“…….”

The next procedure that awaited the players was “vote to select or not.” glanced at the clock and came up with an idea, “What if we hold the trial as it is, and still carry on with the winning method….?”

“It’s no longer a winning method if someone gets killed in the trial!”

“… Whatever. But this winning method is already screwed as the doctor won’t come forward.”

Unfortunately, the winning method was not even a subject for negotiation. It would not work unless the doctor came forward. said, “Let’s vote.”

“What? We haven’t decided anything!”

“That’s why we should vote. This could literally be real democracy. Just let individuals decide whether or not to hold the trial in this situation.”

“Wait a second. Someone please tell me the expected value for holding or not holding the trial!” desperate cry was met by a stern look from .

“Will it make a difference? The citizens should hold a trial, especially when there is a player who confessed that she’s the mafia.”

“Oh, what a saint! You’re going to kill , who suggested this winning method to save us all?”

“And what an asshole you are, . Are you against this because you’re the mafia yourself? You want to get through the day unscathed and kill the citizens at night?”

“Argh, you little…!!”

had a point. It was impossible to reach an agreement on this matter, so the decision could have well been left to each individual player to make. Junsung missed how used to force others to vote in a certain way.

[Hmmm. So are we doing the vote to select or not?]

“I’m against all votes until the doctor cooperates.”

[ is clearly against it. Oh, well. As the host, this is a tough call…]

When Reina showed reluctance, the players who had been silent began to protest.

“Oh come on, just use some discretion as the host. Ugh, you Artificial Intelligence,” said .

“Are you going to make us vote for this too?” asked .

“Hey, . Let’s just get on with this. No one dies if we vote the target down in the elimination vote, anyway,” said.

“…….”

Although the other players kept their mouths shut, they shot frustrated glances at . The silent pressure made both and give in. Eventually, the “vote to select or not” window popped up in the tablet. Junsung put off his vote, feeling somewhat intimidated, and tapped on the chat inbox instead.

Humanities: Do we really have to vote so quickly?

Schoolgirl: Are you playing dumb, or do you really not get it?

Humanities: Get what?

Schoolgirl: There’s not as much time as you think.

Schoolgirl: If we catch a mafia member in this trial, we get one more trial for the day.

Procedures of Mafia Game (Day - Selection and Trial)

If a player eliminated after a trial turns out to be a mafia member, the players get a chance to hold another trial.

“……!!”

The players were already thinking about their next move after having killed . They were far more calculating and unfeeling than anyone could have imagined.

[Okayyy, so the results are…!]

Yes: Intellectual, Old Man, Schoolgirl, Muscle Man, Engineering, Janitor, Christian

No: Social Worker, Hothead, Humanities

Result: With at least a majority (6 votes) of “yes” votes, you will have selection and trial on Day 3.

As soon as the results were out, said, “No need to put off the selection vote now, right?”

“What? That’s still too soon! Especially as Reina’s not limiting the time!”

“We have to finish it before 10 p.m. And you voted ‘no’, . Only two players voted ‘no’ along with , which means…”

“……!!”

As if he had control over the tides, shot a heartless look at those who voted ‘no’, and the players all followed. chimed in and shot back instead of Junsung. “Hey! We just assumed that winning method is the only way for all of us to live, so we cast the dissenting votes, choosing to believe her, okay? And you accuse us of being the mafia? We can all take 400 million won each, without dying!”

“Without the doctor’s cooperation, someone would be killed overnight a hundred percent. What do you mean we can all live?”

“I mean, we should wait a while for the doctor to come around…!”

“Oh, keep your mouth shut.”

ignored and began to tap furiously on his tablet. He sent Junsung a call for help.

Intellectual: Hey, say yes to starting the selection right away. And select Social Worker.

Intellectual: I’m sending this message to everyone but Social Worker.

Humanities: Huh? So you want us to all work together and kill Social Worker?

Humanities: The person who’s capable of the winning method?

Intellectual: No, not that.

Intellectual: I’m going to end this game with just one trial, once and for all.

Humanities: With one trial?

Humanities: How’re you going to do that?

did not answer Junsung’s last question. Instead, who had been glancing at his own tablet put up his hand. “Hey, is encouragin’ me to do the selection vote out in the open. But he ain’t tellin’ me the plan. What’s goin’ on?”

“I can’t tell you the plan. But I guarantee that this winning method will definitely work.”

“So killing is the winning method?”

“N-no. If it works, we can even save .”

“……??”

was obviously saying these things and playing dirty to put on trial. He could not be trusted or even understood. The conference room turned into a scene of chaos with all 10 players shouting and yelling all at once.

“So you want us to hold the trial that would kill someone without sharing your plan? We can just wait for the doctor to come forward!”

“I was going to vote for Social Worker anyway, as she confessed that she was mafia. But we can’t give up on the winning method…”

“We can just select her and vote against her in the elimination vote. You understand that, right, ?”

“That’s what I want, too, but it seems like you’re all just going to vote for me just because I’m the mafia. It’s just best to convince the doctor. We should wait.”

“But the doctor won’t come forward!”

Even the usually quiet players were speaking up. The time when everyone remained silent in the conference room was gone. As the room became noisy, much like a busy marketplace, Reina said, [Okay, everyone, attention. wants to hold the selection vote, and is against it. Everyone else, well, you just have no backbone. Any other opinions?]

Junsung immediately objected. “Why the rush? You said there was no time limit until 10 p.m. for discussion. Don’t butt in!”

[I just want to explain the flow as the host. If you hold the trial at 10 p.m. and a mafia member gets eliminated as a result… According to the rules, the citizens should get a chance to hold one more trial on the same day, but that chance will automatically be lost.]

“Huh? What the hell do you mean? It’s in the rules, and you’re ignoring them?”

[Well, this is because it would be past 10 p.m., which means the daytime will be over. It’s kind of like when your time is up at a karaoke bar, and you get to sing your last song till the end but can’t request any more songs. Get it?]

Huh. Pretty good comparison, actually.

As cunning and sneaky as Reina was, she was pointing out the “chance of the next trial” that the players were all thinking about. She may have done them a favor by pointing this out, but Junsung was strangely offended. It seemed like an artificial interference disguised in the form of a natural explanation. This interference was a display of power. and began to express similar views.

“Then shouldn’t we hurry this selection?” asked .

“If we’re going to do it anyway, we might as well get it over with… I guess,” said .

Seriously? Without even hearing what has to say about ending the game today?

Not that he would spill anyway. The selection vote began without any clarity on the outcome. The result that came out a few minutes later was exactly as expected.

8 votes, 1 vote, 1 vote

: Intellectual, Engineering, Christian, Schoolgirl, Janitor, Old Man, Muscle Man, Humanities

: Hothead

: Social Worker

Result: put on trial.

[Go ahead and sit in the head seat, . And now you have 10 minutes…]

The 10 minute-window was going to lead the selection target to either life or death. was shackled to the head seat. She looked at everyone, biting her bottom lip. All eyes fell on , who smiled contentedly. “Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for.”

“You’re not going to just convince us to kill this one mafia member, are you? With all that expected value crap?”

“No way. This is much better.”

“……?”

gently placed his tablet on the table, stood up, and walked over to in the head seat, slowly and with poise. Then he said, “Tell us who the other two mafia members are.”