Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluation, part 2 (after battle)

It's one thing to keep our coins as safe as possible from any candidates we might come across, but...

... it also means that our only means of gaining more coins is by taking them from the other candidates.

Good point. Unless we're informed of a new rule mid-game, we must also prioritize taking as many coins as we can from the other candidates.

Yeah, the host said that our ranks are decided by how many coins we have.

The subject of the first round of the Hierarch Evaluation has been an open secret for a long time.

To find a clue toward freedom from aging and death.

However, the only information that has been made public regarding the second round of the evaluation is that it will be a martial contest.

Indeed, there may be secret rules or rules that the host has intentionally neglected to reveal to us. However, it is of high likelihood that, in terms of informational advantage, all participants in this game are equally underequipped.

This leads to the prediction that, should we engage in our usual form of confused brawls...

... we should at least place somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Aw, don't be such a downer, Fau! We gotta make it to the top two at least to get what we came here for~!

Well, at least we're not under attack... yet...

Sinclair gingerly scouts the surrounding area, anxious that another candidate might suddenly jump out of nowhere and snatch all of Hong Lu's coins away.

No enemy movements detected... yet...

Outis muttered something similar as she marched forward, on high alert and standing protectively next to Hong Lu's bundle of coins.

Not sure if it's a good thing, but... at least the huge size of this building means that we won't be running into other candidates left and right.

... Peeping machines. They're everywhere.

Mm~ I'm seeing some people making threatening gestures at the cameras up here, but... please be informed of this rule: you break a camera, you pay up with a coin of your own!

... I'm pretty sure she just made up that rule.

Ah, we should be able to keep moving by following this hallway.

Despite everything, Hong Lu still remains calm.

Hong Lu, you've been here before, haven't you...?

I have. But I don't suppose any other candidates have. Oh, except big brother Qiu, maybe.

Besides, anyone who's ever set foot in here's already...

Hong Lu stopped.

Mm, at least we won't have to worry about getting lost, so that's nice~

He was absolutely about to spill something before he decided to bite his tongue, right?

So guys, I... have this weird sinking feeling that I just can't seem to shake.

Daguanyuan... that place was huge, right? Like stupidly huge, right?

Like, think about it. We chatted a while on that Palanquin before we got anywhere near Hong Lu's room.

Yeah, apparently they have deer frolicking in the garden, a whole lake to themselves...

Right! So why are they holding the Family Hierarch Evaluation at some creepy abandoned building like this when they've got more than enough space to spare there?

Simple. Art deserves an exhibition of equal extravagance.

Okay, but why? Why drag us all the way out here? It's almost like... they're trying to show us something.

Show us what?

The pride and glory of Daguanyuan. And the cautionary tale of the house of the Kong family.

So that the prospective Hierarch and the other candidates would be reminded of their downfall.

…….

We weren't asking you, intruder. Here to ambush us?

The Sinners all immediately took a defensive stance at the sudden appearance of a different candidate.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not here to fight you guys.

Saw you guys earlier, back during the first round.

I also saw that interesting healing method of yours. I'm guessing that's what you used to get past the first round of the Hierarch war.

... Do you know this guy, Hong Lu?

Um... nope. But I think he's from the Wang family, though I haven't exchanged many words with him before.

Wang Zhao. Not surprised that you don't know who I am.

It's not like I gave you much chance to get to know me... I was always the type to prefer sitting in my room and passing the time reading books.

<If he's not here to fight... is he here to make an alliance?>

Hah... Listen here, fella. We're not here to make any friends, alright? We've had enough bad experiences with it as is.

Yeah, totally. I get you guys. I'm not here to make an alliance, either. I just thought that maybe we could at least travel together, given that our goals don't seem to clash.

I'm not actually here looking to become the next Hierarch. My goal is, uh, how should I put this...

... more like wanting to become a <ruby=cannon>pao</ruby>(砲) in a game of Xiangqi. I have enough self-awareness to know that that even a <ruby=chariot>ju</ruby>(車) is too much for me.

Let me give you a demonstration. Catch.

<…!>

Meursault deftly snatched the coin out of the air with one hand.

Dang! Nice catch, Meur!

Mm.

<This is...?>

Is this a r-real coin? One of those life tokens or whatever...?

Feel free to bite into it if you don't believe me.

Oi, bite into it!

... That method of material discernment is ineffective for coins not made from soft metals such as gold.

Why would you just...

Are you sure this is a good strategy?

Hm, well...

I'm sure our dear host has something to say about that.

The host's voice buzzed from the speakers not long after Wang Zhao's reply.

Aha, a candidate has willingly handed over his coin to another!

Yes, of course! The candidates are permitted to trade coins and favors amongst each other without necessarily having to take them by force. You may use it to convince others to do your bidding, or use them to formulate various other strategies.

