Chapter 14: Let Go of That Couple

"Let's knife No. 5. I think he has a role," teammate No. 3 gestured.

Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat. "Damn, this knife would land on my lover. If it goes through, I'd be eliminated the first day. No, I have to make them knife someone else."

"No. 9 seems like the Hunter. We could take a gamble—most Hunters don't shoot on the first day," Chen Fan signaled. Truthfully, he had no idea what No. 9 was; he just noticed the words "Who dares challenge me?" printed on his shirt.

"Sure, let's knife No. 9. First day, it's always random anyway. No. 12, you should claim Seer," wolf teammate No. 6 agreed with Chen Fan and assigned him to boldly claim Seer during the day.

"Come on, I'm chained here. Whether I succeed or not, I can't win. No, that's not going to work." Chen Fan waved off the idea and pointed to No. 7. "Let him claim. I think Seer should be in an early position. My logic isn't good enough."

This, at least, was true for Chen Fan.

The remaining three wolf teammates exchanged glances and ultimately assigned No. 3 to make the bold claim. Chen Fan even raised his pinky to signal he might go for a counter play.

"First night, I'm not really one of them. I want to play the villain—after all, I am one, just not the same kind as you." Chen Fan discussed tactics with his wolf teammates, outwardly friendly but secretly thinking about how to pass messages to his lover and Cupid during the day.

"Knife No. 9." After all the wolves confirmed, No. 3 raised his hand.

"Werewolves, close your eyes. Witch, open your eyes..."

The rest didn’t concern Chen Fan much; he just waited for the dawn to be announced.

"It's morning. Now, the sheriff election begins. Players who wish to compete, raise your hand."

According to the plan from the previous night, No. 3 would make the bold claim, No. 6 would stir the crowd, No. 7 would support No. 3 from below, and Chen Fan would join the true Seer's camp as a counter.

"Players competing are No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 9, and No. 11. No. 3, please begin your speech."

"Zhou Ji is one of the players competing for sheriff. He likely has a role, otherwise a civilian would just stay below," Chen Fan silently recited the routine Zhou Ji had mentioned before the game, sticking to the plan.

"No. 3 speaks. No. 3 claims the Seer role. Last night, I checked and found No. 4, who is also competing, as a wolf. For my badge flow, I'll check No. 12 then No. 1, to verify the players below. Unless I hear something from the later positions, my badge flow stays the same. I strongly want the badge. Today, let's vote out my check, No. 4. That's it."

Chen Fan could tell from the tone that this was a professional bold claim—the momentum and logic were spot-on, just with a hint of aggression.

No. 4 didn't even glance at No. 3. He looked around at the other competitors, then said, "That was a pretty accurate check—right onto me, the real Seer. Coincidentally, I checked you last night, No. 3, and you're a definite wolf. Not many competing, so your wolf teammates will likely fill in later. If your check is wrong, you can withdraw. For my badge flow, I'll check No. 6 then No. 11, just the two competing positions."

"Wow, now the two Seers are checking each other. From the good guys' perspective, it's confusing. No. 3 has the advantage of speaking first, so he'll probably get the badge." Chen Fan assessed the situation and decided to commit to the counter strategy.

When it was No. 5 Zhou Ji's turn, he spoke easily, without any pressure. "I'm the Witch. Last night, I saved No. 12—No. 12 is my silver water. I'm not afraid of falling. As for the poison, I'll keep it for now."

"Huh? We clearly knifed No. 9 last night, so why did he say he saved me? Is Zhou Ji really the Witch?" Not only Chen Fan, but the other three wolves wondered the same.

"No. 6 speaks. I'm the Seer. Last night, I checked No. 9—he's my gold water. Let's see if No. 3 or No. 4 withdraws. My badge flow is No. 11 then No. 2, one above, one below."

The wolf teammate No. 6, originally supposed to stir the crowd, seeing the situation shift, also claimed Seer, giving the gold water to the targeted No. 9.

No. 9 adjusted his shirt and spoke with a thick accent. "I suspect there are two or three wolves competing. No. 6 gave me gold water—I don't accept it. I'm the real Witch. Last night, I saved myself. They knew I'd fall, wanted to use me as an identity. For me, No. 6 is definitely a wolf."

"The knife was right, so Zhou Ji is a fake Witch. What's he playing at, making himself the focus? Later, I'll have to try to fish him out." Chen Fan looked at the situation. No. 11 was recognized as a civilian, so Cupid must still be hiding below.

Although three Seers claimed, No. 3 still managed to secure the badge thanks to his speaking advantage. Chen Fan and the few good guys joined the true Seer's team.

"Last night was a peaceful night. Sheriff, please choose the speaking order."

"Sequential speaking," No. 3 replied firmly, letting true Seer No. 4 speak first. Though no wolf teammates were supporting him later, he believed he could knock out the true Seer.

"It's obvious—No. 3 and No. 6 are wolves. The ones below who voted for No. 3, No. 1 and No. 10, are likely wolves too. I'll change my badge flow to check those two. Even though I don't have the badge, today we vote out No. 3. Civilians, keep your eyes open. I'm the true Seer."

Zhou Ji, below the sheriff, remained unhurried. "I withdraw, showing I'm a civilian. Anyway, I'm not the focus this round. I wanted to disguise as Witch to block the knife. Personally, I lean toward supporting No. 4. This round, vote out No. 3 and contest the badge. That's all."

No. 6 also began bluffing in earnest. "From my perspective, No. 3 and No. 4 are attacking each other for status. You should believe I'm the real Seer. No. 9, Witch, what are you thinking? Still want to vote me out? This round is definitely between No. 3 and No. 4."

This round, everyone below the sheriff was just coasting, none of them the focus. No. 9, Witch, refused to cooperate, insisting that No. 6 and the previous No. 3 and No. 4 were both wolves, urging the good guys to vote out No. 6.

When it was No. 3's turn as sheriff, he knew this round was between No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6, so he naturally aimed to push out the true Seer.

"No. 4 and No. 6 are putting on a great double act. All the wolves below are just coasting. No. 12 voted for No. 4 earlier, so I'll check you tonight. Good guys, follow me and vote out No. 4. Witch, don't be foolish. Wolves will definitely tie votes and rush the vote this round. Let's vote out No. 4."

Chen Fan calculated the rounds. The No. 9 Witch would likely poison No. 6 at night, and for balance, they should vote out the true Seer during the day. He decisively returned to the wolf team.

The true Seer No. 4 was swiftly voted out, and Chen Fan's actions on the first day were quite successful.

"Werewolves, close your eyes. Werewolves, open your eyes."

Without hesitation, the four wolves unanimously targeted No. 9, a revealed Witch. Why leave him alive?

"It's morning. Last night, No. 3 and No. 9 died."

No. 9 flipped his card and declared, "I activate my skill—shooting No. 6."

"What the heck? He's a Hunter?" Chen Fan was stunned, and in that moment, two of his teammates were gone, with No. 3 passing the badge to him before leaving.

Facing the meaningful smile of No. 5 Zhou Ji across the table, Chen Fan couldn't help but smirk to himself, "This guy hid well enough. Now it's finally my turn to perform."