Chapter 45: Don’t Make Me Prove Them Right

Joshua flinched, expression so small that most people probably would’ve missed it. But Deon—and very likely, Vivian—managed to catch onto him.

His smile returned just as easily. "Of course, I’m willing to contribute in any way I can...But this is not about me."

"This is about whether those with the greatest ability are willing to help those who have the least."

"I’m not asking you to give everything," he continued. "But just a fraction of your Points would let everyone survive. Comfortably too, I might add."

How the hell can someone get away with such an obvious moral hole? Has everyone here lost their critical thinking skills?

But before he could open his mouth to reply—

"Why are we even asking?" the voice came from the hatchet user.

He stood near the edge of Joshua’s circle, one hand gripping his Card hard enough to bend the corner slightly. His eyes were fixed on Deon, trembling with a mix of fear, desperation, and something uglier.

"I said, why are we asking?" his voice rose. "Mimi said killing is allowed now."

Joshua’s brows drew together. "That is not what I meant."

But the hatchet user kept going. "If he really has the most Points, then why are we begging him to share? If we kill him, won’t we get a clue from the mansion?"

The woman in the tracksuit gasped. "Are you insane?"

"And maybe his Cards too," someone else muttered.

Martin’s lips parted slightly. Then, slowly, a small smile threatened to surface before he forced it back down.

"You heard what Mr. Wells said," the hatchet user continued, voice shaking harder now. "If he’s already a murderer, then he’s dangerous. Why are we letting him keep all those Points?"

"Exactly..." another contestant whispered.

"No, wait," Joshua said, raising his hand. "Everyone, calm down. We are not killing anyone."

But his words weren’t landing the same way. A second ago, they were listening to Joshua. Now they were moving past him, and it wasn’t emotionally...but physically.

Their feet moved one by one toward Deon’s direction. It was a stupid, desperate, and half-baked plan—logic built on a house of cards.

Kill the strongest contestant? When they’ve all just admitted he had the most combat experience?

Still, their feet moved. Light glowed from all over the room, mostly gray, as many used the Card in their hands.

Hana took a sharp breath. "Deon—"

"Stay back, let me deal with it."

The hatchet user pointed the weapon at him, though the blade shook visibly. "You can’t fight all of us."

"Can’t fight all of you? We won’t even get to that," Deon snorted softly to himself before he pulled out [Blade] and held it between two fingers. The gray light spilled down into his palm, forming into the katana in an instant.

"You cowards don’t have it in you."

The hatchet user’s face flushed red. A combination of fear, embarrassment, and the ugly need to prove he wasn’t a coward compelled him to move.

"Don’t act so high and mighty," he spat. "You think just because you’re first place, we’re all supposed to be scared of you?"

Deon stared at him, replying flatly. "Yeah."

The man managed to take a step forward before swinging wide overhead. The move was so clumsy and obvious that Deon didn’t even bother moving.

With a single cut, a clean line of blood opened across the back of the man’s hand.

"Gah—!"

His fingers spasmed, hatchet slipping from his grip and clattering loudly against the floor. Deon stepped in as the hatchet hit the floor. Before the man could even understand the pain, Deon’s blade was already pointed at his neck.

"So remember this when you think about trying to kill me," he whispered in the man’s ear.

"Don’t make me prove them right."

As the words ended, Deon had already planted his foot against the man’s chest before— 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

BANG!

The kick sent him flying backward. He crashed onto the red carpet and rolled twice before slamming into the base of a pillar, gasping for air.

Everyone’s gaze went to the man before flicking back towards the first place Contestant, who was now rolling his shoulders.

"Alright, anyone else?"

Deon looked around at the now scared crowd, eyes finding Joshua’s. For a second, he didn’t look like an innocent bystander at all. His hand was curled into a fist by his side and his eyes twitched ever-so-slightly.

The telltale sign of only one emotion—annoyance.

Joshua finally opened his mouth. "Mr. Day—"

"Nope."

Deon dismissed the katana, gray light flowing back into the Card before he slipped it back into his pocket like nothing happened.

"Discussion’s over."

Joshua’s eyes narrowed by the smallest amount. "Walking away will not solve anything."

But Deon ignored him entirely, turning towards his team. "Hana, Vivian, Kids. Follow me."

Nami’s face twitched. "I swear, if you call us kids one more—"

"Follow me."

This time, even she knew better than to argue.

Hana hurried to his side first, worry still written all over her face. Vivian followed a step behind with a large grin on her face while the other three stayed close.

As he passed Joshua, their eyes met, but the politician didn’t say a word. Behind Joshua, Martin shrank back so fast he nearly bumped into another contestant.

When Vivian passed, she snapped toward Martin as a joke. When the man flinched, she laughed out loudly before moving on.

Deon walked straight toward the center of the hall, right through the crowd, who parted for him like the sea. He made his way up the steps, scanning the first floor before finding an obvious set of double doors that looked like they were important.

An office...or maybe a master bedroom? Either way, it seems important...

Deon placed one hand on the railing and looked down over the entrance hall, pointing towards the doors and making sure everyone can hear him.

"My team is taking the Master Office," he yelled. "If you want to talk, knock. If you want to trade information, make it worth my time."

"And if anyone tries to enter without permission...you’ll become a ’clue’."

And with that, the growing crowd had now gone silent. They made their way toward the set of doors before Deon put a hand on them. Up close, he could see the small plaque above, indicating what the place was.

[Master Office]

"Well, let’s see what this Second Game is all about..."

Deon pushed the door open.