A Matter of Course

Qi Xia looked up in confusion; the current storyteller had become Officer Li.

"I'm Li Shangwu, from Inner Mongolia, and I'm a criminal detective," Officer Li said indifferently, "Before coming here, I was guarding a fraudster.

"But I messed up. I waited for that person, yet ended up grappling with him during an earthquake.

"I got knocked unconscious and came here.

Everyone's stories didn't differ much, but at this moment, Officer Li was acting unusually.

Fortunately, only Qi Xia remembered the past events.

"Criminal detective?" Xiao Ran exclaimed in surprise, "You're a police officer; why don't you try to save us?"

"Because..." Officer Li paused for a moment, "To be honest, I don't know how to lead everyone out. If there's an opportunity, I will certainly do my best."

"What kind of nonsensical reasoning is that?" Xiao Zai asked, puzzled.

"You're a police officer; you should investigate and find a solution! Can you close a murder case by saying 'I don't know who the murderer is'?"

"It's not the same..." Officer Li shook his head, "The things I can do now are very limited; I can only try my best to keep everyone alive..."

The more Xiao Zai spoke, the more agitated he became, pointing directly at the person next to the Goat Man: "Isn't this the 'murderer'? Arrest him!"

"Enough." Qi Xia couldn't bear to watch any longer and interrupted, "All this shouting, isn't it annoying?"

Qiao Jia Jing also nodded: "Aren't the police human too? We can't move now, and the power of life and death is in the hands of the Goat Man. What do you want the police to use to arrest him?"

"You guys...!" Xiao Ran wanted to argue more but suddenly saw Qi Xia's cold gaze and Qiao Jia Jing's muscular tattooed arm, instantly realizing that these two were not to be trifled with.

She understood that people with such gazes were different from the police; she could shout at the police all she wanted, but these two men were not to be provoked.

"I... I was just too scared," Xiao Ran showed a face full of grievances, shaking her head and saying, "Well, maybe I trusted the police too much."

"Sarcastic and bullying the kind while fearing the evil," Qi Xia snorted coldly, "You wouldn't happen to be the 'liar' who sows discord, would you?"

"How could I be?!" Xiao Ran shouted, "How could I be the 'liar'? Don't falsely accuse me!

"Oh?" Qi Xia nodded, "Since you're not the 'liar', what does your card say?"

"It says...

Xiao Zai was about to blurt it out but suddenly froze.

The Goat Man had never mentioned what the identities on the cards were, apart from 'liar.'

He only said that 'if you draw the liar, you must lie.'

To clear their suspicions, they had to publicly announce their identity.

But what was written on the other identity card?

"Truth Teller"?

"Ordinary Person"?

"Participant"?

Or a blank card?

Xiao Ran felt the blood in her body turn cold; she was terrified.

The young man in front of her was too smart, cornering her with just one sentence.

A few others also looked at Xiao Ran with puzzled faces.

Yes, if they started to suspect Xiao Zai was the 'liar,' the situation became complicated.

In the known rules, there 'is and only is one liar' on the scene, and everyone thought that person was themselves, so theoretically, no other liars should appear.

So they were now in a dilemma, all pondering whether there could be a situation with 'multiple liars.'

"Why should I tell you?" Seeing the situation was not good, Xiao Ran could only brazen it out and argue, "What if you are the 'liar,' just trying to get the answer from me?"

Qi Xia nodded: "You also have a point. In that case, let's make a bet."

"A bet...?

"That's right, I'll count 'three, two, one,' and you and I will shout out the words on our cards at the same time, and let everyone here judge who is making up their identity." Qi Xia was ready to deal with Xiao Ran here; there was no need to keep a troublemaker.

"This..."

Xiao Ran was obviously hesitant.

Qi Xia sneered inwardly; if this really was a game with 'one and only one liar,' she was doomed.

As long as Qi Xia confidently stated an identity, he would have already won.

"Three.

Qi Xia began to count down with a stern expression.

Just as he was about to say 'one,' Doctor Zhao suddenly stepped in to mediate: "Hey, forget it..."

Qi Xia turned to look at him.

"Buddy, we can't make it difficult for women. I don't think either of you is a 'liar.' If we really have to vote, let's wait until everyone has finished telling their stories."

Doctor Zhao said with a smiling face.

Qi Xia, of course, could not convict Xiao Ran as the 'liar' here, after all, the real answer was yet to be revealed.

The following 'bamboo shoots after rain' game also required the joint efforts of nine people.

Xiao Ran couldn't die yet, so he agreed to Doctor Zhao's request.

"Alright," Qi Xia nodded, "As long as that woman stops pointing fingers at others, I have no objections."

"I didn't point fingers..." Xiao Ran pouted, showing a lovable expression, "I'm just too scared."

"Don't be afraid, I believe you," Doctor Zhao said with a smile.

After Officer Li finished telling his story, it was Lin Qin's turn.

She told the story of experiencing an earthquake on the 26th floor.

Finally, it was Qi Xia's turn.

Qi Xia also told his story in full.

When he finished speaking, he couldn't help but feel that 'time' is really a wonderful thing.

Although he knew everything that had happened before, when he told the story for the second time, it was still quite different from the first time.

Including various grammar, wording, and narrative order.

But looking at the others, apart from Officer Li, they clearly didn't know what had happened before, yet their narration was exactly the same as last time.

So, who is right? Who is wrong?

After Qi Xia finished his story, the Goat Man announced that everyone entered twenty minutes of free discussion time.

The formula that had been used once was written down word for word.

What followed was almost a matter of course.

Qi Xia led the crowd to point the finger at the 'Goat Man,' and the 'Goat Man' also shot himself again under everyone's bewildered faces.