Chapter 55: Cao Haichuan's Suspicion

Night.

After the discussion ended, most people returned to their rooms.

This was the first time a death had occurred in Community 17, casting a shadow over everyone's hearts.

Lin Sizhi walked to the outdoor area of the community. In the darkness, a faint spark flickered—Cao Haichuan was smoking.

"Lawyer Lin, want one?" Cao Haichuan offered the cigarette.

Lin Sizhi sat down on a nearby outdoor single sofa and waved his hand. "No thanks, I don't smoke."

Cao Haichuan sighed. "Well, you young people really seem to be smoking less and less these days.

"Originally, Uncle Ding was the only one who could occasionally join me for a few puffs, but now I'm all alone.

"It's good that you don't smoke; smoking is bad for your health."

As Cao Haichuan spoke, he took another deep drag, tilted his head slightly away from Lin Sizhi, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Phew..."

He looked toward the high walls at the edge of the community. "I've been wondering, what would happen if we climbed over the wall and ran to another community?"

Since the initial entry into the community, the entire complex had been placed under lockdown, making it impossible to leave.

To this day, all the players in Community 17 could only move within this small building and its surrounding outdoor areas.

Lin Sizhi thought for a moment. "I think it's best not to court death.

"The New World seems to apply different standards to players and imitators.

"For players, if it isn't explicitly permitted by law, it is prohibited.

"For imitators, if it isn't explicitly prohibited by law, it is permitted.

"So I suspect that climbing the wall would result in, at the very least, a deduction of visa time, and at worst, immediate deportation."

Cao Haichuan nodded slightly. "Heh, true.

"Actually, just now, I was a bit afraid. If Auntie Su had questioned me about why I couldn't save Uncle Ding, I wouldn't have known how to answer.

"I can probably understand why she was so agitated: not just because this was the first death in the community, but because Uncle Ding was her only peer here.

"Auntie Su held an unrealistic fantasy from the very beginning, believing that this so-called New World was a paradise of equality, but that was clearly just wishful thinking on her part.

"When the death of someone close actually occurs, she will instinctively resist, and that resistance turns into a form of aggression toward the outside world.

"Furthermore, although Auntie Su and Uncle Ding hadn't known each other long, he was her only contemporary in this community, and the only person whose lifestyle, way of thinking, and background were somewhat similar to hers.

"In Auntie Su's concept of intimacy, her relationship with Uncle Ding was closer than any of ours. Uncle Ding's death means she will inevitably become an 'isolated elderly person' in this community; no matter how hard she tries, she won't be able to integrate with you young people.

"So, her sense of loss for Uncle Ding is likely far more intense than ours."

Lin Sizhi fell silent for a moment before asking, "What about you, Officer Cao? Can you integrate?"

Cao Haichuan smiled. "I'm alright; I still have a bit of a youthful mindset. Besides, I'm not like Auntie Su.

"Auntie Su is retired and has no spiritual anchor. When people have too much idle time, they tend to overthink and become extreme.

"But I'm not retired; I still have to find things to do.

"Lawyer Lin, do you think that since the imitators will keep designing games to kill players, it's possible for us to root them out?"

Lin Sizhi pondered. "I'm afraid that will be very difficult.

"Imitators aren't like criminals in the real world who need to personally set up a crime scene. They only need to complete the game design; all other work seems to be handled by the Corridor.

"With this kind of 'imaginary crime,' I can't think of any way to solve the case."

Cao Haichuan remained noncommittal. "Lawyer Lin, do you know what kind of cases are the hardest to solve in real life?"

Lin Sizhi looked down in thought. "Soliciting murder? High-intelligence perfect crimes?

"But with technology being so advanced now, chat logs can be checked easily and surveillance footage can be reviewed at will. Those two types of cases should be much easier to solve."

Cao Haichuan shook his head slightly. "Those two are indeed difficult, but they aren't the hardest.

"The hardest are actually indiscriminate killings without a motive.

"Because whether it's soliciting murder or a so-called high-intelligence perfect crime, there is always a motive. As long as there is a motive, you can follow the trail to lock onto a suspect.

