Novel Bin Chapter Ch64.1 - The Lovers Card
Chapter Ch64.1 - The Lovers Card
translator: xiin
editors: apricot & juurensha
“A sniper’s aiming time will only grow shorter and shorter after training. Judging from his strength in the previous episodes, Zuo Botang’s overall standard is quite excellent, and he can basically lock in on a target in two breaths time...”
Blood Pigeon, who was in the midst of his commentary, suddenly looked up. His expression froze.
In the screen, the camera that was aimed at Zuo Botang suddenly shook violently, and the red dot that represented the instance’s rule enforcement swept by.
The Jingyi Entertainment sniper couldn’t prevent his pupils from contracting abruptly. He swiftly moved to the right and was able to narrowly avoid the instance’s impartial attacks by relying on his excellent tactical intuition.
When he looked back, the place where he’d been laying in preparation to shoot had already been blasted into a stretch of scorched earth by the instance regulations.
How could that be?!
Zuo Botang was still unable to figure it out.
His watch was still silver, but the corresponding ‘spirit’ camp was obviously no longer safe. His teammate Ming Yao was looking towards the opposite side in a daze––
The ‘material’ camp had become the safe camp in the mere few seconds it took Zuo Botang to take aim.
In the Crosson Show director’s studio, Ying Xiangxiang spoke up quickly, “Hurry, replay the footage, show Little Witch’s side.”
Five seconds ago.
Wu Jin held a gun and narrowed his eyes to intimidate his hostage into drinking the last silver chalice. Through the camera lens, he had the intimidating presence of a milky baby murderer.
The wrist watch of the trainee who was oppressed by Wu Jin turned silver––the ‘material’ camp went from 8 people to 7, and the ‘spirit’ camp increased from 7 to 8, becoming the dangerous camp.
Zuo Botang, who had just been about to shoot, almost slipped up and ended up being hit by the instance rules.
The single sniping had ended in failure.
There was an uproar off-screen, and the scrolling comments flew rapidly across the screen:
“There can also be this kind of operation?!”
“My god, the little baby rabbit can threaten people now?! Little Witch, I’m begging you to point your gun at me, can you? Ahhhh!!”
“Wait a minute, how come I remember that Little Witch forced a trainee to switch to the ‘spirit’ camp just a quarter of an hour ago? How did they suddenly turn back into a ‘material’ person? When did they turn back? My brainpower is limited...”
Blood Pigeon sighed.
The camera perspective turned and pointed to a certain corner of the instance. The trainee with the words &#k2018;must win’ on his neck was in the midst of scampering away like a cat. Obviously, the hostage Wu Jin had in his hands was no longer the same one.
“I know that you’re all face blind. That’s okay, it’s enough for our contestants to not be face blind.” Ying Xiangxiang laughed lightly.
On the other side, Blood Pigeon mused, “Jingyi has four chalices, three gold and one silver. Snipers aren’t good at close combat, so it’s difficult for them to catch hostages to change their situation. According to the current trend, Jingyi’s two snipers should choose to switch camps again so that Zuo Botang can enter the safe camp and shoot. This way, Contestant Wu...”
Ying Xiangxiang smiled and said, “Don’t forget, Little Witch also has one gold chalice left.”
Once Zuo Botang changed to the ‘material’ camp, Wu Jin could also intimidate his hostage into drinking the golden chalice that symbolized ‘material’.
This versatile actress was much better at math than Blood Pigeon was. She added, “Do you know why Little Witch took this hostage instead of the original one? It’s because he’d already calculated everything from the start.”
“Little Witch snatched three silver chalices and one gold chalice. In order for it to play out perfectly, he needed a hostage from the ‘material’ camp, not the ‘spirit’ camp.”
The Crosson Show, ‘Temperance card’ instance.
Things developed in exactly the same way Ying Xiangxiang said. After another round of exchanges, Zuo Botang entered the safe ‘material’ camp while Ming Yao changed to ‘spirit’.
Wu Jin quickly followed suit and continued to force his hostage to drink water––
The ‘material’ camp became 8 people, and ‘spirit’ had 7. Zuo Botang was once again in the dangerous camp. The two golden chalices that Jingyi Entertainment still had on hand couldn’t help Zuo Botang switch camps, while Wu Jin was still in the safe camp.
On the other side, Zuo Botang, who couldn’t concentrate on aiming, finally gave up and handed the sniper rifle over to his teammate Ming Yao.
In the camera, Ming Yao was a little nervous, his palms sweaty. In the Jingyi double c-position configuration, Zuo Botang assumed most of the single sniper responsibilities, and Ming Yao was obviously inexperienced as a vice-c.
“Do your best.” Zuo Botang’s tone was gentle.
His captain’s encouragement finally settled Ming Yao’s mind. The sniper bullet burst out and flew through the air––
However, Wu Jin had already predicted the trajectory in advance within the few seconds required for aiming. He moved in a 90 degree right angle from the direction of the shot and hid behind a bunker, with no plans to expose himself again.
Crosson show director’s studio.
