to each room was cleverly partitioned, ensuring there were no doors facing each other or shared corridors.

The sequence of the room numbers was also randomized.

This made the entire second floor feel somewhat like a maze, though it also served to better protect everyone's privacy.

Lin Sizhi quickly found Room 12. Just like the community entrance, it required a visa swipe to enter.

The room was quite spacious—a luxurious suite featuring a wide living room, a private study, a bedroom that looked rather cozy, and a neat, bright bathroom.

The room was stocked with all necessary daily essentials. In a prominent spot in the living room hung a massive whiteboard, upon which a striking poster was displayed: "Notice of Basic Community Rules."

Lin Sizhi gave it a quick glance; it was consistent with the rules introduced in the lobby earlier.

On the desk in the study sat a laptop.

Unfortunately, the computer was not connected to the internet, and the available software was sparse.

However, the homepage of the computer's browser displayed a list of all games in the "Gallery" along with their detailed rules.

It was identical to what everyone had seen on the large screen in the lobby.

Beyond that, one could also check their remaining visa time, view the prices of supplies, and so on.

In other words, any function available in the lobby—including the large screen, vending machines, and more—could be operated from one's personal laptop, with the added benefit of greater privacy.

Lin Sizhi moved the mouse and looked over the rules for a few more games.

Suddenly, a brand-new pop-up window appeared on the screen.

【Hello, Lin Sizhi.】

【"Redemption Roulette" received an S-rating. It seems your understanding of the identity of a "God's Copycat" is currently superior to other game designers. Let us hope this is not a coincidence.】

【All Copycats who achieve an S-rating will receive a privilege: in any public visa time inquiry system, you may choose to hide the additional visa time gained through your status as a Copycat.】

【I hope you make good use of this privilege.】

【Now, the Gallery extends a new design invitation to you:】

【Please design a game for "all players" to "complete the first distribution of visa time."】

【The game proposal document is in your desk drawer.】

【The deadline is 8:00 AM tomorrow; you have 12 hours to complete the game design.】

【The "Gallery" will evaluate all submitted proposals and adopt the highest-rated plan to set up the game venue.】

【All players are required to participate.】

【The 12-hour countdown begins now. Please make your choice.】

Lin Sizhi raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat surprised.

It wasn't the sudden invitation to design a game that surprised him; since he had already accepted his special identity, he knew that invitations from the "Gallery" could appear at any time.

He was mentally prepared for this.

What truly surprised him was that this invitation was different from the last one.

It was not directed at a specific sinner with relevant case details, but rather at "all players."

The goal was not to "punish a sinner," but to "complete the first distribution of visa time."

This invitation was sent to all players with the status of "God's Copycat," which meant that simply passing the review would not be enough.

Lin Sizhi's game plan had to be better than everyone else's to be selected by the Gallery.

So, the question arose: what kind of plan would be considered "the best" and receive the highest rating in the Gallery's evaluation system?

Clearly, depending on their individual understanding, every designer would have a vastly different answer.

Before checking the proposal document, Lin Sizhi first checked his remaining visa time on the computer. On this page, an extra option had appeared: 【Hide additional visa time gained from Copycat status in public visa time inquiry systems.】

After a brief moment of thought, Lin Sizhi checked the box as a matter of course.

Afterward, he took the game proposal document from the drawer to examine it.

The format was consistent with the previous proposal he had seen, differing only in some pre-filled details.

What caught Lin Sizhi's attention in particular was the list of available props for this game.

【1. Display devices: 4 units.】

【2. Timers: 8 units.】

【3. Simple speakers: 8 units.】

【4. Desktop platforms with freely designable functions: 4 units.】

【5. Chairs: Unlimited.】

【6. Restraint devices: 8 units.】

【7. Standard playing cards: Unlimited.】

【8. Various chips exchangeable for visa time: Unlimited.】

【9. Special mechanisms with free design: 8 sets.】

【10. Other scene props unrelated to game content: Unlimited.】

【Note 1: Unless otherwise specified, the designer may decide the model and appearance of the props used.】

【Note 2: No props may be taken out of the game venue; otherwise, they will vanish into thin air.】

【Note 3: All props listed are the quantities required for "one game session." The Gallery will automatically match players for multiple sessions, and the required props will be scaled according to the number of matches.】

"The freedom is actually lower?"

Lin Sizhi looked at the prop list, deep in thought.

When designing "Redemption Roulette," the available props were significantly more numerous, and the freedom was higher.

For instance, the previous list included firearms and cold weapons that could directly cause harm to players, which were absent this time.

The previous gambling tools were not restricted in type; one could use any full set of casino equipment, whereas this time, the gambling tools were strictly limited to playing cards.

"This indicates that the Gallery's requirements for this game have a very clear inclination."

