Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Dark Card, do you want to win that badly?

At this moment, the audience watching the standoff between the two naturally made up the largest part of the crowd.

It’s just that since the two were now in Duel Mode, the audience’s in-game chat had been automatically muted.

【: Wait, what? Didn’t I already read the rules before? What’s going on here, it’s like both sides are playing with their cards face-up. Do they both have X-ray vision or something?】

【: I’ve been bouncing back and forth between their livestreams—yeah, in their own perspectives, they really can’t see their own cards at all.】

【: Then how can they just say what they want to play and actually play it? I don’t get it, can someone explain?】

At this point, it was totally normal for the audience not to understand what was going on.

After all, no one could’ve imagined that just from the first round of questions, the two had already basically reached open-hand play! They already had a rough idea of the distribution of cards in their own hands.

Maybe they didn’t know every single card precisely, but at the very least, Xie Antong knew her card types, and Lu Ce definitely knew where the scissors were.

So yeah, no wonder everyone was watching in confusion, thinking it was straight-up godlike.

【: Huh? Blank’s playing again?】

【: Last time they were teammates, and now they’re matched straight into a life-and-death duel? Isn’t that a bit too cruel...】

【: It’s Hell Mode, after all. But judging from their expressions, it looks like they have zero emotional connection from before. Upper-tier players really are cold-blooded...】

Since they couldn’t make sense of it anymore, the audience had started chatting idly, just waiting to see the final outcome.

“Scissors?!”

Only Xie Antong reacted in shock when she saw Lu Ce throw out a Scissors card, choosing a draw with her.

She didn’t believe “Sin” couldn’t even find a single Rock.

This Scissors play of hers had been planned...

If “Sin” wanted to play it balanced, he would’ve had to play Paper, but that would mean voluntarily losing, which was impossible.

Between Scissors and Rock, whichever one you played would break the balance first—so might as well just go Rock and win. Why choose Scissors for a draw?

“Hahaha! Didn’t see that coming, huh? That’s the whole point. I played Scissors just to see that confused look on your face.”

Lu Ce looked at her baffled expression and instantly lit up like he’d already won, laughing so hard he bent over, fingers tapping the table even faster.

Xie Antong: ......

She could only respond with silence.

Then, with both of them having pretty much guessed all the cards in front of them, the game continued—tedious as ever.

After three rounds, the game was bound to get dull, since it was basically just them playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with open cards, taking turns to go first.

Naturally, whoever played first would lose...

By the end of six rounds, they’d each won two, lost two, and tied two—three rounds left.

As for the cards left on their sides: Xie Antong had “Paper,” “Paper,” and “Rock.”

Lu Ce, on the other hand, had “Rock,” “Rock,” and “Scissors.”

Beads of sweat were forming on Xie Antong’s forehead. She didn’t know why this was taking such a toll. She spoke up:

“At this point, it’s basically open-hand, right? We both probably know exactly which card is which in front of us.”

“So really, there’s no point in continuing this game.”

After she finished speaking, she turned to the Slime and said:

“You’re not going to suddenly change the rules now, are you?”

【Ah, no no, definitely not.】

【As for how to handle a draw, ummm, let’s talk about that later.】

“It’s pretty much guaranteed to end in a draw anyway.”

Xie Antong picked one of her Paper cards and threw it out.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Ce would definitely find that Scissors card and win this round. Then the remaining two rounds would be one draw, one loss again.

“Yeah, logically speaking, that’s how it should go.”

The smile on Lu Ce’s Lust Mask grew wider.

He reached out to grab the final “Scissors” card in his hand.

But just as he was about to touch it, he suddenly looked up at Xie Antong and said playfully:

“You really, really want me to pick this card, don’t you?”

“You want to win that badly?”

“Putting in so much effort, huh.”

“Controlling your heartbeat, your emotions, your blood flow, your expressions—even brainwashing yourself—just to make me think, from the signals I get off you, that this one’s the Scissors, right?”

“But actually, it’s Rock. Am I right?”

Lu Ce tapped the card lightly with his finger, a mischievous smile spreading across his face like a prankster.

Xie Antong’s expression changed almost instantly—from mildly sweating to fatigued and drained, the color drained from her face.

“What are you talking about, it’s just a card. Didn’t you already guess what it is?” Xie Antong’s voice was hoarse.

“Oh, so now you’re not admitting it? Afraid I’m bluffing you.” Lu Ce shrugged.

“Actually, this started from the very first round. When I asked about Scissors, on the surface you didn’t want to give away any info—but deep down, you were already playing counter-strategy.”

“You deliberately controlled all your biological instincts, brainwashed yourself, and in your own mind, swapped the position of a Scissors and a Rock.”

“To be honest, I really did fall for it. You’re incredible in that regard. From now on, no lie detector or mind-reading device in the world will ever work on you.”

“But like I said, I’m the ultimate, all-powerful, never-defeated, strongest player ever, so naturally I have my ways. Jiejiejie~~~.”

By the end, Lu Ce was totally letting loose, even throwing in the classic villain laugh.

“And that third round—you deliberately played Scissors in that situation, just to bait me into playing Rock.”

“Because that way, there would only be one Rock card left to swap positions with, and your mental strain would ease up a bit. The more stressed you are, the more likely you are to slip up, right?”

“But I didn’t play Rock. Rock was my best choice at that time, but I skipped it. Even though I wasn’t sure then... now I am.”

“Truly brilliant strategy. Honestly, I wasn’t completely sure—until now.”

“You almost beat me. Almost. But sadly, I’m just way too strong. Still, you’ve definitely earned the right to sit across from me.”

“Burning that much physical and mental energy just to ‘beat’ me... you were ruthless with yourself just to fool me.”

“Thanks to your all-out effort, this otherwise meaningless game actually turned out to be kind of fun.”

“And I’d say it made full use of your legendary weapon too. Not bad at all.”