“Wu Jin reacted very quickly.” Blood Pigeon commented, “Ming Yao doesn’t have enough experience. He might have had a chance with another six months of training.”
Ying Xiangxiang looked at the screen and let out a long exhale, “The match has been decided.”
“Little Witch and Ming Yao are both still young, and the gap between their strengths isn’t big, but Ming Yao lost in terms of strategy.”
“In the second half of the game, Little Witch was very clear about the arrangement of his hostage and the chalices. All along, he only had one goal––to suppress Zuo Botang. He removed his strongest opponent through the rules and dismantled Jingyi Entertainment’s double c, then used the highest level of vigilance against Ming Yao.”
The corners of Ying Xiangxiang’s eyes curved upwards again, “In the past three elimination matches, Little Witch has always been the contestant who can make the most use out of the environment.”
On the other side of the camera lens.
Zuo Botang patted Ming Yao on the shoulder to express that he should work hard for next time. This team captain of Jingyi’s trainee group instantly triggered a series of shrill screams in the scrolling comments.
When the camera turned back to Wu Jin––the densely packed scrolling comments nearly turned completely frenzied.
Forty minutes later.
Ming Yao desperately tried to eliminate a player from the ‘material’ camp, but ultimately wasn’t able to change the situation. Instead, he triggered the ending conditions by causing the number of contestants in the instance to drop to the target number.
In mid-air, the angel who was very keen on pouring water finally stopped, mechanisms shifting slowly in a way that indicated that the instance was about to end.
Wu Jin breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the trainee he’d pointed his submachine gun at for most of the game, “I’m so sorry... Can I treat you to dinner after we get out?”
That big brother was also rather desperate, “... Alright. Can you put down the gun before we talk?”
Wu Jin hesitated, but shook his head.
That big brother: “... I’ll give you my cards. Hey, can you let me off...”
Wu Jin was undecided.
That big brother: “I drank too much water, and I’m holding back my pee. What if, after you shoot me, on the off-chance––the program team will charge me a cleaning fine.”
Wu Jin’s eyes grew round, “You...”
That big brother had already scrambled to take out all his cards, “Take them. In the future, we’ll be friends who have exchanged gunfire. You can also save yourself a bullet. It’s a good deal!”
Wu Jin looked down at the card and froze.
Minor arcana, Nine of Wands.
White Moonlight Entertainment hadn’t managed to snatch a card from the wands suit, but he’d now collected one by accident.
The trainee stood up from the grass and dusted off the pants of his combat suit, “I originally thought that there would be something better in the instance, so I kept the card and didn’t trade it. Who knew... ah, I’ve never been forced to drink so much water in all the years I’ve been a trainee. I’m getting old, and my kidneys aren’t so good... Hey, how about you don’t eliminate me for now and leave it up to fate?”
Wu Jin was just about to open his mouth and speak when his gaze suddenly cooled. He looked up.
The angel nodded slightly and brought the two chalices into her arms. Her crimson wings spread out––
The steps at the center of the instance raised up, followed by the cylindrical pillars with the repeated patterns and the shining platform. When the exit to the instance opened up, the major arcana card that dominated the entire instance finally also appeared on the elevated platform!
The appearance of the card meant that replacing the major arcana was now allowed. Once the card was successfully changed, the entire instance would be reshaped according to the meaning contained in the card.
On the other side of the instance, the Jingyi double c-positions began to move like streaks of lightning.
Wu Jin whispered to himself, “They want to change cards...”
That big brother: “What? I’ll leave first if there’s nothing else?”
Who would’ve thought that Wu Jin would quickly untie the basic rifle he carried on his back and toss it to him, “This gun is for you.”
This trainee had already run out of supplies and ammunition by the time he’d been captured by Wu Jin. He became very happy at this time.
Wu Jin then spoke quickly in a low tone, “There are 32 rounds of ammunition. There’s one condition––use half the bullets on the two people on the opposite side.”
That big brother: “... Jing, Jingyi Entertainment?!”
Wu Jin nodded even as he shouldered the submachine gun and started making his way over to the exit of the instance.
Jingyi’s hidden card was mysterious and unknown. Once the ‘control card’ in mid-air was replaced and the instance was forcibly changed, he would have even less of a chance to survive and escape.
That big brother finally came to his senses and ran after Wu Jin. At the same time, he didn’t forget to fulfill his obligations and aimed at the elevated platform, “OK! I’ll help your White Moonlight deal with Jingyi, but can you recommend me for an interview with White Moonlight later? My name is Lin Ke, ah, Brother Wu––”
Wu Jin’s back stiffened from being called ‘Brother Wu’, his expression shifting slightly as he looked back, “Run! Quickly, to the right––No! That’s the left!!”
On the elevated platform, Ming Yao was only one step away from the card while Zuo Botang was behind a carved pillar as he sniped downwards.
Wu Jin swerved to the right to dodge, but the big brother called Lin Ke had shifted blankly to the left and entered the trajectory of the bullet.
A silver life-saving capsule popped up with a bang.