Then the decision to use coins as representation of tokens is symbolically appropriate.

<The host doesn't immediately catch on to what's going on, huh? It took her a moment to react to what Ryōshū was doing in front of that camera, too.>

A highly discerning observation, Executive Manager. It appears that she chimes in to add commentary based on the actions of each candidate.

... It is to keep the audience informed on the actions of the candidates.

I knew it.

We don't have to take the coins by force, after all.

Wang Zhao muttered with some satisfaction once the speakers fell silent again.

So... um... would you like to have this back, now?

Don't worry about it. Consider it my token of appreciation for helping me figure out the game.

Sure... thanks for the coin, I guess... But are you sure it's a good strategy to just give away your coin like that?

Probably not, if my goal was to come in first place. ... But like I said earlier, I'm more of a prey animal than a predator.

Prey animals like myself have to remain highly aware of our surroundings and observe. And once you get good enough at that... you'll see which of the prospective candidates should hold the most coins.

And that's my strategy.

Ooh... and that's us, huh? Are ya saying that we're the team that deserves to hold the highest number of coins?

Mhmm, hmm... hey, I'm starting to feel pretty optimistic! Gee, it's real refreshing to finally have someone recognize us like this, ya know?

He's trying to butter us up. This man is just another boring old wheedling schemer.

Still... we're already at four coins right from the get-go. I'd say it's a good start, huh?

We might actually end up coming in first place at this rate.

So... what do you say? Informational advantage can be a pretty significant variable this early in the game.

I follow you, seek my chances and feel out the game, while you gain information.

It's a win-win, right? We both get what we want, and we'll go our separate ways when the time is right.

W-what should we do? I don't think he looks... agile enough to stab us in the back and steal our coins.

Sinclair asks, giving Wang Zhao a side eye.

I think he makes a decent case. It's not like he's offering us an alliance out of the blue... Like he said, I think it's a nice win-win strategy for both parties.

The decision is yours, Executive Manager. It does not seem like he has any ulterior motives... Perhaps we could use our superior numbers to demand more coins from him in return for letting him accompany us.

A net profit of one additional coin has already been secured. If alliance with this individual causes you concern, it would be a rational choice to simply cut ties while we are ahead.

<Hmm...>

The Sinners' arguments all sounded pretty reasonable, so I tried to signal Hong Lu, the actual candidate of the Family Hierarch war, but...

<Any thoughts on this, Hong Lu?>

I think they all sound pretty nice!

His reply is terse, cheery, and thoughtless.

... It seems to me that he's still unwilling to make a single choice.

<... Let's accept his offer. Outis, please keep an eye out for any signs of betrayal.>

You may place the utmost faith in me to carry out that task, Executive Manager!

Let's do this, Wang Zhao.

Okay, Jia Baoyu. Let's.

... So, are you still the favorite child of Daguanyuan?

…….

Um... Umm... Jia... Jia Baoyu extends... his greetings to you...

Ah... Welcome, little Baoyu.

It has been a while, Baoyu.

Answer them, Baoyu. You're a good boy, hm?

... Ookay.

Still as pretty and lustrous as always.

He truly is the unchanging, precious jade of Daguanyuan. You must be so happy to have him, venerable Jia Mu.

Aha... So he's that Jia Baoyu kid?

Really? I thought he'd look... more special, I guess? He's actually pretty unimpressive in person.

Oh yeah, mom told me about him.

Shh, shush, child. You can't just talk to him.

Ahh, I think he just looked at me.

So why do they all love him so much?

Dunno, maybe they painted his insides with gold or something.

Must be nice to be loved and coddled by everyone the moment you're born.

But... why does he look so gloomy?

That child will never suffer once to his dying days.

Yeah, and I envy him for it, but... I don't know...

... I don't know why he's such a smileless child...

…….

Uh... ain't these memories for Clockhead's eyes only? Why can we see it, too?

<Um... huh? You saw that, too?>

It appears that the gradual reconstruction of the Golden Bough is expanding Dante's ability to peer into the fathoms.

<Is... is it? I'm not so sure myself.>

That is enough for now, Dante.

... Perhaps these powers will become controllable in the future, to be used as one sees fit.

Hehe, didn't think this is how I'd be sharing my childhood with everyone.

If Wang Zhao had also made it into the Dungeon of the Fathoms alongside the rest of us, he must've seen Hong Lu's past as well...

What are you guys all standing around for? Don't tell me your strategy is to sit here and wait for the whole thing to blow over, is it?

<…….>

... but it seemed that the vision was for our eyes only.

Unlike the Hong Lu we know, the younger version of him...

... did not have even a trace of that familiar smile. His eyes were fixed to the ground in silence, and that was all he did.