"Once a suspect is identified, no matter how smart they are, they aren't far from being caught.

"But indiscriminate killing is different. Because there is no motive, finding a suspect is like looking for a needle in a haystack—there's no lead whatsoever.

"Of course, if an indiscriminate killing is combined with soliciting murder or a high-intelligence perfect crime, then it becomes a real problem. Often, those cases aren't even discovered; we usually refer to them as 'disappearances.'"

Lin Sizhi nodded in agreement.

Cao Haichuan continued, "Originally, I also thought that the imitators' killings were indiscriminate, and considering they don't even need to set up the scenes themselves, the possibility of solving the case was minuscule.

"But just now, after thinking it over, I suddenly overturned that idea.

"I suddenly realized that the imitators also have a motive when they kill through death games."

Lin Sizhi thought about it. "Are you saying that when they design the games, they unconsciously reveal their inner thoughts?"

Cao Haichuan exhaled a cloud of smoke. "It's not just that.

"Imitators are also players, and they live in the community.

"That means they are very likely to participate in the games themselves, whether it's their own or someone else's.

"If they participate in someone else's game, that's fair; there's nothing to say.

"But if they participate in their own games, whether actively or passively, they will certainly leave some kind of 'backdoor' in the game for self-preservation.

"Of course, it's also possible they won't participate in their own games.

"But in that case, they will most likely find ways to set traps targeting the weaknesses of players to kill them and seize as much visa time as possible.

"After all, for both players and imitators, visa time is equally important; it's equivalent to money and life in this world. No one would ever complain about having too much."

Lin Sizhi considered this for a moment. "You mean, if a player discovers a backdoor in a game in an irrational way, there is a high probability they are the game designer.

"We could use that method to identify them as an imitator.

"Or, if a certain game shows an extremely strong targeting of a specific player, it means the designer is very familiar with that player. Perhaps we could narrow down the suspects by reverse-searching that player's social network."

Cao Haichuan nodded approvingly. "Exactly. That's what I mean. You're very smart, Lawyer Lin. If you weren't a lawyer, you'd be quite a hand at criminal investigation."

Lin Sizhi thought carefully for a moment. "But it's very difficult."

Cao Haichuan gave a self-deprecating smile. "Yes, it's hard. Just like solving a case is hard, but someone has to do it, right?

"I'm actually quite a dull person; I'm not as smart as you young people. But I have one advantage: my intuition is fairly sharp, and if there's a problem I can't figure out, I'll keep thinking about it. As long as I persist, I'll eventually find a clue.

"Take this trial game, for example. After thinking it over, I just feel like something isn't quite right."

Cao Haichuan turned to look at Lin Sizhi. "Don't you think the targeting of Uncle Ding in this game was a bit too strong?

"As we analyzed before, if we only discuss the game rules, the King actually has a huge advantage and many chances to survive.

"But Uncle Ding happened to step into every single trap without exception.

"Just like Wei Xinjian did back then.

"Do you think that was truly just a coincidence?"

Lin Sizhi considered it. "But Uncle Ding's death actually required many complex preconditions. If even one of those preconditions wasn't met, this wouldn't have happened.

"If you believe this game was specifically designed to target Uncle Ding, it means the designer would have to control almost every single detail involved. I don't think that's something a human can do.

"For instance, how could the game designer determine how the audience would vote? Or how could they ensure Uncle Ding would specifically send those prisoners into those exact cells?"

Cao Haichuan nodded. "Yes, that's what I thought at first.

"No one can control everything. If they could, they wouldn't be an imitator of God; they would be a true God.

"But between having no control and having total control, there is an option for partial control.

"Just like the gamble in Blood Poker—no one can be 100% sure of winning, but as long as you manage the parts you can control, you can still increase your odds.

"I'm rambling. Back to the question.

"Why do you think this game designed 'Farmer's Walk' as a prerequisite game at the very beginning?

"No matter how you look at it, it looks like a screening game tailor-made for Uncle Ding to ensure he could become the King."

(End of Chapter)