"The absence of firearms and cold weapons means the Gallery does not want large-scale deaths in this game."

"After all, the goal of this game is not judgment, but merely to complete the first distribution of visa time."

"Among all gambling tools, playing cards are the most common, which means the Gallery wants to lower the barrier to entry."

"Therefore, I should avoid overly complex card game mechanics."

"There are three quantities of props: 4, 8, and unlimited. This means the Gallery encourages matches of 4 to 8 people."

Although it was just a simple list of props, Lin Sizhi analyzed a great deal from it.

Clearly, every game invitation from the Gallery had potential requirements that were not explicitly stated.

The designer had to figure them out for themselves.

"Low danger" and "simple card rules" were the two fundamentals of this game.

But these two points alone were not enough.

Lin Sizhi pondered for a moment: "Since the goal is to 'complete the first distribution of visa time,' there must be a 'screening' element."

The New World was certainly no paradise.

It was a cruel jungle world, merely wearing a false disguise.

Just as stated when the rules were read: the Gallery is the New World's clearing and judgment agency.

Judge the sinners, clear out the waste.

Distributing visa time equally to everyone might seem the fairest, but it definitely wouldn't meet the Gallery's requirements.

But how to screen them?

After careful consideration, Lin Sizhi began to write the game rules on the proposal document.

Although the allotted design time was still quite generous, Lin Sizhi did not intend to spend too much time reconsidering the details; there was little point in that.

The game he designed was not overly complex, so in reality, he finished everything in just over an hour.

Lin Sizhi read through the plan from beginning to end one last time. After confirming it was correct, he wrote the words "Design Complete" in the bottom right corner of the last page.

A new message popped up on the computer screen.

【The Gallery is reviewing your submitted proposal.】

【Review complete. Approved.】

【Waiting for other designers to submit their proposals.】

Lin Sizhi closed the page on the computer.

He certainly couldn't be sure if his plan would be chosen by the "Gallery," but at this point, any worry was superfluous.

Feeling a bit tired, Lin Sizhi washed up and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep.

……

……

Just past 7:00 AM the next morning, Lin Sizhi woke up naturally.

"It wasn't a dream."

The unfamiliar scene before him reminded him that this was no dream; he had indeed arrived at this place called the "New World," and he might have to stay here for a long time to come.

Would he ever return to his original world in his lifetime?

No one could give an accurate answer right now.

However, Lin Sizhi was the type to adapt to his circumstances, so he didn't feel overly anxious about it.

After a quick wash, he went downstairs to the lobby.

Unexpectedly, most people were already up. Lin Sizhi took a rough glance; there were at least seven or eight people in the lobby.

"Morning, Lawyer Lin."

Fu Chen raised a hand to greet him.

Lin Sizhi nodded in acknowledgment, then went to the vending machine, ordered a breakfast sandwich and a cup of hot milk, which cost him a total of 25 minutes of visa time.

Fu Chen was eating the last of the fried eggs on his plate: "By the way, Lawyer Lin, if you want to use the kitchen, feel free."

"Uncle Ding and Aunt Su already used it this morning. There are plenty of utensils in there, enough for over a dozen people, and they come in different colors and styles, so they're easy to tell apart."

"Their utensils are in the corner on the far right of the sideboard. If you're going to use them, it's best to put your own in a designated spot so it's easy to distinguish."

"Also, they bought some ingredients and put them in the fridge. If you buy your own, it's best to keep them in a separate area."

Lin Sizhi looked toward the kitchen: "Got it, I won't be using it for now."

Just as he had guessed, Ding Wenqiang and Su Xiuqin would sooner or later choose to use the kitchen to cook for themselves.

They had gotten up early this morning, likely to avoid others and save themselves the awkwardness. Of course, it was also possible that people of their age were simply used to waking up early.

Not long after, Wang Yongxin, the last to wake up, also arrived in the lobby.

He looked to be in good spirits, likely having slept until he woke up naturally.

Overall, after a night's rest, most people had relaxed quite a bit.

There was no need to work here, and for the time being, there wasn't much to worry about.

Aside from basking in the sun by the window, drinking coffee, or reading books, there really wasn't much else to do.

Lin Sizhi went to the reading area and flipped through some of the books there.

There were popular bestsellers as well as some complex and profound monographs; the variety was quite rich.

He had to admit, this was a decent place to clear one's head.

However, just as Lin Sizhi found a book and intended to sit down to read, a notification appeared on the large screen in the lobby once again.

【Good morning, players!】

【The "Gallery" will open in 1 hour.】

【The name of this game is "Blood Poker." The goal is to "complete the first distribution of visa time." All players in the New World are required to participate. 8-player games will be randomly matched.】

【Please prepare yourselves.】

Afterward, a one-hour countdown appeared on the large screen.

59:59

59:58

(End of chapter)