The next day.
8:00 AM sharp.
Everyone gathered once again in the hall.
Seeing Su Ze casually drinking porridge as if nothing had happened, the others felt bitter.
We already starved for a whole day yesterday, and now you're tempting us again?!
Raiden Ei had eaten some cake yesterday, so she felt relatively fine. She glanced around and noticed Jing Yuan was missing.
"That Jing Yuan guy… why hasn't he come down yet?"
Everyone else's expressions darkened instantly.
Isn't it obvious?
He's dead.
"Ahem."
Finishing his bowl of eight-treasure porridge in one gulp, Su Ze cleared his throat.
"A murder occurred last night. Mr. Jing Yuan has been killed. Since his Doctor identity is now invalid, you may proceed to the crime scene for investigation."
Livestream Chat
[Fuxuan: The screen went black and then lit up — and Jing Yuan was gone!]
(The real-world time flow differed from the arena. To Fuxuan, it felt like the screen flickered once, and he was already dead.)
[Qingque: I knew it.]
[Kamisato Ayato: Bennett the Prophet strikes again.]
[Kaeya: Terrifyingly accurate.]
[Bennett: S-Sorry…]
[Lisa: Why are you apologizing? This has nothing to do with you.]
[Silver Wolf: Big Bro Bennett, please don't bless me next time.]
[Stelle: Same. Too scary.]
[Jing Yuan: …Sigh.]
[March 7th: The victim has appeared! Hurry, who's the killer?]
[Jing Yuan: Can't say. Can't say.]
Back on the Xianzhou, Jing Yuan looked utterly helpless.
Even after elimination, he wasn't allowed to reveal anything.
[Fuxuan: First eliminated? You've disgraced the Xianzhou. Step down.]
[Feixiao: I nominate Fuxuan as the next general.]
[Fuxuan: Thank you, General. I have Immortal Delight Tea — want some?]
[Sparkle: The Divination Commission bribing officials openly. I have evidence.]
[Jing Yuan: I'm still alive, you know.]
Inside the Arena
Led by Su Ze, the group arrived at the door of Room 1.
They tried pushing it open.
It wouldn't budge.
"Prepare to break it down."
Since the door was locked, they were about to force entry—
"No need. I have the key."
Jade stepped forward calmly.
Under everyone's shocked gaze, she pulled out a keyring and unlocked the door.
They entered.
All of them froze.
It was gruesome.
A doll representing Jing Yuan lay collapsed beside the desk, blood spread across the floor.
The window was wide open. Wind blew the curtains, which brushed against the doll's body and became stained with blood.
Herta crouched beside the doll and immediately noticed two large characters written in blood:
[Key]
"…Huh?"
Now everyone turned toward Jade.
"Care to explain?"
Furina stared sharply at her.
So she was the killer?
Jade's expression twitched.
Was Jing Yuan sick in the head?!
Writing "Key" like that — wasn't that directly framing her?
"Yes, I have keys. But I'm not the killer. And I never left my room last night. Xiao can testify."
"Correct," Xiao nodded. "I guarded the third floor all night. No one left."
Jade exhaled in relief.
If Xiao hadn't been stationed there, she would've had a much harder time clearing suspicion.
"Let's search for other clues first."
Xiao also felt Jade didn't seem like the killer. He crouched beside the body.
"One stab directly to a vital point."
He scanned the room.
"The window was open. But the furniture is undisturbed. No signs of struggle."
"Conclusion: Jing Yuan either didn't resist… or couldn't resist."
The others nodded.
It was clear he hadn't fought back.
"Alright. Crime scene investigation complete. Bodyguard, you may now lead the group to inspect other players' work areas. Remember, only three locations."
Su Ze announced the next phase.
Investigating Work Areas
Xiao frowned.
Only three chances.
He couldn't waste them.
"Let's check the kitchen first."
The cause of death was a stab wound.
Naturally, the kitchen — filled with knives — was the most suspicious.
Raiden Ei immediately looked unhappy.
Are you implying I'm the killer?
But since this was Xiao's ability, she had no choice but to follow.
Inside the Kitchen
The moment they entered, everyone froze.
"Why is the ceiling black?"
"Whoa — the walls are covered in oil!"
"What happened here?!"
They had known Raiden Ei couldn't cook.
They'd heard the chaos yesterday.
But since they weren't allowed to investigate others' work areas before, they hadn't realized just how catastrophic it was.
"…Ahem. Aren't we looking for clues? Why are you staring at the ceiling?"
Raiden Ei turned away awkwardly.
Why are you focusing on the decor?!
"Right."
They began searching properly.
Suddenly, Herta pointed at the wall of knives.
"Was there a knife here before?"
It was a full knife wall — but in the middle, one slot was conspicuously empty.
"…I don't know."
Raiden Ei shook her head.
Yesterday she had only been focused on cooking.
She hadn't paid attention to inventory.
"There was. A sharp knife was hanging here."
Jade spoke up.
"How do you know?"
"I'm the maid. I washed the dishes yesterday."
That explanation made sense.
But Jade's suspicion level rose again.
She could enter others' rooms.
She had keys.
Now she confirmed a missing knife.
That was… concerning.