163 Cooperate or Betray? (1/2)
”Something doesn't make sense,” said Rina. She was the only other person that did not agree with working with others, just like Linri.
”Oh? Then tell me, miss flat chest. What doesn't make sense?” Linri asked sarcastically.
”You! *Inhale* If you really are planning to betray, why would you declare it? Wouldn't it have been more beneficial to keep silent and make your choice?” Rina held back her anger and asked the most obvious question. If Linri was really planning to choose the betray option, the fact that he had announced it in the first place was a flaw in his plan.
”It would, but here is the thing: who is to say that, despite agreeing with cooperating, you wouldn't choose betrayal? What if everyone chooses betrayal? In that scenario, I would lose. This way, I backed you guys into a corner. This game is more like chess and I already made my move. So, what's it gonna be? Are you going to betray or cooperate? The clock is ticking.”
One of the things Linri was most proud of about himself was the fact that he had a good grasp on human psychology. After all, without knowing what they think, you wouldn't be able to manipulate others. Making him play this game was akin to returning a fish into the water: he was in his element and he already created a momentum. Following this, it would really be hard for others to control the flow of the game.
”I-I say we cooperate. He must be bluffing! There is no way he would take the risk to bet all 5 of his antidotes,” said Jason. He was another sophomore student.
”Pfft! Is that it? Did you really think that? Me? Bluff? Maybe you are right. Maybe I really wouldn't bet all of my antidotes, but what's stopping me from just measly betting 2 of them? The only way you could survive next round would be if you only bet 1, but let's be real. With a single antidote left, you wouldn't really be able to do anything. At that time, your only option would be to betray and I will simply keep betraying. The others would do the same and every betrayer would lose their antidote, but unlike you, I would still have some. The only sure way to win this game is to eliminate every other person and bet the maximum amount in cooperating when you are the only person left. So tell me, was I really bluffing when I said I was planning to betray?”
”That...” Jason became flustered. He had not thought about that before.
”Then what if we all choose betrayal?” Ryan asked the critical question.
”If you do, we would be playing a game of chicken. I won't stop choosing betrayal and at the time, if you don't have enough guts to keep doing so, you will lose,” That was when a notification appeared on their tablet.
TIME IS UP!
They had to vote immediately or they would be penalized. There was no mention of any penalties in the rules, but everyone could guess that it wouldn't be anything good, so they hastily cast their votes.
After the round, a new notification appeared on their tablets showing the current point tally.
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1- Linri Harclaw: 13 Antidotes
2- Rina Hagane: 3 Antidotes
3- Sasha Romanov: 3 Antidotes
4- Jason Grey: 3 Antidotes
5- Yui Yukio: 3 Antidotes
6- Ryan Moore: 3 Antidotes
7- Matt Meese: 3 Antidotes
8- Lilly Aldrin: 3 Antidotes
9- Akihito Watanabe: 3 Antidotes
10- Hayato Kurogane: Eliminated
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”WHAT! You liar!” said Jason after seeing the number of antidotes.