On the other side, Little Rabbit, listening to Waldo’s words, nodded as if she half-understood. When she heard Waldo mention doing something special to her, she paused, her confused eyes widening, not quite understanding what he meant.

However, as she vaguely guessed Waldo’s implication, her eyes widened in shock and anger, mixed with panic. She felt like tearing Waldo apart right there. Despite this, she carefully listened to everything Waldo said and found some sense in it.

Indeed, she was no match for Waldo. If she encountered Waldo in the future, she believed he wouldn’t do those things to her. But, there was no guarantee Waldo wouldn’t target her or do something detrimental to her. Plus, considering the promise Waldo made...

Weighing her options, Little Rabbit, looking as if she had swallowed something bitter, resignedly pinched her nose and accepted her fate. "Fine, fine, I apologize, I admit my mistake!"

"Just an apology? Remember, there must be a gift too!" Waldo insisted.

"Ah, I’m going to explode with anger! Waldo, you cunning merchant, a leopard never changes its spots!" Little Rabbit was fuming. She threw a few bronze fragments at Waldo and then cut off their communication...

How angry Little Rabbit got didn’t matter to Waldo at all. He happily accepted the bronze fragments she threw. These were pieces of a suit of armor. Once he gathered enough, they could be fused into a real suit of armor, significantly boosting Waldo’s defense.

The new rules set by the system, along with the announcement of the black list, were bound to plunge the chessboard world into a new chaos. In fact, it happened just as Waldo had anticipated.

After the dice-rolling mechanism was reactivated, violent conflicts broke out in various parts of the chessboard world. It seemed like the system deliberately arranged for most challengers to encounter others after rolling the dice. If it were just ordinary challengers meeting, it would be less of a problem.

If they are not wanted criminals, they can restrain each other and avoid conflict.

This is because they are well aware of the system’s quirks.

Once someone’s kill count reaches two, they are labeled as a wanted criminal.

At least, in the current chessboard world, no challenger dares to become a wanted criminal who is targeted by everyone.

...

However, if an ordinary challenger meets a wanted criminal, a battle becomes inevitable.

Simply put, the wanted criminal might think that the other party is tempted by the double reward for killing them, and might take the risk to attack first.

Ordinary challengers would feel that since the other is already a criminal, there’s no psychological burden in killing them.

If they don’t act first, they might end up in danger.

Trust between people is so fragile and weak.

Thus, bloody battles are almost unavoidable from the start.

This situation is not uncommon, as both parties have their own considerations.

As for two wanted criminals meeting...

This situation is actually less common.

Currently, the number of wanted criminals is not very high.

In the entire chessboard world, there may only be five to six hundred.

While the total number of challengers is in the hundreds of thousands.

But as time goes on and conflicts intensify, the number of challengers who kill will only increase.

The number of challengers becoming wanted criminals will also rise.

The conflict escalates!

Although the probability of two wanted criminals meeting is low, when they do meet, there’s usually no room for reconciliation.

Both are criminals, and the number of kills doesn’t matter anymore.

Moreover, they can also obtain double rewards.

An unprecedented conflict escalates in the chessboard world, affecting over a hundred thousand challengers!

...

In the swamp where Kongming, fourth on the black list, is located, he looks worried.

Holding a dice in his hand, he is hesitant and indecisive about whether to throw it.

Being on the black list, his name and appearance are now firmly etched in the minds of challengers across the land.

He ended up on the black list somewhat cluelessly; his actual strength is quite low.

Without a doubt, he is the most tempting target in the eyes of all challengers, the easiest prey to deal with.

He is acutely aware of his situation.

Once he leaves the swamp and ventures to other areas, he is very likely to encounter other challengers.

Then, like a lecher meeting a beauty, they might devour him in minutes.

"Forget it, it’s good for me to stay in the swamp. It’s safe here, and if other challengers come, they’re basically walking into a death trap!"

"Although my movements are restricted here, confined to this small safe haven on a plank, there’s no other choice. Outside, it’s full of dangers with wolves lurking around; it’s better to stay here!"

Kongming sighed, his face full of worry.

He eventually lost the courage to venture out and take risks.

In fact, to truly control one’s fate and not be helpless, one must kill and grow.

But thinking of his own strength, and how easily he could be killed the moment he steps out, he dismissed the idea.

"Alas, there’s no choice but to quietly grow stronger. Those destined for great things can bend and stretch, and endure long loneliness."

"My current strength is weak, not suitable for venturing out. But the day I do go out, I will be a terrifying existence that makes all challengers take notice!"

Kongming’s worries vanished!

This swamp is his best defensive weapon.

Any challenger entering it without prior preparation will soon be swallowed by the swamp.

And the chessboard cell he occupies seems to have some sort of magic.

No matter which challenger he encounters, they are always pulled into this swamp.

Kongming had already experienced this many times before.

Every time, the result was exactly the same.

That’s why Kongming had enough confidence to stay here.

Now, he actually had quite a few resources on him.

All from challengers previously swallowed by the swamp.

Though they had perished, their supplies remained.

Thus, Kongming didn’t worry about food or drink.

He could stay put for at least a month without needing to go out!

If he ate less and saved more, he could even last longer!

"With my current notoriety, who knows how many are looking for me. With my strength, it’s better not to venture out for now, or it would be akin to seeking death," Kongming thought to himself.

He was quite self-aware.

And also very cautious, unwilling to take unnecessary risks.

...

Suddenly, he seemed to notice something.

He quickly looked towards the distance.

On the outskirts of the swamp, a few new cells appeared, and with them, a tall and burly figure.

The person looked around, seemingly searching for something.

Soon, he noticed that in a neighboring cell, there was a swamp.

In it, a figure stood on a small plank, looking pitiful.